Looking for layout ideas for shop/garage

[rockcrawler]

I'm hoping to build a shop/garage when we purchase a home in the sticks. I will be needing space for my truck, Jeep, boat and a bay with a lift. I'm wanting to keep the lift bay separated from the rest of the garage because jobs tend to get messy and I want to keep the Jeep, truck and boat storage areas clean. Anyone out there have this type of setup? If so, what works, what doesn't? Not sure yet what size or setup I will need for my plans, but I look forward to learning all I can. Any input is welcome. Pics of your setups would be greatly appreciated.

 

[brycez28]

How much space does your boat/trailer need?

 

[rockcrawler]

Bass boat is 18.5'.............for now. Will probably go 20-21' later. I guess I would want about 26-30'. I want enough room to be able to walk around it easily. Jeep is short but the truck is a Mega-Cab Dodge Ram Cummins (about 20' long).

 

[BearsFan315]

get google sketch up and play with a few concepts...

very cool tool to play with, and helps you SEE things clearer then trying to imagine them

 

[rockcrawler]

get google sketch up and play with a few concepts...

very cool tool to play with, and helps you SEE things clearer then trying to imagine them

Will do! Thanks!

 

[rockcrawler]

So, I did some quick measuring to just get a rough idea on what size my shop will need to be. Looks like I'll be at a bare minimum of 60' x 30' with a 14' ceiling. The 14' ceiling would only have to be in the bay where the lift is located. I'll probably need around a 9' ceiling for the rest.

 

[HotRodMan]

One of the biggest favors I ever did for myself before building my garage was to lay it out exactly where the garage is going to be with a set of stakes and strings. Drive your vehicles in, play around with the walls, work benches, door openings etc. You will move the strings around more than you think. After playing around with that for a few days, and you get it like you want, draw up the plans on paper.

 

[redrunner]

Make a to scale cardboard cut out. I did that and staked it out first on the ground. But the cardboard with cut outs let me add additional things the staked out plan did not. I made scale cut outs for the tool boxes. cabinets. bathroom, cars and other things I knew I would have at a later time when the shed was done. My shed, to meet the codes of the size of the house is 34 by 60, my card board was 17 by 30. That set the scaling for the cars, boat and tool stuff.

 

[CNGsaves]

Another free software tool that GJer has used is Ikea design software. May not have shapes for cars and such, but he claimed it was very easy to use.

Sketch-Up is the predominant free software tool available.

Also could just cutout paper shapes and move around for various what-if scenarios. Use grid paper and make attempt to keep items to scale. Good luck.

 

[Motorhead Extraordinaire]

We use SketchUp in all of our layouts and for building LISTA cabinets and toolboxes. It's a great tool and very easy to use as long as you spend the time to watch the video tutorials.

If you go that way and need some guidance, let me know. I'd be glad to help.

Joe

 

[rburke65]

I also staked out the footprint of my shop numerous time and very glad I did. Stakes for the door openings, pulled my car in and out....glad i made my door openings larger ..... made sure I had enough room to turn and head out the driveway.....which also helped me determine the apron size in front of the shop. And if you are going to go with 14' side wall, which I highly recommend, please go 14' all around......you will never regret it. Good luck.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Have you spent plenty of time looking through the gallery section at other members shops/garages ?

 

[rockcrawler]

Thanks for all of the ideas. I've been lurking here for quite some time drooling over all of the cool floorplans, etc.

 

[Beemer533]

I will throw in a another vote for Sketchup, or "Make 2014" as it is now called.. I don't do anything much anymore around my house without drawing it up first..

Just make sure if you import any models (boat trailer, truck, etc) from the 3D warehouse to save time (as opposed to drawing from scratch), that they are scaled properly or you re-size them. I have seen a lot of models that look great, but are completely out of scale...