New garage help

[sharpshooter]

I will be (hopefully ) building my new house in the next few months, I have some questions about my future garage. I ve never had a chance to build a garage that was the way I wanted it so Im looking for opinions from everybody. Im looking to build something to the effect of a 24x24 or a 24x30, Now some of the questions are....

1. Which way do I need to position the shop, the garage doors on the 30 side or the 24 side to maximize space?

2. After the shop I plan on purchasing a lift BUT it will be after the shop is built, what do I need to do to the shop in order for a lift to go in later on with out any problems, also, how high of a ceiling would I need and would the ceiling need to be that high throughout.

3. Whats the most effeicient way of heating it?


These are just a few questions I have right now, I just dont wanna go thru building the garage and then when its all said and done I cuss myself for leaving something out....Like I said this is my first build and I have so many things running thru the noggin, and you guys have all been thru this stage in the game so you now the feeling of excitement and the feeling of not thinking everything thru ...

I will be mainly working on vehicles (nothing major) your average joe type of garage work. Any help will be wonderful.....Thnx

 

[shopforeman]

1. Which way do I need to position the shop, the garage doors on the 30 side or the 24 side to maximize space?

I would put the doors on the long side so you have more of a work area to one side of the overhead doors.

2. After the shop I plan on purchasing a lift BUT it will be after the shop is built, what do I need to do to the shop in order for a lift to go in later on with out any problems, also, how high of a ceiling would I need and would the ceiling need to be that high throughout.

I think you will need at least 12' ceilings but check the lift you are thinking about to see what it requires.

3. Whats the most efficient way of heating it?

In floor radiant, hands down. Not only is it efficient, it warms the cold concrete floor and keeps the area within 6' of the floor warmer than the area within 3' of the ceiling.

 

[sharpshooter]

thx for the response, what will I need to do to the floor in preperation for a lift on down the road????

 

[Steve in Mi]

thx for the response, what will I need to do to the floor in preperation for a lift on down the road????

Again, pick out the lift you will use and build according to the recommendations for that lift.

 

[Red Green]

1. Which way do I need to position the shop, the garage doors on the 30 side or the 24 side to maximize space?

It depends on the size of vechicle if you are working on a 4 door dully pickup put the doors on the 24 side if you are working on regular cars put the door on the 30 side

2. After the shop I plan on purchasing a lift BUT it will be after the shop is built, what do I need to do to the shop in order for a lift to go in later on with out any problems, also, how high of a ceiling would I need and would the ceiling need to be that high throughout.

I would check out the specs for several lifts but I think 12' ceilings and I would pour the slab 6" thick where you want the lift to mount

3. Whats the most effeicient way of heating it?

Their are as many ways of answering that as their are members on this board.
The one thing everybody will agree on is to insulate as well as possible. There are several ways of using passive solar technology that would be very easy to incorperate into your building.

 

[Beachbum]

Can you make the garage 30x30? The biggest complaint I have heard from my friends who have built a garage is that it's not big enough.

 

[milkovich]

I would check out the specs for several lifts but I think 12' ceilings and I would pour the slab 6" thick where you want the lift to mount

X2

Mine is 4" and works fine with a two post (according to both the manufacturer and installer) but for my own peace of mind, I would have done 6" under the lift.

It's the kind of thing you don't want to go back and do after it's built.

 

[sharpshooter]

I would have the room to go 30x30 but as everybody else price is the determining factor. Can you guys give me some info on some of the soar technology? Im in tennessesee so the winters arent that bad I guess I could probalby make due with a torpedo heater...LOL

 

[Red Green]

http://www.homepower.com/home/
also do a search for solar on this board.

I am still looking for a message board like this one only with solar info.

 

[Steve in Mi]

Originally Posted by sharpshooter
3. Whats the most efficient way of heating it?

Their are as many ways of answering that as their are members on this board.
The one thing everybody will agree on is to insulate as well as possible.

Well said. The insulation package will be paramont to the final efficiency and comfort of your garage build. Give it your attention right from the start of planning and it will pay dividends.

 

[sharpshooter]

Thanks for all the help guys Like I said before, I have never had anything built so Im confused on several things, I just really dont want to forget something.

 

[Red Green]

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Alternative-Energy/2006-12-01/Build-a-Simple-Solar-Heater.aspx

here is a link to a simple solar heater that could be built into the building at next to no added cost at the time of construction

also just take your time in the planning stages of your building and plan ahead. You seem to be doing that I have seen several building that were not planned very well and they just wasted a lot of money.