New Garage

[52 fordman]

Okay I am looking to build a new garage. (i am in a 13x 24 1 car garage) I would like to know what you think about a few ideas I have. I would like to know how many of you have steel buildings and how many have a stick built building? Any ideas about cost to build? What would you different? As for the floor brushed or smooth concrete? How do you heat and cool it?
What about height I am thinking about 10 ft walls, and 2 overhead doors 9x9, the biggest i can go is 30 feet wide by 50 feet long. But the only way i can do it with the 2 lagre doors on the gable end... Kinda stinks about that. what do you have for lighting, windows and walk thru doors?

Guys give me some ideas as to what you have done and what you might do different? I do have a small budget to do this and it needs to be done this summer!



52 fordman

 

[AEROCOLOR]

I have two garages. One for working and one storage. Can`t store and work in the same one without partitions. Grinding dust and debris seem to seek out finished cars.
The work one is 30' deep x 52' long with two 10'x10' and one 10'x9' door also 36"walk door.Ceiling height is 12' for a rack.

The storage is 30' deep x 40' with a walk door and one 16' x 8' door. It will hold 6 cars and has a 10' ceiling to make it easier to heat.

I wouldn`t consider less than 30' depth for bench/equipment room in front of the cars and door width should be no less than 10' and that gets tight sometimes with trailers.

Mine are pole style buildings that I insulated and installed ceilings to help with noise and heat. Smooth 5" 4000 psi fiberglass concrete gives plenty of strength for 4 post racks and pull pots.

The ceilings are just insulated ceiling tile cut to fit between the trusses. Takes a while to install but looks and works great.No windows for security purposes and heated with forced air Reznor overheads. Both buildings stay incredibly cool in the summer due to insulation. Gable end fans and ceiling fans to cool when open.

A couple of pics. Sorry, The cars get in the way too often.

Bill

 

[TiredIronGRB]

Go metal with steel trusses and go as big as you can afford...I've never heard anyone say "I wish I had built it smaller".

 

[rustybeercan]

Go metal with steel trusses and go as big as you can afford...I've never heard anyone say "I wish I had built it smaller".

Agreed. My buddy built a nice sized one & it got filled up in no time flat and what did he say? Wish I had built a bigger one!

Beercan

 

[Willowbilly3]

You probably aren't far enough north to worry about it but in-floor heat is the best IMO. I like gable end doors, no eave run off and ice dams in front of the doors. 10 foot walls are nice, maybe some long narrow windows up along the top to let in light but not in the way of wall space usage. I like a big walk in door too, a 4 footer. That way you can bring in parts and stuff without rolling up the big door.

 

[jfg455]

You probably aren't far enough north to worry about it but in-floor heat is the best IMO. I like gable end doors, no eave run off and ice dams in front of the doors. 10 foot walls are nice, maybe some long narrow windows up along the top to let in light but not in the way of wall space usage. I like a big walk in door too, a 4 footer. That way you can bring in parts and stuff without rolling up the big door.

+1 on the radient heat in the floor. I got it in mine. Also the gable end doors is fine. Mine is 32X40 2 9X9 doors, one man door in between, 12 foot ceiling so I can have the lift on one side, propane radient heat and a pellet stove back up for the extra cold days. If you run a pellet stove get it up 2 feet off the floor so gas fumes dont blow you up. Mine is stick built 4 foot cement walls on 3 sides. Then I put a 24x36 shed off to one side for dry car and tool storage. I also have an apartment above it that I rent out now that Ma has moved on.

 

[52 fordman]

Garage Question..

Wow thanks for all the info guys! I still have a few questions. Who built your garage? (steel) Or was it one you ordered and built yourself. I met a guy today who told me he built his own. Bought the steel and all beams ect took him a little more then a week to put up. I did do a drive by of his place, looks nice from the road. So where or who has heard of this. And if you dont mind what have you spent on your garage? Concrete is a must and i was thinking of using the fiberglass mix stuff.

So thank you to everyone. [cl

52 fordman

 

[special-k]

We bought a Excel building by Porter-Grace in Hopkinsville KY. It's a steel building 24 x 48 on a house style foundation ( you can put it on a slab also). 11' walls 12' centers with a 14' roll up door three windows and one man door and insulation for under 14,000 grand. Went up easy and we like the fact that the roof trusses are open on the bottom for lots of vertical height inside. Easy people to deal with as well.

 

[Gastrick]

I see you asked about floor texture. My personal preference is smooth. It cleans up easier and is much nicer to work on if you you have to lay down or scoot around on it on your back.

 

[CR55]

As a former home builder for over 25 years, go with a smooth finish on the concrete floor. You can't clean a brushed floor and it's very difficult to roll a creeper or wheel dollies on that style! Fiberglass mesh in the concrete helps eliminate cracks and gives it extra strength. Make sure you include wire mesh and use steel expansion joints as that is too long of a run for concrete, it needs the joints so it won't crack. Good luck with your new garage...CR

 

[jfg455]

smooth concrete, 6" thick 4000psi minimum if you are going to put up a lift. Better to do it that way first so that you can if you want to.

 

[CB_Chief]

overhead doors

The only thing I would change on my engineered steel building is the overhead doors. Mine roll up on a cylinder which seemed like a good idea at the time. They can't be insulated and it is hard to get them to seal off against the cold weather.

 

[29desoto]

Just having done it.....

I would say I like the stick built. Mine is 26 x 30 feet, single doublewide door, and a man door. Lots of windows.

I would say for sure don't skimp on power. Lots of 220, and lots of 110V outlets. Big breaker panel.

Lights - they threw a new one at me. Some florescent bulbs called T-8's. Instant on, no flicker, not temperature sensitive, and not much more than regular.

When the switch is flipped on, there is a very slight hesitation, then bam, they are there and solid. Even on a cold night.

And I insulated mine to the max. A small propane heater will do me on a very cold night.

Good luck!

 

[52 fordman]

Garage... steel

Okay for all you guys who have a steel/metal building. What brand and who put it up? Oh and windows... I will be closing mine in after the inspector leaves! I lost $8,325.41 to theves this weekend! Took it all out the window, even the small 110 air comp.

52

 

[imnezrider]

What brand and who put it up?
52

I bought mine (30 X 40) from http://www.globalsteel.com/ContactUs.htm