This Is My Dream...

[BuickBoy]

Before I describe what I'm looking to do, I would like to get rough estimates from you guys based on your experiences on what the garage would cost. I would also like input on what to look for as far as features and possible layouts. I have downloaded a free program and made a floor plan, so I will show that also.

Heres the idea...

I'm interested in space for 4 cars, two quads, two snowmobiles, general tool storage (lawnmower, leafblower, etc), and bicycles (I'm a HUGE cyclist also).

My dream is to have the garage big enough to house a loft like apartment/office space, both for guests and myself to have a place to get away. I'd like to have an automotive lift which would double as space to have parking below. Of course the garage would be equipped with all possible air tools, Snap-On tools, and other garage related tools.

In my opinion a good garage should have a bathroom, washer/dryer (stackable), small kitchenette, and good sound system.

I'm a freak about storage, and have connections to Garage Works so storage would be easy to find.

I'm really unsure of how big this whole thing would wind up being, but if given the proper space this would also be attached to the house as the main garage.

I figure the structure itself should cost around $50-$60k and when all said and done should equate to about $100k. I figure this would be an ongoing build with much of the carpentry work coming from my own labor, like I said I'm a Jack.

Here are some pictures of what I came up with just screwing around one night.

I was thinking about it, and if I could I would put the office on the main floor fully enclosed with windows so I can see into the shop. I'm in a bunch of car clubs and figure friends would be wanting to use the garage and the lift so this way I could be in the office and still keep track of what is going on out there.

Thanks in advance guys.

P.S. I know I have big hopes here but it will happen.

 

[HOTFR8]

Impressive design. Good luck with it.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Good luck on the build.

Im not sure I have ever seen anyone actually pimp out a Regal.

 

[BuickBoy]

Good luck on the build.

Im not sure I have ever seen anyone actually pimp out a Regal.

www.regalgs.org

Theres thousands of us

www.clubgp.com

Theres the rest of us.

Regals are W-Bodies, just like Grand Prix's... My car... a GS is the same thing as a GTP...

And thanks guys!

 

[mmg440]

Don't forget to have a fridge on the main floor as well, You don't want to have to walk up to the apartment every time just to get a drink.
If you do any engine work or trans work you might think of a clean room also.

Looks like a pretty well thought out plan.

I will have to check out smartdraw.com sometime looks pretty handy for brain storming.

 

[Fast Orange]

I like your layout quite a lot,but I have a few observations/suggestions to offer.
1)Flip-flop the apartment layout-make your entry into the kitchen/living room area instead of the sleeping areas.
2)Move the washer/dryer upstairs-carrying laundry up and down stairs is a PITA.Far more laundry is generated in the living area than in the garage.
3)Move the utility room closer to the bathroom/kitchen areas to eliminate the long wait for hot water to sinks/showers.
4)Depending on your local climate,you may want to rethink having plumbing in outside walls-even here in NJ,I've seen too many frozen pipes in seemingly well insulated walls.
5)Consider moving/rearranging your master bath to be nearer the rest of the plumbing/sanitary stack.The shorter the horizontal runs in waste piping,the fewer the problems.
6)Consider making the garage three doors wide-say 3-10 or 12 foot doors,with the apartment over the two on the left side,the bay on the right would be open to the roof/trusses for the lift.
It's only my personal opinion,but I believe the changes will make the structure a bit more practical to live in and easier on the wallet to build.
George

 

[tfi racing]

I'm with George,his suggestions will add a lot more efficiency and give you a lot more useable floor space.For example flipping that living area space around eliminates a useless hallway and adds that floor area to the living room/ kitchen space.

 

[racefab57]

This isnt going to be cheap,Are you planing to live here full time? I like the other guys suggestions also.Size wise ,you need to actually figure a size per car,etc...Meaning use a tape measure and measure your cars, and look at other peoples garages, and use the living spaces you have now and think about your needed room sizes.Measure your washer dryer,add it up, ADD EXTRA ROOM for these and other things in the garage.I did a lot of home work on mine before I decieded on doing it .THese are just things I thought about , Im sure you did this and will do more.Just my two cents.DR.

 

[Mike in Ohio]

A suggestion that occured to me when I was in my garage this afternoon, put floor drains in the floor under the cars instead of in the middle of the garage that way when the snow and ice melt off of the car it runs under the car instead of out between them where you are walking. Might be a little more expensive but when I look at the mess in my garage right now I wish I would have done that.

