Did some yard measuring (rambling and garage ideas within)

"MM54" (mm54mk2) 06/21/2018 at 21:31 • Filed to: garagelopnik

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Random google picture gets the point across

After mowing the yard , I got distracted with a tape measure jamming some sticks in the ground . As anyone with a car problem enthusiasm, I’m always yearning for more garage space. While I have a very nice 24x24 garage now, like a true addict enthusiast I’m always itching for more MORE MORE .

Now, none of this is feasible for a couple years, since I have other more pressing things to do on the house, need a new daily to replace the critically rotten crown vic, and other real-world things . That aside, it’s good to know some options. Measurements were taken maintaining a 12' gap to the property line, which sounds right but I am not an expert on the local zoning laws.

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This is probably a bad idea. I have room to build a 24x40 building in the back yard, around where the shed currently is (I could literally build around the shed, then demo it when the roof is done). There is plenty of access to have three parking bays and a half-bay which would take over for the shed in storing the lawn equipment, my bicycle, piles of used/good car parts, etc.

Not to scale. At all. In the slightest.

This is probably a bad idea because, being a massive storage space, it would encourage bad behavior. By that, I mean I’d fill it up with cars I’m not really working on and probably not driving. It really only addresses part of the “more room!” requirement. It wouldn’t be heated, barely lit, and really just a massive shed. Getting driveway all the way back there would be costly, but overall it would be far far cheaper than the second option. Another factor is that I don’t particularly trust lawn equipment (for some reason) to not do things like catch on fire, which I’d rather not have in the garage next to my cars. Being just a glorified shed, it would probably be humid/damp , buggy, etc. - which isn’t great.

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This is an idea I had a while ago, but knowing it would be expensive and several years off, never put much thought into.

Probably even less to scale than the other one was

This would be a major endeavor. For starters, there is an absolutely massive maple tree just behind the house. I’m talking 6+ feet across at the base, shading the entire house. I really like this tree (though being massive and close to the house, it’s a little worrying when it storms). That would have to go, which removal would probably cost as much as the whole other building would. The garage would then get an addition off the back, 36 or 40 feet long (height in the picture) and 24 feet deep (width in the picture). The existing driveway would be widened and extended back past the house alongside this new space. There would be three bays with single doors, which you would have to turn 90 degrees to get in. This would become the shop, and return the existing garage to “where you park the cars” instead of the current shop status.

What are those three bays, you wonder? The furthest would get a 4-post lift. This is the storage requirement satisfied, as two cars could be stowed away in the back, safe from winter or whatever other neglect they’re avoiding. The middle bay would have a 2-post lift, for working on cars. The nearest bay would be the workshop, set up in a horseshoe shape facing the door. The bench, tools, etc. would be here, easy and ready to use.

The whole space would have plenty of electric service, there is gas available for heating, could be insulated, theoretically I could put in a split A/C system, ceilings can be high enough for lifts, etc. It would be incredibly expensive, take a long time, and be a huge pain (e.g. the new roofline would need to be tied in, that tree is in the way, the ground slopes down a little bit back there, it would be real footer/stud construction, etc.). I really like this one.

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I know I said there were two options, but there’s sort of a third - hit the lottery and do both. There’s room.

Then again, if I hit the lottery, I wouldn’t be living here much longer.

Spanfeller is a twat > MM54 06/21/2018 at 21:39

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Don’t kill a tree!

you could move the garage further into the yard and use the space between your house and the garage to extend the deck with the tree as shade and overall lovely area.

I’m not some sort of treehugger, it’s just that trees can be used quite nicely as decorations.

Future Heap Owner > MM54 06/21/2018 at 21:41

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Are those pop-out tent things too janky for your tastes?

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Spanfeller is a twat 06/21/2018 at 21:53

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Trees are quite nice for shade as well, especially when shading open decks or when you’ve got a campfire set up in the back lawn.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Future Heap Owner 06/21/2018 at 21:54

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The tent things are supposed to not be used in heavy storms, according to pretty much every single one’s instruction manual.

Spanfeller is a twat > winterlegacy, here 'till the end 06/21/2018 at 21:55

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Yes, good resource when talking about decks or exterior decor.

MM54 > Future Heap Owner 06/21/2018 at 22:17

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For anything longer-term than a paint booth, yes.

The Snowman > MM54 06/21/2018 at 22:30

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I built a 24x42 shop in my backyard and comfortably park four cars (two non running “project” cars and two runners. I still have plenty of room to work on small projects or even big projects if I move the running cars out. hopefully some day I have to deal with parking 6 running cars in there(2 lifts)

MM54 > The Snowman 06/21/2018 at 23:04

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Such is the dream!

Nom De Plume > MM54 06/21/2018 at 23:08

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The pole barn idea will be more expensive than you realize. Less expensive than building an addition to the house though. The one problem you have made is not asking if there is a ny sewer, gas, electric, etc under your staked out barn.

Just as a for instance. Once the walls and roof are up it might strike you how nice a bay to get underneath your vehicles would be. How it is essentially a reinforced trench you could easily throw some metal grates on top of  that would support a vehicle driving over them if needed.

Urambo Tauro > MM54 06/22/2018 at 00:57

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Whatever you decide to build , allow y ourself to be really picky about measurements. You won’t regret it. You want room not just for the car(s), but for opening the doors on both sides, and maybe some extra space for putting shelves or other s tuff along the wall too. Once you calculate all that out, that one spot i s gonna look like enough room for two cars side by side , but don’t let yourself fall into that t rap! LOL Give yourself some elbow room.

That goes for depth, too. Your car might be 15 or 16 feet long, but you might find yourself with a big ol’ 18' land yacht or truck   some day. And of course, you’ll want room to walk around it. And probably a work bench...