Building a new house... any ideas/tips for the garage?

[digitalsolo]

Hey all,

So I'm planning to build a new house (breaking ground in about 10-11 months in theory), and need some ideas for the garage...

We'll ignore the rest of the house for the moment (I'll post up the theoretical blue prints later), but the garage I can describe decently now:

Garage will be a 3 car, from the front of the house, with the left 2 bays being a 24 (deep) x 22 (wide) with a standard 8' roof and a double door, dimensions may vary slightly, but that's close).   To the right of that will be a 35 (deep) x 12 (wide) with a 17' ceiling.   Garage door will use a side mount opener and run up the ceiling to keep it clear.

Current plan is for the front half of the "3rd bay" aka "shop" to have a 2 post in the front half and a lofted area in the rear for storage.    I want to get some nice garage cabinets at the rear and will have my tool boxes and fab stuff back there (welder, hydraulic press, drill press, belt sander, compressor etc).    I am going to put a heater in the 3rd bay and I want to do a plastic curtain wall between them so I can keep the 3rd bay warm in the winter and keep dirty/crap from working on stuff out of the main 2 bays.

I want to put down an acid etch or epoxy floor throughout and lots of lighting.    Probably going to recess some tubing in the walls for air and a couple of retracto-wheel power cords also.

So, any good advice?    The area I'm looking to build is about 2 acres, so I can add a pole barn someday (probably not for at least 5-6 years).    My sister and brother in law are building next to me (in theory) so at least I like my neighbors, haha.

edit:   Floor plans (theoretical):





edit 2:  Elevations (theoretical, again):

[spacevomit]

Radiant floor heat w/ PEX tubing

[digital_hoon]

My current project at work is creating an "Ultimate Garage" 3D animation for a tool manufacturer. Let me know if I can help with some layouts or 3D renders to help visualize the space.

[jparker7]

Why not do a 2 car attached and go ahead and build your pole barn now.  Seems like you would have just as much money in a third bay as you would a nice big pole barn.  When I build my house this summer or fall the 30x48 pole barn is going up first.  14' ceilings 2 post 2 10 foot doors. 

[digitalsolo]

Pole barn will likely cost me 40k or so to put together the way I want, plus it will be harder to heat.     It costs much less to bump out the 3rd bay that the house floor plan includes to make a decent shop (think 15-20k).   20k dollars is a bunch.   

[jparker7]

Pole barn will likely cost me 40k or so to put together the way I want, plus it will be harder to heat.     It costs much less to bump out the 3rd bay that the house floor plan includes to make a decent shop (think 15-20k).   20k dollars is a bunch.   

I see.  Well I was just figuring what I would have in mine which should be way under 20k since Ill be putting most of it up with my uncle to save cost. 

[digitalsolo]

Yeah, if I do it later (after the house is built and I can take my time) I can probably do it a lot cheaper.  Since I'll be using a builder on the house, things get funny with the loan/money on what I can/cannot do myself and I'm running the budget really, really tight on what I want and what I'm willing to spend.   Basically I have a cap I set on my monthly payment that is well below what I can afford, so that I don't cut into my fun-money bag.

Plus, that money will allow me to do stuff like buy the flooring, buy the lift, buy the cabinets and get started on the Mustang the first year I'm in the house.    My biggest concerns right now are making sure I don't forget stuff that's IN the walls or things that would be much harder to do after the house/garage is finished.

It will be a huge change to have a couple acres of land though.   I have like .22 acres right now, and 30% of that is a big ass hill that's worthless for anything but sledding.     Other fun fact, a good friend of mine is looking at the 2 acres on the other side of the parcel, so it may end up being my friends, my wife/son and I and my sister/brother-in-law/niece/nephew on the 7-9 acres in question.    The houses in the area are mostly 800k to million+ places, so our little 350-450k dollar places are going to look pretty humble, LOL.

[frijolee]

First thought would be roll up garage doors at both ends of the 35' bay (pull through RV access).  Also 12' is pretty narrow.  That's only ~3' on either side of a car and there are some jobs where you may want more than that, particularly if it ends up with a few racks along the walls and/or a lift.  If you could go 16' width would give you notably more flexibility.  You also increased the footprint by 1/3 but whether that's a pro or con I leave to you...  I'd certainly vote for the bigger footprint and scrimp on other things (lift, bitchin cabinets, massive air compressor etc).  Start with boltless shelving and add to it later as you see fit.

Big projects tend to take so long that I'd do as much setup now as you can.  IE do you really need a pole barn?  If the answer is yes, then don't bother with the 35 footer.  If the answer is no, then be sure your 35' is more than you see needing/wanting in the next decade.  Being a dad I'm sure you can watch your priorities shifting.  Do you really see having 6 cars?  I think I might struggle to keep up with the maintenance on that many once built.  I have a fast street car, a family hauler, and jeep.  I could see having a dedicated toy or two, but what you're planning still leaves you with more than enough space, particularly if you don't mind stacking cars using the lift.

