I asked a week or so ago about the size and features everyone thought should be included in a new home garage. I got some good info-thanks.

At that time, I explained because I live on a barrier island, the zoning restrictions were going to be a hassle (and they were).

Here is what I know for sure will be going into the garage:

16'X8' garage door/opener
flourescent lights overhead
2-220V lines (one of these is for a dryer)
quad electrical outlets 4 feet from the floor
washer/dryer hookup and utility sink
2 extra spigots
9-ft ceiling (I wanted higher, but was limited to 9' due to zoning on accessory buildings, no way around it )
1 access door
1 standard window (for a window unit A/C later)

My dilema right now is :

I have aplied for the code exception to get my garage built, but because of zoning restrictions on accessory buildings, I am going to be limited in size pretty severely.

The absolute largest in size I can go is either:

20' wide X 28' deep
or
22' wide X 26' deep

depending on which way I turn the building on the lot.

For those of you with garages, which do you suggest?

Several of you have already indicated the length of the building is most important, but is 20' too narrow? Or should I sacrifice two feet in length to have 22' width.

Keep in mind a 20'X28' is really only about 18'5" X 26'5" interior space and a 22'X26' is 20X24 .

Also keep in mind, there will be no other storage in the garage. No garbage cans, boxes, lawnmowers etc. I have plenty of storage for that stuff already.

Please give me your opinions!

 

If you have a 16' wide garage door and go 20' wide, you will only have 9" of wall space on eiher side of the door.

For the most part, that would be dead space.

However, with a 22' wide garage, that gives you almost 2' on either side of the garge door. And if you offset the door, you could get 3' or more on one side.

Just inside the garage door is a great place to store jack stands, brooms, wash pails, washing supplies, etc.

I would consider sacrificing the 2 feet in length for that extra room on the sides.

MHO.

 

Heres my setup.

Garage is 20x40' with a commercial door thats 16x12' Garage is 14' high at crossbeams so a lift is definitly in the plans <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> I have a natural gas furnace with an auto pilot, 220v, about 14 shop lights with 4 fluorecent bulbs in each light, telephone line and a fridge. Garage is also fully insulated.

 

Go 22' wide, IMHO. My old garage, aka hell was 22' wide, and was just *barely* wide enough to park 2 cars side by side and have some shelves along the walls. I couldn't imagine losing a foot on either side. If you expect to park 2 cars in there, go 22'.

My new garage is MUCH better. 30x30 (insulated, 230 service, overhead flourescents <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> ) with a 20x30 shed area on the back side. I plan to enclose the shed area and use it as storage. And of course, a lift. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

-Andrew

 

One 220 line for the dryer huh... Ha,ha, it's your wifes new laundry room, she's just letting you park in it. Ah the married life, JOY! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

unfortunately you really need more hieght.....For a lift ....anyways.....

Mine is 40x60 and 24 ft at the peak in the middle....I have two lifts....one is 12'6" and the other is about 9 ft.....tall

Lifts only require 4 inch slabs but I poured mine a tad thick were I new the lifts might go......

I use 400 watt mecury lights.....240v...

The higher you can go the better.....i did a 800sq ft second floor......and shelving to the ceiling.....try for a varience......

work benches are easy to build at 2 ft deep.....so work that into the building width.....down both sides.....

count up your tools for electrical outlets.....duplexs are ussual fine.....for things like , bench grinder, drill press, parts washer, belt sander, disc sander, then a quad rec for the work area, for plug in drop lights, extenstions, hand drill, electric grinders,etc.....

A 220 in the work area is goor for migs, plasma cutter etc....I put a 220 on one lift and run a 10ft ext to reach almost everywhere.....

Think about your power service.....I have a 400 amp house panel (1000$) and a 200 amp sub on the garage ( 200$)......and you ll need a circuit for 10 110v appliances.....and one for each 220 etc....If you get a second meter, which sometimes is or isn t an option they get you for a monthly base fee.....just for the meter....and ? if it has to be under ground or if they will string it overhead.....and the cost.....if its underground you ll need approoved dirt probably and can save some money if you trench it and place the approved dirt.....but you ll need a trench inspection.....they get big money if they do it......

The mini circuit breakers cost alot more so try to get a panel big enough to hold regular breakers.....around my area there is only square D and GE.....Square D is the contracter stuff and fine but I got a deal on a ge box.....and you ll have to use there breakers so make sure you can get them in your area.....

<small>[ December 15, 2002, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: 1320 ]</small>

 

Thanks for the info guys, I really appreciate it. I called the contractor today and I am going to 22' wide.

I hear ya on the ceiling height, but 9' is as high as they will let me go <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> .

The washer/dryer hook-up is actually to get me OUT of the laundry room. iI am putting in one of those stacking apartment size washer/dryer combos just for my towels I use for Zainoing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

You might want to think about a fire supression sytem or at least a couple fire bottles in the garage. I have 3 10lb bottles in my garage. One in the front one in the rear and one on the side in the middle. Oh and a designated beer fridge is a MUST have in ANY garage.

 

Since your going with a 22' wide garage, you may want to think about a 18' wide door. When you have double 8' doors, you (in most cases) have ~17' from outside door to outside door. This gives you an extra foot between cars. Where a 16' wide door takes that foot back making you park closer together. We have double doors (aginst my wishes) and park my Silverado and the Wifes 02 Explorer in there. Even with the extra foot between, we can't open the doors all the way. Now with F-body doors, you will need more room to open and get in. Just my .02 cents. I use to design custom homes and for the ones we did that way, they liked it better. We had a few come back and wish they had done an 18' door. You will still get 1'-8" on either side with the 18' door. Unless your parking a Suburbon in there, 26'deep should be fine. You would still have 6'+ left if you did.

 

Our spare garage that we have at home is only 16' wide and 36' deep. We only have one car in there(and its not mine) but it works alright. We do have a scizzor lift in there that lifts the car about 4 1/2 ft off of the ground. We also have 220 service, with an air conditioner, and a furnace. In the next year or 2, we are going to be building a 60' wide by 50' deep garage. Should be plenty big enough to put many cars in, along with an enclosed trailer.

Brian