Minimum Garage Size

R

RX-78

Active member
 Liverpool
Does anyone have recommendation on the garage size that will comfortably house my Zed and allow me to open the door (no, not like that frenchman on the you tube) ? I'm only asking as we are planning on a move, and found a nice house with double garage and small kitchen - so we are thinking of converting the double garage to a single garage and expanding the kitchen in the process.

The garage is 5.26m wide and 5.23m in length - I know the zed is 1.781m wide (ext mirrors) and 4.113m length. As I have never parked in the garage before, no idea how big a space I need to be able to open the door and get out. I can see us doing the conversion, car fits in nicely but I'm stuck in the low slung seat of the Zed :rofl:
 
Emmmmmmm just an idea but now you know the width of your car why not open the door as wide as it can, measure it, double it (if you want to be able to open both doors) & add 20cm just to make sure and then add it all together.

Now that isnt too difficult.

New forum topic - "Are forums taking away people's common sense or just making them lazy??"
 
Yeah I was asking as:
1) I wanted to find out the "minimum" size I could consider reducing the garage to without getting stuck
2) As I dont own an garage I'm not sure if I could get away with smaller opening space then the door normally moves into (you know where it stops when you open the door) and putting some kind of pudding on garage wall to stop the door from scratching
3) How difficult is it to park in a tight garage
4) What size are considered normal - if there is such thing (in case we sell the house later or change car)
 
Oh and with my (lack of) DIY skill, I doubt I can acurately measure the width with door open for me to use that as the basis for designing garage size and spending 10k on coverting it!
 
take the size of your garage door and add between 150 and 200mm either side, that is probably your typical garage but will be too small in the real world to fit a car.

if you want minimum space in the garage, open the driver door until you can get out comfortably, measure the car from the tip of the door to the other wing mirror, add about 300mm for ease of parking and that should do.

garages these days are way too small anyway, you can never get cars in them. when im in work tomorrow il take a look at some drawings and get a more accurate dimension :thumbsup:
 
There is no way I can open the door properly in my garage, but carpet on the wall helps stop the door getting scratched, but I'm slim and agile :wink:

You can also open and close the windows with the key to aid access both in and out.

Park close to a wall and open the door to work out how much space you need (you could always place some cardboard against it first to protect the door)
 
Surely you could open the door to the minimum amount that you need to get in or out and then measure that. Add it to the normal width to give an available space required. Of course nobody can give a real answer here as it depends on your size, relationship of garage door to walls, angle you enter the garage, etc. I have a huge double garage but have to park on the left due to opening the door and it's 2 separate garage doors.

Doubt there is any such thing as a standaard width garage as it will depend on afe of house.

BTW - as an aside I would think the quickest way to lower the value of a house is to convert a double garage to a single, unless easily restored. My brother is a building inspector and has stopped many such conversion due to fire regs. I'm sure you've looked into this but if not worth checking out. (floor levels for spillage, fire doors, common roof space, etc. iirc.)
 
Thanks guys :thumbsup:

Rudd, I hope your car is ok. We are only thinking of buying this house and trying to work out if conversion is a good idea so I cant actually park in the garage (well I could ask the estate agent I suppose but dont want to appear too keen). Might do srhutch's idea though :thumbsup:
 
i would use some strips of foam pipe insulation on the wall as it will absorb any impact if you swing the door hard by accident
 
Thanks CJ as well. I've been looking at few sites who seems to say a good conversion (esp if it adds to essential space like kitchen) can add value. Also the new regulation since last year apparantly exempts garage conversion (as long as it doesn't extend the house and not in a restricted area/building) no longer needs planning permission.

Hmm..... decisions decisions :?
 
I used to park the Elise in my single garage. Get in and out was not easy (door sills were higher than the seat position). I will not try to park my Zed in single garage (wider than Elise).

You should keep double garage and have small kitchen (if no one else in your family disagree). Keeping your Z4 safe and dry is much more important than cooking good food. :rofl:
 
I convert quite a few garages into livable space. depending on your use for the new space it would probably add value....kitchen, living space etc as opposed to a utility or storage.

as CJ said you will need to check out fire regs. if you arent planning on altering the outside you shouldnt need planning approval but you will need to submitt drawings and specs to building control for approval. it is usually the case that if you use a masonry wall, double borded with plaster and ensure that there is not common roof/ceiling void and you should be ok to submit to building control and do the work.

i cant provide exact specs for insurance reasons :(

you will then have ur issues with floor spans, change in height, ventilation etc etc for the new internal space. you could probably get a structural engineer to do the drafting for you quite cheap. ur talking about 100-300 for building regs.
 
RX-78 said:
Thanks CJ as well. I've been looking at few sites who seems to say a good conversion (esp if it adds to essential space like kitchen) can add value. Also the new regulation since last year apparantly exempts garage conversion (as long as it doesn't extend the house and not in a restricted area/building) no longer needs planning permission.

Hmm..... decisions decisions :?
Click to expand...

RX-78
I'm sure you're spot on about not needing planning permission and of course the value depends on the start size of house, what you're adding and so on, but I would have thought you'll still be subject to building regulations. 2 very different things. I added a complete loft conversion. Planning permission was real easy, but building regs. included the likes of having fire doors on the 3rd floor, self closers throughout the house, mains wired fire alarm system, escape exit within 1.6m on the roof edge, etc.
Just a heads up to check.

Back to the Zed - looks like oyu have plenty of advise to work on.


EDIT - Rudd - you posted an expert opinion while I typed :thumbsup:
 
srhutch said:
There is no way I can open the door properly in my garage, but carpet on the wall helps stop the door getting scratched, but I'm slim and agile :wink:

You can also open and close the windows with the key to aid access both in and out.

Park close to a wall and open the door to work out how much space you need (you could always place some cardboard against it first to protect the door)
Click to expand...

I know this is going of topic (sorry) but how do you open the windows with the key? :oops:
and before antone shouts at me for being stupid :oops: I've only had my car for 11 days!
 
Never mind having a big kitchen, a small kitchen will be quicker to clean and therefore you will have more time to spend in your lovely double garage polishing and cleaning your even when it's raining (you jammy sod :) )
 
I'll measure my garage if i get chance today as its probably the smallest you can go so you can still get in and out. I manage it in my Z4 and my neighbour even gets her A4 convertible in and out.

Carpet on the wall and lowering the window makes it alot easier tog et in and out. If you have electric memory seats you should have convenient entry which lowers the drivers window for you then raises it back up automatically when the door is closed.
 
Thanks guys :thumbsup:

You are right about building regs & fire regs. Whent to have a look at the house again today and sadly there is a problem with conversion - powered garage roof has railing that goes on for miles, preventing the kitchen from extending!

To make it worse the buyer for my place has disappeared off the face of earth - or so the estate agent tells me :cry:
 
you could always swap the powered door for a roller shutter door.

i had a look in work and there is no definate size for garages as i expected but just as a little guidance i would:

allow for:

12.5mm plaster (inside new kitchen)
140mm masonry
100mm for wall insulation (foam boards - see kingspan thermawall)
25mm airgap between wall and insulation
25mm (2x12.5mm) plasterboard with staggered joints

Total 302.5mm

note: Depending on the structure you might need foundations also.

Then measure you car with the door open and add that

hope this helps and hope you sale work out ok

richard :thumbsup:
 
Thanks Richard thats very helpful :thumbsup:

I'm just feeling a tad down at the mo as the sale I thought was going through seems to be collapsing. Character building anyone?
 
Your seriously contemplating loosing valuable garage space for a bigger kitchen? seriously man, give your head a shake, you've gone and given the missus far to much rope already. :headbang:
 
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