How long should a garage be?

[Raj_UK]

Evening all,

I moved into a house last year where the garage has been part converted. Im planning to renovate the house and a requirement is to have a functional garage.

One of the options presented by the architect is to extend the garage forward. He’s not given dimensions as we are still at an early stage, but I’m not convinced I have the space. The original garage was about 5.5m long.

Is there an accepted minimum? Anyone in the building trade shed light on how long garages are these days?

Cheers

Raj

 

[BeeEmm]

Raj_UK asked:
How long should a garage be?

The same length as a piece of string!


Garage length depends on what car you want to put in it. Whether you want to walk round the back of your car, or open the boot when it is in the garage and other factors. I have attached a spreadsheet of modern car widths and lengths, make your choice.

 

[Mr Tidy]

The standard size for a UK garage always used to be 16' by 8' (about 4.8m x 2.4m) but looking at the list above there are plenty of cars these days that just aren't going to fit. :roll:

When I built one in the late 90s I went for as big as I could fit on the plot, so it was 5m by 3m - I could get a workbench, 3 motorbikes and a Mercedes 190e in and still open the car door properly - lovely!

Personally I'd always want a garage to be as big as possible. :lol:

 

[Raj_UK]

Wow! Based on those lengths I think 5.5 is the minimum.... I’ll have to get the measuring tape out. Unless the architect know something I don’t we’ll have to rethink these plans

 

[Smartbear]

Wow! Based on those lengths I think 5.5 is the minimum.... I’ll have to get the measuring tape out. Unless the architect know something I don’t we’ll have to rethink these plans

Unless you’re planning on a series of smart cars, the bigger the better

Rob

 

[Raj_UK]

Look at those exhausts!!

 

[Crazy Harry]

Once you've sorted the length make it as wide as you can - most work you do on cars always ends up being from the side not the front and back and you need enough room to see what you're doing getting a jack under it. No to mention the length of the jack handle!

 

[Smartbear]

Look at those exhausts!!

They’re not exhausts, they’re afterburners
Rob

 

[JamieZ4C]

My circumstances somewhat dictated purchasing a Z4. Although my garage is 5.5m in length, storage at the far end meant I only had 4.2m for a car. This ruled out a surprising number of alternatives I was considering

BMW Z4C 4.09m
Nissan 350Z 4.31m
Porsche Cayman 4.37m
Audi TT (MK1) 4.04m
Alfa GTV 4.29m
Fiat Coupe 4.25m

So really, I was very lucky that the Z4 was my favorite anyway!

BTW I did also consider a Lotus Elise at only 3.73m. But they're a little too racing car, not so much sports car for my liking.

So there are plenty of cars under 4.5m which i would personally recommend you treat as your minimum.

As a side, my garage is 2.5m wide, and it's not exactly elegant getting in and out! I long for a double garage. So, as Crazy Harry says, make it as wide as you can

 

[MrPT]

I’ve just spec’d a “working single”, which was based on me being able to stick my legs out straight in all directions from under a 5 series, plus some floor-level storage along the back wall. Came to 5.8m x 3.7m.

Might need to sell the car to build it though. Irrrrrony. :lol:

 

[buzyg]

Once you've sorted the length make it as wide as you can - most work you do on cars always ends up being from the side not the front and back and you need enough room to see what you're doing getting a jack under it. No to mention the length of the jack handle!

This , like most single garages our garage is plenty long enough to work under the bonnet.. but not wide enough to walk around the car.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I’ve just spec’d a “working single”, which was based on me being able to stick my legs out straight in all directions from under a 5 series, plus some floor-level storage along the back wall. Came to 5.8m x 3.7m.

Might need to sell the car to build it though. Irrrrrony.

Well so long as it's the 5 Series you'd need to sell that isn't the end of the world!

I'd happily sell my 3 Series if it got me a garage. :lol:

 

[Raj_UK]

Thanks for all the replies. I can’t really change the width, buts it’s a double and I think it’s okay. Given the views so far I think my best option is to return it back to original. The architects logic was that’s its much cheaper to extend a garage, than living space. However, I don’t want to build forward 2.5m. The area I’d reclaim is not a habitable room but does provide access to another room so we’ll have to come up with another plan.

 

[MrPT]

I’ve just spec’d a “working single”, which was based on me being able to stick my legs out straight in all directions from under a 5 series, plus some floor-level storage along the back wall. Came to 5.8m x 3.7m.

Might need to sell the car to build it though. Irrrrrony.

Well so long as it's the 5 Series you'd need to sell that isn't the end of the world!

I'd happily sell my 3 Series if it got me a garage. :lol:

Hah. No 5 series for me, unfortunately - just a car selected to represent “big”! The Zed is tiny.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Thanks for all the replies. I can’t really change the width, buts it’s a double and I think it’s okay. Given the views so far I think my best option is to return it back to original. The architects logic was that’s its much cheaper to extend a garage, than living space. However, I don’t want to build forward 2.5m. The area I’d reclaim is not a habitable room but does provide access to another room so we’ll have to come up with another plan.

Well it may be easier to extend a garage, but you still need planning consent. Making a garage into living space will require meeting Building Regs so a cavity wall rather than a single-skin one - I'd just go for the biggest dimensions you can get!

 

[Raj_UK]

I probably didn’t explain the situation too well!! The original double garage, which is incorporated into the house was 5.5m x 5.7m. 2.5m has been partitioned off the back. This area has been insulated and plaster boarded etc. In fact the garage has also been plaster boarded and made good. The garage doors remain on the front. The partitioned area at the back provides access from the main house to an Annexxe which was added at a later date. If I extend 2.5 m forward I retain access around the back. If I reinstate the garage I need a small extension - 2.5m x 2.5m to provide access to the Annexxe. The later is my preferred option but is likely to cost more than the garage - how much more I have no idea!

 

[MrPT]

Are both side walls of the garage shared with adjacent rooms?

If not... https://www.garagedoorsonline.co.uk/cataloguedetails/SWS-Vertico-Round-the-Corner-Door--garage-door-Aluminium-SWS/g/983

 

[Crazy Harry]

Why not put a small conservatory to link the annex to the house and open up the garage again. Doesn't need heating as such - unless you want doors open to shout from one building to the other so could just be glazed frames. get a vine in and very Victorian!

 

[Raj_UK]

Are both side walls of the garage shared with adjacent rooms?

If not... https://www.garagedoorsonline.co.uk/cataloguedetails/SWS-Vertico-Round-the-Corner-Door--garage-door-Aluminium-SWS/g/983

Only one wall is shared with the house! I’ve never seen anything like that before! I’d be able to parallel park into the garage :-D

 

[Raj_UK]

Why not put a small conservatory to link the annex to the house and open up the garage again. Doesn't need heating as such - unless you want doors open to shout from one building to the other so could just be glazed frames. get a vine in and very Victorian!

That’s a really good idea One I’ve been contemplating myself just last night. The only thing I would need to overcome is that on one side there would be a fence pretty close by. Not the best view!