Smallest building/garage/shop practical?

[plinker]

I know this is a bit of a loaded question, but what is the smallest practical building size? I'm curious to see what everyone says.

length x width x celing hight,

one story, one story with up stairs storage or two story.

The main use would be vehicle maintinance/storage and various shop type projects.

Thats the criteria, so how big or small could you get away with and still be able to function well?

And no, I'm not building at this time, just curious. Everyone says the bigger the better, and I agree.

But what size building could you make do with if you had to?

 

[bigbubba]

It depends on how big your rides are,The garage can be alot smaller if you drive a smart car versus a hummer!

 

[bazzateer]

Too many variables.

 

[nkachur]

In my opinion you could get away with:

Width of largest vehicle you work on + 2 feet on each side for a walk way + 1 foot for both walls.

Length of largest Vehile you will work on + 2 feet on each end for walk way + 2 feet for work bench + 1 Foot for walls.

Height of the tallest vehicle you work on + 1 foot jacking space + 1 Foot for roll up door
OR
Your height + 1 foot for roll up door + 6 inches for head clearance.

Pick the larger height.

Does that answer your question.

 

[Jawn]

If you can take "storage" out of the equation, you can do with less space.

I currently have a 10x20 that I do auto maintenance / repair and general tinkering around in. Portable compressor is in one corner, toolbox on a shelf above that, workbench (being built) on the narrow wall. I do have a little clutter on either side that I'm working on getting out of there though. There is a single overhead 4-tube T8 fixture over the end nearest the workbench.

 

[plinker]

I'm basicly interested in what the minimum size building you could make the best use of.

There are certain things that change how big like, car size, number of stationary tools, and other "large items".

By storage, I refer to the tools that are used.
Be it an air compressor, tool box, bench & what not. Lawn mower's not included.



Maybe I'm just not wording this correctly

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

I could do quite well with a 12X21 with at least a 10' ceiling.
Figure the avg size of a car at approx. 6' in width and 17-18' in length- that leaves me with 6' for floor area and workbench and enough 'walk around' area at each end.
Granted, it isn't ideal but I could make it work.

 

[Kevin54]

I wouldn't go any less than a 16' x 28'. With that you have room to open the door(s) inside, walk around if necessary, and a little room at the front and rear. It would also give uou a little room to put a small workbench. As far as ceiling height...10'. This gives you room to put some shelves above without cracking your head whiloe walking around the vehicle.

 

[atotalnincompoop]

i 've built some cars in my old 20 x 24 garage, cramped to work in but doable. its a bit of a chess game, every move you make has to be thought out.
on the other hand i built some cars outside in my parents driveway during the winter as well.

 

[racerbob4]

We are currently building a second garage behind the new house. Unfortunately Arlington County, Virginia will only let you cover a certain percentage of the ground and all the lots are small. Our second garage is 24 x 24 but two story. This garage will be used to work on our SCCA race car. We made it 2 story because we want a lift on once side. The right side is 16'-9" clear so lots of height. The right side has a second story over it with an outside stairway so that gives us approximately 12 x 24 which is desperatly needed for all the spare tires, cases of oil and body parts. I wish that we could have had 3 or even 4 stalls which would give us the space needed. We have a lot of electrical outlets, two electric heaters, an electric rollup up steel door, concrete slab or the 28' trailer, extra 220v for a future airconditioner, and we are going to finish the floor with Rocksolid coating which seems to be the best possible finish for our use. We are going to build a couple of workbenches for things like small drill press, large vice etc.
The house and garage should be finished in about a month to 6 weeks. There is a web program that may help you and others at www.sweethome3d.com

 

[hdossett]

12x20x8

gives enough room to walk around all but the largest extended trucks, and room to work on standard sized vehicles. More height may give you room for more overhead storage, but, you did ask about the smallest.

Last fall I built a 12x16 shed for storage (sig line for my build) and a place to keep the lawn mower so it wouldn't take up so much room in the garage.

Have since moved the mower back into the garage and using the shed for storage and my wood working project. Keeps a lot of sawdust out of the garage and it is a nice work area.

H

 

[StingRay]

I had a 14 x 24 x 8 that I did an amazing amount of stuff in. I stored stuff and still could park my pick up in there in the winter. Length can make a big difference. I had a 22 x 22 that sucked. I could barely fit a pick up in there. At times my old 14 x 24 was actually better. I have a 28 x 44 now. I'd be kicking and screaming if I had to go back.

 

[Zeke]

I've built up 4 cars in a 10 x 20 carport here in the mild climate. And on one side are cabinets and bench. I agree though that not much equipment is going to share the space at one time. So, if you're welding, you get to have your welding cart and a work cart with those tools and that's about it.

