Would this be enough garage

[topher5150]

So the wife and I bought our first house last year. Although it doesn't have a garage we have more than enough and to build a decent size garage. I was thinking something with enough room for the wife, and my project car and tools and keep the shed for the lawnmowers and stuff. This 24' x 28' from Menards caught my eye and the price isn't too scary. Do think this is a good starter garage with enough room for what I need?

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...25-c-9891.htm?tid=8019437011995464492&ipos=10

 

[NUTTSGT]

In typical GJ fashion.

No.



EDIT: What looks big enough now, won't be later. Several members have found this out after building.

If you're working on project cars, you need to work all the way around them and that garage pictured is 24' deep. Got a full sized truck ? You'll find out real fast that 24" isn't really enough to work on the truck.

The house garage is 24x32 and it's "for parking" only with a few things. I wish it was 28x32.

 

[mygarageone]

In typical GJ fashion.

No.



EDIT: What looks big enough now, won't be later. Several members have found this out after building.

If you're working on project cars, you need to work all the way around them and that garage pictured is 24' deep. Got a full sized truck ? You'll find out real fast that 24" isn't really enough to work on the truck.

The house garage is 24x32 and it's "for parking" only with a few things. I wish it was 28x32.

True , True , True . They are never big enough .

 

[mygarageone]

Go as large as you can afford !

 

[tarmy]

I thought my 32 x 56 would work...combined with the 30 x 24 I already had.

Nope.

Go big or go home, because the garage will be full....

 

[Hollywood D]

Go as large as you can afford !

This. I did a 24x30 and layed it all out on graph paper and measured my truck and tools etc and how they would fit in there. I wish i had gone a little bigger but it works well enough.

 

[WrenchinRider]

I would agree with others. Go as big as you can. I wish I had added another 10 feet both ways.

 

[drmarkr]

As large as $$ and building code will allow....

 

[Jackfre]

This is one of the things I like about GJ. The obvious questions, the obvious answers. Please don’t be offended, but My friends, the few remaining are asking which direction my addition is going. So, yes, it will be fine as proposed, for at least a couple weeks.

 

[DCarr2]

Nope. double it, increase height by 10'

 

[ambenz]

I went to the village building department and was told the max I could build on my little lot. 22X30, 10' walls...and it isn't big enough...and was more than I could afford at the time.
But I was young and we rolled it into our refinance and made it work with future wage increases.
View media item 47392
So I'd advice to build a pole barn side garage if you got the property....especially if the wife likes to decorate the outdoors for every season and holiday.
And you want to hang up a bunch of cool garage stuff!!!!
Go BIG and TALL...you might be able to afford a lift someday!

 

[apollo11]

buy 2

 

[ItsNemo]

You'll expand to fit whatever space you have. I'm making an 18x20 + 6x12 jut out work just fine and can squeeze two vehicles in when I have to or have great space to work on one vehicle. My old place has a 14x20 and I survived in there too. Sure I'd like a bigger garage, but it would just mean I'd keep more stuff around.

I think you'll be very happy with a 24x28.

 

[ddawg16]

It's NEVER big enough.

It's about par to asking a guy to never look at another woman other than his wife/GF
Not going to happen.

I have a 2-story garage.......it's not big enough

 

[Mikeske]

OK the GJ members have spoke, Now for the reality check. there are a lot of hidden cost in having a garage built, the permits, having electrical, water and maybe even internet lines run out to the garage, there also in the garage you had the link for not having the cement work included. You take the base price and basically adding in $7-8K to the cost to get a finished garage.

I already had a 28 X 48 steel pole building on my property but the thing was only 10' high. The issue was I wanted someplace to store my 5th wheel travel trailer and the steel pole building was high enough. So I had a monitor style pole building garage built to house the the 5th wheel with a bonus I could also keep the truck in it. The price was right around $25,000 for just the contractor to do the work for me and then another $5,500 to wire it and I had upgraded siding that cost another $3,000 and then another $2,500 for the cement 20 X 40 cement approach.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Save room for a basketball court or a bowling lane. Don't forget the indoor target range.
Come up with a plan to shame or discourage people from asking to store their junk in Your garage.
It often seems to happen.

 

[old__man]

Perhaps a more important question....how long to plan to live there, is this just a starter home?

 

[TMcCay]

I started with a 40 x 40 and now wish that I had built at least a 40 x 60. I did go with 12 walls though so that is covered.

 

[NUTTSGT]

OK the GJ members have spoke, Now for the reality check. there are a lot of hidden cost in having a garage built, the permits, having electrical, water and maybe even internet lines run out to the garage, there also in the garage you had the link for not having the cement work included. You take the base price and basically adding in $7-8K to the cost to get a finished garage.

