Would you build Up?

[Pugly]

Well I got my Garage Assembled or at least paid someone to do it. My kids want me to build an office aka "the Boys room". I mapped it out on a floor plan and decided to make it 14'x21' including the bathroom area. Upon looking at it, That's going to take up about 300 sq. ft. of my 3200 square feet garage. Not a lot but I could park three cars there.

So I am deciding whether I should build up and make the office a second story addition. My Eaves are 14' with a 4 on 12 roof so I figure I would need to start at the point where the roof is 15' high, or at least 4' in. I could use the space underneath it for a 7' tall parking area. Kind of short, but cars are not that tall.

If I did that though my building is 50' wide with a 14' tall door, 12' wide, so I would have to stop at 17'6" inside the building or I would overhang the door opening. I figure I could still make it 12' wide inside.

I guess my question is for people with experience building up. What other obstacles am I in for that I haven't thought of? Is 12x21 to narrow? The room would be 12x15 with a 6 x 7'ish facility area, (leaving the 5x6 for a stairway landing area).

Ideas? Suggestions? Pictures?

 

[Norcal]

Did you dig footings for a 2-story??? Am taking this as a change in a structure already framed, there are other things to consider too, but that question is a start.

 

[Pugly]

No, Its a metal building, I would basically be building a room inside that building. 5" thick re-barbed concrete with a concrete beam(?) around and crossed.

Built inside of this:

 

[ddawg16]

Yes....do it....check my garage build in my sig to see a smaller version of a second story....

For the most part, it's cheap floor space....and you get to keep the kids close.

 

[mdbeck1]

I would at least put an "office" in there. A bathroom would be a major thing but having a small area to just kick back in would be nice.

 

[larry_g]

I did a 12 x36' loft in my shop see;
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76641

Different type of building but it has 14' eves.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[sberry]

I did too but had made plans for it from the start.

 

[saabman]

That is one hell of a first step out of the front door.

 

[Rosco]

Zoning laws only allowed me an 800 sq ft footprint so I built up. I measured the knee wall hieght with a table and chair (not headroom) and was able to make my attic apt 18 feet wide. Even if the extra space at the wall is not usable for walking/sitting, it can be used for built in storage, wires, drawers, cable, entertainment hook-ups etc. Looks like there will be no need for the roof to be structural so let the imagination run.

Hell, you will be surprised how much the kids will enjoy helping to design it. I got some great ideas (some not so much) from my wife and kids.........

 

[ket-tek]

Yes. I vote go for it. Build up some of the unused space using the height above and keep all the floorspace you can. You got plenty of height elsewhere to still have lifts, gantry crane, etc..