I have a bid in on a house with a nice large property north of Chicago. It has a converted barn at the back of the property, 2 cars wide by 1.5 cars long with a caving in roof and gravel floor, but I'm thinking about replacing it with a 4 car by 1.5 car shop, 1.5 story, with a studio apartment/office in the top half story.
I've found a few plans online for 2 story garages, and I'm thinking of radiant and solar heat for both stories, 2 zones, one for the garage slab and one for the second floor, with two large window AC units handling the cooling garage and apartment, and insulation tight as a drum, 220v, compressor, etc. etc. etc.
I'm thinking slab footprint of 25 x 45 or so to provide shop space around the permimiter of the parking plus 4 honest stalls, and a 10 ft first floor ceiling for a hoist. I would use 2 garage doors 2 cars wide to minimize the appearance of the shop size from the house since ther is a driveway. Anyone have a plan source recommendation, or do a shop like this themselves. Any other thoughts? How does the footprint sound around 4 cars?
I'm uncertain between stick built vs. pour in foam concrete. I've got to make it pretty for the wife, and I'm stuck with cedar shake roof, and maybe cedar siding. so a decent grade, maybe one dormer. I want the long dimension oriented north-south, but a north facing dormer and a west side little porch.
Suggestions?
I've found a few plans online for 2 story garages, and I'm thinking of radiant and solar heat for both stories, 2 zones, one for the garage slab and one for the second floor, with two large window AC units handling the cooling garage and apartment, and insulation tight as a drum, 220v, compressor, etc. etc. etc.
I'm thinking slab footprint of 25 x 45 or so to provide shop space around the permimiter of the parking plus 4 honest stalls, and a 10 ft first floor ceiling for a hoist. I would use 2 garage doors 2 cars wide to minimize the appearance of the shop size from the house since ther is a driveway. Anyone have a plan source recommendation, or do a shop like this themselves. Any other thoughts? How does the footprint sound around 4 cars?
I'm uncertain between stick built vs. pour in foam concrete. I've got to make it pretty for the wife, and I'm stuck with cedar shake roof, and maybe cedar siding. so a decent grade, maybe one dormer. I want the long dimension oriented north-south, but a north facing dormer and a west side little porch.
Suggestions?