GARAGE HELP PLEASE

"Luc - The Acadian Oppo" (luc5)
03/12/2014 at 19:38 • Filed to: None

I need your help fellow opponauts. I'm currently working with a home builder designing a house and I need help figuring out the best setup for the attached 3 car garage. It will be 24' deep by 36' wide. I know I will be going with 8' tall doors but should I go with 3 single doors? should they be 9' or 10' wide? or should I go with 1 double door and 1 single? 16' or 18' double & 9' or 10' single.

EDIT: It seems everyone is coming to the same conclusion that double/single is the way to go. now what would be the best combo of door size? 18'double/9' single or 16' double/10' single?

This is the most important part of the house so I cannot fuck this up. Any Ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (pictures are more than welcome)

thanks in advance

DISCUSSION (36)

HammerheadFistpunch > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 19:40

I prefer 2X1, since that allows you to use both bays as one if you need too.

Arben72 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 19:42

I say do two doors one big and one smaller. That way you have a nice small entry for a dedicated part of your garage, say wash bay or even a car lift. Does it get cold where you live?

Singhjr96 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 19:43

Personally, I like 1 double door, 1 single door. That way all tools can be in the single door bay, and two cars in the double bay. Or if you need to work on the car, one outside in the driveway, and one in the center of the double bay with plenty of space on the sides to move around. You cant't put a car in the center of two bays with 3 single doors.

mattoverdrive > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 19:43

Nah, go for 48x72 instead.

hike > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 19:49

I agree with the double door and single door idea. I've found this great quite a few times. For working on cars, it allows you to pull one out and park the one you are wokring on in the middle, giving you extra space. Also, at least in my garage, with this design, you can actually get the car in the single spot out if the spring on the door break. I think it took like a 30 point turn in my Infiniti, but I got to work on time.

Also be sure to put plenty of power outlets in. On problem with my garage is that it was originally designed for just one, which has since been remedied. Natural lighting is also good in a garage, though be sure to put blinds in, for obvious security reasons.

Saracen > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 19:51

My parents had three single doors for the three car garage in the home they built.

Trust me, you don't want that. Go with 1 double and one single.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Arben72
03/12/2014 at 19:51

yup it gets pretty cold -50c (-58F). the dedicated area is a nice Idea I was thinking of have the 3rd bay as a motorcycle workshop and a rolling toolbox so I can work on the car in the double bay.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > mattoverdrive
03/12/2014 at 19:55

the lot is not big enough. I tried and I cried but the wife would not budge she refused to live in a 500sq/ft apartment on top of the garage. but having her agree on the 3 car garage is a victory in itself. you can't win them all I guess.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Singhjr96
03/12/2014 at 19:56

I agree with you I just find 3 doors look better but double/single is probably the better way to go.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > hike
03/12/2014 at 20:01

it seems everyone is coming to the same conclusion now the next question would be then what combo of doors to get? 18' wide double/9' wide single or 16'wide double/10' wide single?

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Saracen
03/12/2014 at 20:05

do you know how wide their doors are?

Arben72 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 20:07

Then make sure to get radiant floor heat, it's worth every penny (I regret not getting it). Also install floor drains as hand washing a car in a garage so nice even in winter. Make sure to make your garage as big as you can afford especially with a new house, you'll never regret it later.

Singhjr96 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 20:07

I disagree and would say double and single are better looking. I guess it also depends on your house styling though. But you'll have a pretty big garage at that size. Try and get the garage to be as big as possible because it'll fill up fast with a lot of stuff that you need to store. But word of advice, you should also try to have an insulated shed in the backyard, that should solve any storage problem as long as you don't need to store to much stuff.

hike > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 20:08

I think that depends on your cars. What car would you plan on parking in the single door? Just keep in mind that it is a more difficult entrance in the single, since you need to watch the mirrors on both sides.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Singhjr96
03/12/2014 at 20:10

I plan on getting a shed to store the lawnmower and such.The garage will be for motorcycles and hopefully a project car of some sort

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > hike
03/12/2014 at 20:14

I think the single door might be used more for motorcycles but I hoping to one day get a Testarossa and/or Delorean and might park that one at the end as it won't be used nearly as often. might be a good idea to go with the 10' incase I ever do get that Testarossa.

hike > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 20:16

Definitely go with the 10 foot door then. Too big is better than too small in this case. 16 feet should still be plenty for the double. I'd go measure my doors, but can't until Friday.

Saracen > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 20:16

I do not, though I don't think they were as wide as you are describing. They have since sold the house so I won't be able to measure (though they might know off the top of their heads)

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Arben72
03/12/2014 at 20:17

do you know roughly how much in floor heat would set me back? I would of never thought of the drain that is a great idea

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Saracen
03/12/2014 at 20:19

don't worry about it I was just curious I'm pretty sure I will go with the single/double

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > hike
03/12/2014 at 20:21

I think that's what I will do. Thanks for your input.

Singhjr96 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 20:23

We need to get a shed too. I'm starting a project soon, and we have no space in our garage since we have three cars that need to be stored. But we have a pretty big paved space on the left side of our house right next to the garage. You could literally drive in a driveway and into the backyard. It goes all the way to the back of the yard where the shed will go. So I could just use the paved place to store my project car, and the shed to work on and store whatever I need too. Consider that as an option also. It also helps with erosion because our house sits on a hill.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Singhjr96
03/12/2014 at 20:26

what do you have on the go for project cars if you don't mind me asking?

Arben72 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 20:29

It depends where you live but it isn't that much. All it is is tubing and a water heater. It's worth it if you don't want to give up a quarter of the year in garage time. You should check out garage journal on ideas for your build.

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 20:34

Kinja'd!!!

Well first of all you have some Maseratis in the way. How are you going to fit anything in there? Silly goose.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Arben72
03/12/2014 at 20:38

thanks I will check it out.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds
03/12/2014 at 20:40

don't be silly the Maseratis will be parked outside so I have space for my $25000 Ford

shop-teacher > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 21:55

18' double/9' single for sure. 9' is wide enough for me to get my '06 Sierra in, but 16' is tight for my wife's Mazda 3 and my Buick Apollo (same as a Chevy Nova, not a big car).

My garage's 16' door is getting replaced by an 18'er when it comes time to replace the door.

mattoverdrive > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/12/2014 at 22:45

Way to go with getting the 3 car. I'd love to build a detached 2 or 3 car garage but I'm no sure I can fit it on my lot.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > hike
03/13/2014 at 02:11

While you're at it, I'd consider having an electrical subpanel in the garage, which makes it easy to add more circuits if you ever need to. Of course if the panel is on the garage anyway, there may be no need.

XJDano > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/13/2014 at 12:55

I'll do some measurements, but this is what mine looks like, damb the moBile upload.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > XJDano
03/13/2014 at 13:24

no picture showed up?

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/13/2014 at 14:27

Then where do you keep the brown diesel wagon Miata? :0

XJDano > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/13/2014 at 19:52

Yeah, shit don't work on mobile. I had a sad.

XJDano > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
03/13/2014 at 20:32

Kinja'd!!!

I will get out and measure in a bit, but I think its 33x22 or something close

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > XJDano
03/14/2014 at 09:36

looks like a 16' & a 9' but I could be wrong