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narrowest 2 car ...

maxspeed96ct

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Joined
Apr 6, 2012
Messages
379
Right now I have a single car port, looking at building a 2 car garage.

But im limited because of my towns zoning and property line distances..

Im trying to ask for a variance and etc but the town realy doesnt seem like they will budge, they want 15ft min from the edge of my structure to the propetry line. Right now Im 20ft away.

My question is, would 19~20ft be way to narrow for a 2 car? should I just frame out what I have and deal with a 1 car ?


My carport is just under 14ft wide, and I can add another 5 and be within range for my zoneing, but on paper 19ft wide just doesnt seem wide enough for 2 cars ....
 
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vartz04

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Feb 17, 2009
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Location
LaSalle County IL
most town house 2 car garages are 19x19. The one im renting right now has a 19x19 garage. what do you drive? that will help determine if you can get 2 cars in there.
 

nit2wn

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May 8, 2011
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909
Location
Centreville,Al.
Vehicle size matters most in this. We have an 18x20 and it's fine for two narrower vehicles. I have an extended cab Superduty and a extended cab Ranger in it. To get out of them and not trade paint between doors, each is parked with the passenger side mirrors 3-4 inches from the wall. One is pulled in and one backed in.inside
 

nehog

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Jan 2, 2010
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7,935
Location
Jaffrey, NH
My shop is 'divided into 20 ft bays, a 16 ft door each for two of them. I have no problems parking two vehicles in a bay though it is tight (well, one vehicle in each bay is a Hummer H1, which is a bit wide!!!)
 

hakatan

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Joined
Apr 24, 2012
Messages
8
Location
Connecticut
My 2-car is 19x20. We fit two small SUVs inside (RAV4 & Forester), but there is no room on the sides for other stuff - bikes hang from the ceiling and lawnmower is in a small shed - and the car doors can get dings easily if the kids aren't careful opening them :willy_nil
 
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maxspeed96ct

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Apr 6, 2012
Messages
379
Cool thanks guys, I guess maybe theres hope for a 2 car. My wife has a rav4 and I just sold my tacoma but i plan on buying another one soon.

What size door would be ideal for a 19ft wide garage ? 16ft , or can I go alittle bigger ?

Only other thing I forgot to mention is on the right side theres will be a chimney from the house , but I think It will just kill the walkway more then anything, i donty mind as long as two cars fit..
 

GirlnAgarage

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 21, 2011
Messages
4,668
Location
Texas
Right now I have a single car port, looking at building a 2 car garage.

But im limited because of my towns zoning and property line distances..

Im trying to ask for a variance and etc but the town realy doesnt seem like they will budge, they want 15ft min from the edge of my structure to the propetry line. Right now Im 20ft away.

My question is, would 19~20ft be way to narrow for a 2 car? should I just frame out what I have and deal with a 1 car ?


My carport is just under 14ft wide, and I can add another 5 and be within range for my zoneing, but on paper 19ft wide just doesnt seem wide enough for 2 cars ....

It sounds like you're doing the opposite of our garage. We have a 2car and want to add a carport on the side.

These are my inside dimensions and 2x4 studs: 18’4”w x 19’10¾”d x 8’3” h

attachment.php



The size of the vehicles will matter. A 19' is narrow for a 2car. If you've got 2 small cars you'll be ok. If you've got two big sedans, it's not happening if you've got shelves and a workbench. If you've got a full size truck, it won't fit unless it is another few feet deep. I've got photos of my garage and vehicles trying to fit in the garage if you're curious.


Like vartz suggested, if it has to be narrow, go deep or you will not have room for shelves, workbench or any storage. You'll have to choose between vehicles and wall space.
 
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jmauld

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Feb 13, 2005
Messages
672
Location
NC
Build the garage as big as you can fit/afford. That's always the best rule to follow.

19' is the minmum for a two car but it makes for a kickass one car garage.

Can you put a carport in that fifteen foot buffer?
 

NUTTSGT

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Sep 14, 2009
Messages
50,866
Location
Northern Central Ohio
I'd like to know who the idiot that originally thought smaller than 24x24 was ok for a "two car garage." Unless you have two dinky *** cars, they're about useless as a garage.
 

R6 Racer

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Feb 21, 2010
Messages
1,632
Location
Northern Ontario Canada
Read your building codes carefully. I had a similar problem at my last house. After careful scrutiny, I learnt that a garage was not counted in the buffer zone! Only the "lived in" portion was counted when figuring side buffer zones. I was on a court with a lot that had a 35' frontage & a 150' rear property line. we had a 10' buffer & I was able to have the garage 4' from the side property line.

I am in southern Ontario Canada so I can only comment on the laws here, but check it out in detail before you give up. My 2 car was 20x20 there & was ok for parking. Not good for working on 2 vehicles but when working on a veh. I pulled 1 out, centred the other & it was great.

Steve
 
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Dan in Pasadena

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Feb 18, 2009
Messages
13,107
Location
Pasadena, CA
My garage is a "two car" and was 18x18. I don't get it because cars used to be gi-normous compared to today, but whatever. I'd frame it as big as they'd let me.
 

GOLF for LIFE

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Joined
Apr 8, 2012
Messages
173
Location
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Mine is also 18X18 on the outside and is tight for two small cars. No room for the yard toys so I built a storage shed on the back. Works for me, only one car at this time so plenty of room.
 
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maxspeed96ct

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Joined
Apr 6, 2012
Messages
379
Mine is also 18X18 on the outside and is tight for two small cars. No room for the yard toys so I built a storage shed on the back. Works for me, only one car at this time so plenty of room.

Ya I have a good size shed and alittle basement space for tools. garage will be mostly automotive goodies , nothing crazy.

Read your building codes carefully. I had a similar problem at my last house. After careful scrutiny, I learnt that a garage was not counted in the buffer zone! Only the "lived in" portion was counted when figuring side buffer zones. I was on a court with a lot that had a 35' frontage & a 150' rear property line. we had a 10' buffer & I was able to have the garage 4' from the side property line.

I am in southern Ontario Canada so I can only comment on the laws here, but check it out in detail before you give up. My 2 car was 20x20 there & was ok for parking. Not good for working on 2 vehicles but when working on a veh. I pulled 1 out, centred the other & it was great.

Steve

Im looking into that, I spoke with the zoneing officials assistant who I think was pretty much his secretary . Im waiting on a phone call back from the official himself because after driving around the neighborhood theres a few houses that dont apear to be in the 15" clearance they told me about .



It sounds like you're doing the opposite of our garage. We have a 2car and want to add a carport on the side.

These are my inside dimensions and 2x4 studs: 18’4”w x 19’10¾”d x 8’3” h

attachment.php



The size of the vehicles will matter. A 19' is narrow for a 2car. If you've got 2 small cars you'll be ok. If you've got two big sedans, it's not happening if you've got shelves and a workbench. If you've got a full size truck, it won't fit unless it is another few feet deep. I've got photos of my garage and vehicles trying to fit in the garage if you're curious.


Like vartz suggested, if it has to be narrow, go deep or you will not have room for shelves, workbench or any storage. You'll have to choose between vehicles and wall space.

nice pic, i want one like it ! is there some free software I can tool around with and work in some numbers like that?
 
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