Woohoo we're adding a garage!

[Dino]

We've just decided to add more space for our toys.  We have a 2 1/2 car attached garage but we have 4 cars.

Our daily drivers sleep outside and we really don't want it that way.  My workshop is the 1/2 part but I have to share it with a lawn tractor and in winter two face cords of firewood so not a lot of room there.
Our shed is 7x8 and it's falling apart.  We are going to add a space that will store the Charger and T/A and give me a bigger workspace and more room for tractor, snow blower and other goodies.

The subdivision commitee allows additions but they have to be integrated into the existing structure and have the same siding so I'd like some opinions on how you would do this.  I have options, I can extend the existing garage and move the double door or I can add structure so it becomes a large L shape.

Any tips from you guys that have done this?  Anything you'd do different, any things you've encountered that you didn't think of beforehand?

Forgive my crude sketch.

[Troy]

Congrats! The blue rectangle will be better because you won't need to move one vehicle to reach another. You've seen first hand at my place how big of a pain that can be. If you can, I'd set it the doors back a few feet from your existing rear wall so you can back out of the existing garage and have a bit of room to turn in reverse (or to swing wide and back in). Also, make sure you build it deep enough to hold the Charger plus a few feet to walk around. A 20' garage would be very tight (the dimensions are usually to the outside wall so knock off a foot for wall thickness and a few inches for garage door hardware/handles and you don't have a lot of space in front or rear of a 17'6" vehicle). And put a door on the back to get the tractor out so you don't have to move cars.

Troy

[twodko]

Keep in mind is you build the back structure the county hose you on a reappraisal of the added square footage. Just sayin'

[Ghoste]

I like the "non important structure called a house" label.

[Old Moparz]

Go bigger.

[Dino]

Go bigger.

LMAO

That's too damn funny!!   

I don't think she'd go for it but I'll ask nicely.   

Troy that's a good point about the space to manouver in or out, I'll have put up some strings and experiment.

Twodko when we draw up the final plan we're going to take it to a friend who's in the business.  We need to stay within the sub's value range so we don't tick off the neighbors.

Ghoste: don't tell my wife I called it that. 

We barely passed the stage where we decide to stay where we are and add space for the toys so we have a loooong way to go.  My wife wants it done asap but something tells me this is gonna be quite the journey.

[Old Moparz]

Here is a site where you can find lots of good info......

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/

If you spend some time going through the Garage Gallery section there are lots of pics. 

[PocketThunder]

Give us dimensions of your lot and the distance from existing structure to property lines.   What are the required set backs?

[bakerhillpins]

Go bigger.

  I'm with Old Moparz   

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Nice addition of a lift-off car Bob

[chargerboy69]

Any restrictions on height. . .a nice two post lift would be nice too.

[Fred]

Go bigger.

That's very funny but my wife would be pissed off with her garage space. 

[nvrbdn]

my wife would love the her space cuz right now she gets none.

[69rtse4spd]

Go bigger.

Tell her you will add a shoe closet for her also.

[Dino]

You guys crack me up.   

She won't need a shoe closet, she's got her priorities straight and it ain't shoes!

I'll take some measurements today.  The lot is 1 acre, the house is around 1700 sq ft.  I'm not sure how far off the property line we need to stay but I think we have plenty room.  The property line is a good 6 or so ft past the driveway, towards the right on the sketch.  One of the issues we have is that we have to move the gas line because we cannot build over it as it's owned by the gas company.  Right now the gas meter is on the back of the house, between the shed and the door, so we'll have to move it to the front of the house.  I hope they make nice covers for them because we don't want that ugly meter in sight.

I am wondering what to do about height.  Obviously the easiest would be to make it as high as the current garage and that's almost 9 ft to the studs.  Obviously a big lift won't work but that's okay.  It's not like I will be having a car up in the air every day.  The majority of work I do on our cars is maintenance so maybe I can get one of those lower lifts that go up a few feet.  That should be plenty to do oil changes, brakes, exhaust and all that fun stuff.  When the time comes to restore the Charger I'd like to have it on a rotisserie so it should still clear the ceiling with at least a foot or so to spare.  If that doesn't work I'll have to use a body cart which is fine, it's not like the car is in that bad of shape.

The garage is not insulated, the rafters are all open and I would love to drywall both the garage and new structure as it can get both really cold and really hot in good old Michigan.  No point in having this fancy workspace if you freeze your nads off.

Thanks for that link Bob, checking it out now.   

[bakerhillpins]

One of the issues we have is that we have to move the gas line because we cannot build over it as it's owned by the gas company.  Right now the gas meter is on the back of the house, between the shed and the door, so we'll have to move it to the front of the house.  I hope they make nice covers for them because we don't want that ugly meter in sight.

