So what was your BEST garage update this year?

[HemiRambler]

For me it has absolutely got to be the keyless entry I added. It's awfully nice to not even get out of my car and open the garage - and yes I know Remote Controls have been around for years - I just never trusted them (talking with the electrical genius at work hasn't made me change my minds either).

Anyways - what was YOUR best upgrade & why.

Inquiring minds.....

 

[gtivr4]

Getting one!

 

[rieferman]

It's a tie between deciding that both sides of my shop would be dedicated to woodworking (instead of just one side) and insulating the entire shop finally.

 

[mgilde13]

Without a doubt is was adding a roll up screen to my 16x7 garage door. Mosquito's get pretty nasty in Minnesnowta during the summer months.

 

[Tscott]

It is definitely the 7.5 hp Eaton compressor I finished installing a few months back. I also plumbed the shop for air with copper. Not the cheapest route, but definitely worth it. I am also working on a blast cabinet that should be done some time in the next few weeks.

Tom

 

[61falcon]

a good cleaning and reorganizing. after 9 years of marrage and me claiming the garage as my domain we had our first child, a little girl. i had to give up "my" garage and share space with little pink bicycles, little tikes pick up and all the other outside toys that goes with kids. (not complaining, wouldn't give it up for all the garages in the world) but things were out of control after a busy summer of playing. so a good cleaning and giving everything its own space, i have "my" garage back and a new helper to teach all kinds of new words to. life is good.

 

[minhster]

a good cleaning and reorganizing. after 9 years of marrage and me claiming the garage as my domain we had our first child, a little girl. i had to give up "my" garage and share space with little pink bicycles, little tikes pick up and all the other outside toys that goes with kids. (not complaining, wouldn't give it up for all the garages in the world) but things were out of control after a busy summer of playing. so a good cleaning and giving everything its own space, i have "my" garage back and a new helper to teach all kinds of new words to. life is good.

well said!

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Hopefully, as of tomorrow, it's finally getting one.

 

[Poltax]

I recd some new cabinets left over from a job my son in law did. I did uppers and lowers in the garage with a counter top. My neighbor came over and said "your the only guy that would have a granite counter top in your garage!". I said "yeah...only if it was free"

 

[Boyd Who]

Getting one!

+1!!

 

[fotoflojoe]

a good cleaning and reorganizing. after 9 years of marrage and me claiming the garage as my domain we had our first child, a little girl. i had to give up "my" garage and share space with little pink bicycles, little tikes pick up and all the other outside toys that goes with kids. (not complaining, wouldn't give it up for all the garages in the world) but things were out of control after a busy summer of playing. so a good cleaning and giving everything its own space, i have "my" garage back and a new helper to teach all kinds of new words to. life is good.

Don't you know, you shouldn't teach children to cuss?

 

[Steevo]

Lights:

and a heater:

 

[gatewaysysop]

For me, it was probably pulling the trigger on the 72" Montezuma from strictlytoolboxes. I put it next to my 24" deep, 8' workbench from Costco and took up about 85% of one of my walls in our 2-car garage. I a was able to store so much in that box (still not nearly full) that I've freed up a ton of room up front and can probably remove some shelving I had up there before.

Having things organized and, IMHO, much more secure, under lock and key in a 1,000lb steel box is great for peace of mind and making the best use of my limited space. I also got another 72" of storage/work surface from the MDF top, so that helps too.

Wish I hadn't waited so long, but at least I got one in orange by waiting.

 

[rickycobra]

I would have to say the beer refrigerator.

 

[c_mccann]

Buying my house and retrofitting the garage from Dahmler's kitchen to a new workshop- new drywall, insulation, paint, framing, electrical, epoxy floor, window and lights. Great year for the garage!

 

[HarashoPuck]

Orange:?? Looks like Ford Red to me.

Does look like a nice unit.

For me, it was probably pulling the trigger on the 72" Montezuma from strictlytoolboxes. Wish I hadn't waited so long, but at least I got one in orange by waiting.

 

[HarashoPuck]

My best update was getting the power panel in. I now have 220 and 110 in the shop. Only have one temp outlet, but this Spring will add the outlets around the building.

 

[Blue Gator Six]

Insulating and Sheetrocking my Garage. Then Hanging cabinets and arranging it to maximize the space. I love it. It is my Man Cave.

 

[csp]

Still working on mine. After moving in three years ago, finally getting to drywall and insulation along with a complete re-do of cabinets/workbenches/shelving and complete removal of all pegboard I had installed to temporarily house some tools.

