We have a two car; show me 20'x18'

[glsmaverick]

I am moving into a new house soon. The house is nicer and bigger and exactly what my wife and I wanted........except for the garage. Its a two car; which I am used to; but our old house the garage was 22Wx22D. The garage is 20Wx18D. Give me some inspiration for this size garage because right now I am a little disheartened.

Although the new garage has 16' ceilings; so yes a lift is in its future.

Thanks!

 

[dipper]

Although mine is not that small, it isn't much bigger at 20'w x 22'd. Check it out on the photobucket link in my sig.

Also, seeing you have 16' ceilings, you can have some pretty nice overhead storage; a lot
of solutions can be found by searching. The key to small garages seems to be keeping stuff up off the floor.

 

[Jack Olsen]

16' ceilings means you could add a loft section where the lift isn't going, or have an extra balcony wrap around three walls -- lots of storage.

The thing that would kill me with 18' depth is that it would make it harder to have a bench on that end. Are you planning on putting two cars in the garage? Fold down benches are one option. Having 'hanging' benches, where the support comes from above, so the nose of a car can slide in underneath, is another option.

It's hard to visualize a garage with those proportions. It might look as though it's taller than it is deep.

 

[sledmods]

mine is roughly 20 deep and 26 wide

with the cabinets across the back i can still pull in my 2010 Tacoma Double Cab Short bed and still access the cabinets

I think with your high ceilings i would mount cabinets high so that you can have a really high cabinet for stuff you don't need and another one below it that is still fairly high but easily accessible. (hope that makes sense)

Any work bench or table tops would need to be on the shallow side.

I really wish i had high ceilings.

 

[rieferman]

I'm in the process of building a wall on the garage bay side of my barn so that I can keep "shed area" away from the "woodworking area" (for heating/insulation purposes etc.). But, I can picture a future owner (or myself) wanting to use the bay for a car instead of woodworking, so I researched possible future cars. I found that trucks such as a Silverado with extended cab and 6.5 foot bed, or a mini-van, were often 18+ feet in length. So I'm putting the wall at 20 feet to allow room in front and behind a vehicle of that size.

Then again, if you're not driving larger cars, there's probably not an issue

 

[Kornnut]

Mine is 20x19 on one side and 20x20 on the other. Sorry the pics ****. My build.

 

[q20v]

Here are a couple pics of my ~19x19:

There will be nothing on the right hand and back wall, except maybe some small shelves. The work benches/tools/etc will be on the left side, and only extend out to the stairs. This will give me plenty of room to access the car from any angle.

 

[ymerej]

With a full 16' ceiling, my first thought would to have a 4 post lift on one side, and a full mezzanine on the other side complete with work bench, storage cabinets, etc. Another whole room to work on stuff, and park a car underneath it.

 

[metal1313]

i see the depth or lack there of as the major issue. you wont be able to park most large trucks or suv's in there, even with out stuff in front of it. for the other stuff id pull right to the wall, and then hang a tennis ball on a string that hits a point on the windshield to tell you your all the way forward, but not against the wall.

id eventually plan on bumping out the garage on either end. im planning a 14ish by 28ish garage, and dont plan on ever parking in it, i just want room to pull my truck in and work on it, that 18ft depth would make it impossible

 

[JOHN 86GT]

Any way to add on to it in the future ? Maybe a "lean to" ?

 

[mtm_motors]

With a full 16' ceiling, my first thought would to have a 4 post lift on one side, and a full mezzanine on the other side complete with work bench, storage cabinets, etc.

I couldn't agree more! I would love to see this...

 

[glsmaverick]

Thanks for the advice and what not. Luckily my wife and I currently drive smaller cars (Hers HHR, mine Audi TT). But when we have kids we may be in trouble when shopping for the quintisential "family truckster". We will be parking both cars in the garage to answer that above question.

The previous owner has a mezzanine running about 2' out from the north wall but its pretty hairy and would need a full rebuild for me to trust it.I have a few ideas for some drop down work benches that were inspired by Jack's garage as well.

My thoughts right now are to knock down the current mezzanine but leave the stairs coming off the current stairway heading up to the entrance door of the house (the house sits 7' above the floor of the garage due to slope of the property). That gives me a starting point for a smaller mezzanine to store summer/winter car setups (wheels mainly) and also recycling bins for seperating paper/plastic/metals. Then its the obvious jack shaft door opener to get the ceiling open. I am then going to install a single post lift on the opposite side from the door (east wall) to get the TT up in the air. This will hopefully be its only Michigan winter (Used Taco coming this summer). West of that (above wifes car) will be two Garage Gator's one for misc jazz that I dont use all that often and then one for bikes. I'll have the tool box underneath the mezzanine and air compressor under the stairs. Fold down benches will go along the north wall.

All of this will happen after I paint and put down flooring of course; I would like to run water to the garage and also install a drain so I can wash/detail cars in the winter. I am still trying to figure out a heating system as well.

 

[glsmaverick]

Heres a rough sketch of my idea for the place

 

[dodgepolara500]

looks like a good fit, but tight for doors opening and closing. If you have kids, look out for dents. I have a 22 deep X 20 wide and it it really not deep or wide enough for my needs. I have not even considered parking two cars in there so I admire your getting two in there.

