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Building a Garage, debating the size?

I'm planning on building a garage this Spring and need to figure out what I want as far as size goes. I'll be building it myself and will likely go with a poll barn style only I prefer pouring the footers leaving blocks above ground with anchors instead of burrying the lumber. I came across some nice trusses years ago (still indoors) and snagged them up so if I use them I'm looking at a 24'X40 maybe 60. I'm just curious if 24 is deep enough? Since I work at a sawmill the only real cost will be the floor, garage doors and the tin if I use the trusses.
24 aint deep enough. 30 at least. Garages are never big enough!! Go with a roll-up door so you have future space for a lift.
 
Well I have been prepping the wife....our next place is going to be a 6 car garage with attached house!
 
Been spending a lot of time tearing down the barn so I can start building, another weeks work and I'll be done. Now that I've got the area nearly cleared I can actually see the layout. There's several factors that are dictating the garage size and placement like ease of entrance (I live on hill), property line, proximity to electric, sewer and water, a huge boulder that no excavator is moving and proximity to the house (far enough away that the noise won't keep the wife awake).

I've changed up the plan, now there will be a 2 car workshop (32X34) with a lift and a 2 car garage (24X24). The shop will be fully insulated and drywalled (I like the fire protection) with a bathroom and a 2 post Benpak. The parking garage will be bare, just parking. Because it needs to fit between 2 driveways the parking garage will be stepped back so the corner isn't in my driveway.

I'm thinking a full foundation under the workshop (cut into a hill) and poll barn style on the parking garage to save time and money. When doing poll barns I pour concrete footers then bolt the timbers down so no worries about settling or rot. Once I get the ball rolling I'll start a thread. Thanks for all the tips... notice a lift was added:thumbsup:.
 
Here it is, this is a Sketchup program you can download that is very handy.

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I'm planning on building a garage this Spring and need to figure out what I want as far as size goes. I'll be building it myself and will likely go with a poll barn style only I prefer pouring the footers leaving blocks above ground with anchors instead of burrying the lumber. I came across some nice trusses years ago (still indoors) and snagged them up so if I use them I'm looking at a 24'X40 maybe 60. I'm just curious if 24 is deep enough? Since I work at a sawmill the only real cost will be the floor, garage doors and the tin if I use the trusses.
24' won't be deep enough. You need 30 or 40' deep. Remember, most of your actual work area will be up front. I had some space limitations when I built mine (pic). It is 24 wide by 30' deep. That gave me about 8' of working space up front. Also went with an 11' ceiling and roll-up door for future lift possibilities. Also went with a very stout trussed roof and full attic to accommodate a 2000 lb winch for pulling engines, etc. I have a very useable insulated, heated, full attic 2 car garage in a small space.

300 and 33.jpg
 
I agree, 24' is not deep enough. My "shop" garage is 26' deep & another 4' would be really helpful. Room for tools, etc.
 
notice a lift was added:thumbsup:.
Congrats! We installed a lift and it is nice with a capital N!!! You probably already know this but I would advise installing a. beam/pier where the lift is going to sit.
We had the slab company dig a 12d x 24"w beam where the post were to be bolted down, reason being we have a friend that installed one after his shop was built and the anchors are starting to come loose. I think his was just a 6" slab... He also uses his every day...
 
O.K. fellas it seams I need to explain this a bit better. The workshop will be 34 ft deep and 32 ft wide, only the parking garage will be 24 deep. My Charger is 17 ft long and like I said 24' is about all I can fit without moving driveways. Moving the driveway isn't an option, driveways on hills in Ohio need to be perfectly straight to hold momentum in the winter:D. My buddies shop that he makes a living working on cars out of is 32X32 and is comfy to work in. Keep in mind heating cost is a factor as well.
 
Ni
24' won't be deep enough. You need 30 or 40' deep. Remember, most of your actual work area will be up front. I had some space limitations when I built mine (pic). It is 24 wide by 30' deep. That gave me about 8' of working space up front. Also went with an 11' ceiling and roll-up door for future lift possibilities. Also went with a very stout trussed roof and full attic to accommodate a 2000 lb winch for pulling engines, etc. I have a very useable insulated, heated, full attic 2 car garage in a small space.

View attachment 352518
Nice
 
Congrats! We installed a lift and it is nice with a capital N!!! You probably already know this but I would advise installing a. beam/pier where the lift is going to sit.
We had the slab company dig a 12d x 24"w beam where the post were to be bolted down, reason being we have a friend that installed one after his shop was built and the anchors are starting to come loose. I think his was just a 6" slab... He also uses his every day...
Haven't put a ton of thought into that yet but was thinking about digging the floor deep enough to have a healthy 12" thick pad under the lift with 1" anchors anchoring 3/4" plate down, then mount the lift to it? I'd think a larger diameter pad 12" thick with rebar tying it all together would be very stable. A pier would be another good option.
 
Does your climate suggest an in floor heating system? In the cold northland I thought about it, but didn't have the time. Sure wish I would have. Gas unit heaters work OK , but the in floor stuff does a great job.
 
Does your climate suggest an in floor heating system? In the cold northland I thought about it, but didn't have the time. Sure wish I would have. Gas unit heaters work OK , but the in floor stuff does a great job.
I thought about it but won't be doing it, way to much money and I'm perfectly content without it. I'll likely propane heat keeping it 55 degrees or so and a woodburner to really warm it up when needed. The big thing is not allowing everything in the garage to get freezing cold. My problem with heated floors is it takes forever to change the temp and of coarse the money $10,000.
 
build it big and bigger and bigger you can never have enough of space :thumbsup:
 
Build a garage mahal, seemingly never big enough,
build as big as you can afford & then some...
 
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