Lets talk garages!!

[Turtle]

Okay, the folks moved into a new house and would like to redesign the garage for a little more ease. I was curious what everyone has done to their garage.

Some things to tag on:
Storage
Tools
Grinders/welders/benders and their mounting
Floor coverings
Lighting
Electrical
Ventilation

Those are some things I thought would be good to discuss for starters. This all came on as the 'rents want to floor covered with whatever type of epoxy paint. Also all the metal working will be done on the side of the house. With the R.V. gate and no R.V. we are going to concrete the side and use it for more work space. All of the tools however need to be mobile so they can come back in the garage at the end of the night.

Anyways, just wanted to see what everyone else had set up and their thoughts!

Turtle
Pics would be awesome too!
P.S. To make sure it is Jeep related... I park my Jeep in the garage... when I am working on it : )

[DsrtJeeper]

Best things I ever did were to install 220v service and a heatpump in my garage. I have heat in the winter and cool in the summer. :D

No room for a seperate shop so you don't need to wheel things in and out?

[danno]

Just moved into a new house myself. 3 car garage.

I am having the floors coated with U-Coat-it. The stuff has a lifetime guarantee against peeling. I am not doing it myself, rather I am having a professional do it.

I am having Premier Garage cabinets installed for storage. I like their design and how it stays 6" off of the floor so I can wash and sweep underneath them and it keeps the scorps from having a safe hiding place to stay. If you really want to go high end, they have some nice diamond plate stainless that you can get the cabinets made from. I did not go this route though.

I am also having some flurencent lights installed since all I have now are two 100 watt light bulbs.

I will probably get 220 service installed as well.

I am curious though... about the heat pump, how was it installed? Does it take up much room? What brand is it? Estimated Cost?

[DsrtJeeper]

The heat pump is a 1 ton unit and I installed it into the block wall just like a window AC unit. I actually got it free, but they can be purchased at Home Depot. Mine is a Hampton Bay.

[Qman]

DsrtJeeper:how big is your garage? and do you just turn it on when you go out??? how long does it take to cool down, warm up?

I am going to be building my shop soon and have been thinking of putting a larger unit 2T in attic or maybe roof mount. there only around $1500 DIY....
my shop will be 24x24 w/ 9 foot ceilings. 1 ton i don't think will be enough to cool it in 110 heat.for my shop.

[DsrtJeeper]

DsrtJeeper:how big is your garage? and do you just turn it on when you go out??? how long does it take to cool down, warm up?

I am going to be building my shop soon and have been thinking of putting a larger unit 2T in attic or maybe roof mount. there only around $1500 DIY....
my shop will be 24x24 w/ 9 foot ceilings. 1 ton i don't think will be enough to cool it in 110 heat.for my shop.

Sounds like you'll definately need a two ton unit. I just have your basic two car garage. I'm on the 9-9 plan with APS; so I turn the unit on the night before I need it and it works less that way. These new units are pretty cost effective.

[Qman]

I also like old Kitchen cabinets for wall storage.. they are usually alot sturdier than the particalboard products. Partical board is great if it is kept dry but try hoseing out your garage, if you don't have the cabinets up off the floor.

Shelves , shelves and more shelves... i also love the plastic stacking bins... lowes home depot and ACE(has the largest assortment) are also great you can stack them and the are great for organizing parts i keep alot of Materials on hand for my Business so i have thousands of Square feet of shelves in the Tiny Shop 7x20 kinda a alley between a old house and the new one they built in front. Someday soon it will all come down and a brand new 24x24 garage with 20x24 slab off back of shop to alley....Ill be able to park i estimate 10 Jeeps on my Lot and have the length of the Block in the alley which no one but me and the garbage man use to park more... i figure i will be able to host a Workshop sometime in the next two years.. i have way to many jobs to to anything for my self anytime soon...

[Linda]

Put the tools you think you are going to use the most on carts or dollies to make moving them in an out a little easier.

Forget the heat pump, use a swamp cooler on wheels so that you can use it inside or outside -- wherever you need it the most.

Make sure the garage walls are insulated otherwise any heating/cooling method won't work too well.

Good outdoor flood lights high up and down low. I hope your parent's neighbors don't have windows adjacent to the RV parking area.

Add extra outdoor electrical outlets in the RV parking area for power tools.

Plumb an outdoor line for the air compressor.

One last really handy hint: Get a wireless intercom system to use between the house and the garage/rv parking area. :D

[RickBeer]

Dont forget the fridge to keep all the beer I mean sodas cold :p

[Qman]

some sort of Ventaltion is always good.. one of those attic fans really work great in the early summer to take the heat out and all those foul smells... i have really begun to hate the smell of Gear oil..

[mr_super-hunky]

In addition to already mentioned iteams, Don't forget about a slop sink (you can probably tap into water heater for HOT water as well). You may or may not have to get creative for a drain depending on your closest drain source and if you have enough "fall" (1/4 inch per foot). But you can always just use a 5-gallon water jug under the sink as well and just empty it. Super creative = a "catch" tub under the sink with a little pump with a float on it to pump the water somewhere!

Also, several flourescent lightS (mounted on the WALLS :eek: ) can really light up the sides of vehicles as well as underneath them! Good lighting is great but just lights up the "roof". For well lit sides and floor, go with some wall mounts.

A wall mounted TV is also real nice along with a descent stereo (not too expensive)

A telephone with a LOUD ringer is essential! for obvious reasons.

Last but not least, a URINAL!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Yea thats right. I know you pee in the side yard via "the outdoor restroom" !, But you can buy a urinal from many used appliance stores for around $20.00

Once again, it will need water....duh!, but MORE importantly ....DRAINAGE :rolleyes: , You probably dont want to store or pump this one! he he ..

[Qman]

Speaking of Drainage.... a floor drain is often helpful to clean out the garage.

[jeepsonly]

I second the recommendation for the fridge. The house we moved into had a fridge but we already had one. We moved the oldest to the garage and man is it great having the extra freezer AND refrig room for cold beverages, etc.

[DrunkenKyle]

I would say that u will more than likly need more electrial outlets so you're not running 30 extension cords to where ever you are working.

[KURT]

A cheap ceiling fan, and at least two flourescent fixtures are a must! A good retractable drop cord (like a Craftsman) is nice to have, always at hand. :D