Ufnavy06

I'm moving back to Florida this summer so my wife and I put a deposit down to build our next house, hopefully one we own for the next 10-15 years. Probably be done in the fall.

Naturally, my inputs were garage related.

We're doing an oversized 3 car with a separate carriage house for a total storage for 4 cars.

See attached diagram.

Rough dimensions are 714 sqft and 237 sqft so about 951 total sqft (fitting!).

I was following the garage builds in other sections of Rennlist, so I've got some ideas.

So far, I'm planning on:

Flooring
4 post lift (carriage house?)
HVAC in carriage house
Level 2 charger in main stall
Storage to right of main stall


Plan is to park 968 in carriage house, RS5 in single stall, Aviator in main stall.

What pitfalls should I be aware of?
Lift recommendations?



Side load and smaller carriage house.

dillon410021

if you go with a 4 post, get one that goes high enough to park aviator under it. Some only go to 70-75" and it can suck working on cars as tall people cant stand up straight as well as hitting you head on the lift. I have a bendpak for my garage and I can get 2 lowered 944 stacked with a 9" ceiling. Taller ceiling is a must. I just wanted to get another car inside.

Denny Swift

You didn’t mention your ceiling height. That’s critical obviously. And you won’t be able to use regular overhead garage doors. You’ll need the high-lift ones. I’d also highly recommend ceiling mounted outlets (one or two at least) for drop-down lights and/or just a power supply so there are no cords on the floor to trip over. Most 4 post lifts have caster attachments so you can move them. If your garage doors are high enough, you could roll the 4 poster in and out if needed. Something to consider.

Make sure all the power for the lift(s) comes from the ceiling too. My floors were epoxy coated 12 years ago. The tread areas of the most-used bay is starting to look a bit dirty, but 12 years is pretty darn good (every winter probably 100 lbs of cinders is tracked into that bay and crunched under the tires).

I’d close off the “oversized area” so there is a wall between the cars and “stuff.” Lawn equipment, tools, bikes, garbage cans, etc? Best to keep all that behind a door/wall if you can and keep the rest solely for cars.

No matter how many bays you have or how many square feet you have, in 3 years, you’ll be cramped and looking for more so go big if you can!

DSMblue

If possible, put in a floor drain and have hot/cold water feed and utility sink.

rwbern

From another life :-). , the sinks & water are a must! The floor drain really adds to what you can do in the garage. DSM is dead on!

dlearl476

My buddy bought a house with an RV garage. He put two of these Atlas four-posters end to end.

Paul Waterloo

Where in FL?

Ufnavy06

Thanks for the responses.

I eschewed the taller garage doors (7" vs 8") so hope that doesn't bite me but I can probably get the high rise doors. I don't know ceilings height yet. The house will have 10 foot ceilings downstairs and I don't believe any of the second story is over the garage, definitely not the carriage house.

I like the outlets on the ceiling and the drain. Definitely keeping those in mind.

House will be in Jax.

quick968

Would also suggest a 2 post lift rather than 4 post. The 2 post lifts via underbody jack points, thus allowing wheel, brake and suspension access. Huge factor since that’s the most common area needing attention after oil change. Whereas a 4 post lift means you still need to buy a jack attachment for it just to change a tire. 2 post are very stable, however they are for servicing the cars, not storing them stacked like a 4 post is able to do. Just some considerations

Cheers
Mikey

Paul Waterloo

I recently bought a MaxJax for my shop, haven't installed it yet. Have plenty of room for a full lift, but want the option of putting it aside when not in use.

I am finishing up my house in the Daytona area. Looking forward to moving in soon, I'm building the house myself.

Ufnavy06

When you get it done and we're back in Jax, we'll have to get the cars together.

Jay Wellwood

A bridge jack used on a 4 post lift lets you address wheel issues without compromising stability.

I had a 2 post and now have a 4 post with a bridge jack. Definitely a 4 post lift fan.

Yogii

OK, all sounds great, but where are you going to store the boat and RV?
Everybody in Jacksonville should have a boat.

-Yogii
AKA 968 Novice

Yogii

Also, make sure that all of your windows, doors, and roof and Miami-Dade Country 150 mph Hurricane Building Code approved!!
You are in a hurricane zone,and with climate change you need to be ready for anything. Also, make sure that your house "is up hill". Rain can come down in buckets and flooding should be considered.

-Yogii
AKA 968 Novice

notthd

Something else to consider is which garage is going to be your working bay which I assume we all work on our own stuff if your here. I would separate the two garages and have them on their own breakers. In the working bay have a 220 outlet installed even if you don't weld for resale someday. Since you will have heat/ AC should be easy to add.

I plumed my garage for compressed air also while building. Placing 4 plug in points along the wall. In my second garage I ran a line over there with a pull down just in case. The Compressor if you have a sizable one makes noise. A sound box outside to house it is perfect, mine is inside but I built a noise shield around it so I could have the "game on " while I work. Have the compressor on it's own breaker so not to trip when it cycles if all outlets are on a single one.

Lastly is outlets, outlets, outlets and not all on the same circuit. Something builders skimp on in garages these days.

I recently built a house and these were the things I had to address before it was finished. Good luck, sure you will love it.

Cheers, Mike