The Garage Thread

[NorCalAthlete]

I ran a search and while I found a few posts on swag, individual questions about lifts, etc, I only found one real "garage" thread.

So...take some pics and post em up! What does your garage look like? I've seen a few discussions around flooring, what'd you go with? Post the whole thing!

edit: I just bought my first place and have a 2 car garage that was built in the 70s and looks like it was never touched since. Bare studs, flat roof, etc. The concrete is in ok shape though. Will get some "before" pics up in a couple weeks once I start taking measurements and coming up with a solid plan for it.

Right now it has some wooden shelves and a wooden workbench the previous owner put in, which I plan on ripping out. I'm tentatively planning for the following:

1. (Re)seal the floor
2. Move workbench area from side to rear
3. Seal all vents and exterior walls / roof
4. Refinish the studs (can you even do this? Some kind of coating to protect the original studs from weather / termites? Is it worth it even if you can?)
5. Electrical - install more outlets, redo circuit breaker panel, new switches, add overhead lighting, maybe overhead audio (plan on making it a combined garage / workspace / tinkering / gym area)
6. Heavy electrical - debating on dedicated 240 (220?) for welder / air compressor / maybe a compact lift?
6. Finish interior + ceiling (no more bare studs + bugs / spiders)
7. Floor mats for gym area (probably will use horse stall mats as they're thicker + cheaper + more durable than many of the gym mats)
8. Folding wall rack w/ olympic bar + weights + folding bench. Should be enough for squats, deadlifts, bench press, overhead press, pullups, rows (belly down on the bench at an incline to brace). May add a pelaton
9. Sit/stand desk for work meetings, wall mounted + collapsible to save space.
10. Tool bench + tinkering area to build whatever. Models, drones, maybe start woodworking, reloading.
11. Some minimal cabinetry to hold a shop vac, car detailing supplies, etc.
12. Overhead storage for surfboard(s), snowboard(s), paddleboards, etc.
13. Retractable reels for air line, extension cord
14. Side lighting / portable lighting (+ storage for portable lighting if the cabinets don't cut it) for working underneath stuff / at night / all angles)
15. Retractable hose for washing / powerwashing.

[///d]

Following because I need ideas for when I build mine. My current garage is not worthy of posting lol

[3798j]

Wanting to see garage photos? It's like asking to see pictures of the grandkids...
Workbench made from old kitchen cabinets (they were on the curb waiting for trash pickup). Air hose reel, grinder, vise, and overhead articulated draftsman light.
Direct Lift 4 post with rolling jacks.
Tables, including a pub table for working (and playing).
Tool cabinets...a spot for everything...everything in its spot.
Two part epoxy floor covering.
Refrigerator.
Small laundry tub sink.
Toilet.
Insulated, heated, and air conditioned.

[W///]

I'm pretty sure there's a bunch of these floating around, but I'll play too since these are my favorite types of threads. I bought my house in 2017 (my first) and it has a 4 bay detached garage that the previous owner built himself. The dimensions are 44'x24'. Ironically, he was not into cars at all and used it mostly for storage and wood working.

Here's a shot from the outside with the cars:


Inside the garage before I finished painting, which I just went with white. It's still ongoing. Also added some storage as well, but nothing fancy:








Maybe one day I'll add a Quickjak or something, but right now, I've got more than enough room to store all the cars, parts, and can do all the DIYs. The bigger stuff can be done at my friend's garage with a 2 post lift.

Bonus:

[JasonCSU]

I am absolutely envious of those 4-bay garages!

For some seriously drool worthy garages, check out the posts at garagejournal.com.

[3798j]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

...For some seriously drool worthy garages, check out the posts at garagejournal.com.

Wholeheartedly agree. A good place to get a lot of good ideas, opinions, reviews and options for outfitting your garage.

[M-technik-3]

www.garagejournal.com questions? they have answers.

[Bruuuce]

These are always fun topics to me...

Moved into a new house a few months ago. Thought I would have all sorts of space, but I am crunched for space, thinking I have to many vehicle hobbies.

3 car garage, one stall shorter than the others and has a separate wall. That bay has become the work shop. The 2 other bays for vehicles and projects. Still not sure how to finish it out, all a work in progress. did a bunch of demo from the PO. Garage Journal is a good reference as mentioned, but can be like other forums with long time people with all the answers or saying go search...
Some pics at move in and now



This became too took and welding room, probably not changing much here, just figuring out where every thing goes.


I also have a storage room about the size of a single car garage. It did not take too much time for it to be full.
Initial pics with shelfs, empty.


Additionally behind the entry way is a large open area. I installed garage cabinets there for storage and an entry closet. Those cabinets are all but full as well, once tall cabinet is just detailing stuff.
The Pics



Lots of work to do to make it mine and finished out how I want it. Just not sure how I want it yet. Good thing is I have plenty of power to the house and just added some more dedicated 120 outlets in the garage space and lots of 8 foot LED lights to illuminate the bays. I still don't really have room for the yard tools and need a better outside storage place.

