Building a Garage, debating the size?

747mopar · Dec 28, 2015

Well.. bigger is better is the main response haha, no surprise there! Here's the thing, while bigger is better in most cases you also have to figure in Ohio weather............ Creating a big enough but not to big space means cheaper climate control. Bodywork in Ohio can be a nightmare with the humidity and a real pain in the freezing cold winters so heating and cooling is a big factor. Here's what I'm thinking right now, build the garage as if it were 2, the 1st would be a 24X24 with 2 bays only for parking cars and storing yard equipment (no heat or insulation or at least for now) the 2nd would be 32X32 with a 16 ceiling allowing the extensions to the trusses for more space and a second story for storage.

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Ghostrider 67 said:
I also have 11 acres in the country with the only restriction of a 50 foot set back from the dirt road. I have 1480 feet of road frontage. I keep threatening to build a big garage but so far no dice from the misses. Still in one bay of a double garage. It's 12x 30.

As to your question...i suppose bigger is always better. I'd use your 24' trusses and go long...then add a cement pad about 12x24 in the middle with doors into the bigger space. Frame it up as storage and put your stuff in there like parts and equipment you don't always use. As usual you should try to be creative with the vertical aspect of your space. Make the building ceiling height high enough to install a post lift or rotisserie. Hanging hoods, fenders, door shells etc from the ceiling rafters frees up space below, hanging smaller parts on wall space does too. Good luck! As far as separate space for welding/fab and bodywork i would just buy some heavy mil thick plastic sheeting and hang it as an overlapping curtain to separate the spaces.

I think we think alike................ your the one doing all the crazy mods to your car too right haha? Yes the vertical aspect is the real trick, I've got a loft in my current garage and is unbelievably handy for storing body parts while restoring a car. Some good ideas there.

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Hemirunner said:
Here's mine. It's 28 x 44. I was limited to 1250sq ft since I'm in the city limits. If I were in your situation, a 30x60 would sure be nice. I put in an exterior entrance for the attic as I'm not getting any younger. It's 4' wide and is really nice when hauling up hoods and fenders.

Love the upstairs steps! Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I live on a hillside and it might be possible to make a ramp into the upstairs? Beautiful shop Hemi.

hunt2elk · Dec 28, 2015

Mine is 42 x 64, and I sure wouldn't mind if it was a bit bigger.

747mopar · Dec 28, 2015

Cranky said:
I built a 28x52 and was already pushing deed restrictions but with what I know now, wish I had built a lot bigger and thumbed my nose at the deed restriction police. I laid down a 25x25 pad out behind the building and then put up a carport and have been thinking of enclosing it. Will you still be able to use the 32x100 to store anything if you build your own place? If I ever get to move out to the country, a 5000 sq ft building will be built as I'm tired of having to walk around all the stuff that's in the shop. 12x16 build room, 3 cars, engine lathe, milling machine, tool boxes, welding machines, metal working machines, work benches, refrigerator, freezer.....you get the message. Go twice as big as you think you will ever need and add 10%!

I'll also have a lathe, milling machine, welders, band saw, etc so I'll allow for that as well.

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super-bee_ski said:
I personally believe:
Go Big

Mine is going to be 30 X 40
I like the 30 foot depth
Enables you to go a car deep and then some xtra footage.

I take it your going Steel?

Yeap, we've got some Amish that make siding pretty cheap if you don't mind washing their dirty footprints off of it haha.

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Coronet 500 said:
I'm guessing the truss you have are limiting you to 24ft and you can add more to increase length. I agree bigger is better but my advice is to have one or two enclosed spaces.

One for sure if you do welding fabrication a closed room will keep the black grinding dust from covering everything in an open space.

A second as a tool storage for larger not always used equipment to keep the larger area free.

Yes there will be an area for the restoration work, I do my restorations from the ground up including paint so that's a must.

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Thanks guys, allot of good ideas...... time to start drawing up a plan.

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hunt2elk said:
Mine is 42 x 64, and I sure wouldn't mind if it was a bit bigger.

That's pretty close to the size that I work in now but it's a bare to get warmed up in the winter months. The plan for heating is to put in an outdoor wood burner (boiler) big enough to heat our home and maintain 55 degrees in the garage so it won't take much to bump it up on the weekends.

