Poor Man’s Makeover

Posted by ryanc Nov 4, 2008 at 3:23 PM and filed under Featured Spaces

Okay. So we’ve seen some messy garages, now let’s figure out how to get them organized.

Meet John Joyo. Typical guy with typical stuff. Cars, bikes, grill, refrigerator, lawn equipment, tools, etc. Also typical that his ‘stuff’ has taken over his garage and now, well now it looks like this:

John has actually made some headway on the garage since this picture was taken. He’s been purging the junk, categorizing stuff and organizing the rest. Here is the latest picture:

John’s goal for his garage is simple. More usable space, better storage and organization, and an atmosphere that’s conducive to having some beers with friends. As the title suggests, John would like to make this happen without breaking the bank. Storage is a must but after shopping a few places and getting sticker shocked, he’s looking for something practical yet economical.

So, what are you suggestions for this poor man’s garage makeover?

See Comments on the forum.

View thread (29 replies)

rickairmedic

Well-known member

Nov 4, 2008

My suggestions are freecycle and cheapcycle which are both yahoo groups and usually are available in most areas . I belong to both freecyclelouisville and cheapcyclelouisville. I also check craigslist many times a day . I got a pile of metal kitchen cabinets for free off of craigslist simply by placing a wanted add and having a guy respond . I also have several cabinets I have gotten off of freecycle . I also built 2 lofts over the stairwell that goes down to the basement in my garage which gave me 40 square feet of floor space I didnt have before. I will put a link here to my thread which I need to update again . I also put up a shed to get the bikes and lawn **** out of the garage and have another shed I need to put up to get more **** out .

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9084&highlight=houston+problem

Rick

spike95

Well-known member

Nov 5, 2008

I am doing a poor man's garage project right now myself. My mom's boyfriend gave me the idea to screw sheets of 1/2" or thicker plywood onto the walls. That way I can put a nail or hook in anywhere I want without needing to hit a stud every time or concern for damaging the wall. I got a couple nice 4x8 sheets of 5/8" sanded plywood (certainly could have gone a little cheaper). I also sprung for a quart of satin black paint to make them look a little nicer... all together about $50-60 because I bought nice materials. I just hung them up tonight with my friend, and they actually look really good. They are certainly better than the old beat up walls they cover. They hang at about eye level. I also got a couple sets of those cheap Workforce brand storage shelves from Home Depot and installed them 3' high all along the same wall as the plywood is hung from. I sprayed the cheesy looking particle board shelves with some flat black spray paint, and it made a huge difference. The shelves to cover a 12' section of wall up to 3' high was about $160 including the spray paint. I'm also going to zip tie power strips along the fronts of the shelves on the uprights so I have plenty of easy access to plug things in. I will of course post pics when I am done.

taborj

New member

Nov 5, 2008

My father-in-law and I built shelves on all sides of my garage, out of simple 2x4s and plywood. You could even find those cheap or free if you use reclaimed wood from a renovation, or even cast-offs from construction projects.

In my case, we dismantled a too tall and way over-built work bench that came with the house. It was made almost entirely out of 2x4s, even the top surface. That gave us enough to create a more usable, and still sturdy, workbench, and make some good headway on the shelves. My shelves go floor to ceiling, and handle an awful lot of junk (much of which I'm still going through). This leaves the center open for cars/toys. I can fit my MGB GT and my wife's Honda in there, and still get in/out of the cars.

I even had enough room left over to put a gardening workbench for my wife in the corner. All in a standard two-car garage. For any other junk, it's going in the attic above the garage.

Lawn equipment goes in a simple metal shed in the corner of the back yard, so it's not taking up garage space.

Last edited: Nov 5, 2008

russlaferrera

Well-known member

Nov 5, 2008

Most garages have space over the large vehicle entry door. Build a loft. much can be stored in a 4 X 20? foot space.

Get as much as possible off the floor. Use shelves, racks to the fullest extent possible. Limit workbench size to what you need. More space= more junk.

If possible build a garden shed for garden equipment, bicycles, and stuff.

If you can't find it. You can't use it. Organize everything possible in stackable containers w/labels.

Off topic: "Security" Any glass may be covered with polycarbonate LEXON or plastic sheet. to stop/slowdown entry. Also no one has made mention of using window tint film to cut down "prying eyes"

Frank Elson

Well-known member

Nov 5, 2008

rickairmedic,
I'm in a couple of freecycle groups here in the uk.
I have metal shelving units, drawers and a filing cabinet so far.
Problem is my beloved has banned me from accepting anything else until we move and I get my new garage. the old workshop is a mite full...

rickairmedic

Well-known member

Nov 5, 2008

LOL Frank thats funny I actually banned my other half from dragging anything else home that she might stick in MY garage . The deal when her and the kids moved in was the garage was mine they could have the rest of the house . They still try to encroach on my space daily .