So I have more space than many, just trying to figure how to make the garage space more comfortable and usable. Then making it look nice, a nice to have but needed one day. It will be a marathon to get it how I want it, for now it's usable, kind of. I keep moving things around to do projects... Not ideal but works and thinking that will never go away.

[Lady Jane]

Had the floor re-sealed last July with two coats of UV acrylic protection. Over the years, the front of the doors was starting to yellow. This time, they only had to sand the top coat then apply the epoxy and new sprinkles.




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[540iSUP]

You guys are pushing me that much more to move out of California.

[Commanderwiggin]

Sticky Thread Here: https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1262622

[heitzke]

Mine was the biggest selling point for me in this house. It's still pretty rough/dirty in there but it's wired for 220 at least and USED to have a lift in there from a previous owner.

My former Gen 1 raptor for scale

[Bruuuce]

Originally Posted by heitzke

Mine was the biggest selling point for me in this house. It's still pretty rough/dirty in there but it's wired for 220 at least and USED to have a lift in there from a previous owner.

My former Gen 1 raptor for scale

that's a garage, nice!!!

[W///]

Originally Posted by Bruuuce

These are always fun topics to me...

Moved into a new house a few months ago. Thought I would have all sorts of space, but I am crunched for space, thinking I have to many vehicle hobbies.

3 car garage, one stall shorter than the others and has a separate wall. That bay has become the work shop. The 2 other bays for vehicles and projects. Still not sure how to finish it out, all a work in progress. did a bunch of demo from the PO. Garage Journal is a good reference as mentioned, but can be like other forums with long time people with all the answers or saying go search...
Some pics at move in and now



This became too took and welding room, probably not changing much here, just figuring out where every thing goes.


I also have a storage room about the size of a single car garage. It did not take too much time for it to be full.
Initial pics with shelfs, empty.


Additionally behind the entry way is a large open area. I installed garage cabinets there for storage and an entry closet. Those cabinets are all but full as well, once tall cabinet is just detailing stuff.
The Pics



Lots of work to do to make it mine and finished out how I want it. Just not sure how I want it yet. Good thing is I have plenty of power to the house and just added some more dedicated 120 outlets in the garage space and lots of 8 foot LED lights to illuminate the bays. I still don't really have room for the yard tools and need a better outside storage place.

So I have more space than many, just trying to figure how to make the garage space more comfortable and usable. Then making it look nice, a nice to have but needed one day. It will be a marathon to get it how I want it, for now it's usable, kind of. I keep moving things around to do projects... Not ideal but works and thinking that will never go away.

This looks awesome! The storage cabinets look really snazzy too. My plan is same as yours, make it useable first, then make it more into a man cave way later. I think you're off to a great start.

[NorCalAthlete]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

www.garagejournal.com questions? they have answers.

[Bruuuce]

Originally Posted by W///

This looks awesome! The storage cabinets look really snazzy too. My plan is same as yours, make it useable first, then make it more into a man cave way later. I think you're off to a great start.

Thanks

New Age cabinets via Costco

[540iSUP]

Originally Posted by heitzke

Mine was the biggest selling point for me in this house. It's still pretty rough/dirty in there but it's wired for 220 at least and USED to have a lift in there from a previous owner.

My former Gen 1 raptor for scale

Damn that's nice. I'm into BJJ as well; that space is perfect for rolling with enough room for the cars.

[86Zed]

Started off fairly bare bones



Insulated, dry-walled, shelving, lighting, and rolling toolboxes in place. Likely will not take it much further and save ideas for a larger space in a few years!

[W///]

^Obligatory FCP Euro box sitting next to the car

[NorCalAthlete]

Originally Posted by 86Zed

Started off fairly bare bones



Insulated, dry-walled, shelving, lighting, and rolling toolboxes in place. Likely will not take it much further and save ideas for a larger space in a few years!

Kinda torn on that myself right now. Big ideas, but this is a starter home and still relatively small for what I want to do. Not sure the ROI is there for a full garage remodel here so I might just do insulation, drywall, floor, overhead lighting, shelves instead of cabinets, and gym space.

Otherwise I would also like to do retractable electrical / air hose / water hose reels, side lighting in addition to the overhead, cabinets instead of shelves, a full workbench / reloading bench / tool bench, motorcycle lift, car lift, and epoxy + grade + tile rather than just epoxy.

Edit: also, with that california plate on the clown shoe, were you up at Alice's recently like a few weekends ago...?

[VisualEcho]

I have always wanted a fantastic garage, but never had one. When we moved to this home in 2006 it had the standard 2-car garage, but I needed an extra space to put the Lotus (mostly for Winter). We had plenty of excess room in the basement, so I added a garage door, and that was that. After working on a car in full A/C in the Summer with no bugs, plenty of light, a TV, internet access, a couch, and a fridge nearby, I'll never go back to a normal garage. I mean, it's not much, it's just my basement, but it works. I installed the MPS on the M2 there. It's tight, but fits. I'll end up getting some of those wheel dollies to make working on the M2 down there easier.

[Bruuuce]

I moved an old Roomba to the garage, its a game changer on the concrete floor. Best mod by far, ha.