Hemirunner · Dec 28, 2015

747mopar said:
Well.. bigger is better is the main response haha,

Love the upstairs steps! Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I live on a hillside and it might be possible to make a ramp into the upstairs? Beautiful shop Hemi.

Thanks, my only complaint is that it's not bigger! I still tell everyone it's half the size I wanted and twice what I could afford!! I like the idea of the ramp into the upstairs, that would let you use a two wheel dolly for the hard to handle items.

Homstead · Dec 28, 2015

Agree with everyone on bigger is better. My shop is 26 x 42 with a second floor and storage above that. Good thing is its all divided into sections so only heating up what I need. Bad thing it's heated with oil and electricity. Still works out ok. If it was all on one floor I think I would still have it sectioned off. Also have a 34 x 30 shop in the back for car and truck storage. Built the trusses myself and saved alot.

ckessel · Dec 28, 2015

Your depth should account for the longest vehicle you might put in plus any benches, tool boxes, machines etc with walking room between car and them plus car and garage doors. You don't want to park, then have to shuffle-walk to move around. Also make it tall enough to put a lift in that will allow a car/truck to be on it fully lifted and not hit anything. Use your overhead dead space to your advantage with bulky parts stored there. I picked up a couple of retractable basket lifts through Sears that are like 4x4 and rated for 200lbs each. Get as much shelving as you can find for storing other items so you can free up floor space. Make sure the shelves can handle some serious weight so blocks, diffs, trans etc can be stored on the lower levels. I got some nice ones at Costco that will handle 1k per shelf. Another thing I've done is put my metal working machines on wheels so I can park them in a corner or open area then move them as needed. This way I don't need any extra bodies to move things plus you don't end up with a heavy elephant in the middle of the floor. Ikea is a good source for wall cabinets or maybe score some takeouts from a remodel or scrap sale. Lots of possibilities!

shag766 · Dec 29, 2015

"...like Patrick said the most your budget can go.." budget is no big deal, in fact it is simple, whatever you figure your costs will be all in, DOUBLE IT plus 10%.

MoparMitch · Dec 29, 2015

I built mine 35 x 45, but as stated, never large enough. Have already outgrown mine in 15 yrs. Thinking of adding a 18x35 lean to/add on , then closing it in for more car storage later.
Mine has HVAC with LPG back up heat. Plumbing, Lift in lower bay, because the property rolls downhill on that side. Allowed for 14ft ceiling in that bay for tall lift. Also has 2 bedroom, 2 bath 1400 sq ft apartment upstairs, completely separate, with full amenities .
Obviously the shop is on my 3ac homesite. I have mentioned to the Wife, that when we get older, we can get the renters out of the apartment. Move into it ourselves, and rent the big house to someone that will handle all the property and building upkeep. I gotta Plan !!

Cranky · Dec 29, 2015

I thought about adding around 8-900 sq ft on my shop and making it living quarters for us and renting out the house in front but my wife isn't too keen on the idea. So I mentioned that I could use the extra space anyways. She's not cool with that either lol

747mopar · Dec 29, 2015

Cranky said:
I thought about adding around 8-900 sq ft on my shop and making it living quarters for us and renting out the house in front but my wife isn't too keen on the idea. So I mentioned that I could use the extra space anyways. She's not cool with that either lol

Sounds familiar haha.

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68chicken said:
I built mine 35 x 45, but as stated, never large enough. Have already outgrown mine in 15 yrs. Thinking of adding a 18x35 lean to/add on , then closing it in for more car storage later.
Mine has HVAC with LPG back up heat. Plumbing, Lift in lower bay, because the property rolls downhill on that side. Allowed for 14ft ceiling in that bay for tall lift. Also has 2 bedroom, 2 bath 1400 sq ft apartment upstairs, completely separate, with full amenities .
Obviously the shop is on my 3ac homesite. I have mentioned to the Wife, that when we get older, we can get the renters out of the apartment. Move into it ourselves, and rent the big house to someone that will handle all the property and building upkeep. I gotta Plan !!

Wow, that's a pretty sweet garage!

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I think the big key is organizing and not hoarding, I'm pretty good about not keeping a bunch of junk sitting around and making the most out of my space. Still not sold on a lift? To me it's allot of wasted space but can see the advantages, I'll likely build with the possibility in mind regardless since I won't be young forever.

