Help Design a Garage

I considered the lifts being side x side on the left but I would lose any storage options due to the space in front being needed to line up a car to drive on the lift. I would also lose the separate rooms for paint/engine building/etc.

 

Had a bit of a rethink on the layout. This is looking like the more logical option. I was worried about how to line up cars on the lifts with such limited space in front but I think what needs to be done is have the lifts raised, drive in and underneath them to get straight, back up, lower lift and drive on. A little more work than optimum but not terrible. I would only have a 2 ft extension to the mezzanine now to give a landing area at the base of the stairs. The two rooms would be on the ground floor and their roof will form the floor of the storage area. A 3 ft bridge from the mezzanine to the storage area would need to be built. It may cover the first couple of stairs but with nearly 8 ft clearance height going up stairs shouldn't be a problem. I could put walls on the two rooms and doors that can be locked thus partially securing access to tools and the mezzanine stairs. The only problem I see is my bathroom is roughed in on the left wall somewhere close to where the stairs meets the floor. I will have to take some measurements. Hopefully the drains are further towards the top and a bathroom can be built under the mezzanine. Good thing I took the time to diagram this out as I was set on putting the mezzanine on the right side with the hallway. It just seemed like such an elegant solution. But lift access and useable space really became a problem.

On the drawing I put small vertical lines on the lower edge of the mezzanine indicating where the support posts are. Two bays could be created under the mezzanine for parking the 355 and another car. I also added the rough size of the pumps on the lifts. The pumps I think can be moved so they don't have to be where they are currently positioned. I am a little concerned with the spacing around the lifts as I would like enough room to work on cars. It would be nice to create some work bench space on the top wall behind the lifts. Just not sure if I have the room for it. Again, feel free to make any suggestions.
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Arrrggg....just realized that there is an additional post to the right of the top of the staircase that would cut into the middle of the bay underneath the mezzanine blocking access. Not good. I also underestimated the length of the staircase. So while I liked the idea of the staircase entrance being secured behind a door I guess it's not to be for now. The other issue is the drain for the bathroom is plumbed on the far left wall at about the 18 ft mark. I will take a measurement to be sure. Glad I am doing this planning/layout now vs building and making a mistake.

So I'm back to this design. The rooms would all be built on ground level and the top would be one large open floor plan with railings. Part of me would like to look at plexi railings that go right to the ceiling and block any dust/exhaust from entering the top mezzanine area. Another part of me wonders how that would look. Has anyone seen a mezzanine with glass or plexi to the ceiling? If so, how was it affixed?
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But you still need room between the lifts so that you can work on the cars, correct? I was thinking that for things like brakes, wheels, etc I would need a minimum 2 to 3 ft to move. I have a couple of Snap On tool boxes on wheels that I was thinking could be locked up at night in Room #2 but it might be a PITA rolling them from one end of the shop to the other so maybe they stay along the top wall by the lifts. I would think some cabinetry on the wall would be a good idea too.

Any other must haves that people can think of? I am running my electrical in surface mounted conduit instead of in the walls to make it easy to add or service outlets if needed. The shop is a post and beam structure and running electrical in the walls means boring holes through some fairly big posts. Right now my compressed air supply is just a hose coming off the tank which is mounted high on the wall. I was wondering if I can run air in conduit as well with nipples you can hook up to in various locations of the shop. Either that or have a big reel that unspools and will reach all areas in the shop.

I have a small sand blasting cabinet, drill press, table saw that could go in one of the rooms as well. Maybe I should pick up a parts washer? Anything else that would be nice to have?

 

I wish I had 6 feet around them. Do you feel that 2-3 feet would be enough?

In regards to your earlier suggestion of moving the garage door, I agree that starting with a blank slate I would have doors lined up to allow direct drive through access. Unfortunately the shop is located on the corner of my property and there isn't much access to that left wall from the outside. You would barely get a car between the property line and the left wall. I suspect that is why the previous owner put the door on the bottom wall instead. So I am sort of stuck with the building as it sits.

 

For flooring on the mezzanine, anyone have recommendations? Carpet obviously would be out of the question. I think hardwood looks nice but probably too fragile. Tile might be an option although it's heavy and expensive. Which leaves laminate or vinyl plank. I see in grocery stores they are using a flooring that looks like old barn wood. Someone told me it was vinyl plank flooring. Looks to be holding up pretty well with all the traffic. Anyone know for sure what product they are using?

 

If my acreage was a square the shop would be sitting in the top left corner. So the wall on the left and the wall on the top are both at the property boundaries. Only the walls on the bottom and on the right face towards the open area of the property and that is probably why the doors are positioned there.

Good advice on avoiding flooring that will absorb fumes/oils. Probably should make sure that solvents, etc. don't affect the finish too. Thx.