 

[5lima30]

One other factor is lot size, building set-backs, septic drain field location, and utility easements/ right of way. JMHO.

 

[machine_punk]

I HAVE worked out of a 4'x8' storage area, with a double carport immediately next to it (by pulling my bench and tools into the carport to work).

The minimum I would want would be about 19x19 (on stall for a car, one stall for a shop--think '2-car, attached garage').

 

[A1an]

Considering my garage before this house was 0x0...anything larger than that works for me.

 

[southalabama]

My grandfather gave me some advise.......build as big as you can afford.....you will fill it up. He said he built each successive barn bigger than he thought he'd ever need. He filled each up no matter how big.

The biggest thing......get anything not garage related out of the work area. Built other storage areas for the other **** we accumulate.

Look at the 12 gauge garage. Jack has utilized almost every inch of a small garage. It's a working garage.

 

[factorten]

I'd think 12x18x8 would be about a minimum if you want to get a car in there and work on it. Im working out of a 20x24x9 right now. Id love to have a 36x60x12 or something like that. I'm looking for a bigger place.

 

[Falcon67]

Depends on the car - do you want to tinker on it, or tear it apart. If you are just "maintaining" then 20~21' deep x 9~10' wide will do. If you want to take it apart and keep it inside, then you need 22~24' deep to work an engine hoist with a motor and trans hanging off it. You can use a chain fall if you don't mind kicking the car out as you pull but you'll need a little more depth than 20' to make room to work. 12' wide is good for a single car with the doors open. 10' minimum and you'll bump the walls if the door is wide like a 70 Mustang or a 2 door intermediate. IMHO anyway. And that's assuming an intermediate - if you like to work on full size pickups, you'll need to add at least 2' to the length because a pickup is easy 18' or better long. Our Mustang an Falcon check in at 16' at the bumpers. The F100 I need to fix is right at 18 1/2'. I'll be pulling off the back bumper to get extra room at 23' 4" real depth. The back bumper on this truck is nearly 12" thick with the hitch platform.

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

Decided to chime in on this thread vs starting another.

I have a 12 x 20 foot detached garage that I insulated and ran 40a to with a subpanel so I can run a 220v construction heater in the winter along with basic lighting and small power tools.

I have 3 motorcycles, a scooter, a MINI Cooper Clubman and the various bits and pieces a family of 3 need - bicycles etc. It's crowded.

I work on the old motorcycles and it's stupid shuffling everything about to do a few hours of work and then have to put everything back. The car has to be inside the garage for the most part. I can park it outside the garage but I like to keep it inside.

Anyhow - I've got a pipe dream I need to bounce off people. In a perfect world, I'd install a 4 post lift in the garage, spaced out as far as possible, and would build a floor on it. 2x8 joists, 3/4" plywood, the works. Would put my motorcycle 'shop' on that platform, build a hip roof or otherwise create more headroom so I could have it all up on the lift with the car below. Pull the car out, lower my 'shop' and then put it back up when I'm done.

Is this nuts? It seems the construction of the lifts would prevent me from spacing them wider/longer than designed as they all seem to work off cables/pulleys etc. to lift the 4 corners from 1 motor.

Any feedback? Ideas? I can't expand the footprint of the garage, so 'up' is the only way to go.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I helped my friend build an 18x24x8 a few summers ago, and that is definitely the smallest I would go after being in it and working in it for a bit now.

 

[countrytech]

I have a 12x16x8 but I don't do any vehicle maintenance, just woodworking and tinkering.

 

[hughfree]

I am in the process of purchasing a house with a 19' x 19' detached garage. I can barely fit my '03 Tundra in the space and close the overhead door. My plan is to extend the garage a minimum of 5'. Personally, if I were building from scratch I would not consider a garage under 24' x 14' x 10' ceiling height (assuming you are going to be doing automotive work).

 

[ed_v]

If you can take "storage" out of the equation, you can do with less space.

I currently have a 10x20 that I do auto maintenance / repair and general tinkering around in. Portable compressor is in one corner, toolbox on a shelf above that, workbench (being built) on the narrow wall. I do have a little clutter on either side that I'm working on getting out of there though. There is a single overhead 4-tube T8 fixture over the end nearest the workbench.

That is the size of the garage at my townhome back near Chicago. I worked like you have for about 11 years. You can do a lot if you are creative.

Ed

 

[theoldwizard1]

10x20 would be adequate, except for pickup trucks. Of course, any under hood work, including oil changes means the door will be open and part of the car will be hanging out. You can never heat a place with the door wide open !!

