Need help with 28x60 design

[wsonnenb]

I am about to finalize plans with a builder for a 4-bay 28x60 garage/shop in the back yard. I plan to install 2-post assymetrical lift in one bay. Manufacturer specifies 145 inches minimum, but I know higher is better.

The last question I had for the builder is can I get by with 10' sidewalls with scissors trusses at about 6/12 or should I just plan on 12' sidewalls with scissors trusses in the one bay where the lift should go. At 6/12 divided by half, the top clearance would be around 13'+. I plan on 10x10 doors with standard garage door mechanism, and maybe the motor near the front for the lift bay.

Also, should I even consider attic (storage) trusses for the rest of the bays?

 

[bobbycoke]

Just an idea that worked great for me, I believe it is called a monitor barn, sort of like a horse barn with a taller center section and two "lean to's" next to it . Mine is 36'x40' and the side walls are 8' they could be 10' to accomadate the 10' doors. The side lean to's are 10' wide by 36' deep and the raised center section is 20'x36', I only have one 10x10 door in front and one 8x7 door on a side. The beauty of this is a 13' center height for the center section [for a lift, when I hit the lotto which wasn't last night]. The cost of the room upstairs 20x36 is very little only cost the decking and sidewalls as the roof is the same as the whole structure. I made the storage room [ wife will claim it so take warning] with 6' side walls and sissor truss at @9' center. The only other cost factor is the stairway up and if you want heat etc. After living with this for almost 2 years would ony make everything larger as you never have enough space! The "attic" as we call it a great place to banish the grandkids on a rainy or snowie day, they love the privacy to make noise as they see fit. I also suggest windows up there for ambient light af course that adds expense... Hope I was clear you can propotion it as you see fit good luck ,have fun!!!! bobbycoke

 

[wsonnenb]

Thanks for your ideas. I still like the idea of storage trusses giving some usable space. I guess I'm going with the 12' side walls and need suggestions on whether to go with one bay worth of scissors trusses, two bays worth, or just all four.

 

[bill9860]

I had 11' walls with custom trusses to get me 12.5' in the center of my in my 26'w x 28'L. Ended up w/ 15.5' of 12.5' ceiling in the middle.

 

[thrifty bill]

I would put attic trusses on half of it. This is your one chance to create a great storage space (and who doesn't run out of storage space). And it will help keep non-workshop stuff out of your workshop. Around here, Christmas decorations, misc lawn stuff, etc., etc., have a way of creeping into the workshop. My next shop will have an attic. Its also a great place to store less frequently used tools and parts.

+1 to windows for the attic area.

 

[jimini]

My shop is similar being about 29.5ft deep, I went with the attic trusses since I had a 10/12 roof pitch. But I did put some scissor trusses on one end to acomodate the lift, worked out pretty well. My walls are 10 ft, but the dropped ceiling puts it about 9.5 ft. I boxed around the opening for the lift, just to use my troupher lights I already had. I put stairs going up and have an area 11 ft wide by over 50 ft. long. Storage over your shop is a smart move. The 3/4" floor and the insulation between the rafters, and a little help from the dropped ceiling keeps the shop very comfortable. Very easy to heat and cool when needed too. Not boxing like I did would make it easier to modify some door tracks to stay with the ceiling line. Some pics I already had. the lift area and upstairs.
Jim

 

[wsonnenb]

Thanks for all your great responses. Builder said to go from 10' to 12" is modest, so I will do that. I like the scissors trusses for two bays (30 feet) and storage trusses for the other 30 feet. It probably would be very similar to Jimini's 11 foot wide storage. Would you please give me your storage dimensions, and if handy, a photo of the steps. Also the truss price difference from standard to scissors is $900 for 30 feet worth. Any guess how storage trusses would compare on price.
28 feet by maybe 9/12 pitch. Jimini, do you recall your pitch?

 

[wsonnenb]

Jim,
I see that your storage is 11x50 and your pitch was 10/12. What is your height in the storage, and did you build a set of stairs, or did you use pull down, and where is the best location for that? Thanks.

