How would you set up your garage w/attached house and detached?

[IMXCITD]

We will be building in the not so distant future and I am looking for input for the garage set up. I am planning at least a four car garage attached to a house (could go bigger) and a detached. I don't mind a big garage with the house as it will give alot of room over for finished house space. Would you go bigger on the house? I could have two double doors and on one side really be a four car and the other two car or just go a large four car and then large detached. Where would you place the detached in relation to the house? Am pretty sure we will have a side-loader garage so I was thinking the detached would be to the side or rear using some of the same driveway that goes to the house. Will also really have to think out the garage set-ups ahead to allow for pluming, electrical, a/c & heat, water, height of doors...etc.
Thanks for your input!

Bill

 

[Piet]

I am finishing my 2.5 car detatched Garage.

I went detatched because I have a back lane and because I am using as a "shop" type garage. Don't get dust into the house.

However my wife needs to walk the groceries 40-50 ft to the house.

If I had the option, I would go with a 2-4 stall attached garage for PARKING ONLY, and then a 2-4 stall detached for hobby projects. I would put the detached garage somewhere where it is "hidden" like behind the house or off to the side. Leave the attached for PARKING ONLY so it will stay clean and you do not need to worry about stuff falling on your nice cars.

Go with In-Floor heating.
Go with a min 9.5 ft ceiling
Go with a min 8 ft door height
Go with double doors (my wife STILL hit the side once)
Go with a floor drain
Go with a shop area (I have a 30 ft wide garage, 8 ft dedicated to shop)

Consider a bathroom, sink
Consider many windows (I put a patio door in)
Consider telephone, cable, internet access.

 

[corvettecrazy]

also if you plan on having a garage for 2 cars to park make it a 2.5 car garage. You will NOT regret the extra space when parking and getting in and out.

 

[JohnZ]

We built our retirement home four years ago, and I designed a 44' deep x 58' wide x 12' ceiling attached garage (detached garages not allowed in our sub) on our (long) ranch-style house, with the front elevation designed to match the style of the rest of the house so it's not apparent from the street that that much of the house is a garage. Easily holds six cars (seven with one up on the lift) with plenty of working room, plus my 16' x 16' enclosed "retirement office" in one corner. After nine previous homes with 2-1/2-car garages, I've been dreaming (and planning) this one for many years - has all the amenities and then some; cost was a secondary factor to space and comfort.

 

[Piet]

I've been dreaming (and planning) this one for many years - has all the amenities and then some; cost was a secondary factor to space and comfort.

Uh... If you have ever seen picture's of John's garage... it's in a slightly different league. Ahhhhhh.......very nice. One day......



One day Lad!, All this will be yours!

.... What?!? The curtains?

 

[IMXCITD]

Thanks for your replies. John, I would love to see some picks and talk to with you about your home and garage!

Bill

 

[Tims93]

Check with your local tax accessor. Here in NY my property taxes were much more expensive for an attached than unattached.

 

[MaineShark]

Go with In-Floor heating.

I'll second that, although I'd point out that it would be a good idea to have both radiant heat in the floor, and a blower-type heater (Modine, etc.). The radiant heat is very nice, but it doesn't have quick recovery time, after you open a garage door and let all the hot air out. Also, make sure you have the radiant installed by a skilled contractor - improper radiant setups can result in cracked slabs. If you want to get fancy, you can set up the radiant to maintain a given floor temperature (say, 55-60 degrees), and have the air thermostat control the air heater. The wiring can be a bit complicated, in some cases, but it's worth it. Also, make sure to buy your Modine early, and read the manual carefully, so you can determine the best location to provide proper heat distribution, before the rough-in on the piping decides the location for you.

Uh, can you tell that I do this for a living?

Consider a bathroom, sink

I'll second that, as well. I'm in the process of designing a house, and my current plans are for an attached garage that attaches to a mudroom, which then attaches to the house. The mudroom will have the laundry, as well as a bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower. I'm also planning for a pedal-operated sink in the garage, itself, so I can wash the grease off my hands before going into the house.

