New Garage Loft: Advice on my layout plz

[Zoobee]

Hi all, been lurking here for quite awhile and it looks like I may be set to break ground on the shop this summer.



I have been learning from the folks here about the various DO's, DON'Ts and "I wish I would haves." Very helpful stuff. So, here are some rough layouts of what I would like to build. Basically, a workshop/garage for the cars and a loft/office/gameroom overhead. Currently, the garage occupants consist of a 240z, 300zx and a 4runner. I don't ever plan on owning a supercab doolie, so 40ft in length seems ok to stack my cars 2-deep.

Some initial specs:

• 4" slab, 5" in the lift bay (may be easier to go 5" all the way)
• Attic roof trusses with 50psf
• 12ft walls
• hardiplank siding, maaaaybe stucco
• 4-post lift, probably end up stacking both Z cars in that slot
• Floor drain opposite the lift, for an indoor wash bay
• Haven't decided where to put the stairs yet, indoor or out

If need be, I have considered doing the loft only 20' deep, and having some windows that overlook the shop in the lift/wash area. If that would save money on trusses, etc. But it would seem silly to give up 20' of loft if it didn't have some major benefits.

I know you folks will find some holes in the plan, so here you go:

 

[Zoobee]

LOL, no windows. I will have at least 2 on both 40' sides.

 

[nova65ss]

Look alot like mine only much bigger, I am only at 24 x 26 with 12' walls. You could almost make an apt upstairs at that size I was able to get a bathrooma nd still have alot left over above mine. Good luck with it,


Jimmy


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1441

 

[Zoobee]

Have I posted this in the wrong category?

 

[1320stang]

I'd suggest moving the lawnmower door either to the left in the corner, or put it in the left wall and put your stairs back there. You have to run your stairs with the trusses, which will go left to right. Also, those stairs aren't long enough, you're going to need about 17-18 steps that are 11" deep (8.5" rise is the maximum by code as I recall), your 12' ceiling plus whatever the thickness of the bottom cord of the truss. You could wrap the stairs around a corner, but that may preclude you having a mower door. I need to get out to your place and get a lay of the land. Might be able to tonight, give me a call on my cell so I can get your number again, or is it the 4088 number? I can look at your truss bid and we can post some stuff here and get a better idea.

 

[Zoobee]

That woud work just fine, any evening this week. Yes, the 4088 cell number is the one. I need to get another bid from Higgins on the trusses, last one was for a 12/12 and that really skewed the pricing. I think they can get me at least 7' of headroom with an 8 on 12.

If you end up coming by, we can go up the road and check out the new RV garage my neighbor is having done.

 

[bans25]

This looks very simular to what I want to do.. , only I was thinking one larger door instead of 2 smaller doors..

Did you end up moving forward on this? any details changed?
thanks much,

-Bill

 

[KELLHAMMER]

Not sure where you are. My area floor drains in garages are not allowed by code. One reason is enviromental. The other if gas were to spill and go down the drain it could be a potential bomb.

 

[Zoobee]

Bill,

1320stang (Larry) came by the house and we looked the site over. We did some rough measurements and made a slight orientation adjustment. I've got quite a bit of site prep ahead of me, and it was good to have a fresh set of eyes on the site because I'm going to need more fill dirt than I thought.

I did finally find a set of plans on Archway that are very close to what I want (30x40). Most 3-4 car plans are set up with the stalls inline.. I want to be able to keep my project cars at the back of the shop and use the front two bays as parking for my current drivers. So I was glad to see these plans posted. I don't want to bother the truss guys again until I have more specs nailed down, but I'll probably get a new estimate from them based on a pitch more like 8/12.

Kellhammer, the drain is on a growing list of things to find out about re: my local codes.

Archway Plans http://www.archwaypress.com/product.php/651.htm

 

[1320stang]

Zoobee is in town, but he's on a septic system. But there's also a low spot behind his property that I suspect may lead into a pond. I'm doubting that he'll be able to put a floor drain in.

I've considered putting in a paint/wash bay in my future shop with a small pit with a sump pump to pump my wash water off into the ditch behind my house. I'll have a grease trap, most of what I'll wash will be dirt or paint solids from wet sanding. The opening will be smaller than the pit, the sump will have an air gap between the opening and the water basin as I plan on running a piece of culvert under the floor and up outside behind the shop so I can have a downdraft paintbooth.

 

[M5 LiTE]

Z cars? The first clearly shows a 993 and the second a Jaguar of some sort...

;-)

 

[Zoobee]

Z cars? The first clearly shows a 993 and the second a Jaguar of some sort...

;-)

Quickie find on the interweb. Jaggy kind of built like a 240z. I really can't wait to get going on this. Oklahoma hailstorms can get ugly. I'll have to get lucky until next year.

 

[ersatzs2]

If need be, I have considered doing the loft only 20' deep, and having some windows that overlook the shop in the lift/wash area. If that would save money on trusses, etc. But it would seem silly to give up 20' of loft if it didn't have some major benefits.

So my loft is just 1/3 of the garage floor space, and I really enjoy the feel of the very high ceilings, plus the knowledge that I can put any size vehicle on a lift. When I switch on the big lights it is a joy to work out there. My one mistake was not being more thoughtful about getting a trolly and hoist up by the ridge so that heavy things (snowblower, a pallet of snow tires, compressor) could be easily lifted up to the loft area. I'm sorry I didn't go with a steel ridge beam, it wouldn't have cost much more than the engineered wood and it would've been a cinch to put a trolley and hoist on it.