Living area in a Garage?

[MAK]

Thought I would start my first post here with a question since it seems to be just the place for it. My existing 2 car garage just isn’t enough space and I’m looking for information on garages that are set-up with the space to work on cars but also have a space to the side for recreation with a couch or comfortable chairs, TV, pool table, etc. The garage junkies here have seen the pictures.
I can’t really afford to build another garage right now like I would like to and because of limited lot size and the slope I’m not sure I have the room anyway. What I could afford to do is enclose an existing slab underneath the covered deck above and then open the back wall to that new enclosed area. Basically this would give me a new 12x24 foot area with a garage door and would open the back wall to the existing L-shaped basement room of about 24x14, opening to a 16x15 room across the back. There’s another 14x15 room on the opposite side along with a bathroom and utility room.
Right now I basically live in my basement. Plenty of room with 2 living areas upstairs but I always end up downstairs in front of the big TV and wireless laptop in hand. I could easily move the TV upstairs and just convert the whole area to a garage but I always thought it would be cool to have my space down there with the projects right at hand. It just doesn’t seem that practical in a working garage. I guess if all you do is oil changes and waxing it would be great, but does anyone have a garage like this who actually does bodywork? I thought maybe some kind of a curtain system to pull across one section for when you are going to grind/sand? Even so wouldn’t you still end up with dust all over everything as soon as the curtain was pulled back? I guess I’m looking for anyone who has or has seen a garage like I’m talking about. I suppose I’m probably just being stupid about this and either need to keep it a living space if I want the pool table, etc. or move back upstairs and convert to a regular garage. The pictures like I have seen and described are probably strictly used as a “showroom”.
Let me know what you think. thanks

[sca037]

Welcome!

I read your description well, but would benefit from a diagram if you can get something posted :thumbup:

I've commented before about air quality concerns, especially if the air between a garage & living space is able to comingle........so that really makes the whole concept harder to execute.

Expanding your garage out under the covered deck sounds great, but maybe if it is common only to the garage and not the house. Maybe use it as a dedicated workshop area, that could be partitioned off from the rest of the garage for occasional "dirty work" ???)

Brian

[MAK]

I could partition-off and place a door between the larger area of the basement and the 16x15 room and just use it as a small media room but that sorta kills the look/concept I was thinking of. I think I'm definitely better just going with a single purpose garage or leaving the basement as living space. The other option may be to come up with some sliding glass panels that could separate the 12x24 portion I would add on to the back so it could be closed off for dirty work. Not sure what is available to span a 20' opening but then slide open to leave at least a 16' opening. The panels would all have to slide down to one side and just stack to the side of each other. I guess they probably have something like that in some auto show rooms. The more I kick this around the more impractical it sounds.

Welcome!

I read your description well, but would benefit from a diagram if you can get something posted :thumbup:

I've commented before about air quality concerns, especially if the air between a garage & living space is able to comingle........so that really makes the whole concept harder to execute.

Expanding your garage out under the covered deck sounds great, but maybe if it is common only to the garage and not the house. Maybe use it as a dedicated workshop area, that could be partitioned off from the rest of the garage for occasional "dirty work" ???)

Brian

[OzCop]

Ummm, I don't know about you, but if I did what you described, I would also have to move my bed and other belongings into the area, and most likely would be banned from ever coming back upstairs......Which means you also need a bathroom, fridge, stove, and microwave down there if you don't have one already. Of course, your spouse may be much easier to please than mine... 8)

[wrhenker]

Well, I have a two story garage with the upstairs intended to be a "rec room". My plans are to intall a 50'' flatscreen, a couch, hammock, foosball table and some excersize equipment. I will also have knee walls for storage. My space is 24X26 with raised walls upstairs, windows and an eight foot height, upstairs and downstairs. Take a look at my pics!

[wrhenker]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39829

[mikeyr]

problem with comfy couch and TV in the garage is that you wont get any work done on the car. I put in a TV once...2 weeks later almost nothing had been done on the car and the TV went into the daughters room. I thought I would just have it as background noise, occasional F1 race while working type of thing but it was on way too much, same with something too comfy like a couch.

The garage is a work place not a relax place, although I fully admit that I am way more relaxed after a week in the garage than I am after a week vacation somewhere :)