Must Haves - New Construction Garage

[Natrops]

Recently broke ground on our new home build and I'm looking to get input on "Don't Forget" ideas for the garage. I'm attaching the garage plans for reference.

The overall design is pretty much set, just looking for things to enhance the space. My general usage of the garage is vehicles and extra space for lawn mower, bikes, etc. My current house's garage is too small and we're trying to make sure this one is plenty large, but also want to have some nice features that we might not be thinking about. We current have an Heavy Duty Ram and an SUV. In the next few years we'll be adding another vehicle. We'll also have a lawn tractor of some sort.

Here are some of the things already planned:

1) Gas and Vent Lines + Hot Dawg heater
2) Stairs to Basement
3) Dog washing station
4) Spread Web Trusses for Storage above
5) Attic Ladder to Storage Above
6) 18x8 (two-car garage door), 12x8 (one-car garage door), 8x8 (utility garage door in rear)
7) Floor and Stairs Epoxy Coating (Epoxy + Flake + Polyaspartic Top Coat)
8) Insulated Walls (R-11) and Ceiling (R-38)
9) Two floor drains

I'd really like to have great lighting, not sure where to go with that. I started reviewing the sticky thread in the Electrical forum, but any thoughts here would be great.

Anything else to think through with the electrician, plumber, or builder?

Thanks in advance!

 

[rayra]

An additional 4' of clearance to the sides and ends for the principal bay where any vehicle work might occur. You need room to open the doors wide AND move carts, tools, shopvacs around them.
Your layout doesn't even come close to that. Unless you have tiny vehicles.

 

[Ultradog MN]

100 amp electrical panel IN the garage. Preferably surface mounted so you can run thin wall conduit anywhere and everywhere in your new space. My panel is fed from the back. The vertical PVC pipe dead ends in the attic and is just a way to cleanly run romex up to the attic for all the overhead lighting, garage door openers, etc

 

[dcg9381]

Can't tell how tall, but regular garage height, do +1' on the garage door height.
Lighting will depend on how tall it is, but modern LED lighting is great and will solve all issues.
I agree with 100A for something this big.
Are you free-spanning 38'?

Dunno what's on the back side, but might want to make it drive-thur-able.

You've got heat, how about AC?

 

[gizardlizard]

I prefer a flush mounted panel for a cleaner look. I ran 125 amp sub panel to my garage. It powers two post lift, furnace, A/C, compressor, welder, door openers and 6 separate 120 VAC circuits. I also ran 13 pull cords from attic to top of box in case I need to add a circuit later. That has yet to happen. I also cut a hole thru the rim joist and ran 4” PVC to the basement into my brine tank for my water softener. I never have to carry salt downstairs. Simply fill from the garage. I love it.

 

[JEFFREYWisconsin]

I prefer a flush mounted panel for a cleaner look. I ran 125 amp sub panel to my garage. It powers two post lift, furnace, A/C, compressor, welder, door openers and 6 separate 120 VAC circuits. I also ran 13 pull cords from attic to top of box in case I need to add a circuit later. That has yet to happen. I also cut a hole thru the rim joist and ran 4” PVC to the basement into my brine tank for my water softener. I never have to carry salt downstairs. Simply fill from the garage. I love it.

now that salt chute is thinking!

 

[Ultradog MN]

I prefer a flush mounted panel for a cleaner look. I ran 125 amp sub panel to my garage. It powers two post lift, furnace, A/C, compressor, welder, door openers and 6 separate 120 VAC circuits. I also ran 13 pull cords from attic to top of box in case I need to add a circuit later. That has yet to happen. I also cut a hole thru the rim joist and ran 4” PVC to the basement into my brine tank for my water softener. I never have to carry salt downstairs. Simply fill from the garage. I love it.

Your flush panel does look much cleaner and nicer than my surface mount but I still wouldnt trade you. The ease of future changes and additions makes a surface mount more versatile.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I made the wall panel above the electrical panel removable to allow more circuits to be easily run as needed

 

[ddurrett896]

5) Attic Ladder to Storage Above

Do you mean like a pull down ladder? If so, skip it and go with a set of stairs. Put on a winch if needed out of the way but makes carrying things to the attic 100x easier.

My truss manufacturer added another truss to each side of the opening and I was able to have a 36" span for the steps.

Before you close up the walls, run a couple circuits to the attic that terminate in junction boxes that can be used in the future. In addition, add a 2" piece of conduit from the top of the panel to the attic to pull more circuits in the future.

 

[no704]

Put outlets >48” off the floors so you can store sheet goods.

 

[nadogail]

Many neighbours have admired the toilet in my garage.

 

[Natrops]

Can't tell how tall, but regular garage height, do +1' on the garage door height.
Lighting will depend on how tall it is, but modern LED lighting is great and will solve all issues.
I agree with 100A for something this big.
Are you free-spanning 38'?

Dunno what's on the back side, but might want to make it drive-thur-able.

You've got heat, how about AC?

I think regular garage height. Garage doors are 8’, you are thinking go with 9’?

