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It looks like I may be building a garage soon, as much as I hate to do it. Has anyone here found any exceptional garage plans or built a garage that's especially good, lately? I'm looking for something that has a steep roofline with usable space above the main floor. TIA AL Bradley
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Garage plans
- Thread starter bradal
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Bruce Bowker
Obi Wan
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I had my 1 car garage made into a 3 car with a large dormer so the upsatirs has tons of space. I told the builder more or less what I wanted and he drew up some plans which were great.
I found numerous plans searching online which was more or less where I started my design.
I found numerous plans searching online which was more or less where I started my design.
Regardless of the design, don't forget foundation insulation. Especially if it is heated. 2" thick, 2'-0" wide rigid. Place vertically on the back side of the foundation wall with a 45 degree champfer on the top edge so that the insulation comes up to the top of the slab, or horizontally under the perimeter of the slab. Even with a heated garage, the slab still gets very cold. This will help. Also 6 mil poly on top of the gravel wth 6" laps. Will cut down on moisture coming thru the slab.
Steve:
As both a car enthusiast(1955 Austin Healey)and an Architect I think I qualify for designing classic car homes. Quite seriously, it could be a fun project. Perhaps modeling it on the carriage houses of earlier times. Maybe there is a whole untapped market out there, that I haven't been aware of. On the other hand I kinda doubt it. Most people don't want to pay an Architect's fees for designing their home, let alone a garage. Ah well, we live in an imperfect world.
As both a car enthusiast(1955 Austin Healey)and an Architect I think I qualify for designing classic car homes. Quite seriously, it could be a fun project. Perhaps modeling it on the carriage houses of earlier times. Maybe there is a whole untapped market out there, that I haven't been aware of. On the other hand I kinda doubt it. Most people don't want to pay an Architect's fees for designing their home, let alone a garage. Ah well, we live in an imperfect world.
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There are a couple of companies doing just that in the UK.....designer garages that you can order from the manufacturer. I have seen nice garages here that had to have been designed by somebody, so why not become a specialist? Get your name out among the classic car clubs, sell the plans for their own contractor to build.
MattP
Jedi Knight
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Cool idea. Maybe people might get uptight about one-off garage plans, but doing some basic plans according to different style houses would go over, I bet. Having just purchased a nice bungalow that I am working on restoring, I am interested in a more period look to the garage that lays in the future.
BTW, related note, about how much would I be looking at for plans to expand the second story over an addition? It would add about 300-400 sq ft (I think) and I would want it to "look right". This being my first home, I have no idea what an Architect's fees look like.
Feel free to e-mail.
BTW, related note, about how much would I be looking at for plans to expand the second story over an addition? It would add about 300-400 sq ft (I think) and I would want it to "look right". This being my first home, I have no idea what an Architect's fees look like.
Feel free to e-mail.
Steve_S
Yoda
Offline
My wish is to raise the roof, quite literally to create a taller garage. Then I could hav a lift and an upstairs loft. Hey, it could be like the bat cave. You could get into the car on top of the lift from the loft, lower down and drive away! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I fear my grand scheme would cost far too much money though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
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Hmmmmm, Thomas, you may be on to something here......already there is someone who's looking to build a garage that would look compatible with the architecture of his house. Another consideration then is that you are no longer tied geographically to one area, you can have nationwide exposure by specialising. Just remember where you got the idea. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Thomas & Steve: I am looking for some design that matches my house, indeed. The house is a modified Cape Cod with a very steep roof angle, dormer windows, etc. I think there's no reason to build the proverbial shoe box garage, when, with some thought, the structure can provide other useful space above or even below it. In posting here I was hoping someone had been this route already or had garnered some good suggestions from practice as Thomas certainly had. Yes, Thomas, I know people resent paying architects. It is certainly a short-sighted measure, however. You folks have the practical knowledge the rest of us typically look for in contractors. That often doesn't work out, I know from experience. Thanks for your help again! AL Bradley
PC
Obi Wan
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Thomas,
Sure, most people don't want to spring for an architect. It's really only important for enough people to.