HT413 · Dec 29, 2015

Only thing I'll add here is that you will live to regret that 24' dimension, as I consider that to be the minimum dimension required to park a b body and have room to walk around front and back. Perhaps you could use the trusses for the shop portion of the garage and make the restoration portion deeper.

the shop I just built is 20 wide X 30 deep and boy do I love the 30 deep. I know, it's tiny by most people's standards lol, but I'm in suburban NJ and up against a property line.

MoparMitch · Dec 29, 2015

My youngest son Matt who is a wrench, just bought a house with a shop and moved. Perhaps now I can get better organized. And KEEP it that way. LOL

71charger_fan · Dec 29, 2015

Zoning restrictions in my section of the county here in MD restrict separate outbuildings to no more than 600 square feet, so I wound up with a 22x27 with a second floor loft for storage. I wanted a 24x28 at a minimum, but wasn't allowed to have it. That extra two feet in width would have made a huge difference. I've got a 2013 Wrangler, 2015 Challenger, Cub Cadet lawn tractor, snow blower, push mower, and a couple of bicycles in the downstairs and it all fits, even giving up space for internal stairs. But, bigger would be so, so much better.

jakepup · Dec 29, 2015

40x60 for sure!!!!
will let you park a 19' car and be able to have a workbench/lift and walk around comfortably on both ends, nothing more of a pain in the a$$ than to be trying to work in front or behind a car and not having enough room to set a bumper or windshield down without having to squeeze around the side to set it down.
it may seem like that's a lot more room than is needed but take into consideration
car - 19'
work bench- 4'
space in front of car 5'
space behind car 5'
your already at 33 feet and 5' to have your crap laying plus working on a car is not a TON of room, just my 2c

747mopar · Dec 29, 2015

747mopar said:
Sounds familiar haha.

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Wow, that's a pretty sweet garage!

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I think the big key is organizing and not hoarding, I'm pretty good about not keeping a bunch of junk sitting around and making the most out of my space. Still not sold on a lift? To me it's allot of wasted space but can see the advantages, I'll likely build with the possibility in mind regardless since I won't be young forever.

HT413 said:
Only thing I'll add here is that you will live to regret that 24' dimension, as I consider that to be the minimum dimension required to park a b body and have room to walk around front and back. Perhaps you could use the trusses for the shop portion of the garage and make the restoration portion deeper.

the shop I just built is 20 wide X 30 deep and boy do I love the 30 deep. I know, it's tiny by most people's standards lol, but I'm in suburban NJ and up against a property line.

You may have misunderstood, the 24 deep portion will be parking only (no work, heat or anything else). The section where I'll do my work will be 32 deep.

jakepup · Dec 29, 2015

my garage at home is 22' deep and I absolutely hate having to squeeze around the front and the back of the car, HATE IT. even if its parking only id still go min 30'

747mopar · Dec 29, 2015

Maybe I need to look into building it facing the other direction? 24 wide and allot deaper, garages look better with the gable end facing forward too?

jakepup · Dec 29, 2015

there is an idea! maby 30x60 with the gable end facing forward?

747mopar said:
Maybe I need to look into building it facing the other direction? 24 wide and allot deaper, garages look better with the gable end facing forward too?

747mopar · Dec 29, 2015

jakepup said:
my garage at home is 22' deep and I absolutely hate having to squeeze around the front and the back of the car, HATE IT. even if its parking only id still go min 30'

24 - 17 equals about 3 on each end once you figure the wall thickness in, I think that would be plenty? Adding permanent chalks in the floor that positively place your car would really help too. I agree 22 is rough but 24 gives you that extra foot on both ends. Keep in mind this will be nothing but storage.

jakepup · Dec 29, 2015

oh I gotcha, I thought you were talking shop too.. my bad. I just always take the idea everone else has, come up with a plan and then double it. my dad has built over 100 shops/buildings and on his last one "for himself" he was very meticlious and penciled it all out and it came out to 30x32, I told him he was nuts and he should go bigger and he just laughed at me. came back the next summer and he was already started on the 24x40 addition lol, I got the last laugh on that one

747mopar said:
24 - 17 equals about 3 on each end once you figure the wall thickness in, I think that would be plenty? Adding permanent chalks in the floor that positively place your car would really help too. I agree 22 is rough but 24 gives you that extra foot on both ends. Keep in mind this will be nothing but storage.

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