[vanwyk4257]

Well, I received the blessing from my wife last weekend to go ahead and build a garage out back (it might have helped that I have two F-bodies in the garage at the moment and she's parking outside (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) ) so I am trying to work out the details on design, size, layout et al.

I am thinking of doing a 24x30 with 12'foot walls to allow me enough height to install a 2 or 4-post lift down the road.

My thought is to put a 16x8 overhead door off to one side of the 30ft. wall which will face the house and then have a 3ft. steel service/entry door as well.

I want to have room to park two cars inside and still have a decent workshop space for working on engines, etc.

I do plan to insulate the entire building and will be running natural gas and electricity (110V only most likely) to it. Heat will be from a 90%+ efficiency furnace, i.e., forced air (my dad's in the business so I can get one cheap).
I also plan to finish the interior walls and ceiling with OSB as opposed to drywall just because it will be easier to live with, i.e., I can bang into it with tools, parts etc. without doing any real damage, and if I do manage to punch a hole in a sheet it will be easier to replace. Finally, I am anticipating putting a loft area in the trusses for storage with a pull-down ladder.

I am looking or any input with regard to the size (I know you can never build too large) based on the aforementioned parameters, will it be large enough?

Also, I would welcome any advice or input with regard to layout etc.

Thanks in advance for the input guys!

[T.O.Dillinder]

Insulation is the key.
Mine is insulated better than my house (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Heat rises.
To answer an earlier question about mine. The length is 30 feet and the width is 24 with the doors being on the front 24 foot wall.
Insulate it well. I do not have windows on the first floor and that helps. Keep prying eyes out.

[vanwyk4257]

Well, unfortunately after adding up the expense of the garage and the likelihood that we won't stay in this house for more than another 5 years it looks like doing underground sprinkling, hydroseed for the yard and drywalling/finishing the basement is more likely than building a garage. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

The only upside is I may be buying a nice 4-5 acre parcel from a customer of mine in the next couple months, and if that happens when we end up building I will make sure the plans include a nice 40x60 or so building out back with all the goodies! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

This post has been edited by vanwyk4257: Apr 2 2008, 04:59 PM

[mitchntx]

Build it right the first time. Compromises suck ... moving sucks even more ... moving a shop sux the worst.

[vanwyk4257]

Build it right the first time. Compromises suck ... moving sucks even more ... moving a shop sux the worst.

Well put. That's my current line of thinking, I really am limited to a 24x32 here by my lot restrictions whereas with 4-5 acres I can build something much larger and since I would be doing it at the same time the house was built I could plan the electric and other utilities accordingly and really have a nice setup.

[DavidDymaxion]

Things I liked in my garage:

I left out one cabinet for the workbench to make a "desk" area. It is nice to be able to sit at the workbench. Also, at the "desk" I left a slot in the workbench top -- this makes it very handy to saw something, and a trash can underneath catches alot of the sawdust.

I have a central vac in the garage, very nice for cleanup. I just run it whenever I cut or machine, then there is little to cleanup afterwards. It is noisy, so I'm planning to enclose it in a soundproof closet eventually. I really like that it vents outside.

I have a big stationary air compressor -- alot of times I can fill it, and then turn it off, and it has enough air to do the job.

I have a HEPA air filter (thrift store purchase, no filter in it) with a long foil hose, vented to the outside. It is really handy for sucking away fumes or paint odors.

You really want several 220 plugs. You can get a more powerful central vac, and have a welder or plasma cutter.

It is tough to have too much lighting or too many plugs.

This works in the desert, I just use a little swamp cooler that blows right on me to stay cool.

I have a plastic laundry sink -- it is really nice and big, and won't break or dent if I drop a metal part in it.

Things I would like: A four poster lift, and a heated floor. I have also been thinking floor level lighting would be nice for working under the car. I also want to add overhead retracting hose for the air compressor, and a similar arrangement for the central vac hose.