I'm no marketing expert but judging from the number of custom homes I see being built and remolded I'd say there's plenty of work out there (at least in the neighborhoods I've been around). As I see it it's more an issue of connecting with the clients and convincing them that you're better than the next guy.
Let's say you're an affluent car collector and you also happen to be looking for an architect to design your custom home. There's no shortage of professionals out there capable of creating your living space. How many understand your collection? How many share your passion for the cars? How many can create a space that is a joy for you, pleasing to your significant other and the envy of all your gearhead friends? Not many.
PC.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
Sure, most people don't want to spring for an architect. It's really only important for enough people to.
I'm no marketing expert but judging from the number of custom homes I see being built and remolded I'd say there's plenty of work out there (at least in the neighborhoods I've been around). As I see it it's more an issue of connecting with the clients and convincing them that you're better than the next guy.
Let's say you're an affluent car collector and you also happen to be looking for an architect to design your custom home. There's no shortage of professionals out there capable of creating your living space. How many understand your collection? How many share your passion for the cars? How many can create a space that is a joy for you, pleasing to your significant other and the envy of all your gearhead friends? Not many.
PC.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
Why not a design for a Healey display/garage? I have a BT-7 and a Bugeye, myself. Just think of the possibilities - efficient use of wall space for storage, nice tile (something better?) floors, HVAC systems, living space above, built in compressed air channels, sufficient floor drains, electric four-post lift in one bay, etc., etc., etc. I too think there are lots of possibilities. Maybe I could even put the design into practice. AL Bradley
Steve_S
Yoda
Offline
Bradal:
I think you've got a hot idea. How about a hi-tech steel and glass box. Glass walls, precise detailing, modernist kind of approach. Probably most people would choke on that idea, but it could be fun. You could sit in the house and look at your car collection without having to go outside in the weather and your neighbors would be offended by the crass display of your toys. That would serve to keep them away.
Thomas
I think you've got a hot idea. How about a hi-tech steel and glass box. Glass walls, precise detailing, modernist kind of approach. Probably most people would choke on that idea, but it could be fun. You could sit in the house and look at your car collection without having to go outside in the weather and your neighbors would be offended by the crass display of your toys. That would serve to keep them away.
Thomas
Bradal: (again)
I answered your last post first, so now I'll back up and answer this one. (Why didn't I do both in one ...da?) Anyway, it sounds like you had a bad experience, contractor wise. Yes, Architects have a lot of practical knowledge, but a good contractor should have as much or more. He also should have the skills to actually build what's on the drawings. Schedule the trades, deal with field problems, etc. He is better equiped to do it than the Architect. The problem is, contractors live in a world where most if not all of their business results from them being the cheapest. This isn't a knock against contractors, it's just reality. So the owner paid an Architect to design his building and is getting prices from three or four contractors. Right away the owner is hearing how he can save money by making some minor changes. So the drywall gets thinner, the studs are fewer, less concrete, cheaper light fixtures, etc. The owner therefore paid for a design which didn't get built. This is especially true in residential design where often the Architect is not involved in the bidding and construction phases. When there is no Architect, it can get even worse. I've seen a lot of very expensive houses (always new ones) that are horribly constructed. Basements turn into duck ponds when it rains, roofs sag, etc. A lot of this is caused in large part by the market place, or at least that's my theory. Man, this is gett'in long winded. I'll end by saying that a good Architect adds value, ie "design". A good contractor insures the level of quality the owner expects and builds the project in a timely manner.
