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New 40' x 30' Garage Question(s)

oliveriv

New member
Joined
Apr 17, 2012
Messages
4
Location
Pewaukee, WI
I've finally gotten the go ahead from the boss to put up an outbuilding to house a tractor and some future cars. Got to love being married to a farm girl.

After talking with the city, I will be allowed a maximum of 1200 square feet, with a maximum height of 18 feet, including things like a cupola. The funny thing is that given the size of my lot, they will let me have 2 x 1200 square foot buildings, within 10' of one another, but not one slightly larger, such as a 60' x 30' that I was originally drooling over.

Given my constraints, and a quick inventory of all our stuff, present and future, a 40'W x 30'D (or some dimensions in-between) building should do the trick. I would like this to be a three car garage with a shop, as I am a woodworker first, part-time hoarder second. In looking around the internet, something along the lines of a Behm 1554-1R plan, below, with the addition of a continuous rear shed dormer and 10’ overhang on the back, is the look that I am after.

My questions are:
1. To maximize shop space, I was thinking of going 42'W x 28'D versus 40’W x 30’D, with the hope of maximizing width for the shop area. To those more experienced, am I going to miss anything that one depth (or width) would allow?
2. A lot of plans I see online, such as the one below, seem to have a lot of very narrow widths between doors, in order to fit three doors in. Would three 9'W x 8'H doors be the way to go, or perhaps something like one 16' x 8' and one 9' x 8'? I'm thinking aesthetically, as well as practically.

I've been lurking for quite a while here and have learned so much already. I thank you in advance for any insights you might be able to provide.
 

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pattenp

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Jun 4, 2008
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10,175
Location
Virginia - USA
I can only speak on the doors. I have a garage that has the 9' wide door and it's a tight fit for a pickup with wide mirrors. And I have a garage with a 18' door and I like the width. So I'd vote for the one 9' and one 16' or 18'.
 

38Chevy454

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Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
4,036
Location
Cincinnati, OH
How about 25 x 48? That is wider yet and still at your 1200 sq ft limit. Only drawback is if you really want to do car work, the 25 ft depth will be tight for pulling an engine for example. I would do at least 16 ft wide door, and maybe a 10 ft for the other. Make your doors 9-10 ft tall so you can get larger vehicles or equipment in. Go at least 10 ft tall inside, especially if you do woodworking you need more than 8 ft height so you can flip a panel.
 

58Yeoman

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Oct 1, 2010
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8,999
Location
Central IL
My shop is 24x40, and I'd rather have a deeper shop, but I'm okay with the width. As was said, it gets close, and I'm not even working in mine yet, just storing my 'stuff.' One 16' and one 8' (I think), as I bought the place with the shop already built.
 
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rquackenbush

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Sep 18, 2010
Messages
161
Location
Raleigh, NC
I agree on having fewer, larger doors. I've had both ways in a 2 car: Two smalls and 1 large. The large door is so much easier to work with.

I also like the 10' minimum ceiling height. Mine is 8 foot and is a pain!
 
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oliveriv

New member
Joined
Apr 17, 2012
Messages
4
Location
Pewaukee, WI
Thanks to all for the input so far. I would love to go to 10' in the garage, but at 6'3" tall, and a maximum height of 18' to peak, I do need a little headroom upstairs.

If I go with only two doors - one large, one small - any thoughts on space between?
 

Falcon67

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Joined
Jun 11, 2009
Messages
18,371
Location
Merkel, TX
>25 ft depth will be tight for pulling an engine for example
Depends on the car - I pulled engine/trans combos in the old shop that was 23' 4" deep with 22" of that lost to toolbox and benches.

I'm at 24x40. I chopped off 12' of width for a work area, so my car shop is a little short. OK for two race cars but I need to rework a truck, so it's gonna be tight or somebody gets to sleep under the Mesquite tree. I left room in the back to add 6' in part of the building, so 28' deep would give you a lot of extra work area around a tractor or vehicle. Especially a pickup - my F150 Super Crew is right at 20'.
 
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