I honestly don’t know if this is free spanning. There are no support posts, so I believe they are free spanning? I’m dumb to architecture stuff.

I think LED lighting is the way. I’ll need to read further on that.

On the back side it’s a walk-out lower level. I have retaining walls to allow me to get to the rear door and park our RV, but it’s downhill from there.

No AC ducted. Just the heat.

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[Natrops]

I prefer a flush mounted panel for a cleaner look. I ran 125 amp sub panel to my garage. It powers two post lift, furnace, A/C, compressor, welder, door openers and 6 separate 120 VAC circuits. I also ran 13 pull cords from attic to top of box in case I need to add a circuit later. That has yet to happen. I also cut a hole thru the rim joist and ran 4” PVC to the basement into my brine tank for my water softener. I never have to carry salt downstairs. Simply fill from the garage. I love it.

I just heard about the brine chute the other day from a friend. Amazing idea!

 

[jdm5]

Ethernet and speaker wires?

 

[D.Gribble]

Outlets. I have three outlets in my garage and wish I had double the amount or had changed the locations of a couple of them.

It also might not be a bad idea to take your plan view and lay out your anticipated equipment in the garage (lifts, air, deep freeze, rack storage etc.)

 

[Cairo94507]

More lighting than you think you will ever need. I would consider adding a compressor and a hose reel in the event you ever need compressed air. I would move the compressor into a closet of its own with proper venting and then conceal the hose reel in the attic with just the hose dropping through the ceiling. More outlets than you think you might need. Well insulated with finished walls. I have done porcelain tile floors in past garages, for the one we are in the process of building now, (grading should be done this week) we are going with power troweled concrete, 5" at 4300 PSI. Plenty of cabinet space.

 

[dcg9381]

I think regular garage height. Garage doors are 8’, you are thinking go with 9’?

8' is fine. Standard for residential here is 7'.

I honestly don’t know if this is free spanning. There are no support posts, so I believe they are free spanning? I’m dumb to architecture stuff.

Yep, that's free spanning.

I think LED lighting is the way. I’ll need to read further on that.

There's a whole lighting section... But design is dependent upon your ceiling height... I'd do dimmers, modern lighting is really really good (and reliable).

No AC ducted. Just the heat.

Must be up north...

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Put very heavy visqueen under the concrete so it doesn't wick moisture up through the concrete which will eventually cause your epoxy floor to begin popping off.

 

[Mikeske]

At the very least a first aid kit and fire extinguisher most folks so overlook that they could be working in the garage and don't have the first aid kit and a fire extinguisher as I actually have 2 in my shop

 

[rd65]

An additional 4' of clearance to the sides and ends for the principal bay where any vehicle work might occur. You need room to open the doors wide AND move carts, tools, shopvacs around them.
Your layout doesn't even come close to that. Unless you have tiny vehicles.

I think this made a world of difference for me. It looks a little goofy but you can't see it from the road. Don't go too crazy with outlets, you can always add another if the need arises. Don't skimp on lighting, crazy the number of people on here will put down $1500 epoxy floors and then buy the cheapest lights they can find on amazon. I have 16-48" twin tube led fixtures in my 32x28 shop and have 4 more to add when I get to it. Plan for additional tool chests, wish I had but without moving everything it isn't going to happen. School lockers are an excellent storage option. Absolutely put down vapor barrier under concrete.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

......crazy the number of people on here will put down $1500 epoxy floors.....

Who will put down a quality epoxy floor for $1500? Around here you're looking at $3000 and up.

 

[rd65]

Who will put down a quality epoxy floor for $1500? Around here you're looking at $3000 and up.

I was guessing, I just have regular old concrete.

 

[jkuro]

Sink. A couple of 220v outlets for welder, car, compressor or heater.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I was guessing, I just have regular old concrete.

Me too though I bought an off brand of the RaceDeck flow through plastic tile. It looks good but it allows a lot of leaves, dust, etc to blow under it. In hindsight I wish I'd bitten the bullet and had epoxy done. My neighbor or did it recently and his looks truly great.

 

[41ratrod]

Add outside receptacles, by the doors. My wielding table is outside I wished I had power out there, so I didn't to run a electric cord outside. Also add another bathroom in the garage you'll wish you did .

 

[PhilnTX]

Who will put down a quality epoxy floor for $1500? Around here you're looking at $3000 and up.

I just did a 24' x 30' floor with polyaspartic, flakes and sealant and it was $3,400

 

[jskicet]

I really like my exhaust fan. Remote controlled 8" 735 cfm split to 2 6" inlets with 14x14 intake grates. So nice to have when firing up the bikes or just enjoying a stogie. If your welding it would come in handy too.

 

[thammel]

I have a toilet and sink - powder room, but sure wish I'd put in a shower. I also have a nice utility sink and use that frequently.

You will probably want at least one ceiling fan. Up your wall insulation to R13.

 

[jbird5986]

Listen to the fellow about the toilet your wife will hate you evertime one of your friends blows up that bathroom by the kitchen.People always wanna add later much easier to do it now