oversized 3 car garage plans
11-08-2018, 06:52 PM
#21
Melting Slicks
Member Since: May 2015
Location: Cape Girardeau Missouri
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The more aesthetics and resale value are important to you the more you should consider using an architect who is well accustomed to additions.
I've seen quite a few similar additions where former garage space is converted to living space with new garage added and, sadly, most look like crap as it's 100% obvious what was done. This is particularly true if the current garage doors are front-facing. In flat Florida with the common low pitched roofs you may face the worst possible aesthetic with the new garage roof towering over the home.
Also an oversized three-car garage with room for sideways cars behind the lift (at least 40' wide and better 45'-50', right?) can easily visually overwhelm the front "money view" of even a large home. The drive alone starts to look like a parking lot unless you move the entry to the rear not counting removing the old driveway. I'm assuming that your present garage doors face front because of your desire to add a [small] garage door at the rear for the lawn mower.
Don't forget the "normal" entry (through the new garage) to the home proper after the change and addition! Since it seems you have plenty of room don't dismiss the idea of retaining the existing garage, making an addition (probably to the rear) for the big new bedroom and building a detached garage/shop.
I've seen quite a few similar additions where former garage space is converted to living space with new garage added and, sadly, most look like crap as it's 100% obvious what was done. This is particularly true if the current garage doors are front-facing. In flat Florida with the common low pitched roofs you may face the worst possible aesthetic with the new garage roof towering over the home.
Also an oversized three-car garage with room for sideways cars behind the lift (at least 40' wide and better 45'-50', right?) can easily visually overwhelm the front "money view" of even a large home. The drive alone starts to look like a parking lot unless you move the entry to the rear not counting removing the old driveway. I'm assuming that your present garage doors face front because of your desire to add a [small] garage door at the rear for the lawn mower.
Don't forget the "normal" entry (through the new garage) to the home proper after the change and addition! Since it seems you have plenty of room don't dismiss the idea of retaining the existing garage, making an addition (probably to the rear) for the big new bedroom and building a detached garage/shop.
11-08-2018, 08:44 PM
#22
Head over to garagejournal.com and spend the next 10 hours checking out the garage build threads in the Garage Gallery. There are a few extreme/big $ builds that are really impressive. I got a ton of great ideas for my detached garage build from the site. For example, a number of commercial floor coating vendors post recommendations and product details in the flooring forum.....and they post specials and discounts for members.
11-08-2018, 09:07 PM
#23
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Dec 2015
Location: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
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I went with a 10x10 single door and a 10x18 double. The garage is 32x40 in my case it is attached to the house but the layout would be the same. Originally the house was designed to have the 2 car/double deep garage and to be entered from the side but during construction we changed it to face the front with the glass doors to compliment the windows on the rest of the front of the house. I am glad we made the change.
Though you can never have enough garage, the size works out well for us. The picture of the cars looks like it is an odd angle to get the cars in and out of the single door, but there is plenty of room to drive the inside Corvette out wither door as it sits.
My other recommendation is to consider the glass doors, you would be amazed how much better the lighting is, and depending on which finish you get for your windows, you can really compliment the house architecturally.
11-08-2018, 10:50 PM
#24
Burning Brakes
11-09-2018, 06:32 AM
#25
Safety Car
Steel & Post in Deland
This is the one regret I have. I could do it with 2 cars, but not with 3 in there.
Well, in hindsight, a little taller to accommodate a lift would`ve been nice too.
Well, in hindsight, a little taller to accommodate a lift would`ve been nice too.
11-09-2018, 12:18 PM
#27
Burning Brakes
11-09-2018, 07:12 PM
#28
The other thing to consider as you build your new shop is how your work areas are laid out. Work bench position is critical for easy work progress. I have a dedicated welding table. Shelves for metal stock. Keep your welders away from any computers and TV's. They don't like the high frequency of the welders. Also racks for storage of parts.
11-09-2018, 07:20 PM
#29
Team Owner
11-09-2018, 07:27 PM
#30
Le Mans Master
Opps......
one other thing I didn't think about until to late was lift placement and garage door going up. When car is on lift all the way up you can't open the garage door all the way. A rear pain in the azz in the summer. After planning ahead look at plans again and again!
11-09-2018, 09:36 PM
#31
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Dec 2015
Location: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
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https://www.liftmaster.com/garage-do...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
11-09-2018, 10:54 PM
#32
Racer
11-10-2018, 06:46 AM
#34
Safety Car
EXCELLENT idea! We found used stainless steel racks with heavy castor wheels from old resturants to be ideal.... holds a LOT of weight, AND easy to move to clean under. We have one with a couple engines on it (in pieces...blocks, heads, cranks, intakes, etc.)
11-10-2018, 07:47 AM
#35
Team Owner
This is the answer to the garage door openers being in the way. They work great!
https://www.liftmaster.com/garage-do...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.liftmaster.com/garage-do...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
I originally planned the addition to my garage to have a 4 post lift, and was concerned about how to make the overhead door work. I had one of the above opener mechanisms installed, as well as "high lift" tracks. An excellent set-up. Unfortunately, due to some budgetary issues, the project went sideways, and I didn't get the lift.
