gonna build a garage, check it out.

[nate]

Ok, I'm tired of no room and dirt floors, so I'm going to build a garage.. Here's a dark pic of the old one..

http://img24.exs.cx/img24/3453/garage2.jpg

I know, you can't see much.
The new one will be 25x40 with a 25x25 loft. 10' celings all around. I live in the country somewhat, so I had an excuse to make it barn style...

http://img24.exs.cx/img24/8851/axoframing.jpg

I'll have a hoist system to get stuff from the ground to the loft... there's a front door and a side/rear door for long term stuff. I'm going to be spending a lot on this and I wanted some feedback on what you think, anything you would do different? I know this is kindof O/T, but it's the garage right? I didn't put this much thought into my house. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[2tall2beahotrodder]

Tiny bathroom will save time.!

[Bob K]

I would suggest that you put an I beam across the 25' area so as to have a place to mount a roller chain hoist.

I also was glad that I put in 8 floor anchor's.

Bob

[nate]

Rat, maybe you missed it, i said i live in the country... one of the perks

[nate]

Bob, I'll have the hoist, what did you use for anchors and what do you use them for?

[Bob K]

I have used them when installing a new rear spring in my vette among many other uses. I had posted a tech post about stretching hood springs prior to reinstalling but I can't find it now. They are handy anytime you need to stretch or hold something under pressure.
.
Bob

[haring]

More windows.

Natural light makes a boy happy and healthy.

I also vote for a bathroom. If you can get running water out there, in additional to using the loo, you can wash your hands, run a hose, etc.

While we're at it, how about an extended main beam so you can run a hoist from the second floor to lift junk into the loft? Oh yeah.

[Slag Kustom]

bigger is always better

[mr.midnite]

are you using engineered trusses for the Gambrel roof?

[bigron]

i'd run water, electricity, phone line and even cable tv. i wish i had actual stairs going to the attic instead of ther pull down kind. also lot's of insulation with a finished ceiling and walls. i have a few friends that did this and then painted the whole inside of the shop white with lots of lighting. i work in there shop and it's really nice and bright. then i go home and i feel like i'm in a cave with the bare wood. i have a small room on the back of the shop that my compressor is in. make it nice not to have to listen to it run all the time. i also have me mower and yard tools stored back there. also have a crport on one side that's nice for working outside when sanding or grinding. go as big as you can. you will out grow it so fast.

[nate]

Thanks for all the ideas guys! I will have more windows in there, I'm even thinking about a skylight of some sort. I think getting water out there will be more trouble than it's worth, but I am going to try to get a phoneline so I can check the HAMB while I'm working. I'm afraid cable TV would be counter productive.

I'm making it as big as i can, I'm already over budget, but we'll get er done.

The chain hoist swinging out from the loft will get done too I think... Great idea.

Oh, I'm also goning to put a big wood stove in for heat in the winter.

I'm going to frame the roof myself to get as much space under it as possible.

Nate

[bufordtjustice]

I don't know how you are going about this or if you can use this but a friend of mine put chains in his floors. He cut a hole in the bottom of a coffee can and put some chain through it to be anchored into the concrete foundation and then put concrete around the various cans he had in the garage while building up the floor...that way you have easy access to secure grounded chain while having it sit flush to the floor...I thought it was a good idea...

Greg

[NoSurf]

It needs some diagonal bracing from the end walls to the roof.

Use some Simpson anchors also to prevent uplift in high winds.

[Brad54]

Even if it's a pain, run water out there--you'll want a wash sink to clean up.
Don't bother with a toilet--they always get nasty. I actually have a full length urinal for my shop. It'll clean up with a spray bottle of bleach and it's done.

Instead of dry wall in my shop, I hung white pegboard from the ceiling down to 4-feet off the floor (12-foot ceilings; 4x8 pegboard), and then corrugated steel siding to the floor. Keeps sparks and floor jack handles out of the wall.

Electrical outlets every 4 feet.

If your upstairs is strictly storage, think about putting the stairs going up there OUTSIDE the building along the back wall. You don't go up there on a daily basis, and it'll open up valuable floor space.

Wherever you put the stairs, if you can, make them double wide: it'll make carrying hoods and bench seats up the stairs much easier.

If you put the stairs outside, you've got most of a compressor closet already made.

Put a few electrical outlets way up high on the wall: you'll use them for a clock, TV, lighted signs, drop cord real, etc.

Windows are over rated. Skylights would be great, but windows take up wall space (for shelves or hanging stuff), and they let nosey people see what's in your shop. Lots of lights and you'll be fine.

Spend money on the "good" lights.

Put a door in the back wall: leave yourself a fire exit incase something bad happens.

Finally, DON'T WORK ON A CAR IN THE SHOP UNTIL YOUR SHOP IS DONE! Otherwise you'll be one of those guys who, 15 years later, keeps saying "I'm going to insulate it and hang some more lights and hard-wire them in one of these days. And then hang sheetrock, and paint the floor..."
-brad

[bigron]

i have to agree with brad54. don't work on any cars in it until it's done. i am so guilty of not finishing it and just getting by. i have no insulation exept for the ceiling. the main thing is to enjoy it. that's why we have them.

[deuceguy]

I built a barn roof on mine as well, LOTS of storage space up there.

[mr.midnite]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm going to frame the roof myself to get as much space under it as possible.



[/ QUOTE ]

why? trusses would be less expensive and have far more strength and you eliminate the need for upright posts on your main level. If you do plan to stick-build it you'll need to revise that drawing and how that roofline is put together, those collar ties won't offer enough structural integrity.
Here's mine, 26' x 42', but three stories.

[HOTRODPRIMER]

Think about a drain to be able to hose the floor down when ya want to clean up!,,,,,,ya need water,,,,,I have a water hydrant,,,,the type that the valve lets the water drain back in the pipe to keep from freezing,,,just outside one of my overhead doors.

The back door is a good idea,,,HRP

[nate]

Thanks for all the ideas guys, some I'll use, some I won't, but they are all good to think about. I'll keep you updated.

Nate

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

Awesome, I feel your pain, we too are building a garage...that'll look a lot like that. We're using the same type of rofo as you are, and going to be putting a set of stairs to the second floor, except around back(outside) so that it doesnt waste any room in the garage itself. (and I also feel your pain about going over budget.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)