Stovebolt.com Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Garage - What shall I build?

I own a home with a 2 car garage and I want to build another garage in the back yard. I'm looking for advice. There . . . I left that door WIDE open.
Here is what I already know.
The extra garage was my wife's idea and I have her blessing.
Bigger is better.
A big garage is never BIG enough.
I refuse to go bigger than 22'X26' or it will swallow up my back yard.

I've priced metal garages. The kind where they show up and build it all the same day. That's what I'm leaning towards. They're affordable. I think spray on insulation would be the best way to seal it up. I don't have $50K to spend on brick and mortar.

I will have the land graded and leveled and then cement poured. Then the building can go up 4-6 weeks later.

I'm thinking 26' deep to allow room for my tool boxes along the back wall and a compressor (which might go outside). Nine foot walls, a side entrance door and 2 windows. I'd pour extra cement in front of the garage so I'd have cement beneath me if I wanted to work under the truck outside in front of the garage or needed to roll an engine hoist around etc.

OK, please add some ideas. Thanks.

Lugnutz,

Whose metal "pre-fab" garages are you looking at (manufacturers' names).

Metal Garages Direct seem to have good quality, good prices, and good reputation. I do not know if they charge extra for delivery/installation in SC.

Funny, I got a quote from Metal Garages Direct today. Another company gave me the EXACT same price . . . Apples for apples.

It don't matter WHAT you build. In about a year, maybe 2, it'll be "too small".
Been there done that.

Our first house had a 26 long by 28 wide detached garage and I didn't know "what to do with all that room".

Wasn't long before it was - you guessed it - "too small".

Just sayin.

Old 'Burb Lover posts the truth.

That is why I am thinking of adding an additional garage here in NC - the garage on my new property here is only 40'x32'. Not big enough to match what my garage-space had grown-to in NY.

Just make sure some company don't sucker you in and use thin sub-par material. They are out there you know......Jay, I know you will do your homework and get a good one. Just had to "warn you".

....one of my best friends had a Hoover building put up and I must admit I was impressed with what he got for the dollar about 3years ago. Did you check them out?

Ok. I'll check out Hoover.

Mine is 40X50 and packed full.
Always have to fire up and move the ladder truck, just to do anything at all.

Go as big as you can.

Don

Allow me to simplify this a little. What details other than size should I think about? What size garage can accommodate a 4 post lift? A 4 post lift would really help with storage and work environment.

Wire it for "sound!" What I mean by that is put in more electrical than you think you'll need. Wire for communication. Plumb for air. Heat. Cooling. Put in more lighting than you think you'll need. Including outside lighting. An office space for the paper. A machine area. A parts area. A storage area. A lube area. A fabrication area.

Wow. It already sounds like it's getting small.

Just kinda throwing out the wish list. Then again, this is where I work:

http://www.bunchobikes.com/lift1.jpg
http://www.bunchobikes.com/lift2.jpg
http://www.bunchobikes.com/lift3.jpg
http://www.bunchobikes.com/lift4.jpg

The last two pics are my wash bay. 6 doors on each side of the building, drive through bays.