Why can't you just have it come up from the ground at the back of the new garage and feed the gas lines through the wall cavity back to the current entry point?  Would seem a whole lot easier than digging it up and moving it???

[Dino]

One of the issues we have is that we have to move the gas line because we cannot build over it as it's owned by the gas company.  Right now the gas meter is on the back of the house, between the shed and the door, so we'll have to move it to the front of the house.  I hope they make nice covers for them because we don't want that ugly meter in sight.

Why can't you just have it come up from the ground at the back of the new garage and feed the gas lines through the wall cavity back to the current entry point?  Would seem a whole lot easier than digging it up and moving it???

Yeah that's pretty much what we've decided to do.  We're checking to see when we're getting the smart meters installed.  At that point there won't be anyone coming over to check the meter so I can even keep it at the front of the house and cover it up.

[Steve P.]

I would go as big as you can and also plan now for the lift.. Lots of head room and plenty room around it for tool boxes and engine hoists. Building up not only gives you room for a lift but also a loft for all those pesky Christmas lights and kids things. Oh, and those parts you KNOW you have to hide!!!! Then don't forget the extra thick and strong floor and plenty of electrical outlets so you can move the beer fridge around along with the tool box and TV/Stereo.   

There is no such thing as (I HAVE ENOUGH ROOM)..... 

[Dino]

Steve those are all very valid points, especially the beer fridge!   

Height will be an issue as the new structure must be incorporated into the old so I can't just raise it up any higher than the existing garage.  Not only will they disapprove the plans, it would also mean redoing the entire roof on the house and it'll be pricey enough I'm sure.  Existing garage is near 9' floor to roof studs.

If I can have a big b body on a rotiserrie and have a small lift to get the cars up a few feet I will be very happy. 

Yep no such thing as too much room but it needs to look right and it cannot depreciate te house as it is.  As much as I would like Bob's garage I don't think the sub association would approve. 

[bakerhillpins]

I don't know how you house is situated (elevation/grade wise) but any chance you can "step down" the garage.. dig down a bit so rather than raising the roof you lower the floor and just drop the entryway and the driveway?

[Dino]

I don't know how you house is situated (elevation/grade wise) but any chance you can "step down" the garage.. dig down a bit so rather than raising the roof you lower the floor and just drop the entryway and the driveway?

Hmmm good question.  Apart from the added cost, it 'may' work.  Definitely something to look into.  Thanks for the suggestion!   

[TUFCAT]

Old Mopartz isn't to far off the mark...I love it!!    ALWAYS THINK BIG

[Steve P.]

I'm sure you will have to go to a pro to get blueprints so you satisfy your county and subdivision, so make sure you let them know you are interested in putting a lift in the new building. OLD SCHOOL "A" frame construction is still allowed here in the HURRICANE BELT as long as it is done right. So if you build a deep garage you can feasibly build part or all of the roof structure to make full use of a lift...

My back shop was build by a "CAR GUY", but he had no interest in having a lift. BIG MISTAKE!! The shop is 28' deep by 45' wide and it has block walls that measure 8'8" with full trusses for the roof. I am going to sandwich the top boards of the trusses from top to base with 2x8's. They are 2 foot on center, so I will need to do 3 trusses this way to gain lift hight. I should be able to put my 65' all the way up, but I'm sure it will be too hairy to put my 22 foot long truck to the top.... This is my only cheap option and should work well, but if you have the chance to do it right from the start you will be MUCH further ahead.    

[Hemi Runner]

Mine is 28x44 with 12'4" walls and attic trusses for a full 12' x 44' walk in attic. Building one with 8'8" walls would be a huge mistake.

[Dino]

That lift is not going to happen, it's just not feasable to do that much work to the existing structure.  Besides the idea is not to turn it into a body shop.  The idea is to have parking space for all 4 cars, a space for the lawn tractor, snow blower and numerous carts and garden eqquipment and what's left over will be workspace.  Heck I may have to move a car or two outside when I need a lot of space to work.  The best I'll be able to do is put in one of those short lifts although I'm not sure it's worth the expense.  Apart from the Charger, the only things I do to the cars is an oil change.

My original plan was to restore the Charger one day, on a rotisserie.  But the more I think about the lest enthused I am about this.  I'll be working full time and going to college for many years to come so there's just no time for a big resto.  Since the car is in good shape to begin with the most I may do is put it on a body cart.  I've restored cars for over 15 years, I don't really miss it that much anyway.   

So I found out that I have to be 25' away from the property line so that limits the space quite a bit.  Here's the adjusted sketch.  I can't go more than 20' feet from the existing structure towards the right so I'll have to play with the depth a bit.