Detached Garage

Hey Fellas,
I've been kicking around the idea of a detached garage for the last 18 months or so. Recall my earlier detached garage ROI questions thread.   \

My current attached garage setup is sort of doable, but far from ideal for easy, regular boat storage and retrieval.    Because I've been getting a lot more serious about it, I figured it's a good, slow time of year to show some sketches and photos and get feedback. I've been looking regularly for the right boat but haven't found it yet so I'm able to commit more time to the storage needs of the boat when I do find it. Hence this thread and discussion

My primary purpose is to use this structure as boat storage, as a general purpose light project space, cooking space, escape from the women space, watch a game space, etc.

The exterior is being finished to match my home per the neighborhood requirements.   The interior will be unfinished at least for now, but possibly forever. With regards to size, I want the flexibility to store a 206, Sport, Sport 200, or if I hit the lottery, a GS20.

With an Interior that is 26.5' deep x 18.5wide, I think I can accommodate any of those boats or similar sized boats. Would anyone disagree? I'm using a 16'W x 8'H garage door. Interior ceiling height will be 9'6". Originally, I wanted to go with a taller door, but that will be cost prohibitive and I believe won't look good with the current garage door symmetry so I'll be folding a tower each and every time.   First world problem, right?   I'd like to have the space so that the platform can remain on and the tongue can be extended if desired, but would more than likely remove the platform and fold in longer layup storage periods. Foundation will be a monolithic concrete slab 4" thick.

I'm going to rough in for a toilet and sink drain and that'll get done as time and money permit.

Planning to sub out the work myself. Will probably do most of the electrical and plumbing myself. Thinking I can build this 20x28 garage for $25K-$35Kish.

Considerations? Thoughts?

Good points, Tim. See the overhead image of my lot below and it'll probably be obvious why the man door is on that side. The plan is to install a toilet in the back corner nearest the pool. Thought about making it wider, but that gets really tight to the house as I have a 20' side setback that I have to consider. No plans to store another vehicle in there.

Regarding the depth, width, height I'm working with, would you agree that I should be able to store any of the models mentioned in that space?

Quinner, I thought about the brick on the front only, but the neighborhood frowns on that. I also thought about widening, but it gets tight to the house really quick. Yes, to your suggestion about sharing the trench space with plumbing and electrical. That was my plan.

You say a taller door is cost prohibitive. Did you quote at a few places? Modular doors can be customized for less money than in the past. I'm just thinking from my own experience, there are a bunch of times when I'm dropping my boat off quick after a trip to the river because I have to pick up kids or something like that. Having to drop that Tower each and every time might get old, would be worth it to me to spend the bucks up front on the taller door.

63 Skier wrote: You say a taller door is cost prohibitive. Did you quote at a few places? .

I too am curious about the cost. Most likely you would only be adding one more section of door and the extra track.

Regarding the width, I too would go wider. How much room did you leave between the proposed garage and the house? 10 feet is all you would need to get some heavy equipment into the back yard.

Nice. I love garage builds.
I'm not sure how it is in your area but if I wanted to build a garage I could not put it on simply a 4 inch slab. I would still have to dig down 4 feet and pour a foundation. Your going to find the concrete to be the largest money of the project. It sometimes cost a little more but I always prefer the concrete guy to float out a smooth finish rather than using a epoxy. This is especially nice if you use for working in there.

Exterior finishes will eat up a lot of the $$ too. Cedar shake$, brick$
Keep it simple, things like using trusses, and the zip system over using std ply and tyvek can be time and $$ saving.
Just a few things to add to the list of things to consider.
You may be at the top of your budget for fully finished project I feel. But I am basing off new England prices which are always higher it seems.

I too would go wider... even though it cuts your space between the house and the garage.    Really, if you put your boat inside (8' +-) and have 3 ft of man door swing on one side, you won't have much room to do anything else.    Opening the doors of a car while your boat is in the garage won't happen in the remaining 7.5 ft. Working on something while your boat is in the garage becomes near impossible if you don't have the elbow room.    Another suggestion,    The toilet room area is likely going to be 4-5' deep, and 5' wide if you have a sink in there, that is going to chew into your parking space pretty quickly.   can you draw in the bathroom?   definitely go with the storage box in the trusses, it makes a huge difference.   

A couple of things I wish for in my garage, or would do again if I built another garage:

- radiant heat in the floors - no explosion hazard if you are painting, and allows you to maintain a freeze protected environment
- sink for hand washing
- 100A sub panel for compressor/welder
- recessed lighting

You can buy attic trusses too, so no wasted space.

We built a 24'x28' garage about 14 years ago. It seemed plenty big at the time, but in hindsight I wish I went bigger as we've outgrown it. I'd go as big as you can and cheap out on siding and finishes. You can always upgrade those later. If 24' is going to get you 5' from the house, that is pretty close especially if there are windows on that side of the house, but we easily get 2 modern 8' wide ski boats in our garage with a classic Correct Craft in the middle bow first, and still have a lot of room for ski equipment and other stuff. 24' wide is a good minimum width.

Lots of comments to consider, but make the man door an "out-swing" door and it will allow egress without infringinging on your space. Almost no extra cost. Just my 2 cents!

All good stuff guys. I really appreciate all of the comments.

Swatkinz wrote:    No plans to store another vehicle in there.

Never thought I'd own more than one boat either!...... You gotta have at least two...every needs a spare boat!

I'd go with Hardie fiber cement shake shingles on the gable ends. They look great and you won't have to worry about maintenance.

Hardie Shake Shingles

8122pbrainard wrote: Steve, What's your min. setback for a detached garage?

Pete, original post says 20'.

Agree.

Get to the setback and as large as possible.