Building my dream garage
Discussion
OK so not a reader's car thread exactly, but I figured a focused place to keep all of my garage ramblings together as I go through the build and have a million questions probably makes sense.
Tricky part is also makking sure the cars can fit which includes a Raptor which is a long car to accomodate, a Mclaren with its upswinging doors which might complicate the installation of lifts, and smaller things like a 911 and westfield which are generally problem free.
Over the years I've generally stored the cars at work owing to only ever having a single or at best a double garage. Then when finally moving to a place with a double garage and a singe ''project car'' garage, a growing family quickly meant the double became the family garage and the project car garage (which was too small to do much serious work in) quickly became a home office..
But with moving to a much bigger space, I've finally got a chance to build a space to keep the cars close and work.
It's slowly coming together and I'm at the point of finalising the options and then a couple of months to get it built, excited!
The whole idea is for the garage to 'sort of' replace my workplace at home and contain some of my favorites.
Open to opinions though..
Currently it's 7m x 15m x 4m high to accommodate a two post lift, I'd like bigger but have to balance it with the mrs' desire for horses
Originally planned having a two Storey building with an office above that spans 10m above the car area vs. a 4m ground floor office.
I think 4x7m is plenty for an office space, may put a shower/toilet in there too for those early morning/late nights working on cars /in the office/when covered in oil to save tracking it through the house and driving the mrs nuts.. That leaves 7x9m for the cars.
Floor will be resin, lots of LED lighting, gyprocked interior and a big enough window in the office to view the cars.
Now just need to decide between:
1) two post lift to the right of the car vs 4 post lift
2) Double car stacker to the left vs single car stacker vs keeping the area clear.
Haven't seen the stacker up close, it's on casters so it can be moved (not that there's space to move it). I think the ground will be clear when the stacker is lifted giving a bit of flexibility to the space - worried that the space will be limited to car in - car out with the stacker there if that makes sense.
two poster doesn't have a floor plate as the concrete will be 150 thick meaining it doesn't look too cluttered and a car can simply pull in or out if the hoist is high.
Two poster means being able to do basically any work needed with engine/wheels off. Concerned that the 7m depth may not give all that much maneuverability though.
The 11m span without hoists and lifters can probably accommodate 5 cars crammed in, using the lift and stacker, I could pack 6 in if I used the two poster to store a project - and have the place not too cramped when the bottom level is clear (but will have the posts obscuring the way)
Currently looking like 1m between the wall, two car stacker and other wall..
far wall span will accommodate cabinets, benchtops, tool drawers, a compressor so the depth of the stacker will have to be confirmed. A big space but quickly might become cramped if I don't plan it out. I wont have anything as big as that truck in there, the biggest car will be the raptor which won't really need to be up or in there at all.
Tricky part is also makking sure the cars can fit which includes a Raptor which is a long car to accomodate, a Mclaren with its upswinging doors which might complicate the installation of lifts, and smaller things like a 911 and westfield which are generally problem free.
Over the years I've generally stored the cars at work owing to only ever having a single or at best a double garage. Then when finally moving to a place with a double garage and a singe ''project car'' garage, a growing family quickly meant the double became the family garage and the project car garage (which was too small to do much serious work in) quickly became a home office..
But with moving to a much bigger space, I've finally got a chance to build a space to keep the cars close and work.
It's slowly coming together and I'm at the point of finalising the options and then a couple of months to get it built, excited!
The whole idea is for the garage to 'sort of' replace my workplace at home and contain some of my favorites.
Open to opinions though..
Currently it's 7m x 15m x 4m high to accommodate a two post lift, I'd like bigger but have to balance it with the mrs' desire for horses
Originally planned having a two Storey building with an office above that spans 10m above the car area vs. a 4m ground floor office.
I think 4x7m is plenty for an office space, may put a shower/toilet in there too for those early morning/late nights working on cars /in the office/when covered in oil to save tracking it through the house and driving the mrs nuts.. That leaves 7x9m for the cars.
Floor will be resin, lots of LED lighting, gyprocked interior and a big enough window in the office to view the cars.
Now just need to decide between:
1) two post lift to the right of the car vs 4 post lift
2) Double car stacker to the left vs single car stacker vs keeping the area clear.
Haven't seen the stacker up close, it's on casters so it can be moved (not that there's space to move it). I think the ground will be clear when the stacker is lifted giving a bit of flexibility to the space - worried that the space will be limited to car in - car out with the stacker there if that makes sense.
two poster doesn't have a floor plate as the concrete will be 150 thick meaining it doesn't look too cluttered and a car can simply pull in or out if the hoist is high.
Two poster means being able to do basically any work needed with engine/wheels off. Concerned that the 7m depth may not give all that much maneuverability though.
The 11m span without hoists and lifters can probably accommodate 5 cars crammed in, using the lift and stacker, I could pack 6 in if I used the two poster to store a project - and have the place not too cramped when the bottom level is clear (but will have the posts obscuring the way)
Currently looking like 1m between the wall, two car stacker and other wall..
far wall span will accommodate cabinets, benchtops, tool drawers, a compressor so the depth of the stacker will have to be confirmed. A big space but quickly might become cramped if I don't plan it out. I wont have anything as big as that truck in there, the biggest car will be the raptor which won't really need to be up or in there at all.
