New Garage

[VroomVroom]

In the works of building a new garage. However, I'm out to sea at the moment and will not be in . I'm drawing up plans just to see what it would look like. It has to be 24 feet wide, but it can be any length. I was thinking 40 feet. With a 6 on 12 pitch. I was going to put it on 4 feet of cement plus 8 foot walls, giving me 12 feet. What do you think of that size? Anyone have pictures or thoughts on their garages and wishes that might of had.

 

[dragoneggs]

Sounds good to me. I would love to have 12ft ceilings instead of my current 8ft. At least in the shop part of the garage or for an RV spot. While you are at it with your design, plan in electrical and plumbing and maybe air line with a compressor area that has it's own space to keep noise out of your shop. I am assuming this is going to be more that just a vehicle storage area?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Having just built a "multipurpose" garage (shop area, maintanance area, tractor house, etc..) go a little bit wider, IMHO, at least 28 ft wide. A 4' side space, 8' garage door, 4' space, 8' garage door, and 4' space. This allows storage for stuff along the sidewalls without interfering with opening car doors, simply more space. I did mine 30' wide, with 2' on the outer ends, 6' between the doors. The 6' center section is actually 2 story, but the second floor is only 6'6" ceiling height. Used primarily for attic storage.

 

[bigtiller]

I built a 24' wide garage years ago and never again. It was just to narrow. With two 10' wide doors, the car doors would bang on the wall we weren't careful. 26' would have cured that problem.

Also, a skinny, tall building may look a little odd......depends on the building site, and the beholder's eyes I guess.

 

[Fuddy1952]

In the 80s I had a nice big garage built and I can offer a few tips. The main section was to be 40'x60', six garage doors. I thought 12 cars...which it holds. Problem was that was outside measurement, so only about 2-3ft. walk through middle. I should have made it at least 6-8ft deeper. Then I had a 24x40 section added, one wide door. That is really nice, plenty of room. The best is a close but separate garage just 15x30. That's my favorite for one car, work bench in back, well insulated so easy to heat. Shade trees so cool in summer. Main section is two story...fantastic for parts, etc. Last bay near walk in door is very tall so opens up to upstairs, very tall garage door. Then small section about 10x20 off other side bath, shower, water heater, washer.
A few things to think about, mainly 2 story super nice, but sometimes adding 4-8ft can make a huge difference.
Off of front is an overhang for 6 cars so out of the weather, cars you drive a lot, great place to work on a running car.

 

[RNeumann]

4’ concrete stem walls is a very specific “commercial” type building and one that is going to add significantly to the cost. Most wouldn’t go to that extreme unless exterior conditions required it.

99.9% of shops end up with all the tools, toys, shelves and junk on the exterior walls. This means the chance of structural damage is very minimal.

Beyond that- I’d vote for a tall single door say 18-20’ wide. and make the shop as deep as you can go or afford. I’d also consider bumping out to 26’ so you can run the shelves, junk etc mentioned above down the sides and still get 2 vehicles in side by side.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Your 12' high ceiling idea would be awesome. If that was the case, definitely put in 10' high garage doors.

 

[two_bit_score]

Good recommendations.

 

[VroomVroom]

Well, I could go 2 feet cement, his forms on their sides, instead of standing up. Then put 10 foot 2x6's for the walls, still giving me the 12 feet interior height. As for the 24 foot width. It was initially for a 24 x 36 steel garage, so the blast rock was laid for that and no wider. For me to make it wider for a good solid foundation means I'd have to put off the whole thing. Which normally wouldn't be a problem but much happened to our homestead home, and I'd just like to get something up now. But yes, I almost wished now it was wider as I'd extend one eve out 8 or 10 feet with posts so I could stack wood or park something out of the rain etc. I also read about a narrow building looking too tall, and I am concerned of that. I did draw to scale, the front profile, 24 wide with 12 up to the eves, and then put a 6 x 12 pitch roof on that with 18 inch eves, just to see what it looked like. I didn't look like the best in the world, but not that bad either. It just gives me the height inside, so I don't know what else to do except to widen it which at the moment is out of the question. I am concerned of that though. I drew it with multiple different doors and I think the most practical would be a 10 foot high by 14 foot door.

 

[VroomVroom]