Is a 24x24 garage big enough?

[matt63]

I think my wife is finally coming around on the idea of a new garage. I might be able to get some relaxation on codes to get to 24x24 but that will be it.  I figure I could walk around the car (barely) if I had a 24" work bench at the end.  I think opening both doors with 2 cars  in the garage is unlikely.  I don't plan on storing much junk in the garage as I have another 12x22 attached single garage.  (I should receive an award for all the work I have done in this garage without killing myself!) Does anybody got pics of their Cuda in a garage of this size? Any feedback/comments on this size?   Thanks.

[nivvy]

24*24 is plenty..heres mine in the 499's pre stages...The counters are 30"'s on each side and the one counter in the rear of the garge is 24"'s ...hope this helps... my garage is 22*24 ...

[Winston]

Mine is 22x22, and I really wish I had more room.  If it's a 24x24 or nothing, go with it.  However, with my steps to the house level and 2 cars, there is hardly room for a comfortable work bench.  If you only plan on 1 car in the garage, 24x24 may be plenty as long as you don't let the area for car #2 fill up with junk. 

my .02,
Winston

[JH27N0B]

24'x24' is a pretty good size garage.  That's what I have.  You shouldn't have any problem with a 24" wide workbench.  I have a tool chest that must be close to 24' deep and small bench behind my Challenger, with 2 floor jacks that I keep stashed in front of them, and there is still over two feet of clearance behind the car and 4-5' in front of it.  And Challengers are a little longer than 'cudas.  This picture shows my Challenger and my Ram 1500 in my garage, even the truck isn't too tight of a squeeze, though I usually park my Lincoln in the other spot.  My only minor complaint is my 16' door.  It's offset because there is a people door over by the other side.  I have to do a little parallel park routine to get the Challenger back in after I drive it and make sure I park the Lincoln over far enough to the side that I have ample breathing room to manuever the Challenger.  If your setup works with 2-8' doors I'd go that way for sure!
I have a bit of a quandry with my garage, I hope to get my T/A back from the resto shop in a couple years.  I also hope to buy a 2009 Challenger to replace my "Stincoln".  I sure don't want to park the new car outside so I'd like to get a storage lift and want to have plenty of room to crawl around the T/A while I reassemble and detail it.  I really would like to extend the front of the garage out at least 4' and rework the ceiling and garage door track to provide adequate room for a car on the storage lift.  Even if zoning will let me do it, I think I'll be OK with that, I'm afraid the price might end up getting really high, or that I may have trouble finding anyone who wants to do it instead preferring to tear down my garage and build a new one.

[bandit67]

  I built a 40 by 80 with a 22 foot lean to all the way down the 80 foot side and it is not big enough. My next one will be 50 by 140 with a leanto.  But, I have no wife, so I can. Build  the inside as big as you can and be sure to add a covered  concrete area outside.  You will enjoy it the most. I do most all my work outside under the leanto including grilling out and entertaining guests.

[matt63]

Thanks guys. 

24'x24' is a pretty good size garage.  ... If your setup works with 2-8' doors I'd go that way for sure!
... I'd like to get a storage lift and want to have plenty of room to crawl around the T/A while I reassemble and detail it.  I really would like to extend the front of the garage out at least 4' and rework the ceiling and garage door track to provide adequate room for a car on the storage lift... 

I've thought about the lift but I think I need at least an 11' ceiling which I can't do with a std roof (bylaws).  I might be able to get fancy trusses that would get me the ceiling height while keeping an overall 12 foot roof height but I don't know the cost impact yet.  The 24x24 looks reasonable roomy with the RAM and the Challenger in there!

[jeryst]

The garage by my house is 24x24. On the walls opposite the doors, I have a 24" work bench on one side, and a Shipsmith Mark IV on the other. Along the one side wall, I have 18" shelves all over it, and on the opposite side, I have 12" shelves, and a set of pontoons from a small catamaran that I was building. I still have room for two full size cars, space to walk around them, and junk stacked all over the place. You'll be fine.

But if you ever get the chance, buy a piece of ground, and put up a pole building. I had the Amish build me a 30x50 insulated, metal covered pole building with two 10X10 doors, a man door, and a 5" fiberglass reinforced concrete floor for $16k. That was less than half what everyone else wanted. And they did it in a week.

[Chryco Psycho]

it will never be big enough even at 24 sq meters 

[CrazyPete]

im currently in the process of throwing up a 30X36 in my back yard the other garage is a 22X22 and its kinda small for me but i have several cars 

[LAA66]

 Last week I went by my friends place, he just finished his house and a 30 deep by 30 something wide garage. He says 2 cars can be stacked in each bay if needed (He has jeeps though).

 Also would suggest 8' garage header which would require 9'-6" plate height and an 18' wide door. It costs a little more but well worth it. If you stay with the 24 overall width there could be a problem with the shear panel(s)  next to the opening. Depends on your local codes.

 CrazyPete, nice work there. Plan on doing mine this winter. About the same size too.

[matt63]

im currently in the process of throwing up a 30X36 in my back yard the other garage is a 22X22 and its kinda small for me but i have several cars 

I'm envious.  No room for a garage that big unfortunately.

[matt63]

...
But if you ever get the chance, buy a piece of ground, and put up a pole building. I had the Amish build me a 30x50 insulated, metal covered pole building with two 10X10 doors, a man door, and a 5" fiberglass reinforced concrete floor for $16k. That was less than half what everyone else wanted. And they did it in a week.

No Amish or Mexicans around here unfortunately... only expensive Alberta tradesman.

[go-fish]

Rule of thumb: Your garage is never big enough.
Said it and heard it said too many times to discount it as whimsical words.

[2TAGS]

I'm also putting a garage up in October.  My lot will only allow 26' wide and 22' deep.  It will have a 10' ceiling and storage space above.  I plan on having a four post lift someday and given my current vehicles the 10' ceiling should be fine.  My current garage is only 20' deep and it only allows walking room around my '01 Grand Prix.  Bigger is better...

[HemiOrange70]

Put up a garage you have the space for and the money for. All of us would LOVE a bigger garage, but whatever the size, we make it work. A 24 by 24 garage is plenty big enough for two cars and man stuff