I'm having a new garage built !! Ideas Welcome.

inspiredsports

We're busting at the seams with stuff, yard equipment and vehicles and are going to have a free-standing 24 X 26 shed/garage/barn whatever you want to call it built in back of our home.

It will have a second floor, natural gas, 220V service, water and be plumbed into our septic system, but none of that will be active during the initial build where the first big push is for overflow storage.

We're in the planning stages now and I know some of you have been through this before. I'm looking for advice on what to do now to make my life easier later when I'm in phase two and finishing out the workshop area and second floor which will be used as a mancave annex with a second sound system.

nooshinjohn

make sure you have room for a new BatCave in the new garage.

hoosier21

figure out how big you want it, then double it

inspiredsports

hoosier21 wrote: »

figure out how big you want it, then double it

It was a one-story 24 x 26 last week, but now a two story design. Does that count? :biggrin:

inspiredsports

nooshinjohn wrote: »

make sure you have room for a new BatCave in the new garage.

We're digging that out underneath :biggrin:

disneyjoe7

Add a sub electrical box, you never know just what you may wish to add down the road.

inspiredsports

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Add a sub electrical box, you never know just what you may wish to add down the road.

I definitely plan a split of some sort to be sure I end up with clean power for the upstairs electronics gear, and the potential to run a 220 compressor or arc welder downstairs.

jbooker82

Run lines, and put foam insulation in the concreat for floor heat. Might not need it now but later on down the road it might be nice.

decal

Make damn sure your septic system will handle the additional load. No pun intended,well maybe a little!!

jbooker82

Sloped floors with floor drains.

dorokusai

Panic Room with very expensive stereo, thirty two layer laminated beer can door, neon sign with PANIC ROOM and an arrow or arrows helping you find it in the dark, portable AC unit mounted outside but with cage and lock around it. Build a room above it and rent it out to a non-English speaking transient you met in the bushes at Wal-Mart. Move in yourself and suceed from the Union....the possibilities are endless.

Can't wait to see it.

deronb1

hookers, drugs and fire trucks! (i think that was from a movie)

TomB

Have you visited this forum:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/

It's a good place to get ideas for every conceivable aspect of garage/workshop planning and construction. (Prepare to be overwhelmed...)

maximillian

Freestanding means not attached to the house? You may want a covered or other type of 3-season type walkway between the house and the garage.

Since I just bought a generator... you may want to ensure a little alcove in the back to house a generator.

Star gazing lofts are always nice.

How you insulating the second floor to the garage area? You don't want car fumes and wood dust getting upstairs.

woodhead 2

I would go with slab heat.

madmax

Those smaller 1/2 width garage doors are cool for pulling lawn mowers and stuff out.