11-10-2018, 08:14 AM
#36
Melting Slicks<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/3k-4k.gif" border="0">
Member Since: Nov 2002
Location: Jamison Pa
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St. Jude Donor '11-'24
My thoughts
I added an additional 32x48 to my existing 41x33 garage. It has three doors added (10x10 & 2 8x7) to the existing door (2 8x7 & 10x10) doors. Make sure your walls are high enough for car storage, mine are 12’. My electrician added 220v &110v drops for the 4post lifts and trickle chargers.
I spray foamed the walls and ceiling. The floor is 6” 4000psi to support the lifts. I have 4 rows of LED lights in the front and between the shelving in the back. The lights are on 3 separate switches (left,right & rear), along with ceiling fans.
For garage door openers I used Chamberlain 8500’s and the tracks are mounted to the trusses, allowing the doors to open fully, even with a car on the lift. I had the tracks raised on the 3 existing doors to allow the lifts to be raised with a car on them.
I used two sections.of pallet racking on one wall in the rear, and 72’ tall rows front to back alongside. I shopped Craig’s list and got two stainless tables which I arranged in an “L” in the opposite corner.
I installed a 134k BTU heater/5 ton A/c unit with spiral duct work running the entire 73’ length.
I spray foamed the walls and ceiling. The floor is 6” 4000psi to support the lifts. I have 4 rows of LED lights in the front and between the shelving in the back. The lights are on 3 separate switches (left,right & rear), along with ceiling fans.
For garage door openers I used Chamberlain 8500’s and the tracks are mounted to the trusses, allowing the doors to open fully, even with a car on the lift. I had the tracks raised on the 3 existing doors to allow the lifts to be raised with a car on them.
I used two sections.of pallet racking on one wall in the rear, and 72’ tall rows front to back alongside. I shopped Craig’s list and got two stainless tables which I arranged in an “L” in the opposite corner.
I installed a 134k BTU heater/5 ton A/c unit with spiral duct work running the entire 73’ length.
Last edited by Bob K; 11-15-2018 at 04:01 PM. Reason: Pictures
11-10-2018, 06:52 PM
#37
Safety Car
Member Since: Oct 2016
Location: Way too effing close to the city.......NRA Life Member!
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I built a 24 X 30 and it's big enough to get three cars in but the city effed me over on the doors they allowed and my 2 post lift took up more than one bay so its good but not what I started out todo. They only allowed me a 12 ft and a 6 ft door. We snuck a 7 ft in instead and no one noticed buy it's hell getting in and out. Design what you want and go a tad bigger. Hopefully you won't have a city that's as unrealistic as mine. I'm happy …..just barely!
11-10-2018, 09:16 PM
#38
Le Mans Master
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2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
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I built a 24 X 30 and it's big enough to get three cars in but the city effed me over on the doors they allowed and my 2 post lift took up more than one bay so its good but not what I started out todo. They only allowed me a 12 ft and a 6 ft door. We snuck a 7 ft in instead and no one noticed buy it's hell getting in and out. Design what you want and go a tad bigger. Hopefully you won't have a city that's as unrealistic as mine. I'm happy …..just barely!
Good point-
So definitely check with the permit office before spending too much on your plans!!!
11-11-2018, 05:14 AM
#39
Safety Car
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They actually made me build it with a wall down the middle. When the final inspector came in, he said what's that here for and the builder told him the permit/approval guys told him that's the way it had to be built. The final inspector said that was stupid! The sane people all agree.
I do have a really small city lot but hey....
I have a house paid for, always paid my (expensive) taxes on time and my home and property are in great, well-maintained condition and they still effed me over. In another area of the city, a homeowner has an L shaped garage with 4 or 5 double garage doors and it's bigger than his good sized ranch home. It may be on another lot, I can't tell but would they let some one just build a stand alone garage that big? I suspect the guy just built it and never said a word or he knows or is related to someone. I just figured I should be happy with what I have cause it ain't worth it fighting city hall usually! Could be worse.....LOL!
I do have a really small city lot but hey....
I have a house paid for, always paid my (expensive) taxes on time and my home and property are in great, well-maintained condition and they still effed me over. In another area of the city, a homeowner has an L shaped garage with 4 or 5 double garage doors and it's bigger than his good sized ranch home. It may be on another lot, I can't tell but would they let some one just build a stand alone garage that big? I suspect the guy just built it and never said a word or he knows or is related to someone. I just figured I should be happy with what I have cause it ain't worth it fighting city hall usually! Could be worse.....LOL!
Last edited by OLE442; 11-11-2018 at 05:15 AM.
11-11-2018, 06:15 PM
#40
My "work shop" is 20ft by 40ft. Mostly because I don't want to heat a larger area in the winter time. I have a smaller insulated shed 14ft by 28ft for thee lawn mower and cherry picker and engine stand along with other stuff. Also a 24ft by 40ft cold storage shed with metal and wood racking for car and hunting stuff.
We live out in the country with 15 acres so the county board can't stop me from building any shed size I want. But they did make me build a new sewer system with the first shed even though ours was working fine.
We live out in the country with 15 acres so the county board can't stop me from building any shed size I want. But they did make me build a new sewer system with the first shed even though ours was working fine.