What size garage should I build?

[Rob]

Obviously as big as I can I hear you say. Well yes but I need to keep Halina happy and I would like some garden left. I have put in planning for a garage with internal dimensions of 5220mm wide and about 5700mm long and I have been given the option to make it a bit longer without lengthening the application process. My concern is that it may not be long enough, with an 80 being 4840mm long and the 530d being 4805mm long and quite low (meaning that jack handle needs to be near horizontal) I am thinking I should make it longer. It looks like I will need to apply for building regs if I do but so be it.

I could stretch the internal space up to 6500mm but it will be difficult to justify to Halina. Assuming that I only intend to work on one end of the vehicle with the shutter door closed, what do you think is a sensible internal garage length?

BTW there is no driveway, the entrance will be on the rear access road (with plenty of room to turn it if you were wondering) so would prefer to be able to work on a car without opening the shutter, but would consider raising the shutters only when I need to lift both ends of the car and then close it.

 

[fridayman]

What about space for tool racks/storage and work benches?

I find that with a meter clear on each side I can get most jobs done without moving the car. But I actually prefer working on it outside if it isn't too hot.

 

[Shayne]

5x6 metres i think , i will take a pic tomorrow in daylight of my trucks on it .

 

[Rob]

What about space for tool racks/storage and work benches?

I find that with a meter clear on each side I can get most jobs done without moving the car. But I actually prefer working on it outside if it isn't too hot.

I will put storage and benches down the side walls. Can only work on the cars in the street out front at the moment which is not ideal, I intend to do all work in the garage in the future.




Thanks, that would be useful Shayne.

 

[uHu]

...I could stretch the internal space up to 6500mm but it will be difficult to justify to Halina. Assuming that I only intend to work on one end of the vehicle with the shutter door closed, what do you think is a sensible internal garage length?
....
so would prefer to be able to work on a car without opening the shutter, but would consider raising the shutters only when I need to lift both ends of the car and then close it.

I manage that with a length of 6 mtrs, banging the jack handle into the wall for each stroke.

Edit:
The perfect garage would have place for working on two cars at the inner part, and space for parking two cars behind them, and a machining room next door. All in all about 13 x 8 mtrs, plus a store room and a workshop somewhere.
Go underground, and make a garden on top, 4 mtrs above

 

[Shayne]

I'm sorry to say it Rob but i think realistically your looking at a one car workshop rather than a two car garage . My access is through quite a narrow lane at a right angle to where i park so the Hummer goes in first and is then reversed out so i can go back in parallel about 18" from the right side wall . Then i bring the 90 in parking it to the left of the Hummer , and coming in from a right angle has me taking the front bumper to within an inch of the wall . I'm not sure i could do it at all if the pillars were up and even as it is now i think i would have problems if my Cruiser was a long wheel base . Plus two cars parked side by side between two walls need at least 1.5m so doors can be opened .

 

[Rob]

Just to be clear, I am only after advice on the length of the garage and I only intended it to be a single car garage.

 

[BRE Fabrications LTD]

I know your only looking for advice on length, I dont have any. But you should consider putting a pit in. It could make working on the cruiser a lot easier.

 

[Rob]

I have given a pit some consideration but in order for the pit to work in this location I would need to have a cover that can easily take the weight of the car or jack with car on top and be reasonably light for ease of removal. At least one wheel will need to drive over the pit to get the vehicle aligned, I will then need to back out of the garage to remove the cover and then drive back in. I decided that it will be too much hassle especially as I will have plenty of internal height so can lift the vehicle on stands or sturdy ramps if needed.

 

[Rob]

After some shuffling around and modifying the wall construction I have increased the internal length to 5940mm and only lost 150mm from the garden. Hopefully that will be enough but it has put it within the scope of building regulations. Hopefully that will be long enough.

 

[Paddler Ed]

My recommendation is 50% bigger than what ever you think you need...

This is a mate's shed over here:

 

[Rob]

That is bigger than my entire plot of land! I wish I could go much bigger but I don't have the space.

 

[clivehorridge]

One aspect of all this is storage facilities and the will and discipline to keep the place tidy.

I had a "double garage" with a single up and over door, yet with all good intentions, I invariably let the place get in a mess to the extent that could barely get my car into the garage .

When I was diligent, I had plenty of workspace beside the car, and everything was nicely to hand.

 

[AndyCook]

Same here Clive, used to get 2 cars in our garage, no chance now


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Chas]

One aspect of all this is storage facilities and the will and discipline to keep the place tidy.

I had a "double garage" with a single up and over door, yet with all good intentions, I invariably let the place get in a mess to the extent that could barely get my car into the garage .

When I was diligent, I had plenty of workspace beside the car, and everything was nicely to hand.

Sounds just like my garage. But with a roller shutter door.

 

[Ben]

I have given a pit some consideration but in order for the pit to work in this location I would need to have a cover that can easily take the weight of the car or jack with car on top and be reasonably light for ease of removal. At least one wheel will need to drive over the pit to get the vehicle aligned, I will then need to back out of the garage to remove the cover and then drive back in. I decided that it will be too much hassle especially as I will have plenty of internal height so can lift the vehicle on stands or sturdy ramps if needed.

A pit would be simple to construct and incredibly useful so personally I wouldn't rule it out!

All you need is a square/rectangular frame made from angle and then planks of wood that drop into it.

Maybe 800-1000mm wide and use something like 8" x 2" treated pine for the planks.

You just need to know how high the water table is as its no good building a pit if its just going to keep filling with water.

 

[Shayne]

530cm long and 580cm wide .

 

[Iwan]

This is the new cruiser shop that I'm currently sorting out. It is 8.0 wide by 5.8 deep.

It will park up 3 cruisers tightly, could work on 2 short wheel base trucks or do a full rebuild of long wheel base width ways.
A bit to do have the 2 doors by the side hung now and have built the floor up with hard core.

Looking forward to do some nice cruiser rebuilds on completion!!