I already had a 28 X 48 steel pole building on my property but the thing was only 10' high. The issue was I wanted someplace to store my 5th wheel travel trailer and the steel pole building was high enough. So I had a monitor style pole building garage built to house the the 5th wheel with a bonus I could also keep the truck in it. The price was right around $25,000 for just the contractor to do the work for me and then another $5,500 to wire it and I had upgraded siding that cost another $3,000 and then another $2,500 for the cement 20 X 40 cement approach.

Very true and you show how easily things can escalate in pricing.

OP, if you can do alot or most of the work yourself, you will "save" a ton of money but it gives you more for your money. Tell us more about you and your plan.

You can a turn key shop built, you can build it yourself, you can have a contractor close it in and you finish it or build/finish it in stages.

Most of us were without a garage at one point or another, we've all been there and a few have downsized.

 

[poncho62]

24x28 is a decent size....The trick is not to be a hoarder. Pretty hard for most of us.

Oh, and I have found out building sheds....You can build better and cheaper building from scratch than you can from those kits......I imagine garage kits are the same.

 

[finn]

I started with a tract home and a 20x21’ garage.

Our next house had a 22 x24’ with a 10x10’ workspace along side the laundry room tagged on to the back..

I lived there for over 20 years.

I rebuilt cars in both, and it was tight, but doable, providing you got the bikes and lawnmower into the garden shed.

I now have a 24x32’ garage, as well as 32x 54’ garage, a 48x75’shop, and two sheds.

I often look at the 24x32’ garage ant think how it would be like heaven to have that sized building when I was in my twenties, thirties, or forties.

One piece of advice is to shoot for 10’ ceilings if you can swing it.

I think the Menards buildings are just materials lists, so it should be easy to deviate for your needs.

As others have said, budget for concrete and electric, and don’t forget labor.

Make sure the Menards quote meets local snow load and other codes, and upgrade to an insulated door and good windows.

The local contractors here use their own plans, probably out of pride and independence, and most won’t use a kit.

 

[toolman9w]

The only make one size garage. To small. With that said the advice on cost is very good. How much time you going to spend out there.? How much stuff you want to keep and store.?

 

[toolman9w]

24x28 is a decent size....The trick is not to be a hoarder. Pretty hard for most of us.

Oh, and I have found out building sheds....You can build better and cheaper building from scratch than you can from those kits......I imagine garage kits are the same.

That's a big 10-4 on the hoarding part.

 

[crewchief888]

24x28 is a decent size....The trick is not to be a hoarder. Pretty hard for most of us.

garage size depends on what you plan on doing in there...

fully finished, "garage mahal" or a "plain jane" workable space?

if you plan on parking and doing some maint or repairs 24x28 will fit the bill.

if you need to have a fully outfitted wood shop, and fab shop, garage hangout, and still want to be able to park the cars, it's not gonna work out.

toss in yard/gardening stuff, kids bikes and toys, decorations, halloween decorations, and pretty soon the sides will be bulging out.

my garage is even smaller than yours. theres nothing non tool/ welding related in there now. 8x10 shed has all the yard related stuff in it. woodworking happens in the basement....

the garage came with the house when we bought it 10 years ago, i had hoped to build something larger (30x30 or 30x40) behind the existing garage , and demo the old garage...
i just dont see that happening anytime in my lifetime.

my key to "success" is trying to stay organized, not stock up on material, or hoard anything... i "purge" **** about every 6 months, and make a scrap run about once a year.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Go bigger. I have a typical 2 car, 19' x 20' with a 16' roll up door, There's an 8' bench along one wall, a couple of boxes of parts on the other and the project car in the middle. There's enough space to work, but no room for much anything else that takes up floor space. I wish I had enough property for a pole barn or steel outbuilding. Then I could get some vintage power tools and other equipment.

Tommy

 

[topher5150]

Thanks for the advice guys. This isn't going to be a mini fan shop like what some of you have. I'm looking for enough room for the wife's car to get out of the snow and a little work room. I'm doing as much of the work I can my self

 

[Bluedodge]

Howdy Topher - Welcome to the GJ, neighbor!

I'm in the next 'burb over from you in good ol' Barnyard Center.

When the Wife and I built our current house back in the early 90's, we came out of a small bungalow in GR. With four kids, we opted for maximum square footage over any "OOH and AAH" factors throughout the house. Standard height ceilings throughout, hollow core doors, builder grade cabinets, etc.

Same in the garage; 24" on center walls instead of 16" oc, basic "W" trusses instead of room-in-attic trusses, minimal electrical outlets. But by doing this, we were able to go with a bigger foot print (24x32) - three stalls on the 32' side.

I ran more electric lines as finances allowed. Garage door openers as finances allowed. Insulation and drywall as finances allowed. Installed the ceiling (Menard's Dura Panels) as finances allowed. More lights as finances allowed. etc....

I guess what I'm shooting at is if you can strip down any options and gain a few extra square feet, do it. Heck - four more feet in width would let you pop in a third stall and then you can get all three vehicles in there and not have to goof around with brushing off snow and ice.

