Trying to build a 28x32

[quick60]

Finally after 20 years of septic and well water we get city services and I CAN BUILD A GARAGE!!!!!

I would like to build a 28 deep x 32 wide with half a room over the top, other half is vaulted for a lift. PROBLEM. Code dictates my ridge height cannot exceed 25% more than the house height which is 14'6". Builder says 26 feet deep is as far as we can go and keep enough roof pitch for the second floor room. Any suggestions?

1. Is 26 feet deep enough to work on cars? I know 28 is better but will 26 work if that is what I have to stick to?
2. Should I forget the 2nd floor and go with one story 28' deep by 36 or 40 feet wide? I definately have the yard for that but will likely be a more expensive building right?

We discussed a variance to allow 28' and room over top but he said not likely to happen because they have been very tight on the building height codes lately.

I am going to do some light autmotive/metal fab work, blacksmith hobby, and light woodworking. A 28x40 would allow me to seperate these work areas but the room over top was going to be a workout/mancave kinda area.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am trying to stay in the 25-30K area.

 

[427FAB]

28X32 with 15' ceilings/ small loft(storage only with an attic stairs going to it) is what I have now.I ran a small auto resto/fab shop out of it.I parked my
F350 crew cab dually in it and had plenty of room front to back and side to side.My garage cost about $30,000 with electric and epoxy on the floor by the time I was done.That was in 2002 though. 28x40 would be nice.I understand your pain with the whole septic system/well.I almost bought a house a month ago in NC and thank god I looked at the survey cause the whole 1 1/2 acre in the back was septic system,leach field,repair area.My plan was to put another garage up and a in ground pool for the kids.We ended up finding one with city sewer and water.I guess due to the soil a cesspool system would not work.

 

[quick60]

After reading a few posts here and doing some research I think I can do without the 2nd floor and go with 28x40.

My builder was at $25500 for 26x32 with 2nd floor turn key with no electrical. I think I will just have him dry it in with tyvek/roof paper and do the roof, siding, and doors myself to try to keep the project costs down.

 

[38Chevy454]

Finally after 20 years of septic and well water we get city services and I CAN BUILD A GARAGE!!!!!

I would like to build a 28 deep x 32 wide with half a room over the top, other half is vaulted for a lift. PROBLEM. Code dictates my ridge height cannot exceed 25% more than the house height which is 14'6". Builder says 26 feet deep is as far as we can go and keep enough roof pitch for the second floor room. Any suggestions?

1. Is 26 feet deep enough to work on cars? I know 28 is better but will 26 work if that is what I have to stick to?
2. Should I forget the 2nd floor and go with one story 28' deep by 36 or 40 feet wide? I definately have the yard for that but will likely be a more expensive building right?

We discussed a variance to allow 28' and room over top but he said not likely to happen because they have been very tight on the building height codes lately.

I am going to do some light autmotive/metal fab work, blacksmith hobby, and light woodworking. A 28x40 would allow me to seperate these work areas but the room over top was going to be a workout/mancave kinda area.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am trying to stay in the 25-30K area.

I built a 26 deep x 48 wide. The 26 is OK, I would like the extra 2 feet or more depth, but due to setback limits, that is what I had to do. I use my garage as a working garage and with the row of tool boxes along the back taking up about 2 feet, and the 2x6 walls using up another 1 foot, I have about 23 feet of actual working space. It is OK, I can pull an engine and do what I need. Bit tighter than ideal, somewhat depends on the length of the vehicle. Mine are typically old hot rods and normal size vehicles. Long pickups could be a problem.

With your height issues, I would maximize the depth and give up the second story. I have 12 ft high inside walls and a 4/12 pitch, or just a bit over 4 ft peak height above the walls. With your 14.5 ft limit, I would have at least 10 ft walls and (assuming similar 4/12 pitch) and 28 ft depth, you could just squeeze under the 14.5 ft limit.

Make as wide as you can. Adding extra width is not much additional cost, just extra truss or two and some additional wall framing and covering. Having the width gives room to put things on the side such as a nice workbench, tool boxes, compressors, welders, etc.

I had the contractor put up my building with it all finished outside and with bare minimum elec for code. I then ran all the extra elec inside and did the insulation and finishing work myself. Well, the insulation was actually cheaper to have installed than I could buy the materials for! So that I just paid for. Drywall on ceiling and OSB walls for me. Added a bunch of shelves that are just 3/4 plywood ripped to 16 inch width and the cheap formed metal brackets around the top of the walls for storage. Made a plumbing pipe tire/wheel rack that also hangs from ceiling.

Overall I am very happy with my garage, besides the depth issue mentioned above, but I get by fine. Trust me, you will fill it up and go as big sq ft as you can. Give up the storage above to have better inside height. I have flat ceiling with std trusses. R-38 insulation in ceiling and R-19 in the walls. Keeps the temps moderated real nice. Even in winter, I live in snow country, it never gets much below low 40's without heating it.

 

[quick60]

Thanks for the advice!!!

I met with the builder at a 28x30 two story he was just drying in today. Pretty sure I am going with the one story 28x40 and yes we are going a little higher with the inside ceiling height. Im really stoked about it. I will have two 9x14 rooms and 28x31 feet of shop space!!! I also recalled that after college when my daughter and I get back into drag racing we planned on a full size dragster so the extra depth will be nice for when that time comes.

The wife said "I dont understand why it has to be such a big garage?" I told her thats ok you don't need to understand now, but you will in about a year.