Need help getting a 2 Story Garage

[Judhudson]

We're planning on getting a 24x26 two car garage so we can work on the vehicles.  We're looking at a wooden one.  I told my dad that you know, one car will pretty much take up the whole garage when it comes to restoration.  Well, he doesn't believe me.  He thinks that it is possible to work on two vehicles at a time (one's a horse trailer actually).  I told him that a second story would help us out in the long run.  What I am looking for are pictures of a 2 car garage with one car taking up most of the area.  I want to show him why we need the extra space.

[OttawaCharger]

Definitely go for the second story at least over half the garage.  When you're restoring a car, it's going to take up twice the space when you've got it apart.
I recommend going over to www.garagejournal.com where you'll see lots of examples and good ideas.
Oh yeah, while you're planning your garage, remember to plan for lots of outlets at a good height and 220V outlets for you compressor and welder if you're putting one in.  I bought my house with a 27x29 garage that only had 4 110 volt outlets in it 
Good luck! 

[BATMAN]

Go three wide if possible, then get a lift, and storage above......  Use the lift to keep a car on top of another if you want, makes things easier space wise.  It would be hard restoring two cars side by side in a 2 car garage because you would need space to work, and sometimes it is better to just stick the car in the middle and work around it.

[1970440RT]

     I have a 24 x 24 garage right now and restoring a 68 Charger. 

     Not even close to being enough room.  I have a 1/2 story up top ( steep roof pitch ) that I use for a parts room.  I added on a 10' X 24' bay 2 months ago so I had enough room to put the fenders, doors, trunklid & hood somewhere while I worked on the rest of the car.  With a 24 x 26 you will run out of room quick. 

[The70RT]

Go three wide if possible, then get a lift, and storage above......  Use the lift to keep a car on top of another if you want, makes things easier space wise.  It would be hard restoring two cars side by side in a 2 car garage because you would need space to work, and sometimes it is better to just stick the car in the middle and work around it.

I have a 24 x 24 garage right now and restoring a 68 Charger.

Not even close to being enough room. I have a 1/2 story up top ( steep roof pitch ) that I use for a parts room. I added on a 10' X 24' bay 2 months ago so I had enough room to put the fenders, doors, trunklid & hood somewhere while I worked on the rest of the car. With a 24 x 26 you will run out of room quick.

Listen to us guys. I am currently doing mine in a 26 X 32 and had to kick out the Cutty

http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010017yr1.jpg

[400/6/PAC]

I restored my 73 in a two car garage,
I spent most of my time tripping over stuff.
You need more room.

[Old Moparz]

Originally, I was only going to build a two car, 24'x 28' garage with only one floor, but my wife twisted my arm into going bigger, & having a second floor. She said I wouldn't be happy with that, so who's to argue? The space fills up fast & I am glad I did the bigger & taller version. I have several projects & gather whatever parts I come across at whatever time I find them, so the second floor has been a handy storage area for all of it. A 2 car garage would be fine if you were only parking in it, but you definitely need extra space around the vehicle for tools, carts, work bench, the doors on the car being open, or just an area for your body to be in.

Mine is 36' across the front & can fit 4 cars side by side on the floor, but that leaves no room to work on them. The ideal scenario is 3 cars, which is what I intended, & have one half for a work space. The other half is for parking only & I have a lift over there so 3 cars fit fine. Each half is 18' wide, & I have enough room for what I am doing. The work bench, the tool chest, portable heater, the parts washer, engine dolly, compressor, & other things that just end up being part of the work scheme. If you have a shed & can keep non car items in it, like lawn mowers, bicycles, rakes, etc., then that helps a lot too.

Here's some sketches of my layout showing both floors as well as 4 & 5 cars inside.

This is what I had for a while to get through the winter one year before the lifts were installed.


This is what I currently have set up with 2 lifts & 5 cars with 2 cars under the lifts.


Here is the second floor.


Some photos of just the first lift installed showing the space.



The exterior.

[dodgecharger-fan]

One car.
Using up a two car garage, a shed, and some nooks and crannies in the house.

[PocketThunder]

Here is what i will be helping an old friend build this summer .  I can get you a detailed material list if you'd like.  Its 24 deep by 28 wide.  Not the biggest one out there but its the biggest one that the city will let him build on his lot. 

Paul
in St. Paul

[Judhudson]

Nice.  We're going to see what the city says.  We did both determine that a 2 story is not possible due to a tree and powerlines.  But he finally got it thru his thick head that a 2 car garage is too small, so we will definately be making it a lot longer to hold the extra parts.  I just hope the city will allow it.

[Old Moparz]

Here is what i will be helping an old friend build this summer .  I can get you a detailed material list if you'd like.  Its 24 deep by 28 wide.  Not the biggest one out there but its the biggest one that the city will let him build on his lot. 

Paul
in St. Paul

Paul,

That roof line is nice, I hope you & your friend take photos of the project as well as when it's done.

Nice. We're going to see what the city says. We did both determine that a 2 story is not possible due to a tree and powerlines. But he finally got it thru his thick head that a 2 car garage is too small, so we will definately be making it a lot longer to hold the extra parts. I just hope the city will allow it.

You could take the trees down, I took 5 down to put up mine. (Although I would loved to have kept them.) Even if you can't go too high, there is what is called an attic truss that has room within the configuration to allow for a cavity above the 1st floor. It might not give you an actual 2nd floor at full height, but any extra storage you can get helps.

Web page with truss types:
http://www.bblconst.com/truss_chart.htm

Attic Truss on top & Standard Truss on the bottom