The Garage Plan Shop Blog

Detached garage plans are versatile utilitarian structures that satisfy a multitude of needs. They are an ideal addition to almost any piece of property due to their flexible nature. Furthermore, detached garages are available in a broad range of sizes and styles appealing to a diverse group of builders and buyers. From a simple 1-car garage plan to a 3-car garage with an apartment above, these practical parking shelters have plenty to offer. So what can a detached garage do for you? Consider one of The Garage Plan Shop’s garage floor plans or garage apartment plans for one or a combination of these purposes:

• Sheltered parking for the family cars
• Storage space for basement or attic overflow
• Workshop for the family handyman
• Boat storage
• Storage for “water toys” like kayaks, jet skis and canoes
• Storage for lifejackets, beach towels, fishing poles, inner tubes and other water gear
• RV storage
• Motorcycle storage
• Golf cart or ATV parking
• Hobby or craft room
• Backyard shed
• Storage space for seasonal items like holiday decorations
• Mechanic’s garage
• Storage for auto parts and tools
• Lawn and garden storage
• A place for the kids’ sporting equipment like bikes, scooters, skateboards, helmets, ball gloves, baseball bats, hockey sticks and more
• A place for adults to store sporting equipment, hunting gear, golf clubs and outdoor wear
• Upper level home office, exercise room, home theater or recreation room
• Guest or in-law suite
• Rental property for extra income
• Privacy for your college student
• Living quarters for the nanny, grounds keeper, ranch hands, etc.
• Temporary living quarters while a permanent residence is being built
• Vacation home or weekend retreat
• An alternative to a hunting cabin
• Private residence for an aging relative who enjoys privacy and independence, but sometimes requires a bit of assistance

With detached garage plans, the possibilities are endless, just use your imagination.

Tags: detached garages, garage floor plans, garage plans, garage storage, uses for a garage

Sometimes it is the simple things in life that make us happiest. That just might be the case for you when it comes to 2-car garage plans. Perhaps all you want is a double garage to protect your cars from the elements or vandals. Maybe you don’t need all the special features and decorative frills that enhance some garage floor plans. If simple is what you need or want, we have simple 2-car garages to satisfy your needs. These basic structures offer an unfussy façade, a basic roofline, a simple footprint and either one or two overhead garage doors. Some may provide a service door for easy entry and exit and perhaps a couple of windows. Take some time browsing our collection of 2-car garage plans, there are plenty of simple designs to choose from like plan 033G-0013.

Tags: 2-Car garage plans, Detached Garage Plans, simple 2-car garages, simple garage plans, two-car garages

If you have decided to build a detached garage in your backyard, beside your home or on another piece of property, it is necessary to understand, this is not a simple project. Unless you have all the specific skills required for the building project, you will probably need to hire an experienced builder, contractor or a variety of professionals skilled in the various building trades. Below is a list of the skilled professionals you may need to hire to build your new detached garage.

·         Excavator

·         Concrete contractor

·         Carpenter

·         Roofer

·         Electrician

·         Plumber

·         Stone mason, bricklayer or someone to install siding

·         Drywall contractor

·         Garage door contractor

Depending on how much of the interior finishing and decorating you plan to do yourself (if necessary), you may need to hire other professionals to finish the interior including any finished spaces such as an office, bathroom or loft.

For more information about garage plans or building a garage, please visit The Garage Plan Shop.

Tags: Building A Garage, building professionals, contractors, garage construction, subcontractors

If you enjoy decorating your home, garage and yard for the holidays, The Garage Plan Shop has a few tips for decorating and storage of your light displays and other holiday décor.

1. Begin by going through all of last year’s décor. Get rid of strands of lights that don’t work (some hardware stores and home improvement centers collect non-working strands of lights and give a discount if you purchase new LED lights), throw away broken or weathered decorations. Remember to recycle anything you can. Replace any items that you discarded with new items you’ll need for your outdoor holiday display this year.
2. If you like the way you decorated your yard, porch, garage, etc., take photos of this year’s display. You don’t need to print the pictures. Just save them on your computer and reference them next year. This way you won’t have to figure out just how you made your display looks so good last year.
3. When the holidays are over and it is time to pack your lights and decorations, group them by the area in which they were used and place them is separate boxes or storage containers. Label the containers, i.e. “roof,” “porch,” “garage,” “yard,” etc. When it is time to decorate outside next year, you’ll already know which decorations are for what part of your home or yard. If you decide to print the photos mentioned in Tip # 1, include the photos in the corresponding boxes of decorations so you’ll have them for a reference.

With these holiday organization and storage tips, decorating the exterior of your house and your yard will be a snap next year!

Tags: Christmas, holiday decorating, holiday tips, Organization, outdoor decorating, storage

With the holidays right around the corner, chances are you’ll be taking at least a road trip or two to visit family and friends or experience the joys of the season in another city or town. The Garage Plan Shop recommends following these travel safety tips provided by a traffic safety researcher.

1.    Prepare your car – Make sure your car is in tip-top shape before setting out on a road trip. Change your oil and check tire pressure and antifreeze levels.

2.    Map your travel plan – If your road trip is going to take more than a single day’s travel, consult maps and find hotels along your route in which to stay for the night. Also use resources like Google Maps and travel sites to locate hotels along your route. Don’t forget to bring your maps with you.

3.    Drive safe during the day – Research shows roadways are most dangerous to travel early in the morning and late at night when drivers are more likely to be tired or intoxicated. Limit your driving times between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm. Depart early and plan to be at your destination or hotel before it gets too late.

4.    Plan to take breaks – Plan to pull over every 2-3 hours to stretch your legs, give your eyes a quick break and recharge. If you are traveling with another driver, take turns driving in shifts so no one experiences fatigue.

5.    Wake up or catch up on sleep – Statistics report in 2009 alone over 100,000 car crashes were due to drowsy driving. If you are driving in shifts with another driver, take a nap while the other person is behind the wheel. If not, pull over in a safe well-lit place and take a quick power nap. But perhaps the best idea is plan to check into your hotel early in the evening so you can go to bed early and catch up on sleep for the next day’s drive.

6.    Do not drink – It is not safe and it is illegal to drink and drive. Studies show a single alcoholic drink can cause important changes in cognition affecting your ability to drive. So, skip the beer at lunch and wait until you are at your destination (a holiday party) where you can relax, celebrate the holidays and not have to worry about getting behind the wheel later.

The holidays are a wonderful time for everyone. Make sure you and your loved ones enjoy them by staying safe when taking a holiday road trip.

Tags: car safety tips, holiday safety tips, holiday travel, road trips, travel, travel safety, travel tips