New build starting in 2 weeks. Need opinions

[usa89gt]

I have been lurking and learning for a few years. We are finally stating to build our retirement home/garage and seeking some opinions. The garage is 44x30 with a loft above and likely a 6ft knee wall (not in pics). I am debating our stair placement on the far back wall of first bay door or the middle (as in the pic). Also, what "must haves" should I include during construction. Note: I won't be insulating or completing the garage/loft until my house is built and I have a better idea on my budget. Anyway, any feedback would be appreciated.

****I can only load 1 photo at a time?

 

[Cyberbear]

The most important decision is where the stair placement can be made w/o negatively impacting access to areas within the garage. The stairs should be easy to use, especially when carrying an arm load of boxes. I've always used a straight run against a wall as my most efficient use of floor space. Also, be sure the loft floor is rated for supporting great loads per sq./ft. as these storage spaces fill rapidly over time. Be certain to have adequate electrical supply for any future use, and always have extra circuit breaker spaces available.

 

[usa89gt]

The most important decision is where the stair placement can be made w/o negatively impacting access to areas within the garage. The stairs should be easy to use, especially when carrying an arm load of boxes. I've always used a straight run against a wall as my most efficient use of floor space. Also, be sure the loft floor is rated for supporting great loads per sq./ft. as these storage spaces fill rapidly over time. Be certain to have adequate electrical supply for any future use, and always have extra circuit breaker spaces available.

Thanks and the whole stair issue plagues me. Here is what I was thinking about conceptually. I will have 1400 square of floor space plus the loft but still want stairs strategically placed.

 

[Cyberbear]

You are the best one to decide what works better for you, but as your picture shows, the stairs as you show them takes up more footage than a straight run.

 

[kerr]

In a corner than you can make dry storage under them ,with doors if you want . Cant see them in the middle of the shop at all .

 

[bczygan]

First, please put your location in your profile.

Second, if the start of construction is in 2 weeks, you should have finalized everything long ago.

You should have designed it, made selections, had a takeoff and estimate done, gotten bids and awarded contracts, etc.

You should have a final set of construction documents, permits a contractor and a contract.

If not, then you are weeks, if not months away.

Plus I can't give you any advice until I know about your site and the functions you want to accommodate in the garage.

Bill

 

[tomroblee]

After looking at your pictures I'm having a hard time understanding how the building will be built.

The two pictures show a different number of steps. How tall are your walls going to be? What will be the ceiling height? (most frequently people put the ceiling joist on top of the wall plates so the wall height and ceiling height is the same. Sometimes people may build a 12' wall, but place the ceiling joists at 9' or 10' just to create some extra height in the loft or attic.)

What is the pitch of the roof?

I don't understand how you can build a staircase like the one you picture without some support for the landing. I also don't understand how the second floor (loft) will be supported above the stairway. (one end of the joist will rest on the steel beam. What will support the other end?) The logical solution would be to have a "walled in" staircase rather an open one. The joists could rest on the wall.

I would prefer a straight run staircase--made extra wide for ease of carrying things. Having a steel beam down the middle of your garage makes it difficult to do this unless you have very low ceilings or very steep stairs. I'm an old geezer with big feet and bad legs. I really appreciate wide stair treads and a low rise. Having the stairs against an outside wall eliminates the need for a separate stair railing on both sides of the stairs.

I can understand your desire to conserve funds until your house is built. However you should consider your future plans for the garage "loft". It's going to be less than a joy to carry plywood flooring and drywall up narrow stairs--especially if there is a turn in them. I would certainly consider leaving out a ceiling joist (or several ceiling joists) during initial construction just to leave an easy way to pass heavy materials up to the loft area when it is eventually finished.

Do you have any eventual plans for plumbing or additional wiring in the garage? It's cheap to install rough plumbing and/or bury some conduits for future wiring or water lines before you pour a concrete floor.

You mentioned knee walls in the loft. I don't know whether you were intending to have these installed immediately or at a later date when you finish the loft. When you do frame the knee walls, consider leaving openings for wide doors to gain access to the area behind the knee walls for storage, maintenance, or ??

 

[wssix99]

The projection of your middle bay out of the front of the building is going to cause you some problems with your floor. It causes what is called "re-entrant corners" in the slab, which lead to cracking.

Architects like to do this for aesthetic reasons. Many concrete contractors do not have the skills needed to identify the problem or creatively deal with it. You'll want to get very involved in this step of construction to end up with a good floor.

Do you have any plans for lifts or finishing the floor? You will either need heavy reinforcing, extra control cuts, or expansion joints to address the problem.

 

[larry_g]

For me neither of your stairs would work. I would have them on the same wall as the man door so you could come in the man door and a few steps to the left mount the stairs to go up. Either of your proposed takes a lot of maneuvering through the shop to gain access to the stairs.. My old shop had the stair in the corner like your second picture but reversed so the the start of the stair was on the wall with the man door. It worked well but maneuvering stuff around the corner on the stair landing could be a challenge.

Are you fighting headroom at the top of the stairs in any scenario?

lg
no neat sig line