Rick

Frank Elson

Well-known member

Nov 5, 2008

the plan is, I get the garage of my dreams, she gets the kitchen of her dreams... and we'll have some other rooms as well.
She just wants me to be patient for now.
Patience? When there's free stuff out there waiting for a home with me?

JebNY

Well-known member

Nov 5, 2008

I build lots of shelves, everywhere I could find space. I built mine out of rough sawn lumber so they don't look as nice as what you get from nice pine or plywood. The big difference is mine are made of rock maple and cost less than 1/4 as much, and I have yet to put anything on them that makes them flex at all. Many shelves have several hundreds of pounds on them with 4 feet between supports and they don't bend.

Jeb

wilbilt

Banned

Nov 5, 2008

My current "garage", such as it is, was built entirely of free/scrap/recycled materials.

As nice as that may sound to the tree-huggers out there, it is a pretty crappy structure in all honesty.

JeepsAreBuilt

Well-known member

Nov 5, 2008

I'd second that back yard storage shed idea. If you have the space for one.. go for it. It'd take a lot of stuff out of your garage.. bikes, chairs, lawn equipment, maybe the grille ? It'd give you more space to organize your garage stuff - tools, project parts, etc. Depending on how deep your garage is.. If you can get your car/rig inside the garage and have a good amount of space left to the back wall - build a work bench there with a lower shelf. Good luck.

JOYO

Well-known member

Nov 6, 2008

Thanks for all the ideas! The outside storage shed is brilliant. I'm going to try to find one this weekend. That would clear a LOT of space.
I signed up for freecycle in my area and will look for some cabinets.
I need to figure out a work bench. A friend has an old SteelCase desk he said I could use so I might use that for now. I also found a large steel cabinet on Craigslist that would be good for storing paint and such. Hopefully I'll hear back and pick one up.

I really appreciate the encouragement. Organization has always been a challenge, but I'm determined to have an awesome garage.

I'll post progress pics this weekend.

John

rickairmedic

Well-known member

Nov 6, 2008

John dont forget to check craigslist ,feecycle, etc. for storage sheds . I picked up a nice 10X14 off of craigslist for $125.00 and snapped up an 8X10 for $40.00 you can also put wanted adds on crigslist and freecycle and cheapcycle thats how I got all my free cabinets.

Rick

e-tek

Well-known member

Nov 6, 2008

A shed for 40bucks!?!?!? Why you $#%^!
When I built my shop I put a shed purchase in the initial budget. No way was I having kids bikes, lawnmovers and rakes crappin' up my space. Of course my plastic 6x8 was $800.00....

Oh well, it's still worth not having that stuff in the shop!

rickairmedic

Well-known member

Nov 6, 2008

e-tec let me make your day a little better for $40.00 I got the 8X10 shed delivered on its own base made out of 4x4's and 3/4" plywood fully assembled . All I had to do was help push the trailer back where I wanted the shed and help shove it off the trailer

.

Rick

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Torque1st

MEMBER EMERITUS

Nov 6, 2008

If you don't find an almost free shed like some air medic did and have to buy one get a wooden shed kit! The metal sheds are hell to assemble, don't last well, flimsy, and near impossible to put a nail in the wall to hang anything. It can be done by fastening a 2x4 to the wall but it is a PITA.

Just my 2¢

wilbilt

Banned

Nov 6, 2008

After a few years in the sun, plastic sheds are worthless.

JOYO

Well-known member

Nov 6, 2008

wilbilt said:
After a few years in the sun, plastic sheds are worthless.

Thanks for the tip. I was looking at the plastic sheds that are like a large cabinet (6-8' tall, several feet wide and about 2-2.5' deep). I've got a good spot for it outside that would be out of site. Maybe I'll look for a metal one though.

