Man, I'm a sucker for red oaks... It's a shame you can't find a way to keep that tree. Definitely going to be a cool garage though.

 

You can't tell by that picture but that tree is in rough shape. It's been hit by lightening 2 times in 5 years. The whole center section is dead and starting to split. It was coming down anyway - shop or no shop.

 

For you pallet racking find someone in your area that sells actual pallet racking. Every major city in the US has someone that sells new and used.

I found three of my sections on craigslist from someone relocating their warehouse and sold all of their old stuff.

 

I have been searching all day long for someone that sells pallet rack locally (Harrisburg, PA) with no luck. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

u could make this guy an offer Pallet Rack 1 2 Sections Available Heavy Duty | eBay

 

It's a start! Would prefer to get all of what I'm looking for from the same manufacturer, but it's worth throwing an offer to see. It's a shame that what I see is valued around $400 at the going rates online.

 

I don't want to be the guy to bring you down, but I don't see 5-6 cars fitting in there, unless you figure storage on the lift with one under it. Don't forget 36' x 40' is (generally) the outside dimension, when you factor in wall thickness and foundation you already start losing interior space.

My father built a 30'x40' garage about 7 yrs ago, 2 10'x10' doors and a walkthru. We originally figured 3-4 cars inside. We built a loft 30'x 8' for extra storage and a work area underneath, we built a small,6'x6', compressor/utility closet under it also. The exterior walls are where the tool boxes and benches are. So after that I have an "open" area of about 25'x30'..it's just barely enough to have a project in there and have one open bay, I COULD squeeze 3 in there, but it would be TIGHT!

I know, I know it's a friggan mess..maybe if i cleaned it I could "fit" 4 cars..but mostly just for storage at that point, they would be door handle to door handle.

As for the compressor, I have a 80gal husky from home depot that is rated for continuous duty, been working fine for my blasting, it will lose a little pressure with long jobs,but I do have a 200gal air tank i will be plumbing in for exta capacity.

Run your water lines below your frost line, DO IT! Why take a chance if it's just a little more work to dig down another foot or so. Run electric ABOVE, and preferable to the side of the water. we ran a 4" length of sch80 to snake some 2" black plastic (pvc?) water line and then a 2" sch 80 for phone, internet, etc. Garage has it's own separate electric and gas, we wanted to be able to track power/gas usage just incase we wanted to run a business out of it.



Open span loft. Under loft:compressor room, fab area(welder,plasma,band saw,cutoff saw, sandblast cab,bender,press drill press fab table) and parts/hardware storage - the back 6x6 corner is full of divider drawers,nut/bolt cabinets,misc hardware,spare parts


Tools and benches on back wall


Reg cab 8'bed chevy, has about 3' all around for working space, those benches in the middle of the shop are temp right now. you can also see my ( out of commission) radiant heat system..warm floors were nice in the winter. If you look next to the jackstand closest to the door you can see a round hole next to it, those are body shop tie downs we had put into the floor when it was poured, nice to have, only a couple hundred bucks for the 8 or 10 i put in.

 

36' gives me 12' per bay. Most ve chiles are less than 8' across. 40' gives me 20' per car going 2 deep, most cars currently owned are 16'. I'm not planning to park 6 cars in the garage, really 3 at most but planning for 2 ( in #4 and #6) when working on a project.

I'm just more hopeful to put all my tools under one roof at this point.

 

This>Don't forget 36' x 40' is (generally) the outside dimension, when you factor in wall thickness and foundation you already start losing interior space.

My 30x40 is actually 28x38 inside, usable space. 2' doesn't sound like much..but adds up too around 130 sq ft lost floor space in a building this size. It's been 7 yrs now and I keep rearranging for better space and work layout.

Either way, I'm happy for ya, everyone who works on cars needs a garage. Just trying to give you an outside view from someone who's been there. I'm sure you'll love it!

 

No worries mate! It's sure as hell will be better than the 2 car intergalactic garage before I moved and the shed I have for storage now...

Just got word from the wire - the tree is in the process of coming down now. Hopefully she can tease me with a picture or two while I'm at work.

 

It's time for a proper GARAGE! I have been planning this for a while and working with the township on their regulations. My biggest hang up was 15' overall height restriction and my desire to have a car lift.

Is it in fact an overall height restriction? Pitched roofs are frequently measured from the 'mean height' which is halfway up the pitch.

In my 3-bay shop, I was able to have a 20' mean roof height and also have a 20' ceiling for the center bay.

 

Yeah I was hoping it would be the means as well - but it is in fact the peak. The only exception to that is attached structures...

 

The only exception to that is attached structures...

Connective hallway? :laughing:

 

Don't mind the picture my wife took through the screen - but wow that seems to open up some space!

 

What a difference a day makes. Tree down along with the bushes from the property line.

 

Any updates?

 

Nothing yet. The builder had some personal stuff come up (2 month newborn needed open heart surgery). Should be coming to dig in 2-3 weeks. Playing around with layout a bit now...

 

This is the same build that I am going through at the moment, the only exception is that I am doing loft trusses. 36'x40' - 3 8'x10' doors. With internal wall height of 11' 2", so the lift will be different - if I can ever afford one after the build.

Currently at the frost footing stage; in the process of doing the weeping tile, and then time to back fill.

What app did you use for the layout? I would like to borrow that layout file from you if you don't mind sharing. It would be nice to start planning how all the toys will fit in.

 

I cannot imagine that. I hope your baby is OK.

 

Not my baby (also could not imagine) - the builder's baby.

 

That last rendering looks more realistic as far as parking for 4 vehicles goes. Getting 4 in my 30x40 is about all I would want to squeeze in there and have room to *do* anything.

 

Update on the building. It has been delayed for some personal items with my builder.

The builder's son passed away recently so rightfully so he needs some time with his family before he can start. Should be another week or two before I have a concrete start date.

For those who want the details, his name was Cody and he was 4 months old. He was the youngest of 5 children. The last days of his life he was able to spend at home in the arms of all his family that loved him. He had complications from day 1, but that does not make loosing a child any easier. My heart goes out to the whole family.

Hopefully my next update will be a more positive one.

 

I used the google sketchup make on PC. It's a free download just watch the sites you visit as there are copycats out there that just give viruses. I should be able to send the file if you want to shoot me a pm with your email. The file is large with all the vehicles rendered in it, so I will delete those first so you have a clean footprint to work with.

 

I used the google sketchup make on PC.

Trimble SketchUp - Google sold it years ago.

Home | SketchUp

 

This is my sketchup render of my 36' x 44' shop. I have 11' foot walls with cathedral trusses to 13' clearance in the center.

 

After some time off for my builder he is ready to get back to work. Additionally...Permit was issued! Should be starting next week. Went and picked up some supplies for the ditch today:

 

I will be watching this one

 

One day down. Everything dug and footers poured. Well on our way now! Even got the supply lines in the ditch.

Garage Project Day 1 - YouTube

 

Cool way to post alot of pics....

 

Not bad for a trail cam either! Just set it up at the end of a pole taking one picture every 5 minutes. I hope to document the whole building this way - should make a good time lapse for me to keep.

 

That's a pretty neat idea!