Garage characteristics

[mygr888]

Hi All

I may have an opportunity to design a garage for my 88 conv vette. I am building an addition to my house and the architect suggested maybe a single garage just for the vette. I live in New Jersey so storage is a factor. What would you suggest as characteristics of a perfect garage for my baby?

Thanks!!

 

[mygr888]

Re: Sure..

Make it tall enough for a car stacker.....you never know!

C'ya
D

 

[c4cruiser]

How much property can you devote to the garage? A single car garage just doesn't seemto be enough space. How wide of a door was recommended? If you have to go with a single car gatage, try to fit in an 8' wide door.

Here's my idea for a minimum suitable garage: Minimum of 2-car bay with a 16-18' door. Depth should be around 24-26' as you will need a workbench. There should be a minimum of 4-6' between the side walls and the car door. Ceiling height should be at least 10' to allow for a hoist if you want/need one. They are great for doing your own service and will help to "stack" a second car.

Floor shoudl be finished concrete and if local code allows, install a floor drain so you can wash the car inside.

Have sufficent electrical power (220V available and at least 60A service. Provide enough circuits for a large number of outlets (cuts down on the number of extension cords). You'll want lots of light. Flourscent tubes are nice but get cold-weather ballast types for winter time. Recessed cans can work too.

Install a small hot water heater and slop sink. Shop heat will be a needed item if you plan on spending time at night or thru the winter in the shop. Add an inside hose bib and if you go with a hot water heater, have a hot water outlet next to the cold water bib. If the garage will be a separate building, consider a toilet and wash basin.

Toys: fridge for beer, air compressor with air couplers spaced around the garage, stereo/TV (cable a must!), phone line and wall phone, computer connection so you can be on the CAC all the time , finished painted walls, posters, tool chest with rollers, chest or cart for cleaning supplies,

There's probablt lots of other ideas that others can come up with. Go for as much as you can!!

 

[JT ZR-Won]

Moving to the shrines Department

Jay

 

[lone73]

the perfect garage...

Ahh, The perfect garage...I've given at least some thought to this in the past considering I've been a pseudo builder for the past 14 years.

1. I'd definitely use an over-width door if it is a single car garage. I'd go about 12ft.
2. Of course you'll want a garage door opener.
3. Heat & A/C and insulated with finished (sheetrocked & painted) walls.
4. Finish the floor with an epoxy floor paint or something tough enough to withstand strong solvents.
5. Enough lighting that your garage can be clearly seen from space satellite photos.
Consider how you plan to park your car in there, front or rear in first. I would install and position (4) 100-150 watt halogens directly over the hood. Operating room style. These are the adjustable lamps that can be directed right where you want them. Available at Home Depot. With the hood raised you want these things to illuminate the engine bay entirely from all forur corners. Absolutely invaluable if your doing something like an optispark change after dark. You can drag a work light around but if you're like me you just never seem to be able to find the perfect place to hook it to see what you're doing. Plus they are often in your way. Have these switched independently of several other fluorescent tubes that will provide general lighting when you just want to do other types of work on "the machine". In fact, I have mine set up so that I can switch them on in stages. A normal house wall switch will only handle about 15 amps anyway so you don't want to put too many lights on one switch. I'd probably put the halogens on one circuit/switch by themselves.

6. About the floor itself...
I have always hated the wheel stops that are common to almost every garage in the world. IMHO these are nothing more than idiot proofing for the general brainless masses. I would make the floor completely flat from door to back wall. This ain't no garage for your grandma to park her '89 Crown Vic in so It doesn't need to be idiot proof. With no wheel stop you can roll your tool box or floor jack all the way around the car unencumbered.

7. An anteroom would be nice...
A waiting room for your tools that is not guests. I like a clean garage with no clutter. If space allows I'd build a room adjacent to the main shop floor accessible thru a 3-0 door or possibly double doors depending on what's in there. The minimun room size would house shelves and tools/toolboxes, books and whatnot. This leaves the shop area uncluttered, clean and pristeen, suitable for displaying tastefull garage art. If possible I'd make it big enough to house ample workbench space also as well as a wash basin. For my next one I even plan on a 1/2 bath with shower so I can get cleaned up before going back inside the house after those really messy jobs. And if you really want to go crazy buy a small fridge to put in it, install a row of single pane windows between the anteroom and shop area, put a window unit a/c in it so when you're in the "dog house" with your wife you can sip a brew in the office area while gazing upon your pride thru the windows.

8. Is a lift a possibility?
You might want to think about raising the ceiling height enough to accomodate a future lift. About 12' is a minimum for that.

that'd be my ultimate garage...

have fun!

lone73