 

[BuickBoy]

Don't forget to have a fridge on the main floor as well, You don't want to have to walk up to the apartment every time just to get a drink.
If you do any engine work or trans work you might think of a clean room also.

Looks like a pretty well thought out plan.

I will have to check out smartdraw.com sometime looks pretty handy for brain storming.

Looking at the plan again, I realize that your suggestion is a great one. I would have a parts washer and sand booth in a separate room, along with a bench for working on transmissoins. Hopefully that room would be big enough to get my engine stand in for rebuilding them as well! The door would be wide enough to roll the engine stand in and out of also.

Also I was planning on having a drink dispensor of some kind, on the main floor!

Thanks.

I like your layout quite a lot,but I have a few observations/suggestions to offer.
1)Flip-flop the apartment layout-make your entry into the kitchen/living room area instead of the sleeping areas.
2)Move the washer/dryer upstairs-carrying laundry up and down stairs is a PITA.Far more laundry is generated in the living area than in the garage.
3)Move the utility room closer to the bathroom/kitchen areas to eliminate the long wait for hot water to sinks/showers.
4)Depending on your local climate,you may want to rethink having plumbing in outside walls-even here in NJ,I've seen too many frozen pipes in seemingly well insulated walls.
5)Consider moving/rearranging your master bath to be nearer the rest of the plumbing/sanitary stack.The shorter the horizontal runs in waste piping,the fewer the problems.
6)Consider making the garage three doors wide-say 3-10 or 12 foot doors,with the apartment over the two on the left side,the bay on the right would be open to the roof/trusses for the lift.
It's only my personal opinion,but I believe the changes will make the structure a bit more practical to live in and easier on the wallet to build.
George

These suggestions are great. Flipping them would be a good idea. You would walk into a larger space and not feel so crowded. The idea is that by the time you get to the apartment you would have already taken off your shoes and muddy clothes. Ideally the washer/dryer would be a stackable set for this, and would be placed at the landing of the apartment from the stairs. Thus reducing the amount of laundry carrying up and down stairs. Maybe the mud room should be at the top of the stairs, but having it at the bottom would reduce cleaning time of the stairs tracking up muddy boots/dirty clothes.

I'm with George,his suggestions will add a lot more efficiency and give you a lot more useable floor space.For example flipping that living area space around eliminates a useless hallway and adds that floor area to the living room/ kitchen space.

I agree.

This isnt going to be cheap,Are you planing to live here full time? I like the other guys suggestions also.Size wise ,you need to actually figure a size per car,etc...Meaning use a tape measure and measure your cars, and look at other peoples garages, and use the living spaces you have now and think about your needed room sizes.Measure your washer dryer,add it up, ADD EXTRA ROOM for these and other things in the garage.I did a lot of home work on mine before I decieded on doing it .THese are just things I thought about , Im sure you did this and will do more.Just my two cents.DR.

After further review, I would eliminate the master bath and only have the single bath. This would create a closet in the master bedroom. I'm surprised no one else noticed the lack of closet space!

No not living here full time! This is merely my garage! The apartment would be useful for visitors. I always hate going to a relative or friends house and having to live in a spare bedroom having to fit 3-4 people's luggage in the house and taking up so much space then having to find somewhere for everyone to sleep. Having a spare apartment would solve the problem!

A suggestion that occured to me when I was in my garage this afternoon, put floor drains in the floor under the cars instead of in the middle of the garage that way when the snow and ice melt off of the car it runs under the car instead of out between them where you are walking. Might be a little more expensive but when I look at the mess in my garage right now I wish I would have done that.

Most definitely! We have our home, then we have another house in the north country. Both have two car garages under the houses and the house up north has a central drain where our home has a drain for each stall. I notice up north where there is more snow/mud that the central drain is more easily clogged. Especially with a lift, a drain for each stall is important.


I'm thinking that I could move the bathroom and kitchen area in the top left corner of the main floor to replace the storage at the head of the garage making three consecutive rooms on the top right. This would create the space remaining for my ground level office.

Oh yes, I know this wont be cheap. I'm planning that the garage will be a third the price of the house. Houses around here pending location are anywhere from $250k-$400k, leaving the cost of the garage to be around $125k-$150k. I wouldnt build it all at once but I would complete it in phases.

Structure - Lift/tools - complete main floor - then apartment last over time.

Thanks everyone!