Firstgens.com

Decided to start a thread on a garagre additon I have been wanting to do for quite sometime. I am hopeful I will be able to start this sometime mid 2012. I would like to have a space that is geared towards working on my Z28 and other automotive related projects. I definitely want to have a 4 post lift in it someday as it is getting harder on the body to crawl out from under cars that are on jack stands. Thought about moving but we like our neighbors and the area we live in right now so the plan is to stay and add on. This projectwill have 3 phases, garage addiition, master bedroom suite addition and conversion of our current kitchen/dining room area into a large eat in kitchen. These projects will most likely take 3-5 years to complete with the garage being the first on the list. Haven't decided yet for sure but the kitchen may come second then the MB. These are very lofty dreams/goals but something I have wanted to do for quite some time.

General wishes for the garage are:
-as large as possibel without looking out of place, right now the planned size is 26' deep x 32' wide
-10 foot walls, 2x6 constuction fully insulated
-cathedral ceiling to allow use of the lift.
-plenty of storage/shelving
-dedicated work area with large work bench
-windows, skylights......not sure on this area yet.

Of course the garage will be fully plumbed for air and have the appropriated electical outlets for power tools, welding and an air compressor. There will be plenty of lighting for my old eyes to be able to see what I am working on. As I move forward with my layout and design of the addition I will be looking for comments, suggestions and ideas from you guys on how to make this space a top flight garage.

This is what I have done so far in Autocad showing the front and side elevations of the house with both the garage and master bedroom additions in place. The very bottom elevation if of my house as it stands today. The middle and top elevations are with the additions and show slightly different roof lines.



I have inquired with the local village building inspector and so far my plans pose no issues as far as size and location of the sdditions. The only potetial issue is that I have two lots here with the house being built on the front lot and the lot line between the two lots being about 3 feet off the rear of the house. If I choose to cross the lot line then I need to have the 2 lots joined together as one but still need to look into this more to find out exactly what is involved with this process.

The lot line thing clarified a lot for me. I had an issue that they changed rear yard setback between the time I inquired and the time I went for permit. It seems to me that your lot might face the left in you elevations but the house faces forward. That should keep you out of trouble with set backs I think. I think you might find the garage more usefull with a gable roof (top drawing) instead of the hip.(middle drawing)

Jeff

A few quick random things off the top of my head.....
Think about headroom when considering a lift. Height of car+ 6" and add 4" lift frame = headroom under car before car hits ceiling. I would suggest at least 11' or more if possible. Also take into consideration the pitch of the floor, some is good for drainage, too much it not good for lift.
Trusses can be built with a "opening" incorporated to allow extra room above when needed.
Add as many 4' fluorescents in and around as your budget allows and then add 4.
Insulate under the floor and around foundation, install in floor heating system and/or PTAC system for heating/cooling. Option are becoming more readily available for solar heating, "free" heat is good.
Add at least one welder outlet at the front of the garage with all the other outlets around.
Centered Drop light reel
Centered Drop air hose reel

I agree with both. The gable ends look better and will give you more storage if wanted. Definitely insulate the floor and run tubing for radiant heat (even if you don't hook up the boiler right away)

Ive seen many floor heat system run with a water heater. Menard's (sorry Harley) had one in their latest flyer suitable for floor heat. My Concrete guy didn't want to insulate the floor , he thought the foam board would shift and crack causing problems later on down the road. The people I've talked to that have these systems without insulation tell me the boiler hardly ever runs. I did look at one in the winter that had melted the snow 6-8 inches outside the slab all the way around the building.

Thx for the suggestions everyone! I am leaning more towards the gable roof for exactly the reasons mention.......useful overhead space and the ability to have a lift both for mechanical work and storage of the Z in the cold weather.

I still need to do more research on the radiant floor heating and insulation. I have read pros on cons on the radiant floor heat. You still consume energy to heat the water for the radiant, some say as much natural gas for the boiler/water heater and for a suspended heater and the suspended heater doesn't take up any floor space. I have more to learn on this subject and will as I move forward.

I appreciate help and will no doubt have more questions and be soliciting more opinions from you guys as the design phase moves forward. Should anyone run into any cool garage related ideas for lighting, storage, tools, construction tips or whatever dump them in the post. even if I am not able to use them they might make for some interesting conversation.

Tom

Tom for me as I plan my (someday) garage the floor heat is more about comfort laying and rolling around on the floor under a car. I have a heated garage with a ceiling mounted unit and love it. BUT on a night like last night when it was 10* out even to kneel on the floor to do something was cold. And the 12-18" off the floor are way colder than the air above. Even if I have the garage 65* that floor may only be 40-45*. So I plan to use the floor heat just to keep the garage from freezing and to keep the floor 50-55* so I'm comfortable forking on the floor. With a lift it may not be that big of a deal.

What kind of crazy Cheesehead stuff is "forking on the floor"? I love my Camaro but you may be taking it too far my friend!

Not laying on the floor is the whole point for putting in a 4 post lift. Gettting too old and stiff to be laying on the floor any more.....