Replies

1. 
   DanH | Jul 24, 2007 09:47pm | #1

   Can't answer that without knowing where in the country you are, and hence what a "residential vehicle" is. Could be a BMW, could be an Urban Assault Vehicle, could be a Ford F-series 4-door.

   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
1. 
   alfie | Jul 24, 2007 09:57pm | #2

   Connecticut. Thanks for asking.

2. 
   DanH | Jul 24, 2007 10:01pm | #3

   Eg, a standard F-150 has a turning circle of 45 feet. A BMW Alpina ("large sedan") has a turning circle of 40 feet. A Ford Focus has a turning circle of 34 feet.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

2. 
   WayneL5 | Jul 25, 2007 01:04am | #4

   Here's what Architectural Graphic Standards says.  This is the distance from the face of the garage door to the nearest edge of driveway, with a driveway width of 11'-0" minimum.  The width of the pavement at each door shall be 14'-0" wide, and the radius of the pavement where the driveway turns toward the garage shall be 10'-0".  Beyond the last door the drive should continue an additional 10' for backing and turning.  I used these dimensions for my driveway and they worked very comfortably, except that I made the width 12' instead of 11' due to the winter.

   Door Width          Distance to Nearest Edge

    8'-9"                             25'-0"

    9'-0"                             24'-6"

   10'-0"                            23'-8"

   11'-0"                            23'-0"

   12'-0"                            22'-0"

1. 
   alfie | Jul 25, 2007 01:32am | #5

   Thanks. I am having difficulty visualizing this info. I'll have to get hold of the current edition and look at it. I have a 1971 edition, and figure that's a bit dated. This also raises the question - how do you decide what size doors are appropriate?

   I'm going to use 35' from garage to outer edge of driveway as a planning number for now, because if I understand this right, that would be close to the actual numrent I'll fine-tune it as I go along.

   Edited 7/24/2007 6:52 pm ET by alfie

1. 
   DanH | Jul 25, 2007 01:52am | #6

   Should be narrower than the garage. (Geeze -- why do we have to explain EVERYTHING??? ;) )
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

1. 
   alfie | Jul 25, 2007 01:54am | #7

   That explains why they were not fitting on the garage! Time to get the old saw out and right-size them.

1. 
   DanH | Jul 25, 2007 02:23am | #8

   Good idea. And a big advantage of "right-sizing" is that your stock price is guaranteed to go up.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

2. 
   JeffinPA | Jul 25, 2007 07:12pm | #13

   Alfie:  I think you are AOK with 35' to the outer.

   I once worked for one of the big big big companies and our rule of thumb was 30 feet minimum from the  doors to the outer edge of the parking pad with the driveway meeting the parking pad somewhere near the outer edge.  If it was under 30', we required the client to sign off on it understanding that depending upon the vehicle, it might require 1 backup to make it work.

   I have seen builders put them as close as 20 feet in a community in south jersey but it looked insane and unusable.

   Once you get the garage in, drive it and see if you are comfortable with the layout before stone and paving. 

    

   Good luck.

1. 
   alfie | Jul 25, 2007 07:29pm | #14

   Thanks. The main concern is locating the garage. Once built, that's it. If I go 35' to the outer, I could only reduce, not increase, that dimension from the garage, because zoning tells you the min. distance from property line to driveway edge. From the responses here, it sure sounds like 35' is good. I was concerned that I might need to increase it.

2. 
   DanH | Jul 25, 2007 07:39pm | #15

   It should be noted that cars can back in with a tighter effective radius than when going in forwards. For this reason, if a T can be created (so the car can go forward into the far arm of the T and then back through the leg into the garage) it may provide for easier parking in a tight situation.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

1. 
   JeffinPA | Jul 25, 2007 08:50pm | #16

   Good Point Dan H.

   I have always put in the "Rats Tail" or turnaround at the back of the side entry driveway.  I forgot to mention that.

   Re. backing in, you are correct as well, but I would not even think of suggesting to a client to back into their own garage.  I could build the jambs to withstand the damage from the car I dont think the car manufacturers can say the same.

   My next house will have 9' and 16' doors!

3. 
   Piffin | Jul 25, 2007 03:50am | #9

   I consider a minimum 18" inside for cars, 23' for trucks and large cars.

   There is a "landscape designer" here who uses 13' inside. I could strangle him! Owners think it ois the driovers fault then when the grass gets driven on

    

    

   Welcome to the
   Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
    where ...
   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   alfie | Jul 25, 2007 07:31am | #10

   thanks.

4. 
   McDesign | Jul 25, 2007 01:03pm | #11

   I can turn into my 9' wide garage door without brushing the fence that's 17' outside wall to property line (just went out and measured).  This is in my little car - 95" wheelbase, and it's tight.  I can't do it in my 150 P/U, but can back and fill to get there.  DW's Chrysler T&C (mini-van) can make it in one arc, but I'm always afraid I'll catch a mirror, so I back and fill.

   I do have a sketch I did for a bigger garage here, where I staggered all the doors about 30º - the driveway side was "jagged".  Interesting framing, and it would work for my truck.

   I would definitely say 17' total width is way too little - I was stuck with an existing building, and wanted a door / driveway on that side.

   Forrest

1. 
   alfie | Jul 25, 2007 02:23pm | #12

   Thanks. I had considered staggered doors and decided to stay with simplicity. With 35' from door to outer edge of driveway (total 45' to property line) I wonder if I am allowing too much distance.