Bevis

Well-known member

Nov 7, 2008

I scored a 10x10 shed that's on it's on base (3/4" ply, tripled up 2x6 to form a skid) The guy said to come and get it...FREE. So I'll take my trailer with me to work tomorrow and winch it up onto the trailer for the ride home.

rkflitcraft

Member

Nov 7, 2008

I recently did a garage makeover, (new paint, etc) and I pitched stuff that went back to when my son was 10 - he's 24 now. Anyway, the point is, if you pitched everything in your garage today (and I do mean everything) you'll make room for the future. I have a typical 2-car, 400 square foot attached garage, and I can tell you by throwing/giving away stuff that you REALLY don't use, you will have this great weight lifted off your shoulders. I do maintenance on my three Saturns in my garage, so I do have to have a workbench, a couple of rolling tool chests, an air compressor, jack stands, and a floor jack. Items that might freeze, go into the basement. Anything you can do to minimize what you really HAVE to have in your garage will go a long way in giving you the push you need to go forth w/your project. But I prefer to keep it simple, clean, and uncluttered. I really don't like to hang stuff on the walls (been there) which presents it's own issues. Keep stuff off the floor, in a cabinet, and out of sight. If you have a yard barn, put it to use for storage as well - after you've decluttered it! Garages are for automobiles - it amazes me how folks pack so much stuff into them that the car is no longer able to park in there. Anyway, it's great to declutter and to reclaim what can be a great space to spend time doing what you love to do - work on your car!!! See ya, Rich.

Last edited: Nov 8, 2008

JOYO

Well-known member

Nov 9, 2008

I just moved the refrigerator from the garage to the laundry room. SOOOO much better! I'm going to keep working this afternoon and I'll post some progress pics tonight.
I checked out some cabinets yesterday from Craigslist, but none of them were quite right. The search continues....

MarkH

Well-known member

Nov 12, 2008

This will work for some garages. It concerns the significant other and their opinion of the garage space. For those that make their own mess, they will have to figure out their own options.

At home rule 1. Mount Crapmore cannot not move from the house to the garage - shop.

The garage-shop is a workspace any any items stored there will be placed in the large round bins that are picked up by large trucks every week. The space is too valuable.

If there is space the Mount Crapmore items can be put in the storage shed out back.

5 years since the edict. Clean work area ever since.

JOYO

Well-known member

Aug 23, 2009

After a "break" from the garage organization, I'm back at it full force. A good friend had a bunch of extra bathroom cabinets (vanity style lowers and uppers) and was kind enough to donate them to the cause (THANKS GREGG!). The main thing that I've been missing is cabinets to store things in. These should be in place by the end of the day tomorrow and I'll probably try to knock out some sort of counter-tops on Wednesday. Gonna have to do something on the cheap for now, but eventually plan to get some nice countertops or at least put some stainless or aluminum on top for a nice work surface.
Today I'm clearing the space where the cabinets will go....there are a lot of them.
I'll post pictures in the next couple of days once they're up. I'm very excited to get back on with this project. Dream garage....here I come!
John

ps. we did get a small outdoor plastic cabinet to keep some of the yard stuff, but still not enough to get it all out of the garage.

JOYO

Well-known member

Aug 24, 2009

The cabinets are in and WOW what a difference! I'm so excited.....can't wait to start putting things in the cabinets and begin organizing all of my things. I'll post again with more pics as I make headway. Let me know what you think.....

JOYO

Well-known member

Aug 24, 2009

BEFORE PIC: a reminder of what that side of the garage looked like before, complete with piles of junk and crappy make-shift shelves.....

TONE

Well-known member

Aug 24, 2009

I love it!!!!

JOYO

Well-known member

Aug 24, 2009

TONE said:
I love it!!!!

Thanks Tone. The counter tops are a lot more solid than I expected, but I still think they're temporary. I really want something with a metal surface...probably just make some. Next step is organize and clean....and get some lighting under the top cabinets. Then I'll focus on the other side of the garage. Decor and lighting will likely be the final step. The garage needs some soul....

RBX

Member

Aug 25, 2009

looks nice, reminds me of my dad's shop (man-land he calls it), cabinets make a huge difference.
Looks like your current countertop is bullnosed, depending on how 'sturdy' your counter needs to be, i would suggestlaying steel over the countertop. Turn the countertop around so the bullnose faces the wall. This way you have a square edge facing you that you can get someone to break a 90 on. Then take the steel all the way to the wall, over the bullnose, since you won't be hammering on the very back edge of the counter anyhow.

Nuckin Futs

Member

Aug 27, 2009

Sometimes you can go to a local cabinet shop an they will have cabinets from kitchen makeovers that they have done. For cheap or better yet free.
There used to be a comercial cabinet company up where I live that would pre-cut cabinet pieces and send the wood out to Mfgr's for assembly. If the wood was out of "spec" they would throw it away in a 30yd dumpster, up to 3 or 4 a week. I talked to the manager and now I have a garage FULL of cabinet pieces. Doors, drawer fronts, sides, stiles. Most is Maple, but there is also alot of Cherry, Oak and Hickory. All is sanded and milled. Perfect for the average house or garage cabinets. Just assemble.... :thumbup: