My husband and I are also planning a garage (we're in the DC Metro area). 3 bays and a large workshop. Our original plan called for storage space upstairs. We contacted about 10 local builders in our area. Of those who actually responded (2) the costs were out of sight. 80 - 150k!! We scaled down the plan so that there is no storage space upstairs (this increases the lumber cost) and are working as our own general contractor. We just submitted plans we bought online to the local permits dept. We estimate cost to be around 50k. We're hoping to save on some costs by buying the windows, entry door and whatever else I can find off of Craigslist or eBay. Size 30x60, 3 bays plus workshop, 8/12 roof (matches house), detached. Good luck!

The terraces vary in width. The leftmost/bottom terrace is 8 feet, dropping off 10ft via a cinderblock retaining wall into a creek. I do not want to build on this level because I don't know how well the wall can hold with the added weight of the auxiliary building so close to it. The middle terrace is also about 8 feet. The rightmost/top terrace is about 5 feet. I wanted to use 7ft of the middle and 3ft of the top terraces for the shed. The reason why I don't want to raise the entire storage shed to the same level as the top level is because my yard is at the same level as the bottom terrace, and I don't want to build a long ramp when a shorter one would suffice by building the storage unit and its door mostly on the middle terrace. If I were to build on the bottommost terrace, how far away from the retaining wall would you recommend I set the storage shed back from? I live in the North West, so we get a lot of rain and despite the soil seeming to be packed well, may run off. Thanks.

We built an 'oversized' one car garage, at 16' wide, and it's barely big enough. Cars today are wide. We're looking at a small SUV, and they're about 6' wide; the same as my wife's Olds 88. We're renting a minivan (long story), and I found it tricky to get the huge rolling garbage bin past it to take the trash out. All we have in the garage is the car, trash bin, BBQ grill, and a small tool chest. For a two car garage, 24' would be the absolute minimum for average-sized cars, parked in exactly the right spot. For any other storage, add another 4'.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I met with the foreman earlier in the week. Yep, not a lot of storage. When I asked if there was any easy way to do this, he said he could build the steps as usual and then let me look at them to see if it would be helpful to have just the middle step tread hinge. Because the steps will be 45” wide, there will need to be support in the middle, so it will be two compartments...maybe even less useful than I’d imagined. So...I think you are all right... Thank you! BTW, in terms of style, I talked to my architect. He said that yes, people most commonly people do concrete, poured when we pour the foundation and garage floor. That didn’t happen. Option 2: redwood. Option 3: something nicer, with painted risers (painted-grade plywood?). Then nice treads. what do you think of this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stairtek-1-in-x-11-5-in-x-48-in-Unfinished-White-Oak-Tread-BTWO1148/202019913 FWIW, my home has new white oak flooring. Directly inside this garage door is the little hallway/mudroom leading to the adjoining powder room. Both of those are tile (a 12x12, sandcolor tile). For consistency, my architect said that same tile could be used and obviously would wear well. I’m a little hestitant since it seems like so much work and is so permananet. So I am leaning towards to the wood treads. What do you think? Thanks for your help!