You need to consider impervious surface ratio as well. Your town will likely restrict the ratio for storm water runoff management. For example, my town is max 15% impervious surface. Do your homework before you buy property. House with 1500sf plus garage with 1500sf footprints will need 1/2 acre (22,000 sf) to stay within 15% ratio limit.

 

Ah, very good to know. I don't think I would come close to 15% (although I will need to check with my local county regulations on what our specific requirement is) just because I will want a decent amount of land separating the house from the detached garage. Otherwise I would feel too cramped on the property.

 

It sounds like from your plans that the loft could almost qualify as a second bedroom, or mother-in-law quarters. If you added a small shower, since you already plan a toilet, then you are adding an extra bedroom and bathroom to the equation as well as a garage. That adds more value and more likely you will get your money back when you sell.

 

mother in law.. up stairs.. i can just see a future.. help i've fallen and i can get up commerical..

but i always liked upstairs lofts.. double insulated for sound an rock on...




i picked up a 4k lg tv for the main and thus, inherited that old tv for the garage, makes for a rather LARGE montior, but i can read all my engine spec's without my glasses from across the street... ( joking)... ( not)..also doubles for that drive in theatre effect...

 

That's what I was thinking. Really it would be so that my wife could hang out with me (I get more garage time) without getting upset. Then when we would sell the property someone sould look at it as a bedroom for a son or daughter that still lives with them into their 30's? Maybe that's desirable? lol

 

This is a great thread, I just came across it. All good advice given. Interesting for me as I do /did not have to worry about frost and impervious surface ratios. I am on 5 acres in a semi-rural area.

Over all I think a nice garage/shop/extra dwelling would be a great addition for a house. Could really sell things for a guy, especially a single guy, looking for a house. We designed (via architect and builder in concert) our house and I did an 1200square foot attached garage/shop. Mine is not conditioned so the cost per foot was very low. Essentially its a 4 car garage with storage. Max space between cars for ease of use. Fourth car "stall" is really the shop with separate fire wall to ceiling to allow for painting. Added circuits for welding but never used it. (15 years). Actually wish I made it even larger! I wound up carpeting the entire thing when my builder revamped a law office and had tons of high quality new indoor outdoor carpet. It really keeps the house clean with the kids (now gone) and dogs. Ceiling in the shop is very high to allow movement of long wood pieces for working. Have separate non GFI circuits for the fridges (have auto apu generator) to boot.

My builder (still a good friend and fish/backpacking buddy) is/was a bank vault of good practical information that helped steer me in the right direction. Zoning, cost, practical advice, getting bang for your buck, what works, what doesn't, even down to door placement for weather and shop tools, etc, etc. You may want to find a good one that you can bounce some ideas off of; you may find some things you have not thought of as well as factors that may influence things you have thought of.