Parking Collector cars with Daily Drivers

[Zedder]

Hi Mark, Yeah, I would love to have a garage that's 30 x 90 like you, but it's gonna have to wait a few more years Land in the area we are moving too is just too expensive to build on two lots, so we decided to sell one and build a home that will suffice for the next 10 years or so and move at that point to something a little further out. Here is a pic of the two lots we own (until April 30th that is...then one of them is sold )

[Zedder]

Here's a shot of the houses directly across from us. You see how a garage that is reallyn big just doesn't fit in with the neigborhood.

[77Z28]

Zedder:

I am glad to see you are utilizing an architect, as this is my profession. I assume your classic cars that you have or will have will not need much work performed on them. The 22'x40' garage size you described earlier is going to be very tight. My parent's garage is of same width, but with side approach to two separate 8 foot wide doors along drive it does not work well.

My 2 cents on this subject would be to make sure the garage had the following:

1. A single garage door for both bays at least 16 feet wide.
2. No interior support posts down middle between car bays. (Again my parent's garage has this due to the garage being part of the basement and there are 2 floors atop it. Single framing members across garage width can be done, but are tyically deeper and thus more expensive.)
3. Tape off a 40'x22' space on concrete and place 4 cars within this area and walk it to determine if this is a space you can be happy with. I do not see you having hardly any workbench/tool space once 4 cars are in-place.
4. You said you were going to have a car lift at rear bay. Make sure you have the height clearance and concrete slab has been designed for this increase loading at car lift attachment points. Also, when considering height clearance remember to take into account in suspended piping or HVAC ductwork.

Well I know I said a lot, but I always try to tell my clients that I am not a mind reader but a problem solver if I trully know the building problem. Try to think through what minimum features/capabilities you want this garage to have (given your constraints) and then build that and you should be happy.

Best of luck,

Todd

[Zedder]

Hi Todd,

Thanks for your thoughts. Believe me, I have analysed this thing to death! I'm an IE and have it drawn on auto cad with cars, tools, lift etc. all to scale. You are right about 4 cars being tight, but I had planned to use only 3 bays for cars and the fourth for my tools, compressor etc. I would definitely build bigger, but the land just won't accomodate any more. So, I either build this or move onto another peice of property - which I just might do. I learned a valuable lesson with this exercise - design the house first and find a piece of property to fit the house - not the reverse Thanks again guys,

[Zedder]

Just thought I would provide an update for those who have helped out with this problem. We've decided to sell the land and look for something else that provides for a side entry gagarge. Then we'll build a garage that allows me to separate the collector cars from the daily drivers. We'll finish the basement in our current house to help tide us over until we find the right lot. Thanks again to all those who provided opinions and pics