Decided to build a garage. Now the fun begins.

[PlayingWithTBI]

The other problem is, however much space you have, it is VERY hard to resist the temptation to put stuff in all of it!

Yeah, my wife has a 14' X 26' She Shed, we have a 40' container (AKA Intermodal, Sea Land, etc) and my 30 X 60 Shop is still too small but, maybe it won't be once I install all of the old kitchen cabinets from our recent remodel, just need to hang a 1/2 dozen sheets of plywood 1st

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Hell, they've only been sitting there for almost 2 years

 

[Hipster]

Literally getting ready to pull the trigger on this myself. I havent read the whole thing but starting to think the 30x35 won't be big enough after looking at the plan's you guys have been pinging around.

I think it comes down to use. Shop equipment that sits on the floor, work benches , shelving units, tool boxes etc. Things get tight quick, especially if you have a vehicle in pieces.

 

[Carlaisle]

Regarding the windows, one option I did not see mentioned that I have seen in person and liked was tucked up at the very top of the wall under the eaves. Let's in tons of light, but very little heat and is basically impervious to burglars. The only real limitation I could see was that they would have to be more difficult to clean up there, but a ton of dirt probably isn't wafting up there in the first place.

I don't recall if you've addressed the interior lighting yet. 100 lumens per square foot would be the minimum I would plan for with all fixtures on. Someone else mentioned putting the lighting on multiple switches so you don't have to have everything on all the time. I have done this in a building larger than you have planned and it was a great idea. You may wish to consider if the benefit would outweigh the complexity in your planned implementation.

Is that base rail hot dipped galvanized, stainless, or aluminum? If not, I would worry about rust in the not too distant future.

If you haven't purchased the lift yet, I would like to draw your attention to this if you are not already familiar:

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It is not an asymmetric replacement for someone planning to remove bodies from frames. For 95%+ of mechanic jobs, it works great. The number one benefit is it stores completely out of the way. With a couple sheets of plywood it makes a great adjustable height work bench or loading dock (one of my favorite uses). It is also easily modified so that only one side is in motion at a time or to make each side move independently. I'm not endorsing the particular model/manufacturer in the video - it is used only for illustrative purposes. Rotary and other US manufacturers offer similar style lifts if you prefer to source domestically.

 

[South VA]

Regarding the windows, one option I did not see mentioned that I have seen in person and liked was tucked up at the very top of the wall under the eaves. Let's in tons of light, but very little heat and is basically impervious to burglars. The only real limitation I could see was that they would have to be more difficult to clean up there, but a ton of dirt probably isn't wafting up there in the first place.

Thanks. That’s a good idea, especially in an area with security concerns. Fortunately, we live at the end of a ½ mile long gravel drive, in a rural farm community. Plus we have an outside dog that would dissuade anyone having ill intent. Burglary hasn’t been a problem here, and I don’t anticipate it becoming one. Also, I like being able to see out of the windows, and have repositioned one of them so that I’ll be able to look out onto the adjacent pasture while at the workbench.

I don't recall if you've addressed the interior lighting yet. 100 lumens per square foot would be the minimum I would plan for with all fixtures on. Someone else mentioned putting the lighting on multiple switches so you don't have to have everything on all the time. I have done this in a building larger than you have planned and it was a great idea. You may wish to consider if the benefit would outweigh the complexity in your planned implementation.

Good idea. The lighting has been discussed a fair amount, although I don‘t recall settling on a lumen/sf figure. 100 sounds good.
I’m leaning toward a combination of ”tube type” LEDs and ”corncob” LED fixtures. Putting them on multiple circuits makes a lot of sense. That means more wiring, of course, but since I’ll be doing most of the wiring, I don’t mind putting in extra circuits. I believe it would be worth the additional time and expense of doing so.

Is that base rail hot dipped galvanized, stainless, or aluminum? If not, I would worry about rust in the not too distant future.

That’s a good point. The frame, including the base rail, is galvanized, although I don’t know by which process. I upgraded the tubing from 14 ga to 12 ga, and it will carry a 20 year warranty against rust through. I‘ll have to ask the sales rep about the galvanizing process.

The plan is to put down a sealer between the base rail and the concrete. Combined with the outside curb detail, it should keep water away from the base rail.

If you haven't purchased the lift yet, I would like to draw your attention to this if you are not already familiar:

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

It is not an asymmetric replacement for someone planning to remove bodies from frames. For 95%+ of mechanic jobs, it works great. The number one benefit is it stores completely out of the way. With a couple sheets of plywood it makes a great adjustable height work bench or loading dock (one of my favorite uses). It is also easily modified so that only one side is in motion at a time or to make each side move independently. I'm not endorsing the particular model/manufacturer in the video - it is used only for illustrative purposes. Rotary and other US manufacturers offer similar style lifts if you prefer to source domestically.

