Thoughts on tandem garages?

"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
06/20/2014 at 18:19 • Filed to: None

What do you guys think?

I looked at a house today that I really liked, it's twice the size of my condo, move in ready with a ton of potential. Priced right. But the weakest part is the sad excuse for a garage (it's really just a barn).

However, I had the idea of eventually tearing it down, and building a 2 car tandem garage that would be attached to the house through the existing utility room. It has a very long driveway, so I wouldn't miss that extra driveway space. The property has plenty of room for that, and a 2 car side-by-side isn't really feasible.

However since I'd be building it to my tastes, I could make it tall enough to accomodate a lift on the rear space :)

Side by sides are ideal, but I think I can make this work.

I'm excited already just thinking about it. I'll probably put an offer on this place!

DISCUSSION (19)

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:25

Garages are never big enough, regardless of the number of cars they were intended for. Build it!

Nibbles > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:25

Your idea is pretty much exactly what I have planned. I only have about 15 feet to work with width wise, but 70 or so length wise. So a generous 2 car tandem with room in the back for the project.

For Sweden > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:28

Tandem is perfect if the rear space is reserved for a lift and a project car.

lone_liberal > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:28

I toured a townhouse that had a garage like that but it wouldn't have worked for us since the first person to leave in the morning is the first person to get home so the cars would have to be jockeyed around every night. As a shop it might not be too bad with your DD parked by the door and your project parked further in.

CAR_IS_MI > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:29

I like a tandem if there is also a single side by side as then you have room for a project and a normal spot.

E92M3 > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:29

Don't do it. Musical cars gets old real fast!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:34

opposauruswrx , oppo's resident draftsman.let me know if you need assistance

Saracen > lone_liberal
06/20/2014 at 18:35

That's pretty much what I plan, park the project in the back.

Saracen > For Sweden
06/20/2014 at 18:35

That's pretty much what I plan, park the project in the back.

Saracen > E92M3
06/20/2014 at 18:36

It's such a nice house though, I could live with the compromise. There is also curb space, and the rear space would be reserved for the project car.

Saracen > OPPOsaurus WRX
06/20/2014 at 18:37

Will do!

lone_liberal > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:41

I also saw a house with a 5(!) car garage that was basically a really deep 3 car garage with the ability to park a couple in tandem. Oh, and one of the doors was an RV height one so plenty of room for a lift. I wanted that garage **ahem** house so badly! If we weren't underwater on our current house I would be parking **ahem** living there now.

Saracen > lone_liberal
06/20/2014 at 18:47

A house of that size in this area would be WAAAAAY out of my price range.

I tried to convince my parents to buy a house like that, but they wouldn't go for it. It had five garage spaces, each with their own doors, and well over the required height for a lift. Amazing. There was a house attached somewhere, if I recall..

Manuél Ferrari > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:49

It would get old but could definitely be worth it if the property is a hell of a deal and the lot is good. If you have the flexibility to change it later and feel confident about the purchase price then it's a safe bet.

lone_liberal > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 18:55

Yeah, the house was nice but nothing special. It was a typical tri-level if I remember correctly and was in the $250-300k range, but that garage was a thing of beauty.

E92M3 > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 19:00

We had a townhouse once that only had a 1 car garage, and a driveway that was only wide enough for 1 car. At first I was happy. 1 garage is better than no garage I thought. After a little while I couldn't wait to get out of there.

blackchair > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 20:02

make it a drive through garage!

Saracen > blackchair
06/20/2014 at 22:11

I wish! that is sadly not possible.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Saracen
06/20/2014 at 22:27

I'm actually looking at a house that is a 2x2. AWESOME!

Anyway, if you have a DD and a project, it's really perfect. Or a DD and a shop. If you are married, it's really best that you don't both park there each night unless one of you always leaves first in the morning. Lots of musical cars.