Insulation is done, drywall is hung but not taped due to temperatures, so I'm configuring cabinets only to pull them back down for mud/tape/paint. Hung the first of several overhead cubicle cabinets last night after modifying them with mounting panels on the backsides.

I have a brand new (though purchased in 2002) 75k btu Reznor unit heater that also will be hung/plumbed/wired sometime this winter.

 

[larry_g]

For me, who has a shop in progress, it was getting the 3-phase converter moved from the old shop to the new and getting the equipment moved and up and runing.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[jam0o0]

shelves. i've had stuff in closets in my parents' house, my apartment, rubber maide bins and in both trucks. getting stuff on shelves in one place and then organizing it makes my work go twice as fast. i can finally find that thing i need. or see that i don't have it and get to the hardware store before they close.

 

[bdkruger1]

Finished ceiling, put in cans, and insulated it. What a difference!

 

[bczygan]

My best update is finding Garage Journal again, starting to seriously read it and deciding to implement some of the things this great group of people have suggested to each other. What a resource! A plethora of ideas! And a can do it spirit that is infectious!

This is not just renewing my garage, but my whole house, me and my family. Happy holidays to everyone........and thanks!
Bill
PS: Today I am cleaning out my bedroom and redoing it. Tomorrow the living room. The next day the dining and kitchen..........etc.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Since the shell for my garage was completed a year ago this week, I would have to say everything!

Chris

 

[wfochris]

Air compressor, if I can only list one.

Followed by 12 more linear feet of workbench space which ties or comes a close second to the hydraulic press.

 

[JC23]

My best update is finding Garage Journal again, starting to seriously read it and deciding to implement some of the things this great group of people have suggested to each other. What a resource! A plethora of ideas! And a can do it spirit that is infectious!

What he said...

 

[lucky3]

Best thing is my maxjax.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Orange:?? Looks like Ford Red to me.

Does look like a nice unit.

It's the same one featured on the main GJ page. Blame the lighting in my pic, but trust me that it's orange.

 

[slammedstepside]

Easily first was getting my air compressor going. Second was the good cleaning the garage just received. Most of the other action the garage saw this year was storage/workspace for renos to the house, so unfortunately it got neglected a little. However, my Xmas gift to myself was a MIG welder, so when this question gets asked next year, it will probably be a little tougher to answer.

 

[Kentuckian]

My best garage update was cutting the opening in the attic floor and then mounting my HF electric hoist. Now I do not have to struggle to carry stuff up the steps to store in the attic. Just a simple flip of the switch and the hoist does all the work. I love it!!!!

 

[Bad Idea]

Enclosed storage was by far the best update. I was so tired of cleaning up dust after every woodworking project. I added sides and doors to my open shelves and coated them in epoxy. now the dust stays on the outside and you can just wipe the cabinets clean.

 

[SpeedCoach]

hmmm...

More lighting and (started) painting the walls white.

Or my 8' bench.

 

[mustangmccance]

this was a big year for my shop. got a lot done so it is hard to list just one.

completing the bathroom and septic system is probably the biggest and most expensive.

the new lift is cool and a major step.

the concrete slab in front is a big deal for snow removal.

the heater is great now that it is cold out.

all big things but probably the bathroom is the biggest achievement.

 

[Kev442]

Concrete in the pole building. Like I died and went to heaven compared to the gravel.

 

[banzaitoyota]

Starting Construction!!!!!!

 

[Garage_man1]

I put in a pellet stove from www.hearthlandproducts.com, runs on recycled wood pellets and heats it up in no time, I love it!

 

[ambenz]

Adding a few tin signs to the main door.

 

[kywildcat]

My first 24x36 garage and Im thrilled!! Also added a new 14 Drawer Craftsman tool chest. This spring will be so much fun finishing it.

 

[viper86]

Everything I have done to my garage since moving here 5 1/2 years ago was done in the last year. It began on Christmas Eve 2009. Knowing we'd be snowed in and unable to attend family Christmases out of town, I bought a pile of lumber ahead of time and spent Christmas Eve & Christmas Day building shelves and a workbench. When summer hit, I spent time re-taping most of the drywall joints and giving the inside a coat of paint. It had never been done previously, and the drywall just looked awful. Once that was done, I threw some stuff out and put up a few more shelves, then called it a year. For the winter, I've moved indoors and am resuming work on finishing the basement.

 

[sooperdave]

Ran natural gas out there to a 45,000 btu modine heater. I'd been looking forward to doing that for years.