Building a house....suggestions for garage?

[Tim the Teacher]

We have purchased an acre north of Celina and are going to build. The architect has the preliminary plans drawn but I want to add stuff to the 3 car garage that will make it more "user friendly". Give me some legitimate suggestions that are financially feasible (budget is 5K) and if they are used you can utilize them on future tech days.

[tailchaser]

We have purchased an acre north of Celina and are going to build. The architect has the preliminary plans drawn but I want to add stuff to the 3 car garage that will make it more "user friendly". Give me some legitimate suggestions that are financially feasible (budget is 5K) and if they are used you can utilize them on future tech days.

Make it 4 feet longer. Nothing else will be more useful or satisfying in the long run.

[onething]

+1 Nothing is worse than having to squeeze between the car and work bench or garage door.

Have you seen MadMerv's garage? Just ask for a copy of it.

Power outlets every few feet and put them 4 feet above the floor.

Proper coating on the floor.

[Rogue]

A head! and a shop sink!
Plumb it for air and water, and can't have enough plugs.
Lights, put some thought in to that. Cheap fixtures are a pain.

plus all of the above too.
Its a lot easyer to make it a bit larger than needed, now than later.

I'm happy with mine, but it needs to be about 40 feet deeper.

[Tim the Teacher]

Plans already call for a coating but I would like a few extra feet on all sides. The double sink extra deep is in the plans as is a head off the opening to the house entrance. The outlets and extra lights are a good idea. I was also thinking about an air compressor in the attic with a pull down hose.

[jrj512]

I have a utility sink in mine and very glad that I did it. I would also add the four feet of lenght.

[cam76034]

+1 on the sink, also don't forget lighting, you can't get it too bright.

[Titus]

An extra few feet of height in case you ever want to ad a lift.

[channelmaniac]

Dedicated circuit for the freezer... and another one for the compressor.

You don't want to pop circuits and have the food thaw.

RJ

[HudsonHawk]

220 service to at least 1 plug in the garage. Perferably 2 on dedicated circuits so you can run a good compressor and a welder/plasma or other high power device without a problem.

[altiain]

I was also thinking about an air compressor in the attic with a pull down hose.

220V outlet for a compressor or welder. Ditch the attic idea and get a nice upright compressor for the corner of the garage.

Most importantly: make it as big as you possibly can. You can always go in and add lighting/compressor/workbenches/etc. later, but it tends to be more difficult to grow the overall dimensions of the garage.

[sammm]

A drain in the floor (plus all the other stuff).

[cone-cerned]

BIG. Make it as large as you can. Length, width and height (don't forget that lift you will be installing soon).

[randy7601]

And remember, you can fit twice as many Miatas in it than regular cars. A six car garage will hold 12 Miatas!

[jrj512]

Maybe something like this...

[Walsted]

Strengthened overhead beams with an overhead winch and a countersunk wheel and brake lift are the first things that came to my mind, followed by a deep sink, tons of shelves for tons of parts and tools, and a keg refridgerator for when I am wrapping up a project. I tend to think a bit differently than others, though.

Good luck, hope this helps.

[Miatamaniac92]

http://www.garagejournal.com/

They have alot of custom garages on that forum. Alot of good advice regarding lighting and the like too.

Chris

[MadMerv]

All of the above.........................it can never be too big!!!!

[Ataim]

If you are not going to heat and air the garage, I would at least add insulation to the attic and walls. Maybe spray foam the garage doors.

[cam76034]

A drain in the floor (plus all the other stuff).

Drain and/or incline.