Hmmm - lots of good stuff to think about.
My current attached garage is 3+ car - about 30x26 (I think I remember that right - but my memory isn't that good). The building I am looking to build would be about 35x28 (980 sq ft).
I've attached a rough sketch of my current garage. The problem is that I need more ground floor "garage" type storage. If I clear out my shop stuff that I have in there today (there really isn't a place for my new 8" jointer - except that we aren't parking vechicles in there currently....) then I could probably fit in the small tractor (a 1952ish Ferguson) that is currently at the in-laws. But that doesn't leave space for the pop-up camper (currently in storage, but sits outside all summer). If I take over the ground floor of the new building for my shop, then I have to figure out where the camper goes.
I have thought about buliding the new building and then as soon as it's signed off putting a lean-to carport on the side, but that seems not right. I like having stuff "in" and out of sight.
The family room won't help get SWMBO buy-in - I already have her ok to build "something" and she is wanting the basement finished off (it's half finished now) for the big family room.
Lou - thanks for the links to all your threads. I have been really enjoying them! A question or two for you. I have looked pretty extensively at various beam type solutions for a second floor. Since my size is tenatively 28 x 35, I'd be looking at a 35' beam down the center and then 14' floor joists. Or - maybe one post in the center. (much easier at 17-18' span - that can be done with LVL) I have access to an uncle who can get big/thick steel and the press to form it. My problem is trying to figure out how to size that beam. It would be made up from 3/8 or 1/2 (or thicker?) steel. I can do the load calculations for how much weight, but I don't know where to find something for sizing the beam.
I don't plan on having Lou sized iron in my shop. My current contractor table saw is ok (lusting for a nice cabinet saw) and my 8"x75" jointer will be the biggest/heaviest items that I can forsee for quite a while. If I don't get bit by some old-iron bug getting that equipment upstairs shouldn't be too hard. I have thought about an outside entrance, but don't want to deal with icy steps - the area isn't real condusive to building it into the hillside. Maybe 2 foot of hill is about all I could get.
I am debating on height. Having a high ceiling is nice. I grew up with my dad's workshop in the basement with about 7.5' ceilings. Not bad, but annoying sometimes. My current garage has 10' celiings. Very nice, but maybe a little excessive. I was thinking 8-9' would be ok. I rarely find myself bumping a board into the 10' celing. Evidence of this is that I have yet to break one of the several bare bulbs on the ceiling, and I am not that careful or coordinated. However, this building will be just off to the side of the main house and I don't want it to overpower it. I am thinking of doing gambrel type roof so that the second floor is all under the roof, yet I won't end up with just a narrow hall-like room if I used even just a 12/12 straight pitch. Using Gambrel also means that on the sides at least my siding/wall appearnce is much shorter. I want to keep this thing to 20-24 feet high.
(grrr - can't get attachements to work... so here it is inline....)