The Garage Plan Shop Blog

I spent quite a bit of time searching online for the right garage plan. I found one that I really like in an architectural style that matches my house. My lot accommodates the width perfectly, but I’d like it to be a bit deeper to accommodate my boat and give me room to add a bath. (I spend most of my time outside doing dirty jobs, like yard work, gardening and working on my favorite old car. The last thing I want to do is walk into my new home with dirty hands and feet when it isn’t necessary.) After checking with my builder, I learned that desired modifications are fairly easy to make, but he informed me the city building department will not issue building permits if the changes are not drawn on my garage blueprints. I verified this with the building department, and yes indeed, I will have to make modifications to floor plans before I submit them to the city for approval.

I didn’t really know what my next step would be, so I contacted The Garage Plan Shop for advice. I was happy to discover I have a couple of choices regarding the modifications I want to make, and either choice seems fairly easy to work with. The customer service representative to me I can submit a modification request form detailing my changes to their customizing department to receive a free quote for the modifications. If I am happy with the quote and the estimated time frame works with my schedule, they will handle everything. A designer will even send me a sketch of my desired changes for my approval before the plans are modified. My second option is to purchase a reproducible master or CAD file of the garage plan and work with a local residential designer, an architect or my builder (if he is qualified) to make the changes to the plans. Either way, making changes to the design I have selected will be simple and easy.

I am happy to know that I will be able to change my blueprints to suit my needs hassle free.

Tags: blueprints, customizing, modifications

If you are shopping for a garage plan, you already have a need for a new garage whether it is for auto storage, a workshop or something else. But have you consider all the things you can do with a basic garage. I’m not talking about the garages that include storage closets, a half bath or even an office. I am simply talking about a basic garage with four walls, a roof and a completely open and unfinished interior space. Maybe you need auto storage, but room for a workshop doesn’t sound bad either. And you could really use it! You can have both with the right garage plan. Not only that, but basic garages can provide a variety of other uses with a little imagination and creativity. But, let’s just start with the basics.

If your only need is to shelter one or two cars from the elements, then a simple one-car or two-car garage is the solution for you. Or maybe you are a car enthusiast and have three or four cars you need to store. There are garage plans to satisfy your needs too, just take a look at all the three-car and four-car + garage plans that are available. These basic garages offer overhead garage doors and most provide a service door for easy entry. There is a basic garage plan out there for all your general car storage needs.

But, storing cars isn’t the only thing you can do with a basic garage. Maybe you just want a place to keep the riding lawn mower and your gardening tools. A simple, detached one-car garage in the backyard could easily serve as an outbuilding or garden shed making it easy to access necessary equipment without having to back the cars out of the garage first. Do you have other large items you want to protect from the elements? For fishermen and those who love spending time on the lake, extra deep garages work well for boat storage. A simple two-car garage with extra deep bays could easily hold a boat in one bay and other “water toys” such as a jet ski, canoe or a pair of kayaks in the other bay. Maybe your growing family is running out of storage space. If you need a place to accommodate your basement or attic overflow, a basic garage is the answer again. Just use it like you would a rented storage locker. Except this one is better. You will only have a short walk to the backyard to retrieve an item you need.

For those with multiple needs, it is easy to satisfy all of them with a basic garage. Maybe you have an ATV or motorcycle, plus the kids have bikes, skateboards and other toys that need a home outside the house. Consider adding a detached two-car garage to your property. You’ll have plenty of room for your “toys” and enough space to organize the kids’ bikes and install shelving units for bike helmets, skateboards and their other outdoor toys or sporting equipment. In a similar manner, like the example above where there is a need for auto storage and a workshop, perhaps a three-car garage will do the trick. Use two bays for parking the family vehicles and set up a workshop in the third stall. Auto mechanics might find a triple-bay garage (or larger) handy as well using the center bay for the automobile they are working on and using the two side bays for storage of tools and auto parts providing walls for storage cabinets and shelving. Likewise, a person who enjoys wood crafts might turn a two-car garage into a workshop or hobby space. For home-based business owners such as landscapers, a four-car garage might be just right for storing trailers and lawn equipment in two stalls, the extra family car in the third stall and the kids’ toys in the fourth stall. Depending on the size of the garage, from a one-car to a four-car garage or larger, you can accommodate many different needs with a basic garage design.

Tags: garage plans, storage

The idea of adding a garage to your residence seems self explanatory. You need more room to park your cars. Don’t be so sure. Today, garages are more than just a place to keep your cars safe from the elements. They serve a wide range of purposes while adding value and curb appeal to your home.

Before you purchase a garage plan, it is important to consider what kind of garage you will need and what you will use it for. Whether you want a one-car garage or a three-car garage, a single-level or a two-story design, there are a variety of sizes and styles to choose from. Many floor plans come with practical features that will add to the efficiency of your floor plan allowing it to satisfy multiple needs.

Some popular features to consider when selecting a garage plan include:

• Mud sink, half bath or full bath
• Built in workbench
• Drive-thru bay
• Separate space for a workshop or storage
• Deeper bay for boat storage
• Longer and taller bay for an RV, motor home, or camper
• Office space for a home-based business or home office
• Conference or meeting area
• Upper level storage
• Second floor game room or hobby area
• Finished living space for an in-law or guest suite, apartment, studio or rental income

Tags: garage plans