 

[jimini]

Its fairly tall upstairs, maybe 9.5 to 10 ft, of course the angle on the sides. I built mine about 16 years ago, my rafters are actually on 24" center, helped with the cost some and no issues with it. Something else I did was build shelving in every other opening in the rafters, and ran the wood floor out between the rafters for storage. And there is a closed in regular stairway with a door. I have one bay completely sealed off with a drain, water and exhaust fan. I ran the stairway against that wall and it cuts slightly in to my bathroom ceiling. You can see the opening where it comes up in the above pic. No picture of the stairs, here is an example of a shelve between rafters, about 23" by 50" deep. shelve above it is 40" deep.

I can get more pics if you want them, might take me a day or so to get them up, hope this helps.
Jim

 

[wsonnenb]

I'd love to see more pictures. How many bays do you have, where is the bathroom, how big is it? How wide are your doors. I see your suspended ceiling, but tell me about your wall material, and what you used for material above your scissors truss bay.

Thanks, Bill

 

[santagary]

Just an idea that worked great for me, I believe it is called a monitor barn, sort of like a horse barn with a taller center section and two "lean to's" next to it . Mine is 36'x40' and the side walls are 8' they could be 10' to accomadate the 10' doors. The side lean to's are 10' wide by 36' deep and the raised center section is 20'x36', I only have one 10x10 door in front and one 8x7 door on a side. The beauty of this is a 13' center height for the center section [for a lift, when I hit the lotto which wasn't last night]. The cost of the room upstairs 20x36 is very little only cost the decking and sidewalls as the roof is the same as the whole structure. I made the storage room [ wife will claim it so take warning] with 6' side walls and sissor truss at @9' center. The only other cost factor is the stairway up and if you want heat etc. After living with this for almost 2 years would ony make everything larger as you never have enough space! The "attic" as we call it a great place to banish the grandkids on a rainy or snowie day, they love the privacy to make noise as they see fit. I also suggest windows up there for ambient light af course that adds expense... Hope I was clear you can propotion it as you see fit good luck ,have fun!!!! bobbycoke

That's what I have...see avatar pic...very handy...

 

[swharris]

My shop is similar being about 29.5ft deep, I went with the attic trusses .
Jim

This is what I'm doing except a few feet higher. I'm going to use a commercial multi-segmented roll up door so as not to intrude into the space with door and tracks. I won't do stairs up to the storage, just a ladder and a hoist/lift like this that I will build.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200375817_200375817?ci_src=15781033&ci_sku=567696&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=Performics&cm_pla=Performics&cm_ite=Performics

 

[cobragrover]

Why scissor trusses in two bays? Wouldn't one bay where your lift is be enough and the other three bays of storage up top?

 

[wsonnenb]

Since I started this discussion, I got the additional price for the storage trusses and upping the pitch from 5/12 to 9/12. Too much for me. Now I'm trying to decide whether to get one, two or four bays worth of scissors trusses at $460 per bay. I've ordered the Bendpak two-post lift which sort of needs the scissors, barely, and now I'm also considering a 4-post also. Any thoughts on whether I need scissors for a 4-post if the ceiling is supposed to already by 12'?

How tough would it be to put the extra wide two post lift in the bay next to a four post. Should I skip a bay? I'm also thinking one 12' wide garage door to accommodate a trailer that is darn close to 9' wide. Thoughts on that?

 

[jimini]

Do I understand you want to do 12' ceiling and scissor trusses? The scissor trusses will really cut into your storage and 12' is fairly acomodating for a lift. A stairway climbing 12' is going to be a little longer. May want to go 30' in depth. It seems almost everyone's regret is not going bigger, its definitely mine! My ceiling height over my lift is 12'3", the bathroom is right behind the office area. The walls in the shop is a type of .5" hardboard paneling, used to be somewhat commmon in garages of houses. The ceiling over the lift area is a .375" plywood with lattice strips over the seams, like what is under the front and side overhangs of the garage. And 3 bays. Anyway, here are a few more......

door to right, far bay. Door to left is stairway.

Bathroom, you can see the stairs cut into it, but not a problem

opening for stairs in the attic, been meaning to put up some railing, sorry

the opening and a better view of the storage, hope this helps!

Jim

 

[wsonnenb]

Excellent photos. Now I see the upstairs layout. Man, that is tempting. The estimate for the additional height and attic truss cost, and stairs and everything are beyond my budget.
Thanks