efficient shop/garage help

[jeff-san]

Can anyone point me to a past thread, website or give some helpful advice on building a shop - garage? I have room for a 24 deep x 60 wide garage. what works, didnt work, what would you have done different?

- gotta haves
- shouldnt haves...etc., etc.

Thanks...Jeff

[email protected]

[70 copo]

Three years ago I custom built a Brick 30 X 70 Garage that looks like a ranch house from the outside. Mark Hassett helped me design it and he was a great help as he has extensive construction experience. "Gotta haves" include Lots of access for the cars, which means lots of garage doors from different directions,- and be sure the external looks of the building match the area that you live in -because sooner or later you gotta think resale.

Try sketching out what you think will best match your current house first.

How much $$$ you have to spend will guide you from there.

Phil

[MikeA]

I am just finishing a two-car garage (22' x 22')and I should have built a higher ceiling, enough for a lift.

[djunod]

Depends on what you want to do in it.

Just storing toys?

Minor amount of work?

Lots of work?

Body work?

No matter what, a lift is always useful for at least detailing underneath the car, or for double-decker storage. Room for a couple of sofas or old car seats and a refrigerator is always good for a bench racing session with your friends.

[SamLBInj]

Thats a good size garage, scan a photo of your house with a reference to the garage and I will create it so you have an idea of how it will look...are you going two story, attic, lift, ect....

[SamLBInj]

[ QUOTE ]
I am just finishing a two-car garage (22' x 22')and I should have built a higher ceiling, enough for a lift.

[/ QUOTE ]
22' is a little tight..no work bench?

[MikeA]

I wanted to build a larger garage but lot size, setback requirements and anything over 500 SF required a grading permit from the town. That permit would have required delineating wetlands and a stream encroachment line. I was not going to do that extra work so I scaled the project down to 484 SF. I plan on having a workbench. All stationary equipment will be along the wall that has the man door. The door opens in creating a three-foot wide "dead" area that could not be used for anything except workbench, compresor, etc.

[camarojoe]

[ QUOTE ]
I wanted to build a larger garage but lot size, setback requirements and anything over 500 SF required a grading permit from the town. That permit would have required delineating wetlands and a stream encroachment line. I was not going to do that extra work so I scaled the project down to 484 SF. I plan on having a workbench. All stationary equipment will be along the wall that has the man door. The door opens in creating a three-foot wide "dead" area that could not be used for anything except workbench, compresor, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am in the middle of an almost identical project... and was limited to size for many of the same reasons you noted... Mine's slightly bigger, at 24x24, but its still smaller than I'd like. It IS nice to not have to worry about inspectors, etc. coming around all the time watching me smack my thumb with a hammer. I also plan to have a workbench on the man door side, which in my case is the back of the garage, opposite of the overhead doors. I put 3/4" plywood inside the trusses and drop down stairs so I can utilize every square inch above me for storing all sorts of junk, wheels, tires, etc. up and out of the way... I hope to have it finished before the snow flies...

[indyjps]

build as big as your lot will allow. it may seem like too much $ now but you'll always wished you added a few more feet. go as high as possible. if you cant do a two story try using a rat wall for height or get creative with the trusses to open up the ceiling area. i currently have a high ceiling that allowed me to build a loft for storage.
garagejunkies.net is a good site to check out.
sketch up your set up prior to wiring for welder, air compressor, parts washer, bench etc. add outlets in the ceiling for pulldown retractable cord reels ( saves tripping on extension cords) think about running air lines around walls or across ceiling for pulldown air lines.
good luck

[budnate]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I wanted to build a larger garage but lot size, setback requirements and anything over 500 SF required a grading permit from the town. That permit would have required delineating wetlands and a stream encroachment line. I was not going to do that extra work so I scaled the project down to 484 SF. I plan on having a workbench. All stationary equipment will be along the wall that has the man door. The door opens in creating a three-foot wide "dead" area that could not be used for anything except workbench, compresor, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am in the middle of an almost identical project... and was limited to size for many of the same reasons you noted... Mine's slightly bigger, at 24x24, but its still smaller than I'd like. It IS nice to not have to worry about inspectors, etc. coming around all the time watching me smack my thumb with a hammer. I also plan to have a workbench on the man door side, which in my case is the back of the garage, opposite of the overhead doors. I put 3/4" plywood inside the trusses and drop down stairs so I can utilize every square inch above me for storing all sorts of junk, wheels, tires, etc. up and out of the way... I hope to have it finished before the snow flies...

[/ QUOTE ]


Joe, dont forget to install a decent electric fan in the attic, this last garage we built I did special trusses to store stuff just like your doing and did not do the fans from the get go, well the first summer I had to pull wire and install them...if you dont want to warp any stuff you need to pull the heat out of there I think I set my stats at 80, keeps things toasty dry but not flaming hot. you will know what I am talking about the first time you have to go up there and root through the boxes looking for something during the summer,PHEW!!



Bud.