Undersized garage (floor, ceiling, room, building codes)

[old_cold]

We have an extra room that would serve better as a one car garage but it is only 11' wide.
Looking at garage plans shows that 12' is the suggested minimum.
Would not having that foot make it unusable or just inconvient?

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by old_cold

We have an extra room that would serve better as a one car garage but it is only 11' wide.
Looking at garage plans shows that 12' is the suggested minimum.
Would not having that foot make it unusable or just inconvient?

Good question. First check with your local building codes. They may tell you what you can and can not do no matter what you the tax payer wants.

If code is not a problem then consider that in the past 5 years many local city zoning ordinances have lessened the size of parking spaces in commercial zones. You can pull into your local C-store or newer mall and find your tires nearly sitting on the yellow lines while your car is centered and barely have enough room to open your door. Which is why I park way in the back. I may be one of only 10 cars in the USA without parking lot dings.

And standard garage sizes were standard when average cars were the size of big Buicks. Cars have shrunken down.

Also keep in mind standard garage door sizes. If you were to want a 10/7 door there would not be enough room for the framing for it with just 11' wide garage. Do you have enough room for a 2x12 header above the 7' to 10' standard garage door? Not likely if there is an 8' ceiling. You may be in for some major framing issues to make a garage door opening.

Good luck

[TKramar]

The widest car I've owned might have been just over 6 feet wide. I can't remember if there was any room left over when I stretched out in the back seat. Figure 2 feet on either side to debark. 11' is plenty of room. As long as you don't try to make it do double duty as a workshop...I know a lot of people who parked their cars in the driveway and used the garage for their lawnmower, bicycles, a workshop...

[old_cold]

Thanks both of you.
I forgot about the shrunken car issue
This was built over a crawl space so once the floor is out I'll get the headroom.
I'll have to go look but seems I recall that doors also come in 8' and 9'.
Now to go practice to make sure there's enough swing room without infringing on the neighbors lawn since it'll require a 90 degree turn

[JohnCarpenter]

A standard garage door opening is 7' slab to finished opening. They come in 8' wide so that is not a problem. But you will only have 8 - 1/2" for a header. That will not work with 2 x material. If the wall is non-loadbearing, you can use a GluLam beam for a header and it will work on an 8' width ok. Keep in mind the depth of the room. A regular garage is 20' to 24' deep.

Drainage and water entering are an issue also.
_______________________________
Johnny Jackson
www.jljacksonremodeling.com

[Ultrarunner]

I have a older home that has a 11 x 17 (inside measurement) single car garage built in 1922 for $250

It is small, but it is big enough for the Toyota Corolla that is parked inside every night