 

[Evil_C5]

mine is 20x19.5 and its very snug with 2 cars and a work bench on the side. it gets the job done I guess.
http://picasaweb.google.com/briandrice/Garage#

 

[dlc]

If I remember correctly, my old garage was 18x20. Here is a picture of it all filled up. I have included pictures around the cars and up front to give you an idea of how much room you'll have (or won't have)

 

[nate379]

Would not be able to pull in most trucks I'd imagine. My place is 24x26 and I consider it a 1 car garage. Can fit 2 in there but it's pretty tight. My Dad's shop is 20x30 and it's not too bad on the depth. Enough room to get a truck in and a bit of room to move around it.

 

[jmauld]

Was that colt gt a turbo model?

 

[dlc]

Was that colt gt a turbo model?

Sure is. One of only 1500 ever built.

http://www.supratrucks.com/Colt GT Turbo.htm

 

[jmauld]

I used to have the mirage version. Have you been to 4g61t.com?

 

[65Stang]

I am just a smidge over 21' wide, but am also the same depth. Those three feet, if not available, would be a big factor. Upper storage is a must in your situation, I would think. A 4 post lift could definitely free up some space and make it a more usable 2 car garage, otherwise, it would seem to be a cramped two car or large one car with work space. Hard to tell...

View media item 3338
View media item 3339

 

[Rustang]

Here's a link to mine:

http://www.sr20forum.com/garage-tips-tricks/203834-garage-project-begins.html

Just about a two car, until I sold a few rpojects and can now concentrate on one.

-Jimmy

 

[KM1013]

Rustang: Like the vertical band saw mount. My son has a couple of S13's he's turning into one... I hope!

 

[buildyourown]

Mine is only 16' x 18'. It's not a garage. It a shop that I can just squeeze my van in for the winter. I've got lowish ceilings too. That said, I have a large mill, a lathe, 12ft of work bench and 5 roll-aways.

Wall cabinets help a lot. So does eliminating the clutter. If it's not a tool, it goes in the basement.

 

[FlashJim]

Rustang, I have a '93 B13 myself.

 

[JJ Deuce]

My current garage is only 20' deep x 18' wide also. Quite an adjustment from my last one that was 21' W x 25' D.

I'll post some pics soon, as I'm in the midst of making my garage more habitable.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

16' ceilings means you could add a loft section where the lift isn't going, or have an extra balcony wrap around three walls -- lots of storage.

The thing that would kill me with 18' depth is that it would make it harder to have a bench on that end. Are you planning on putting two cars in the garage? Fold down benches are one option. Having 'hanging' benches, where the support comes from above, so the nose of a car can slide in underneath, is another option.

It's hard to visualize a garage with those proportions. It might look as though it's taller than it is deep.

x100 on what Jack says about the wrap around balcony above with storage. That would be a Godsend to a guy like me who has an 18'x20' WITHOUT a 16' ceiling. My recommendation would be to take less than half the cost of a lift and use it for materials to construct the balcony type storage yourself. Get the lift later if you must. THEN, make drop down benchs as per Jack's garage (I took the liberty of posting shots of his).

My 1927 era 18x20 had about 6 feet behind it to the property line 4' block wall. A previous owner added a shop area to that space which is the only thing that saves me. I don't have a current picture but there is a 6 ft wide opening in the center of my garage to this space. It's got a centered work bench/vise on the back wall w/overhead ex-kitchen cabinets above. Pegboards on three sides and on what WAS the back wall of the garage is my tool boxes on one side and a 4' wide gray metal shelf unit for fasteners, sprinkler parts, boxed power tools, etc.... This is at least for now. It's only 6'x20' but it makes a world of difference.

 

[glsmaverick]

I definitely appreciate the availability of the loft. But I'll have an 1800sqft basement and half of that is already a storage area. So everything that isnt car related will be in the basement. And I am going to throw up a 12x12storage shed out back to put the mowers and misc outdoor equipment/tools. The loft that is currently there is a good idea but I am a very lean/non-clutter type person and the previous owner is a horder for sure. The basement was full and it all spilled out into this loft. I want to keep a chunk of the loft on the west wall (as shown in my drawing) to put step ladder, recycle bins and maybe a few other odds and ends that would be used inside the house often. This will also allow a place to put some lighting above what will be the permanent work bench for the garage.

The reason for the lift is that I want to get my Audi TT off the road next winter. I got it for a steal, it has low miles for a 2001 and its in pristine shape. I would like to keep it that way. This winter is killing me driving that thing. So I would like to pick up the Tacoma and with that being said; have three cars. I hate parking outside when I have a garage so a lift gives me an instant 3 car garage in two.

The four post lifts will not fit as most that I have found the footprint is around 18.5' long (18' deep garage remember) The single post will fit nicely in between the two windows on the east wall and will take up little space as well. Plus four posts will just take up more room. I think the Gator system for tools, tires and bikes will be clutch and also having the fold up work bench in front of the TT area. Plus I will go up the north wall with cabinets to store things. I am not afraid of vertical storage by any means but no loft as I want to keep the space open.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

All sounds good with the possible exception of carrying recyclables UP to the loft area only to bring them back down again when its time to turn them in.

My girlfriend had a NICE 220HP model TT in silver and I regret not having considered it when she sold it. Congrats, and a good idea to keep that out of the winter weather. Where are you located in the country? It's not in your signature.

 

[glsmaverick]

I live about an hour northwest of Detroit MI