My general research on lighting suggests T8 fixtures for the standard garage.  T5 are so bright they're best kept in ceilings over 12', but that would work well for you in the big bay.  65imp likes the big 8 foot bulbs to have less lamps.  I went with 4 footers to have more commonality and let me buy bulbs in bulk.  Opinions on color of lights vary wildly.  I went with 4k (Mike and I agree on this one) and hopefully will have some pics soon.  Crossing fingers.  Light the aisles and over work spaces, not directly over the cars (it just gives you shadows underneath).

Electricity.  200 amp service with 100 amps set aside for the garage(s) would be a good starting place.  Some folks will say you want more, but at some point it's not really needed.   I'm in process of adding sockets and someone pointed out that it's smart to place them above 48".  That lets you lean a full sheet of plywood against the wall without blocking sockets (and we all end up with stuff leaning against walls, particularly in a shop environment.

Pre-plumbing pneumatic provisions in the walls is a good plan.

Your wife will be stoked if you add a sink out there to clean up before you come back inside the house.  Are the washer and dryer inside?  Can't quite tell.

[digitalsolo]

Yeah, I was trying to remember dimensions off hand.   Actual 3rd bay dimensions are 15'6" x 35' (it's in the drawing, but hard to read).    I walked through a house with this floorplan already, which is what put me onto the design.   

The cabinets/lift/etc. isn't a budget concern, as I can add those later.

I'm not 100% sure the pole barn will happen, but if I do it later, it will be to allow me to put in a full fab shop (read tubing benders, fab table, etc.).   To your point though, I will not ever have 6 cars, but being able to have space for my car, and maybe my son's car someday, as well as work on a car or two for other people occasionally would be great.   The other thought is that if things go well at work, I'll make substantially more in 5-6 years than I do now, but I am building my house to make sure that I can afford it at my current (or 30% less than I make) without trouble, just in case something bad happens.   If things go well at work, I'll be able to afford the pole barn pretty easily.

I think I need to see some more light options in person.   I have 2x 4x4' T8 units + 4x 2x4' T12 lights in my garage right now and it's pretty good, light wise.   But a tall ceiling definitely changes things a bit.

Good point on the electric, I need to make sure I have everything I need there for a 220 volt welder and compressor.

I will 100% have a sink out there.   For sure.   Wife demands it.   Haha.    Washer and dryer are inside.

[gc3]

I think an overhead gantry or at least exposed I-beams so you can add one later might be beneficial.
Makes loading/unloading stuff on a truck super easy, doesn't take up room like an engine hoist but is more adaptable, etc etc.

[GEAUX FAST]

I think an overhead gantry or at least exposed I-beams so you can add one later might be beneficial.
Makes loading/unloading stuff on a truck super easy, doesn't take up room like an engine hoist but is more adaptable, etc etc.

^ This .. one nice thick I beam you could mount a trolley  / beam clamp to for a small electric winch to help with heavy lifting or unloading groceries

[digitalsolo]

I will have to look into a gantry.   That seems like a lot of weight to hang off of my joists.

[twokrx7]

Congrats, it sounds like a nice setup.  I would ask them to bring the tall bay forward if they could and/or as far back as they can, we never have enuf floorspace.  If you can push it back and add a powder bathroom you will thank yourself many times over, a powder bath should only cost 2k on top of the extention. A door out the back is nice, had this on our last attached garage, we rocked the yard by the garage' rear door and used the area for parts laydown.

I can say that I never have enuf floor-up light for working on my car when its on the lift, especially with high ceiling lights.  My latest garage is a deep 3-car with over 1000sqft, but ceilings are only 8ish ft, I have equivalent of 15 - 2x4ft T8 light fixtures and its a little better lit under the car than my last garage where all the lights where on a 10.5ft tall ceiling.  If doing it from scratch I would do some floor lights or low wall lights around the lift, anything you do you will thank yourself for later.

Assume the 15ft is enuf for a good 2-post, the 12' width may have been an issue.  I'd have them put a 220 wall plug up high for the lift motor so the cord is well outa the way. 

You literally cannot have enough wall plugs for 110V stuff, I hate having to use extention cords all the time.

GL!

[BeasTT]

I know those blue prints

[Darin]

I think you have most of it covered already. But if I had to add my 2 cents, some of this is already listed.

Floor drain
Ceiling heater
Ceiling fan
A lot of lights on a few switches
Storage area (Ceiling or walls)
Fully insulated and finished walls
TV and stereo prewired