Edited by thejaywills on Friday 3rd October 05:36
Considered a single post lift? And a flush floor sisscor lift.
A 4 post and 2 jacking beams are great for servicing etc and a fast to get a car on and off. But are big.....
Again a office door might be useful
If i had room i would have 4 poster and a single poster.
Ps if single post make sure post isnt drivers door side.
A 4 post and 2 jacking beams are great for servicing etc and a fast to get a car on and off. But are big.....
Again a office door might be useful
If i had room i would have 4 poster and a single poster.
Ps if single post make sure post isnt drivers door side.
duncancallum said:
Considered a single post lift? And a flush floor sisscor lift.
A 4 post and 2 jacking beams are great for servicing etc and a fast to get a car on and off. But are big.....
Again a office door might be useful
If i had room i would have 4 poster and a single poster.
Ps if single post make sure post isnt drivers door side.
all good considerations thanks for that, I hadn't considered a single poster at all - just hadn't really thought about them existing lol. A 4 post and 2 jacking beams are great for servicing etc and a fast to get a car on and off. But are big.....
Again a office door might be useful
If i had room i would have 4 poster and a single poster.
Ps if single post make sure post isnt drivers door side.
But thinking about it after a quick google, wouldn't a single poster mean a support spanning the underside? thinking that might make exhaust/engine work a bit awkward like working on a scissor lift. Although the idea of a flush fit scissor lift is a great one - not sure if I'd need both that said.
alicetaylor said:
A two post lift is more versatile if you plan to wrench often. Four posts are nice for storage, but they eat floor space fast. Since you mentioned engine work, I d lean two post.
I think you're right, leaning that way too. Currently I only have a floor scissor lift and as it stands even little jobs become a long game of carefully loading up the car, the ramps potentially not clearing, precariously placed lifting blocks etc. Dropped the oil on 650 and even taking the floor pan off and having it fall between the ramps and not being able to get it on until I dropped the car, reshuffled things and jacked it up.. Over all the little things being difficult so think you're right, I need a two poster in the work space area
Gad-Westy said:
That ll be a useful space! One immediate thought, do you not want an external entrance to the office? Seems like it would be a pain having to open a roller shutter and weave past the cars to get in there.
Thanks, I hope so! You're 100% right as the wife also pointed out just before reading this haha I was too focused on the car area.Absolutely - have now added an office external door
First snag and one that I'll have to keep in mind. The pavement to the property is too high for the 650 with the boat lift up I haven't braved it all the way up but It might just clear with a few mm to spare. The 370z will have absolutely no chance, so a battle with the council will ensue or I'll find some "non permanent" ramps
I haven't braved it all the way up but It might just clear with a few mm to spare. The 370z will have absolutely no chance, so a battle with the council will ensue or I'll find some "non permanent" rampsWelp, wanted to check if I'm complicating it with a lifter and a hoist.
I could fit 5-6 cars in to the space with an 'open plan' sort of arrangement with the desk, cabinets and office bits dotted around the space which has its plusses
But I think it will probably be good to stick to the plan and have a dedicated workspace.
Gotten the exact dimensions of both so have a scale version of what it should look like.
A big ish space quickly becomes a cramped one when you start filling it up! General design sorted, now to just fit it out.
At the moment the insulation will line the place like so:
I figure it's neat enough to use straight away in the instance that the lining takes a while..
I figured having the hoist angled may afford a bit of extra clearance space, and moves it from the right - not sure if I really need to have the space away from the wall but seems like there may be a few instances where the extra elbow space might be handy..
Probably 3 weeks of approvals, concrete then 30 days to harden, two weeks for the structure, not sure if the dry lining will be done straight away or not but that will probably be an additional two weeks if so which would also form the toilet/sink space. Another week for electrical and air conditioning.
From there a week to paint, do the flooring and install equipment.
Getting there but also a long road ahead
I could fit 5-6 cars in to the space with an 'open plan' sort of arrangement with the desk, cabinets and office bits dotted around the space which has its plusses
But I think it will probably be good to stick to the plan and have a dedicated workspace.
Gotten the exact dimensions of both so have a scale version of what it should look like.
A big ish space quickly becomes a cramped one when you start filling it up! General design sorted, now to just fit it out.
At the moment the insulation will line the place like so:
I figure it's neat enough to use straight away in the instance that the lining takes a while..
I figured having the hoist angled may afford a bit of extra clearance space, and moves it from the right - not sure if I really need to have the space away from the wall but seems like there may be a few instances where the extra elbow space might be handy..
Probably 3 weeks of approvals, concrete then 30 days to harden, two weeks for the structure, not sure if the dry lining will be done straight away or not but that will probably be an additional two weeks if so which would also form the toilet/sink space. Another week for electrical and air conditioning.
From there a week to paint, do the flooring and install equipment.
Getting there but also a long road ahead
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