Thomas
I answered your last post first, so now I'll back up and answer this one. (Why didn't I do both in one ...da?) Anyway, it sounds like you had a bad experience, contractor wise. Yes, Architects have a lot of practical knowledge, but a good contractor should have as much or more. He also should have the skills to actually build what's on the drawings. Schedule the trades, deal with field problems, etc. He is better equiped to do it than the Architect. The problem is, contractors live in a world where most if not all of their business results from them being the cheapest. This isn't a knock against contractors, it's just reality. So the owner paid an Architect to design his building and is getting prices from three or four contractors. Right away the owner is hearing how he can save money by making some minor changes. So the drywall gets thinner, the studs are fewer, less concrete, cheaper light fixtures, etc. The owner therefore paid for a design which didn't get built. This is especially true in residential design where often the Architect is not involved in the bidding and construction phases. When there is no Architect, it can get even worse. I've seen a lot of very expensive houses (always new ones) that are horribly constructed. Basements turn into duck ponds when it rains, roofs sag, etc. A lot of this is caused in large part by the market place, or at least that's my theory. Man, this is gett'in long winded. I'll end by saying that a good Architect adds value, ie "design". A good contractor insures the level of quality the owner expects and builds the project in a timely manner.
Thomas
Mark Jones
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Al;
I hope from the pictures I sent you that you can see that you can design a garage to incorporate design features of the house so that the two look good together garage pictures (I know that my house is different, where the house and garage are attached).
I designed the house and garage with 12/12 pitched roofs to blend with the old Acadian homes in the community, which is a very similar pitch to a Cape Cod design. This design does allow for a very usable 2nd floor if an atic-truss system is used. In terms of design and construction something that works better then a good contractor to ensure that you get what you want is you being there during construction to ensure that it is built to the desired specifications and in a timely manner. I was the general contractor for the building of our house shown on the attached website and it saved us a lot of time and money. You don't have to be there all the time but you do need to check in on them everyday and be ready to call people when the project isn't being completed to your satisfaction and in a timely manner.
One thing that has not been mentioned concerning garage design is floor drains. Don't put one in. It's better to have the garage floor sloping towards the garage doors, with the concrete foundation walls approximately 6" above the concrete floor to allow water to run out of the garage. A floor drain is a wonderful place for oil and other petroleum products to drain to, which may turn your garage into an environmental hazard and a contaminated site problem if sonething is spilled and drains away under the floor.
Good luck
I hope from the pictures I sent you that you can see that you can design a garage to incorporate design features of the house so that the two look good together garage pictures (I know that my house is different, where the house and garage are attached).
I designed the house and garage with 12/12 pitched roofs to blend with the old Acadian homes in the community, which is a very similar pitch to a Cape Cod design. This design does allow for a very usable 2nd floor if an atic-truss system is used. In terms of design and construction something that works better then a good contractor to ensure that you get what you want is you being there during construction to ensure that it is built to the desired specifications and in a timely manner. I was the general contractor for the building of our house shown on the attached website and it saved us a lot of time and money. You don't have to be there all the time but you do need to check in on them everyday and be ready to call people when the project isn't being completed to your satisfaction and in a timely manner.
One thing that has not been mentioned concerning garage design is floor drains. Don't put one in. It's better to have the garage floor sloping towards the garage doors, with the concrete foundation walls approximately 6" above the concrete floor to allow water to run out of the garage. A floor drain is a wonderful place for oil and other petroleum products to drain to, which may turn your garage into an environmental hazard and a contaminated site problem if sonething is spilled and drains away under the floor.
Good luck
PC
Obi Wan
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
...Maybe I should spread a bunch of my business cards around Pebble Beach at the next concours. Even if I don't get any commissions, it would be a fun trip and it comes off the taxes as a business expense.
[/ QUOTE ]
Many automotive events, concours, auctions, shows and the like publish programs, catalogs and flyers that accept advertising. I'm sure they charge a lot less than magazines (well, maybe not Pebble Beach). Whether they're cheaper or not you know for sure that they're targeting the right audience. A tasteful, informative and well placed add can help get your message across.
PC.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
...Maybe I should spread a bunch of my business cards around Pebble Beach at the next concours. Even if I don't get any commissions, it would be a fun trip and it comes off the taxes as a business expense.
[/ QUOTE ]
Many automotive events, concours, auctions, shows and the like publish programs, catalogs and flyers that accept advertising. I'm sure they charge a lot less than magazines (well, maybe not Pebble Beach). Whether they're cheaper or not you know for sure that they're targeting the right audience. A tasteful, informative and well placed add can help get your message across.
PC.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif