Building a garage.

[alan40]

Got the go ahead to build a garage for the tractor in about a year. I've never built anything bigger then a doghouse and that was quit a job. I'm looking for recommendations and links to any plans. I'm going to build a 24 x 24 two car garage. Why? Tax's!!!!!!! I also have two boys who will want some car space in the future. I've talked to people about putting in frost walls or just to go with a slab. Also trying to figure out if I want one garage door or two? Any advantages to one or the other. I plan to heat it also. Would of liked radiated heat but going to us the money for some other things. My plumber recommends Monitor propane heaters. Never seen them so I have no feelings on them one way or the other. One reason for propane is I already have a 500 gallon tank on the premises.
The budget is as always is driving the project.
Thanks in advance,

 

[woodmills1]

footings below frost line first. for a garage put the concrete up above ground level on all but the door side. I have a through the wall monitor in my 20 by 30 back room. it heats well but is loud, though that might not be a problem in a garage. think of it as a big dog house. at your size you can stick build it with a center girt and a post in the middle. all 12 foot except fot the roof rafters. my opinion put in two doors and an entry door.

 

[PTRich]

24 feet is an economical size to build. I would use 24 foot trusses, they are a common size wich makes them economical. I like monolithic slabs, you have a nice flat surface to build on, you can build the entire wall with plywood on it and hoist it into place. Makes for a nice square wall. Down fall is the wood is at ground level.

Good luck PTRich

(I am NOT a builder!)

 

[bky]

well as far as plans you might want to check 84 lumber if you have one of them in your area. they have plans for grages http://www.84lumber.com/

 

[Robert_in_NY]

84 lumber cuts a lot of corners on their specs, if you talk to them make sure you get spec sheets so you know how they are designing it and what materials they are using also talk to other local lumber yards as they will spec out the same size barn if you tell them the size this way it will give you something to compare for price and materials.

 

[Corm]

alan40 - Hi neighbor! I live just a few miles from you. I've built several garages like what you describe. If you plan to build a stand alone building, a monolithic slab will work fine. If attached to your home, then you need to use a frost wall foundation. If you use a slab, I would suggest laying down a layer or two of cement blocks to keep the walls out of the dirt. It's also a good cheap way to add some height to your building. Use pressure treated lumber wherever wood comes into contact with cement. Don't forget to plan for your electrical service before pouring the slab. As far as heat goes, a Monitor would work well. I've had good luck using oil fired furnaces from mobile homes. They are cheap to buy (usually can find a used one), they are designed to blow heat down so they will broadcast hot air across the floor, and are easy to mount to a wall.

Corm

 

[Rch]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.jlconline.com/jlc/archive/energy/water_heater_heat/index.html>Radiant heat using a hot water heater</A>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/h00028.asp>In a slab Radiant Heat</A>
Radiant heat is cheaper than you think and a warm dry floor sure is nice.

 

[alan40]

Hey Corm, we should get together over a cup of coffee sometime!!!! That way I can at least say I made it half way to Boondox's house!!!!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Take care.

 

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>one garage door or two? Any advantages to one or the other</font color=blue>

I like one big door. Easier to move things in/out. However, if you're going to heat it, you will lose a lot more heat a lot quicker with the big door. One door is probably marginally cheaper than two little ones. So, I would go with what works for you.

 

[Corm]

<font color=blue>one garage door or two? Any advantages to one or the other</font color=blue>

I've been told that in some towns, the taxes on a garage with one big door are cheaper than on a garage of the same size with two doors. Might be worth looking into...

Corm

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Alan40

24 is a common size, when I ordered the materials for my pole barn, every Yard I checked had 24' trusses in stock. Anything else they order for you. Took about a week to get em. (It was a long drive from the Truss Manufacturer-- almost 3 whole blocks /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif).

I went with 2- 10' doors rather than one large door for a couple of reasons: A. One larger door would have been harder for me to install in the likely event that I wind up doing it myself. B. There was some concern about the ease of backing a vehicle out when there is already another vehicle and who-knows-what-else in there. With 2 10' doors, we eliminate any problems associated with backing up, blind spots and learning curves.

SHF

 

[hwp]

Let me add a couple of comments. First re doors. I have had it both ways and I recommend one large door, the larger the better. Second, put a vapor barrier and insulation under the concrete floor slab. This will stop a lot of moisture from entering your garage and the rusting that goes with it. Third, as you are going to heat your garage, put in as much insulation as you can afford. If you plan to use stud walls, use 2x8 studs and 8" batt insulation. If you plan to use pole barn construction (my preference as there are no sills to rot), use 8x8 poles and 8" insulation batts. The initial cost of the framing and insulation will be a little more but it is worth it in the long run. Also use roof trusses so that you do not have any interior obstructions.

I have a 30' x 40' pole barn garage with two 16' x 7' doors plus two man doors. This lets me store 3 cars and my wife's winter beater as well as my ATV and tractor in the garage in the winter and still have room to move around. My truck gets to stay outside. In the summer the ATV and tractor stay outside as well (with covers) so that all vehicles in the garage can be in service. I heat my garage with a regular house oil furnace in the attic. It works well. I only turn it on when I am working in the garage. The garage is sufficiently well insulated that it never freezes even when the furnace is off for a week or more. I am thinking about putting a 25' x 30' extension on the garage so that I can keep my truck inside and have a service bay with a hoist. If I do this, I will put a 20 foot door in it.