Garage Dimensions

[JerryBob]

I am considering the idea of having a one-car garage built. I already know I cannot have a 2-car garage due to lot size.

Not even sure if I can have a one car garage, but I thought rather than wait until next week when I can get to the City for the plat, and all that stuff, I thought I'd ask fellow BITOGers.

From the side of my house exterior wall to the property line is 27'. I believe, from memory, that I need to be at least 10' or 12' from the property line. That, of course leaves either 17' or 15' for a one-car garage.

Based on standard, nicely built garage sizes, is this something I can even consider?

Below is a very rough idea of what I am thinking about.

EXAMPLE

Thanks for any feedback and advice.

FYI, many of my neighbors have one, so it is nothing new in my neighborhood. But for historical reasons, I have slightly less space on one side.

 

[gfh77665]

I would like to suggest to offset the parking area to the left or right, and not in the center like the picture.

By doing so, you will free up max storage space. In other words, one six foot wide open space on one side beats two three foot wide spaces on the left and right sides.

 

[JHZR2]

I would think that a 10x17' garage could fit some cars with room to spare. I might be wrong, but I thought that 10x20 was a fairly standard single car garage size.

 

[Doog]

Move the door more to one side to allow for more space on one side for trash cans, OPE etc. If possible make it 2 stories for an extra storage space or even bonus room into the house. Just remember where it does connect into the home you have to have XXXX fireproof drywall and insulation.

Sometimes if you ask the guys at the City building department for help they will show you how to fit it on the lot Also, you may be able to get a neighbor to sign off on a variance to allow a larger structure.

 

[Clevy]

K.
So if you've got 15' wide to play with you can easily fit a 9' door,centered,which then easily opens the vehicle doors once inside or you can push the door over to one side so you can build a little work station.
I suggest going as tall an exterior wall as possible,like 10'. It allows for storage above in shelving.
I'm a journeyman carpenter with over 20 years self employed.
If you really want to get crafty I suggest having trusses built on a steep pitch and make a bonus room above for more storage space. One never has enough storage area,or it can be a lil hideaway,escape from everyone.

I'm building a 24'x24' garage next winter.
10' exterior wall to allow for a 9' tall door. Then a 4' knee wall on top with a finished second floor bonus room.
I'm putting a bathroom,shower,cable. Heated slab using a boiler type system with a gas/wood boiler.
I'll never track mud and grime and whatnot into the house anymore since I'll have facilities in the garage.
I'm also making our existing home which is a bungalow right now a 2 storey.
I'm going to cut the roof loose,pull it off in 1 piece with a crane,joist a second floor above with a 2' cantilever around all the existing house which then grows the house 4' each way.
All I need is a week of nice weather since the entire house will be open to the elements,or I could bring out condo crew of 30 guys over and build it in a day

 

[JerryBob]

This is a shot of a neighbor's house. Same style house as mine. I consider this garage to be nicely done, and something along the lines that I want to do.

 

[matrass]

I know I had my 2 car garage built an extra 2 feet long by 2 feet wide and glad I did it. one suggestion would be to get a drain in the floor if you can, you will want one if you do not put one in and doing it later would not be a good idea. like others have said make some room in the ceiling if you can for storage.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: JerryBob
This is a shot of a neighbor's house. Same style house as mine. I consider this garage to be nicely done, and something along the lines that I want to do.

That should be a piece of cake. Just add the cost of a new roof for the whole house and you will never know it is an addition.

 

[datech]

You need to check your city code for the setback. In my neighborhood it is only 7' on one side but maybe twice that on the other. They have their reasons. I heard one reason is to make sure a vehicle, backhoe, firetruck, whatever can fit between houses in case it's necessary.

I would recommend deeper than 17', at least 20', but 22' is better. This would be limited by the setback from the street and the amount of driveway you want to give up. Most small cars are 13-14' long and some pickups are maybe even more than 20', and you want space in front and back if possible.

I was just looking at a house similar to this and I was thinking if I had that kind of setup I might want to consider a garage door on the back of the garage as well as the front, you could drive right through to the back yard.

Make it as wide as you can to fit your setback and get a door as big as you can. I built garage and originally was going for a one car, but I went a bit wider, just wide enough to allow a 16' wide door (18' minimum). It is now technically a two car garage and I do now park two cars in it(it's tight fit, though). Even when I only put one car in it was much better with the wider door, easier to put the mower in, etc. I think standard door sizes are 8',9', and 16', and as tall as you want, just keep stacking sections up.

Making it a little bigger shouldn't affect the cost that much but I think it will make it a lot more useful in the long run, and help resale value of the house. If you want more storage the second story, or maybe just 1/2 story is also pretty economical as it will share the foundation and roof, which are the expensive parts.

The idea about a drain is good but I think of lot of municipalities no longer allow garage drains that feed the sanitary sewer. I just built a total of 1" slope in the slab (over the 20 feet deep) and it is easy to hose out.

 

[John_K]

Growing up I loved my Dad's garage because it was like 8 feet longer than the car, there was plenty of room in front for a work bench, to work on stuff even if the car was there, etc. I would appreciate this more than width.

John

 

[dparm]

I agree with the extra depth. For very little extra cash you will got a lot more space to store things like bicycle (motorcycle even?), lawn equipment, workbench, cabinets for oil stash, etc.

 

[JerryBob]

Originally Posted By: Doog


That should be a piece of cake. Just add the cost of a new roof for the whole house and you will never know it is an addition.


Yep. I have skylights on my house and I detest them. I can't wait to re-deck the roof and drywall them up inside. They're a permanent source of mold and mildew.

 

[sciphi]

Go as big as you can. That extra space comes in handy for storing unexpected stuff.

 

[morris]

some ideas. DONT put sheetrock on the walls.. my dad put good plywood on all the walls. that way you can hang ANYTHING ANYWHERE. and he put elec outlets on every other stud. with each wall on its own breaker. and a concrete stem wall on each wall to keep water off the wall, when you wash the floor. just some ideas.

 

[JerryBob]

Originally Posted By: morris
some ideas. DONT put sheetrock on the walls.. my dad put good plywood on all the walls. that way you can hang ANYTHING ANYWHERE. and he put elec outlets on every other stud. with each wall on its own breaker. and a concrete stem wall on each wall to keep water off the wall, when you wash the floor. just some ideas.


Wash the floor? I plan on vacuuming and mopping it

 

[morris]

if that works for you thats fine. the only time i was able to park in a garage was be for i had a wife.

 

[datech]

every spring I like to hose out all the sand and salt grit.

They have that floor coating for garages, it might be nice.

Sheetrock might be good for its fire retardant value, in fact it might be required depending on your location.

I put 1/4" OSB under some parts of the sheetrock in my garage to make it easy to hang things.

 

[zrxkawboy]

Originally Posted By: datech
Sheetrock might be good for its fire retardant value, in fact it might be required depending on your location.


Yes, usually required at least for the wall adjoining the house.

 

[Norm Olt]

Buy a foreclosed property somewhere outside the beltline with an old building on it and turn the house into a real garage.

"Land, Scarlett!" or "PLASTICS, Benjamin!"

Cheers!

p.s. The other solution is to just "GO DEEP". Is there room in back (or half in back & half in front) to go with a 2 car deep structure? The idea of a storage loft is a graet one: it could be in front leaving room fora lift in the back space: some even allow a 2nd car to be stored underneath...