Looking for ideas on new garage

EliteImageDetailing

EliteImageDetailing

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Well finally the time has came that our new hosue will be nearing completition. I have a two car garage all to my self and have read the various threads on others. I am going with the U coat it flooring right away, just not sure on color scheme. Then the color of walls is also another issue. I figured 4 or 6 light system, outlets are basically everywhere so no need to look for power. back wall will have the cabinets and tool chest, Black in color.
So I'm turning to you guys to help choose colors for walls and flooring and any really needed things. Figured I'l be installing all my fridge, HDTV, surround sound, and all my wall banners and posters too. I just can't wait to start working on the cars again.
Thanks in advance!
 
Build deep and ad an inside drain before you pour the slab. Go heavy on to electrical too

It would be cool if you could make a thread and show the progress as it goes
 
Flash Gordon said:
Build deep and ad an inside drain before you pour the slab. Go heavy on to electrical too

It would be cool if you could make a thread and show the progress as it goes
Click to expand...

That's great advice! Lots of plugs to accomodate your lighting. I have a portable a/c unit for my garage too. Doing work in there in the summer with the a/c going is heavenly.
 
I gained a bigger garage during our home renovation project. The old garage was 24x24 and was just studs and plywood with the one finished wall on the house side per code. We converetd one of the garage bays to a new entryway and laundry room and added a another garage bay. The new garage is totally drywalled and fully insulated with attic storage space above. The new garage is 28X28.

This winter, the temperature never got below 40 in the garage, even on the coldest days (we had a few that were below zero)

I have 4 banks of T8 florescent lights on the ceilings and the walls are white. There are plenty of outlets. With the white walls and ceiling, it is bright enough in the garage that a doctor could do surgery.

I don't have a drain in the garage floor... our codes require an oil/water separator, and that would have added at least another $15K to the project .

The driveway was also redone and widened as part of the project.
 
Great advice on this thread! Some pictures would be great.
 
I will add pictures and a new thread when the garage starts and I get things moving, will def. have more then enough electrical stuff run. My garage right now has to be the anti worker or guy garage, as it only has one outlet and one flourecent light. Dumbest thing I ever seen and PITA when it came to detailing in there. I'll keep everyone updated.
 
Make sure you have the lights on a separate circuit from the outlets...it's something you think of when yours isn't equipped that way and you trip the breaker when you're polishing the car at night...ask me how I know.
 
I know the U Coat It system is available from your local supplier, but I would suggest looking at the Devcon and LocTite concrete sealers. They seem to hold up better. Also make sure you add some form of granules or sand to surface of the coating. That stuff can be slick... I have busted my A** a few times on a wet coated floor. I don't know how the U Coat it sealer holds up to chemicals but I know the Devcon works very well!

I think the floor drain is a good idea! Just don't forget to put in an oil/water separator as they may be looking for that during a final inspection.

A small window heat pump may set you back a few $$$ but well worth is in my opinion, or even find a small unit out of an old mobile home.

I recommend separate electrical for the lights and outlets as well. Also it sounds strange but I have found a few outlets in the ceiling to be useful. Plug in a few self retracting cord reels and maybe a work light with a reel to keep things out of the water.

A few pieces of pipe and some of the threaded wall mounts and unions make a great curtain rod. If you are going to be doing a lot of washing I would get some cheap shower curtains or some plastic and make some curtains.

I don't know what you have as far as ability to install a lift, but my friend dug a 7' deep by maybe 38" pit in the center of one of the bays you can walk down into for working under the car. Not as handy as a lift but it is great for changing fluids and such.

The same guy also has an exposed 10" I beam across the ceiling. Great if you want to put an electric hoist or chain fall for pulling engines, or lifting up your lawn mower with a few straps.

If it were my garage I would also look at putting in some vehicle exhaust vents in the door so I could hook up the hose and be able to run the car in the garage for any extended period of time.

Also if you have a compressor run permanent lines all over the place. I would even stick one out of the front and rear walls so I had access to air where ever I needed it and didn't have to move a compressor every time.

Good luck with the garage! Keep us posted.
 
Ohh... and if you have the service available run some 220/230V single and 3-phase out there. Never know when you might want to put in a hot water pressure washer, hot water parts wash cabinet, or ultrasonic cleaner. Also what about a hot water heater and a utility sink??

Also how about some type of exhaust fans for the garage if you are using any nasty smelling chemicals.

Ahh to dream!! :)
 
XLNTShine said:
I know the U Coat It system is available from your local supplier, but I would suggest looking at the Devcon and LocTite concrete sealers. They seem to hold up better. Also make sure you add some form of granules or sand to surface of the coating. That stuff can be slick... I have busted my A** a few times on a wet coated floor. I don't know how the U Coat it sealer holds up to chemicals but I know the Devcon works very well!

