just really want to have a big enough garage

[jeff]

so i grew up with laying on the dirt and crawling under my trucks to fix them, then i came to the city and learned what lifts were and that i could get one. pretty much im looking to build a tin build tall enough with a concrete floor big enough for 2 vehicles and one lift and still store all my tools. How much is too much and how cheap can i get ? i mean i am not above buying a tall carport and U bolting 2×4’s to the sides and buying 20 bags of concrete but I literally dont want to waste time and money when it could be done faster and cheaper.

Topic

[Chuck]

Honestly with building a building you get what you pay for. If you go the cheap route it likely will not last. Depending where you live etc i would do it the correct way with permits. Since you suggested 2×4’s it seems there may be a lot you don’t know about construction. Your best bet would be to call a construction company locally and have them est the cost. He can give you options etc and let you know what your paying for and what the cost will be. You don’t want to end up building a small garage to find out the winter thaw uneven-ed the ground and broke your base and caused the building to fall over… This estimate should be free of charge since its just them driving out and looking at where you want it etc. Yes it will be more than you doing it with friends but they can get it built in a weekend (after the footing).

[Mike]

There’s no such thing as “too much garage”.

A lot of DIY places, like Home Depot, sell garage packages. Hire a contractor to put it together. Additional design features to consider would be plumbing for at least cold water and a large wash tub, (hot water and a toilet are even better), wiring for 220 volts, a whole-shop compressed air system, insulation and heating if winters are an issue, and plenty of head room for your hoist. Also, a taller than standard garage door will be a benefit.

For a slab-on-grade structure, make sure the gravel base and concrete pad are over-engineered. Stay away from minimum specs/requirements. Foundation is everything. You can’t build a reliable structure on a poor foundation.

[Ken]

I wish I built a smaller garage. Said No one. Ever.

I think to effectively use a lift 20×20 would be minimuim. And you’d always wish it was bigger.

I’d like a 30×40 to 40×60. I think I can have it done for about $50k. Anything fancy like spetic and in ground drains would probably break that number.
For the dream setup $100k+.

I just bought a house with a 32×36 pole barn on the property. Had a slab poured, insulation and OSB put in for interior walls. In the process of finishing the ceiling and putting in lights. Plumbing for air and at least one lift is on the list.

Garage Journal is a great resource for researching garage options.

[Jon Hart]

For cost effective space a prefabbed steel structure is always a good bet plenty of sizes to choose from, but being realistic no matter what you do it will not be cheap. it’s not just the structure needs foundations water wiring permits labour costs then even when you’re set up in terms of structure buying a ramp and the associated tools to use one ( Oil drainer stands etc) really the sky the limit on where the costs end.

[Joseph C]

I wish one of you all had bought my Uncle’s welding shop – yes, with a lift – in 2012..

Residential/Commercial mixed. 10 E 48th St.. Bayonne NJ 07002. I don’t even walk past there anymore and I live one block away…

[James O’Hara]

My suggestion is to get a contractor to do it. Depending on the area footings may need to be as far as 6 ft deep so as not to move. I would also suggest brick or concrete block as it will last a hell of a lot longer. If not that use metal studs they are normally about the same for cost as wood any more and are harder to break and i think they still hold more. YOu are going to need a good sturdy foundation for your floor not to mention footers for your lifts. You are going to want a special kind of concrete for your floor the kind with metal in it for added strength this will make it so if you do use a floor jack it wont dig into the concrete. But, that is mainly if you plan to do side work or constantly work on a project car. It also makes it far more durable if you drop a transmission or engine. You are also going to need it sealed. Most places do epoxy sealant. There is a very good reason for this and that is coolant, brakleen, and brake fluid will all destroy asphalt or concrete if it is not sealed. A decent 2 post lift comes in around 10k for a minimum. This does not include the 220 you are going to need run for it or the 220 you are going to need for your air compressor, sand blaster, arc welder, etc, etc. Then there is the fact you need to make it 2 stories high to accommodate the lift. Also if you plan to use oxy acetaline there is special permitting etc that needs to be done. I think it requires concrete block but…. Then there is the matter of insurance that is going to be expensive as hell.

All and all its prob 50-75k to get it done and get it done right and on the cheaper side. Depending on zoning and if you do it expensive 250k. If you do it yourself you might save 20k might.

[Mark Golembiewski]

“so i grew up with laying on the dirt and crawling under my trucks to fix them”
I still do!
I have a 4’x4′ sheet of steel to roll the floor jack on.

[Author]

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