Thanks for posting that video - that installation is seriously cool! I like the fact that it stores out of the way completely.

As the guy stated in the video, a two post lift is always in the way, to a certain extent. I just figured it was something I’d have to live with.

The main vehicle I plan to lift is my ‘96 K2500 Suburban, which tips the scales at 5500 lbs empty. Based on what I’ve read so far, a 10000 lbs capacity lift is the preferred size. I’m not sure that much capacity is available in a scissors lift. Then again, maybe the weight ratings for scissors lifts are derived differently from those of two post lifts. I don’t know.

The major consideration is that the cost for a scissors lift is significantly higher than a 10000 lb. two post lift; and we’re now at the point in this project where any additional dollars are being closely scrutinized. The budget is already blown (surprise!), mainly due to the extra cost of tree and stump removal. Taking out the two 90+ foot tall pine trees was about $1500. Removing the stumps will take another $1200, because the contractor has to rent a larger excavator to do the job. Plus the pad itself will be a couple of thousand $$ more than I had budgeted.

Anyway, thanks for your suggestions and taking the time to make them!

 

[South VA]

I mean ive heard that its never big enough... but how much is enough? Currently I have the 2 OBS's which will be garaged but the daily will be in the driveway mostly

If you’re only putting two vehicles in there most of the time, I’d think 30 x 35 would be plenty big. As mentioned earlier in this thread, the shop that finally inspired me to build my own is a 30 x 35, and at first it seemed huge. I had only been considering a two car garage before that.

I wound up bumping it up to 30 x 40 after thinking about it because I’ll likely have three vehicles in there, and wanted room for a small workshop.

 

[BuiltToWork]

Sheet, mine is 40x80 and that ain't big enough. The other problem is, however much space you have, it is VERY hard to resist the temptation to put stuff in all of it!

Yes. 20x20 filled up the day I bought the house and we hadn't even moved in yet!
Constant purge is what I do - but that takes hours because everything I pick up - my mind races with what "project" I could use it for.

 

[South VA]

Yeah, my wife has a 14' X 26' She Shed, we have a 40' container (AKA Intermodal, Sea Land, etc) and my 30 X 60 Shop is still too small but, maybe it won't be once I install all of the old kitchen cabinets from our recent remodel, just need to hang a 1/2 dozen sheets of plywood 1st

You must be registered for see images attach

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Hell, they've only been sitting there for almost 2 years

Using old kitchen cabinets is a great idea! They’re not all that hard to come by around here, so I’ll have to look into that.

I expect that once you get those cabinets off the floor and against the walls you will be amazed that the space you have!

Then you’ll have to resist the urge to put more stuff in that room you just freed up…

 

[South VA]

Yes. 20x20 filled up the day I bought the house and we hadn't even moved in yet!
Constant purge is what I do - but that takes hours because everything I pick up - my mind races with what "project" I could use it for.

Constant purge is a good way to put it. It’s what I need to do also.

The way I’m looking at this is that adding a garage will give me the space for the (mostly) vehicle-related stuff I will actually use, and in turn make decluttering the spaces where it’s currently stored a whole lot easier to do.

As I’ve mentioned earlier in the thread, I have a small wood shop, and a barn which could house a larger wood shop. Since both of those (plus the house, to be completely honest) are where I currently store vehicle-related stuff, it makes using those spaces as workshops almost impossible.

There is hope!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Partially caught up in this thread again. Floor coatings were considered when I built mine, then realized I actually use my shop for work. Pretty floors are cool (and expensive) until you realize the finish is destroyed.

I used a densifier and the Ghostshield product on mine, allows spills to be cleaned up fairly easy and I don't have a finish to worry about...also, I've been known to do burnouts in my shop

Hoping you've had some time to spend on garagejournal.com. Tons of info over there, you can literally read for days on topics you need more info on. Plus its a great way to see how others have used the space in buildings the same size as you have planned.

 

[someotherguy]

Partially caught up in this thread again. Floor coatings were considered when I built mine, then realized I actually use my shop for work. Pretty floors are cool (and expensive) until you realize the finish is destroyed.

One of my little brothers did a red epoxy coating on his shop floor. It looked good for a while. It also showed every speck of dust, and let me tell you, any amount of dust made that floor a horrible slip hazard. I hated it. It had to constantly be swept with dust mops just to keep it halfway decent.

Richard