New house, new garage

[peecee]

Hi all. My wife and I are tearing down our current home and building a new one. I have a need to park 6 cars. She has told me I can make the garage up to 24'x36'. This won't fit 6 cars. I've suggested an 18'-20' high ceiling and adding 3 4 post lifts. Does this sound like a good plan, or should I push for a bigger footprint?

In our town, the square footage of the living space has to be double the garage square footage. We don't want a huge house (trying to keep it under 2,500 sqft), so the garage is limited to a max of 1,250 sq ft.

I've never had to deal with parking cars on a 4 post lift, but I have 2 vintage VWs and a small camper that could be stored in my garage, rather than paying to store them every winter. I'd much rather do that. Thank you for any comments.

 

[bradpac]

If you're just planning on storage for 6 cars, a 24x36 would work. If you actually want to work on them or store anything else with them you might want to go bigger. At the same time, if property tax evaluation doesn't matter you could build a garage onto your house call it a hobby room so you don't have the sqft limitation.

 

[ford33]

OP it would help to know your location. Can't offer suggestions on sq ft size or methods to work around the limitations.

Having a limitation on a garage tied to a house size seems odd to me. Usually building sizes are limited to lot size and height limitations are tied to house height. I haven't seen a house sq ft limitation yet.

 

[glentre]

Using three four post lifts to store six cars would be your cheapest alternative. I have two four post lifts on each side of a three bay garage with the center bay open and I use it to store five cars. Your post is written like you are thinking about an 18' to 20' high ceiling. Why would you need something that high? I can park a full size SUV under my lift with a full size car on top and my ceilings are only 13' high.

Glen

 

[sleek98]

No need for 18 foot walls. 10' or 12' with scissor trusses should be plenty.

 

[CombatNinja]

You plan on another garage for daily drivers? Because a 24 x 36 crammed full of 6 cars on lifts will not allow any room for anything else. Echoing earlier comments: you don't need 18' to get a lift in. 12' is plenty.

 

[mikegt4]

Another vote for lifts and 12' walls although you need to check local laws for allowable garage height. Many places have maximum garage roof peak height restrictions.

 

[kwb]

I don't know where the OP is but this might come down to a game of semantics with how plans are submitted. Garage, basement, workshop, mechanical room are all things that generally are on a concrete slab.

Height can often make a house look nicer so building up with more space under the living space might serve your needs. 2500sf single story has potential for 2500sf of space under it.

Get creative but also some things might have to be tweaked after occupancy is granted for practical workability.

 

[CraigStu]

Since you have 6 cars to garage I assume you are a normal gearhead who works on his cars so I agree w/ Ninja that is going to be tight. I just did a real quick search and found most 4 posts are 9-10ft wide to the outside of the posts + some need more room for the pump. So they will take up nearly all of your 36 ft when you realize it would be nice to be able to walk between them, as well as between them and the side walls. So that leaves depth to provide working room. Can you go to 28 or 30 deep? If you go this route you could try to find the smallest 4 post for storing the 2 VWs. I think I have also seen a double wide 4 post so that might help. This one is only 17'3" wide so that is maybe a foot saved.
https://www.advantagelifts.com/products/advantage-sxs-10-000