Joe

 

[*89x2*]

I have both - a two car attached garage on the house and a 3+ car garage (we had 4 cars in there last winter, easy) detached, about 20 ft away from the house.

My wife likes the attached garage for groceries and general convenience - I park my DD in there -
I like keeping the "good stuff" in the detached - I added all the securities & comforts - well, most of them anyways inside and most of all - No bigwheels, bicycles, or kids toys!!!! I constructed a shed - actually, it is about the size of another 2 car garage, for that stuff & the lawnmower, snowblower, etc.
I hope this helps

 

[Rob]

Out of curiosity, how much does it cost to have a two or three stall detached garage built?

 

[Piet]

I think that I am up to $18,000...... doing all the work myself.

I have a 24' deep, 30' wide 2 stall (with generous shop on the side) 9 1/2' tall interior ceiling.
I dug a water line from the house 6' deep.
I connected to my City sewer 9 1/2' deep.
I installed in-floor heating. (Kitec piping, r-20 insulation under the slab)
I poured 1' footing and 6" flooring of 28 mPa concrete (rebar every 12" on a grid)
I installed a floor drain and bathroom and sink.
Vinyl siding, and a 8' tall double garage door.
I intalled patio door on south side.
I installed 200 amp panel and wired the wahzoo out of the interior
I am having the house made into a sub-panel from the garage (underground wires) to get rid of the overhead lines to my house.
R-12 in the walls, OSB around the bottom 4' of the wall. (about to start drywalling)

Whew! Soon I can work on my car.....

 

[MaineShark]

I installed in-floor heating. (Kitec piping, r-20 insulation under the slab)

Mmm... Kitec. What are you using for radiant control? I have a real itch to try out Taco's new Radiant Mixing Block, but I haven't done an installation for anyone who had the sort of money to pay for that (even at contract pricing, it would retail for about $1000 to the homeowner).

So I guess it's manifolds, balancing valves, and thermometers for me!

Joe

 

[Tom]

I have both an attached 2 car garage, and a detached oversize 4 car garage. My wife likes the convience of the attached garage, and it is nice to have on a rain soaked day. The detached garage does not affect my tax value as per the county. To me, that is a big plus.

 

[c4cruiser]

A detached garage woul allow you to be more creative with ideas and location for easy access and reduction of noise and dirt/dust into the house. Depending on codes and the layout of the house on the property, you could affix a breezeway between the house and garage and possibly us it as additional carport-style parking.

IF you go with an attached garage, consider a separate electrical service for it. A 200 amp panel should provide enough for your needs. Having a separate electrical bill can allo wyou to keep track of electricl usage and the chancds are that you will not pay much more than the minimum for power.

The interior ceiling should be at least 10' and 12' would be even better. A separate shop room would be best if you do any sort of woodworking so that dust won't get on the cars.

An interior drain is great if local building codes allow it and a good-sized water heater. A slop sink and a separate bathroom with maybe a stall shower. A small area for a bar sink, coffee pot, fridge and maybe a microwave and a place to sit like a small couch or a couple of comfy chairs.

An outside hose bib on the garage door side and maybe a line from the water heater to a mixing valve for warm water from the hose!

Have sufficient electical outlets around the walls and a outlet for a welder or larger air compressor. Install air lines and hose connectors on all four walls. A phone line and TV Cable for keeping up on CAC posts!! An audio system and TV are good items to have too.

Lighting is very important. Fluorescent tubes or recessed cans wil work as will metal halide (expensive but fantastic lighting!!) Make sure there is lots of light over workbenches. Lots of lighting over the cars.

 

[Rob]

^^^ Sounds like home to me!!! :L

 

[JohnZ]

Ya gotta have an "office" out there to connect to CAC every day!