New Garage

[elacruze]

Insurance issues in Florida are forcing me to add a garage, and it's the right thing to do. I was going to go minimal and just enclose the carport, but that would be as much room for the car as an enclosed trailer so I'm adding on. Here's the plan, the existing carport is in green. The bath is added too, since our septic is 50 and failing so getting an upgrade-the pipe has to go in before the slab. The car in the drawing is 17 or 18 feet long; the inside of the new part will be 11'x36'.

Taking suggestions for lights and fixtures.

[nvrbdn]

i think you will find that 11 ft is a little tight if you plan to do any auto work inside the garage. with both doors open you wouldnt be able to walk around the car. plus if a car is in the back half, the exit door from the house will hit the car.if the room on your property line exists, id be looking at 16 foot. that would allow for tool boxes, work bench etc. the depth is great.

[elacruze]

i think you will find that 11 ft is a little tight if you plan to do any auto work inside the garage. with both doors open you wouldnt be able to walk around the car. plus if a car is in the back half, the exit door from the house will hit the car.if the room on your property line exists, id be looking at 16 foot. that would allow for tool boxes, work bench etc. the depth is great.

My property line setback limits me to these dimensions, sadly.

[nvrbdn]

you can do some recessed flourescent fixtures in the walls for good side lighting. never have too much lighting.

[hemi68charger]

Since you can't go any wider than 11ft., I strongly suggest you go with a single door instead of a double. With the single, you have the ability to park the car at an angle if you wish to work on it with doors open. I totally loath double doors with a center column. They make THICK headers to support the weight with no need for a center support column....

Garage door opener? Stu's the man over on moparts. He suggested the LiftMaster opener that's belt driven. I love mine..........

[elacruze]

Since you can't go any wider than 11ft., I strongly suggest you go with a single door instead of a double. With the single, you have the ability to park the car at an angle if you wish to work on it with doors open. I totally loath double doors with a center column. They make THICK headers to support the weight with no need for a center support column....

Garage door opener? Stu's the man over on moparts. He suggested the LiftMaster opener that's belt driven. I love mine..........

Hm, I'll have to ask the Architect about losing the support column...that corner has sunk a little and is getting a new header over the short door anyway...
Garage door openers for sure.

[nvrbdn]

excellant suggestion on the single door. that would allow for the car to sit at an angle and have lots of room.

[hemi68charger]

Since you can't go any wider than 11ft., I strongly suggest you go with a single door instead of a double. With the single, you have the ability to park the car at an angle if you wish to work on it with doors open. I totally loath double doors with a center column. They make THICK headers to support the weight with no need for a center support column....

Garage door opener? Stu's the man over on moparts. He suggested the LiftMaster opener that's belt driven. I love mine..........

Hm, I'll have to ask the Architect about losing the support column...that corner has sunk a little and is getting a new header over the short door anyway...
Garage door openers for sure.

Don't ask the architect, tell the architect..

When I expanded my 1st home's 2-car garage into a 4-car (2wide/2deep), a header was placed at the back wall of the existing garage, a header like this.
http://www.anthonyforest.com/stockglulam.shtml

Very strong to say the least. On my current 4-car garage in the new house, I made them use the same thing ( I hate the look of a saggy header with time) and use 2x12's for the framing ceiling joists. I told them I would be decking the garage attic space and was planning on putting heads and such up there, so it needed to be strong......

[PocketThunder]

The header in my garage is 26' long.  It spans the whole front wall.  Here is a picture.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,56750.msg644191.html#msg644191

[Richard Cranium]

Once you figure out on paper the size garage that you think you need, double it, because that's the size garage that you'll really need. 

[twodko]

These are some fine "been there" suggestions. Setbacks are the bane of urban property owners. The DuraLam beams made today are stronger than 2x12's sandwiching plywood beams. The only thought I can put forth here (I don't have too many thoughts left) is to look into a steel "I" beam for your main header. These come in many widths and take up less space than a DuraLam or demensional lumber beam. Might cost a bit more but you'll be gaining some height. Whatever you end up doing or having to do, your new space is going to be a true Mopar Man cave.

[troutstreamnm]

Single door for sure....make it happen!

[elacruze]

The unknown for the single door is the wind pressure standard, not the construction around it. I spoke to the architect and the builder today, they both said they think it's ok but have to check with the door manufacturer.

[PocketThunder]

The unknown for the single door is the wind pressure standard, not the construction around it. I spoke to the architect and the builder today, they both said they think it's ok but have to check with the door manufacturer.

Yep...     I had to build my door wall with hurricane straps and i had to nail the sheeting off every couple inches.  I'll get a couple pictures...

[PocketThunder]

the bottom simpson strong tie is set into the poured concrete slab before i poured the slab.

[bull]

Since you can't go any wider than 11ft., I strongly suggest you go with a single door instead of a double. With the single, you have the ability to park the car at an angle if you wish to work on it with doors open. I totally loath double doors with a center column. They make THICK headers to support the weight with no need for a center support column....

Totally agree. I would not even bother doing this if you do not put one wide door in instead of two narrow ones.