I think the floor drain is a good idea! Just don't forget to put in an oil/water separator as they may be looking for that during a final inspection.

A small window heat pump may set you back a few $$$ but well worth is in my opinion, or even find a small unit out of an old mobile home.

I recommend separate electrical for the lights and outlets as well. Also it sounds strange but I have found a few outlets in the ceiling to be useful. Plug in a few self retracting cord reels and maybe a work light with a reel to keep things out of the water.

A few pieces of pipe and some of the threaded wall mounts and unions make a great curtain rod. If you are going to be doing a lot of washing I would get some cheap shower curtains or some plastic and make some curtains.

I don't know what you have as far as ability to install a lift, but my friend dug a 7' deep by maybe 38" pit in the center of one of the bays you can walk down into for working under the car. Not as handy as a lift but it is great for changing fluids and such.

The same guy also has an exposed 10" I beam across the ceiling. Great if you want to put an electric hoist or chain fall for pulling engines, or lifting up your lawn mower with a few straps.

If it were my garage I would also look at putting in some vehicle exhaust vents in the door so I could hook up the hose and be able to run the car in the garage for any extended period of time.

Also if you have a compressor run permanent lines all over the place. I would even stick one out of the front and rear walls so I had access to air where ever I needed it and didn't have to move a compressor every time.

Good luck with the garage! Keep us posted.
Click to expand...

Lots of great ideas here, some of which I implemented when I did a garage makeover. I wash my cars in the garage year 'round and the floor drain would be nice. I have air lines run through the walls and outlets in two locations for blowing out the crevices in the car and for air tools. The compressor is stored beneath a full-width workbench, inside a sound deadening box vented to the outside.

LOTS of light! Gotta have as much as you can get. Overhead and some down the wall for detailing.

I have one industrial ceiling fan and it's great on a hot day. Several more might be in the future - put them on separate switches so you can control when/where you get the wind.

Maybe go ahead and add a 220 outlet for a welder? or to convert to the car battery charger that we'll probably all have eventually.

Since you're going to spend a lot of time out there, have you thought about a TV or stereo speakers?

I had the forethought to have my builder stub in hot and cold water lines and a drain for future use and I just hooked up the sink yesterday...no more going into the house to clean up or wash parts.

Good luck with your project.
 
Chop down any trees that are within falling distance. Much cheaper to have it done w/out having an obstruction (garage) in the way
 
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I went with orange for my walls. 1 day remodel!
 
I like the orange, but I'm honestly sick of orange living in Knoxville..it's crazy around here.
 
If possible, connect a central vac system from the house into th garage or install a dedicated system. Stereo speakers are an excellent idea. Over size the garage doors so there is no issue getting cars in or out.
 
There are some great ideas on here. This a a great thread.

Most single garage doors are 8' wide x 7' high and double doors are 16' wide x 7' high. If I ever build another house I will get a 9' wide X 8' high and a 18' x 8' high.

I had an old neighbor that paid his concrete guy to put in a drain and then they put in a pvc plug and poured 1" of concrete over the plug. When his inspection was done he just broke out the plug and he was all set.

A garage heater would be really nice.

I wouldn't mind having a washer/dryer all in one combo so I could wash towels, shop clothes, etc.

Above all else, I would like to have a lift installed.
 
Maybe consider whether you want windows in your garage to let in natural light. With double hung windows, you can always open them up to let in fresh air. Not to mention, if you don't want to run central air to the garage, you could put in a window unit for the hotter portion of the year.

Try to utilize as much space as possible, so if you'll have an attic above the garage, make sure you put your attic access in a spot that's easily accessible, even with cars parked inside.

As for your entertainment system.... If you're going with a flat screen, maybe plan to mount it on the wall, closer to the ceiling so you can still see it if you're on the other side of the garage. Make sure you account for an outlet directly behind the tv to hide your chord. Also, placing your speakers in the walls will reduce clutter in the garage and provide a cleaner look. Just be sure the walls are very well insulated if you place them in any exterior walls.

Definitely install a floor drain! A friend of mine has a drain in his garage and it makes washing your car in the winter, not so bad. Just fire up a space heater and go to work. If you have the floor graded slightly towards the drain, you won't have much squeegeeing to do.

Mark
 
Flash Gordon said:
Why chance having your car demolished, or worse yet, yourself?

Trees don't live forever. One day their coming down one way or another
Click to expand...

Flash, you must have some tree trauma in your recent history? ;)

I'd be more inclined to leave the trees for as much shade as possible. Helps to keep the garage cool. The likelihood that he'll even live there long enough to see the trees grow old and die is pretty slim.
 
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