Replies

1. 
   Danno | Apr 29, 2006 02:17pm | #1

   Garages are sort of like highways--no matter how big you make them, they get filled up. You don't want it bigger than the house though. I really have no good answer--let this serve as a bump until a real answer comes along!

2. 
   BossHog | Apr 29, 2006 02:31pm | #2

   I consider 24' X 24' to be the minimum size for a 2 car garage. Heck, some pickup trucks are something like 20' long.

   For storge space - I'd recommend more in front and less on the sides. Stuff on the sides tends to build up until you can barely open your car door.

   Like someone already said - You can't make a garage too big as far as storage is concerned. But you can certainly make them too big for the budget, and so big that they overwhelm the house.

   You'll never be the man your mother was
1. 
   PearceServices | Apr 29, 2006 02:56pm | #3

   Consider higher overhead doors to allow for SUVs or minivans with a ski-rack on top,

2. 
   RW | Apr 29, 2006 10:19pm | #9

   I think most pickups are 20 ft long arent they? They barely fit in our garages now. Vehicles have grown, people trying to save a buck make the garages smaller and smaller. I know my truck sure wont fit in mine, and thats 23 deep."Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton

3. 
   danski0224 | Apr 29, 2006 03:08pm | #4

   60' x 60' should do it.   :)

   Mine is about 25' wide and 22' deep. That is plenty big for two small cars. Not so big for two big SUV's. An extended cab pickup with an 8' bed might *just* fit in there.

   What do you call a "full sized" car?

   My single overhead door is offset tight to one side, leaving about 6' of wall on the opposite side (the door is on the 25' dimension).

   Backing in the vehicle on the tight side -and pulling in tight to the wall-  and nose first on the other can create a bunch of extra space on the side with the wall for storage. It is doubtful that many two driver households could do this.

   If there is equal driveway access, then I would prefer a centered door.

   I do not like double doors. Kinda hard to pull a vehicle in the center of the space to work on it or detail it.

   A 10' or taller ceiling would give a few feet of space for storage shelves on the sides. I would not like a curb on the sides because shelving down low will limit the door swing. I envision tripping on the raised area at the sides, and not being able to put shelving low anyway because someone would open the door into it.

   I prefer hanging shelves on the wall to floor standing units. You can fit a lot of stuff on a few rows of 16" deep shelving along a 28' wall.

   More shelving could be built above the garage door. Kind of a toss up between a door that opens tight to the ceiling, or building a loft up there. I would go for a nice, sturdy 6' deep loft myself.

   I would not object to a raised area at the front (back?) of the garage, but while that has it's place, it would still be useless to me.   

   Those that just park cars in there probably wouldn't care. Those that use the garage space for other things would probably prefer as large of a clear and open area as possible.

   If they have the money, use Span Crete for the floor and put a basement under there.

   Mark out the space with cones or lumber at a parking lot and get two vehicles and see what is left over. Probably less than you think.

4. 
   DaveRicheson | Apr 29, 2006 03:27pm | #5

   28' wide with two 9' wide overhead doors leaves you 10' to divide between the walls and doors. That leaves roughly 3' between vehicles and the outer walls. Not much room for shelving and an area to walk around the vehicles, if they are full size.

   A single 18' overhead door would let you gain additional space on the sides, but may not look as well in your design. The 34' depth is more than adequate for storage in front of the vehicles.

   Which ever way you go, as someone pointed out, use 8' high doors. PUs, SUVs and full size vans will fit through an 8' door, but some of them won't fit under a 7'4" door. (door made for an 11 block high garage)

    

   Dave

5. 
   highfigh | Apr 29, 2006 06:39pm | #6

   What do they need to store in the garage? Where is the lawn equipment going to live? Any power tools, workbench, tool boxes, etc? What do they drive- are they thinking about getting an SUV or pickup? My 24'x24' unattached garage has 2' from the left side to the single overhead door, 2' to the service door and about 1' form the service door to the overhead. I have almost 6' of space on the right side for whatever (powertools, small bench, compressor, etc) a few feet at the back and can still get my Chevy ext cab in (short bed) with the gate down. I also have 9' walls and an 8' door. My house has a hip roof so I did the same for the garage but still have some storage above.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
6. 
   frenchy | Apr 29, 2006 08:17pm | #7

   Abm,

     Mine is 30x50 with a 22x6 foot bump out. (1632 sq ft. 9 foot ceilings).    Filled so full I can't park either my wifes or my vehicle in it..

    

7. 
   davidmeiland | Apr 29, 2006 08:28pm | #8

   The era of the big SUV is over. You can safely go 16' x 16' and fit a couple of electric two-seaters.

   Seriously, I'm doing one now and it's 21' clear inside depth. A 9' wide overhead door is about right.

8. 
   MisterT | Apr 30, 2006 02:44pm | #10

   give his wife a driving test...

   specificly backing in & out ...

   if she fails, make the doors 12' wide (10'min)

   8' high doors too

   one course of block on the slab + full 8' studs + 3 plates + pt mudsill= 9'2" to unfinished cieling

   10'(min)  width for each bay +4' for storege on either side + 3' between the bays + ~6'' for two walls= 32' wide (divisable by 4' and 8')

   depth = 20' (max vehicle length) + 2' work bench + 6' (min) standing room= 28ft (32" preferred)

    

   Mr. T. 

   "My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions - or bury the results." - Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold.

    

9. 
   Matt | Apr 30, 2006 04:03pm | #11

   The perfect sized garage is one that is as big as possible without overpowering the house (visually), the lot size, or the customer's budget.  But that's just me - the customer might want something smaller.

10. 
    jimxxx | Apr 30, 2006 10:58pm | #12

    My garage is 28x30 OD. It has 2-9' overheads and a 3'access in the 28' dimension and is as follows: Interior Dem. 3',9'door,18",9'door,10",36"door, 4".  This gives good room on one side for recycle bins and on the side with the walk-in for mowers, etc. It looks good from the outside but the 10" space between the walk-in & overhead is a little tight with brick veneer.

    Length of 30' will fit a crew cab short bed with about 1' walk. I would lengthen to 32' for the same pickup next time

    
    

    ---

    Edited 4/30/2006 4:13 pm ET by jimcco

11. 
    RichBeckman | Apr 30, 2006 11:25pm | #13

    If they want to park two cars in the garage, then build a four car garage and, with any luck, a year from now they might be able to still get one car in it.

    Rich Beckman

    Another day, another tool.

12. 
    blue_eyed_devil | May 01, 2006 12:35am | #14

    The last one I built for myself was 28 x 40, 10' high with a gambrel roof. The upstairs was 18 x 40 x 8' high.

    That wasn't big enough so the following year I put a small addition on, only 10' by 20 '.

    If the man is requesting it, build it bigger than what he thinks he needs. He'll love you for that for many years.

    blue