Oh yeah - and what is your time frame for building? With the recent hurricanes and California wild fires, material / OSB pricing is currently high. While there are no guarantees, if you wait until spring, pricing may fall off enough to help you go bigger for the same general money.

 

[6768rogues]

When I am doing a project car I allocate three parking spaces to it. There is the carcass, a place for all the parts to be organized, and room to work on sub assemblies.

 

[themiller]

I had 30’ deep and wished many times over that I had gone 32’ or even 34’ - if you can swing it.

Would have been concurrent/handy to put two cars serially on occasion, especially the one I stored all winter.

24 or 26 wide - enough to have a man door and plenty of room for a 2dr coupe or extended cab truck to get the back suicide doors open, while also allowing room between the cars for bikes, motorcycles, air compressor or other stuff to roll out without having to move the cars. I’ve downsized into a rental 20x20 and it’s miserable - can only fit one car, barely.

 

[TheShrine]

Didn't read any comments not even the OP's question........just read the title.

NO!

 

[topher5150]

Howdy Topher - Welcome to the GJ, neighbor!

I'm in the next 'burb over from you in good ol' Barnyard Center.

When the Wife and I built our current house back in the early 90's, we came out of a small bungalow in GR. With four kids, we opted for maximum square footage over any "OOH and AAH" factors throughout the house. Standard height ceilings throughout, hollow core doors, builder grade cabinets, etc.

Same in the garage; 24" on center walls instead of 16" oc, basic "W" trusses instead of room-in-attic trusses, minimal electrical outlets. But by doing this, we were able to go with a bigger foot print (24x32) - three stalls on the 32' side.

I ran more electric lines as finances allowed. Garage door openers as finances allowed. Insulation and drywall as finances allowed. Installed the ceiling (Menard's Dura Panels) as finances allowed. More lights as finances allowed. etc....

I guess what I'm shooting at is if you can strip down any options and gain a few extra square feet, do it. Heck - four more feet in width would let you pop in a third stall and then you can get all three vehicles in there and not have to goof around with brushing off snow and ice.

Oh yeah - and what is your time frame for building? With the recent hurricanes and California wild fires, material / OSB pricing is currently high. While there are no guarantees, if you wait until spring, pricing may fall off enough to help you go bigger for the same general money.

Sounds similar to our situation. We were living in GR in the mother in law's house, which had a three stall garage full of her stuff, but I needed a little more space. We were looking at an house old farm house in BYC but it sold right away. I don't really have a timeline per say just save up enough money and try to use as many favors as I can.

 

[brownbagg]

why are you buying a building from a walmart style store?

 

[Voi]

We bought our current home 13 years ago because it had the largest three car we could find - 1000 square feet. We're now looking to build new home in part because it's not enough space. New garage is drawn in at maximum space allowed, 1500 square feet, and we're very concerned it's not enough.

Might even spring for parallel chord trusses to make room for lifts depending on what side wall height works out.

 

[lakeroadster]

This 24' x 28' from Menards caught my eye and the price isn't too scary.

Thanks for the advice guys. This isn't going to be a mini fan shop like what some of you have. I'm looking for enough room for the wife's car to get out of the snow and a little work room. I'm doing as much of the work I can my self

Do they have a 24' x 32'? The nice thing about the extra 4 ft is you can then have a 16' door and a 9' door.

You park the project car behind the 9' door and it's out of the way of the daily drivers.

That's what we did when we built out first garage back in the early 1980's... and it worked out well for us.

Good luck on your building. What's the project car?

 

[topher5150]

Do they have a 24' x 32'? The nice thing about the extra 4 ft is you can then have a 16' door and a 9' door.

You park the project car behind the 9' door and it's out of the way of the daily drivers.

That's what we did when we built out first garage back in the early 1980's... and it worked out well for us.

Good luck on your building. What's the project car?

I think they do
It's a 47 Ford coupe. You can check it out in the H.A.M.B. under the same name

 

[lakeroadster]

It's a 47 Ford coupe. You can check it out in the H.A.M.B. under the same name

Neat car... a buddy of mine has a '46 Mercury.. neat rides..

 

[Lelandwelds]

.especially if the wife likes to decorate the outdoors for every season and holiday.

Ain't that the truth!

 

[ambenz]

Topher5150....you wouldn't be the same Topher of "Topher Mohr And Alex Elena", would you?
Love the mix, As Sweet As Honey.

 

[topher5150]

Topher5150....you wouldn't be the same Topher of "Topher Mohr And Alex Elena", would you?
Love the mix, As Sweet As Honey.

Ummmm nooooooo

 

[orangeblood]

when i didnt have a garage i wanted a two car garage. when i had a two car garage i wanted a three car garage. now that i have a three car garage i want a four car garage.

the answer to the question is "no."