An additional 15'x25' (long, 1½ car) and you would be good (except maybe for a 4 door long bed pickup).

Also, build a heavy duty shelf across the back wall, tall enough that the nose of your vehicle will fit under it, or bicycles, grills, etc.

It might look out of proportion, but you want it tall enough for an 8' garage door.

You also want an "attic" for storage space.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If I consider I need room to work on my F150 with the door shut (winter),it'd have to be 24' deep minimum. Then if I add in what I have right now (blast cabinet,parts washer,press, 40" tool box with two side boxes, radial arm saw,miter saw, table saw and bandsaw) I believe I would nothing less than 24' wide.

Honestly, I don't think a 24x24 would give me much room either as the Mustang resides in my garage too. It would have to come out to work on a house project or other vehicle maintenance. I believe I would haveto make it a 2 story for extra storage and such.

 

[bczygan]

A good thought exercise.
Let's start with zero space.
You have all your tools in the vehicle.
You work only in good weather in daylight hours.
Maybe you even have a gas powered generator so you aren't tethered to any one place.
Maybe a tarp and some poles to protect you from the rain.
Next step up is a temporary shelter and maybe an extension cord.
How about a service cart to roll tools to and from the house.
And you can build from there......

 

[Lkdelta]

A good thought exercise.
Let's start with zero space.
You have all your tools in the vehicle.
You work only in good weather in daylight hours

pretty much what I had on the base
did the oil changes, universals, and a fuel pump that "bolted on the engine block", not like the electrical ones now

 

[steam_mill]

Decided to chime in on this thread vs starting another.

I have a 12 x 20 foot detached garage that I insulated and ran 40a to with a subpanel so I can run a 220v construction heater in the winter along with basic lighting and small power tools.

I have 3 motorcycles, a scooter, a MINI Cooper Clubman and the various bits and pieces a family of 3 need - bicycles etc. It's crowded.

I work on the old motorcycles and it's stupid shuffling everything about to do a few hours of work and then have to put everything back. The car has to be inside the garage for the most part. I can park it outside the garage but I like to keep it inside.

Anyhow - I've got a pipe dream I need to bounce off people. In a perfect world, I'd install a 4 post lift in the garage, spaced out as far as possible, and would build a floor on it. 2x8 joists, 3/4" plywood, the works. Would put my motorcycle 'shop' on that platform, build a hip roof or otherwise create more headroom so I could have it all up on the lift with the car below. Pull the car out, lower my 'shop' and then put it back up when I'm done.

Is this nuts? It seems the construction of the lifts would prevent me from spacing them wider/longer than designed as they all seem to work off cables/pulleys etc. to lift the 4 corners from 1 motor.

Any feedback? Ideas? I can't expand the footprint of the garage, so 'up' is the only way to go.

I have a four post in a 10 x 20 space. Best thing I did. Direct lift sells the floor for the lift to do what you suggest

 

[805gregg]

My buddy just built a 50x50 with 16' walls, thats a nice size. $85,000

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

I have a four post in a 10 x 20 space. Best thing I did. Direct lift sells the floor for the lift to do what you suggest

Cheers!

 

[Doug1]

I could only get away with 20x24. I went 12' to the center so that i could put a car on the lift. Not the greatest picture but there is a thread around her somewhere with more.

 

[drooartz]

Space and sizing really does depend, as others have said, on what you're going to be doing with the space. I rebuilt a Bugeye Sprite (roughly 12' x 4' in size) in one bay of a 20' x 20' attached garage. Lots of space, even with it mostly disassembled I could still fit my wife's truck and my motorcycle in the garage.

I'm going to be building a 20' x 24' detached garage/shop in the next year or so. I need to be able to work on one car (MGB, I like small sports cars) and one motorcycle. No more and never any more than that at one time. I prefer a smaller space as I don't want more stuff -- got too much **** as it is, so a smaller space forces me to be efficient and a bit ruthless with what I keep. I honestly wouldn't build bigger if I had the space and money, though I might add a few nicer touches here and there.

The MGB is in a 10' x 20' storage unit right now, and that size would be workable if I didn't have the bike. A couple more feet wide, say at 12' would make it a little less tight. For me, a 20' x 24' space dedicated to the car and bike would be a palace.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

I've built up 4 cars in a 10 x 20 carport here in the mild climate. And on one side are cabinets and bench. I agree though that not much equipment is going to share the space at one time. So, if you're welding, you get to have your welding cart and a work cart with those tools and that's about it.

Yep. I built a few cars out of a wooden tool cabinet on my porch, and a smll storage closet by my front door. Everything happened out by the curb except for engine assembly.