Need Tips and suggestions for Garage Make Over

[Paul V]

Hey Fellas, My name is Paul. I've been trying to make my Garage a better place to wrench on my STi ever since I moved in, 4 years ago. I think I finally have the time and funds to start the project.

Here are some pics of what it looks like now.

These are my Plans
1. Remove and relocate bushes, level ground in shed location prior to delivery on March 9, 2008.

2. Once Shed is delivered and installed, remove wood shelving from garage and reinstall it in the shed.

3. Remove all objects from the garage, including objects stored in the attic and re-organize it in the shed.

4. Install outlet for cable TV in Workbench location and TV location.

5. Call electrician for fixtures and outlet installation.

6. Arrange storage for Sti.(Tent $150, or Storage Space)

7. Insulate existing walls, exposed studs, and attic space over the garage.

8. Install 5/8 Sheet rock in areas needed.

9. Contact a tape and spackle contractor to finish walls.

10. Paint walls and ceilings.

11. Contact Phame (LISC) for epoxy flooring.

12. Purchase work bench, and cabinets.

Here is the shed location.

 

[Scottz5]

Sounds like you have a good plan.

 

[PxTx]

I would recommend running a small sub panel out to the shed for light and such. Rent a ditchwich for about $100 and it goes real easy. I ended up putting a motion light on the outside of my shed.

 

[Paul V]

Thanx guys

 

[thefairlaneman]

Very nice. I would use as much space as possible to store things above head level to give more room to walk around the cars. I also had to get a storage building to cram all of the wifes stuff away from and off of the valuable floor space

 

[Paul V]

Yeah All the "Stuff" will be stored in the shed. Only Car related items will be in the garage.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Yeah All the "Stuff" will be stored in the shed. Only Car related items will be in the garage.

That part about "only car related items will be in the garage" is a wonderful dream...Let me and several million others learn how you do it lol.

 

[Kevin54]

Get a bigger propane tank before you put a shed in.

 

[Paul V]

^^^^LOL Its for the inground pool heater.

 

[sam 8]

Looks like good plans so far. You might want to ponder moving your compressor out of the workspace as well. There is nothing like not hearing them run and the added space is always a plus.

 

[Paul V]

I dont have the room to move the compressor. But the thought did cross my mind.

 

[larry4406]

While your running a ditch witch to the shed for a sub panel, run another ditch back from the propane tank to your garage so you can have heat in there. Give yourself plenty of electrical outlets, including overhead outlets for reel drops.

 

[Paul V]

I believe The garage will be my main workshop. The shed will just HOLD stuff.

I was thinking of installing a bathroom exhaust fan in the garage to ventilate the air up and out the attic vents in the hot humid summer.

Has anyone done this?

 

[Kevin54]

I was thinking of installing a bathroom exhaust fan in the garage to ventilate the air up and out the attic vents in the hot humid summer.

If it is insulated you should not need it. Besides that, an bathroom ceiling fan would be too small. You would need something more along the lines of a roof mount vent fan to pull, or one of the 3' square fans with the louvers that mount in the ceiling to move enough air to amount to anything. A lot of times in the summer, I wil crack the attic door open and open the garage doors and enough air moves through. You can feel it pul into the attic. Plus I have roof vents and vented soffit al around.

Kevin

 

[Paul V]

Thanks Kevin....I think I'll install one of those solar powered attic fans to help out...

Today I through out some garbage and boxed up things I wouldn't be using anytime soon. When the shed finally arrives I want to be able to just transfer all the Stuff out and begin!

Here are some pics

 

[Paul V]

Today, had some shrubs removed, relocated, and leveled out the shed sight.

 

[Paul V]

I had the shed put up last week. I think its too big for my small yard...oh well.

 

[Paul V]

This weekend I transfered all the "stuff" to the shed and began the insulation process. I used 1" fome then R13 on top of it. I know the R13 is will be compressed but it was the lowest rating my Home depot had.

 

[Kevin54]

This weekend I transfered all the "stuff" to the shed and began the insulation process. I used 1" fome then R13 on top of it. I know the R13 is will be compressed but it was the lowest rating my Home depot had.

Don't try to drywall over the R13 if it is puffed out past the studs. It won't compress enough to be flush and the drywall will bow. I am assuming that you have 2x4 walls. I would have just put R13 in them, then drywalled, or if you wanted more insulation, furred out the wall then added R19. Insulation can bow drywall very easily. I learned this from a drywall contractor when I was doing the wifes building.

 

[Paul V]

Don't try to drywall over the R13 if it is puffed out past the studs. It won't compress enough to be flush and the drywall will bow. I am assuming that you have 2x4 walls. I would have just put R13 in them, then drywalled, or if you wanted more insulation, furred out the wall then added R19. Insulation can bow drywall very easily. I learned this from a drywall contractor when I was doing the wifes building.

Oh man. I dont know what to do now....The drywall contractor is coming in the next couple of days.....thanks for the heads up anyway.

 

[JMURiz]

If you have time you can fur out the studs a bit before the drywall guy gets there.

 

[Paul V]

i dont think the insulation is sticking out too far. its not flush with the stud but i believe the sheet rock can compress it in.....we'll see.

 

[dps]

You'll be fine with the drywall; the 5/8 is considerably stronger than 1/2".

Keep the pics coming; it's so fun to see the progress.

 

[Kevin54]

You'll be fine with the drywall; the 5/8 is considerably stronger than 1/2".

If it is 5/8" then you may be alright. You may have to double up on the screws though. If the drywall guy is hanging it, he will let you know one way or another. If you are hanging it, go to the hardware store and pick up a couple of bits for drywall. It is a phillips head bit with what looks like a fat bell collar around it. Not very long. Same length as a regular phillips bit that you chuck up. The collar keeps the screw from pulling thru the paper and sets it at the right depth in the drywall. What will be hard with a standard bit and the insulation puffed out is that the screws will want to try and pull thru the drywall from the insulation pushing against it. You don't want the screws pulling thru.

 

[Paul V]

Thanks for the help fellas. The drywall guy said he should be able to hang it up without a problem. If not then I'll just take a couple of layers from the r13.

Also....PLEASE dont use blown cellulose on existing walls. WHAT A NIGHTMARE! The cavities would fill up to the hole the last 6 inches would not fill because the 6 inch space was ocupied by air. I had a couple of wall POP and crack open because of the air pressure.

Long story short, Lowes gave me my money back so it didnt cost me anything but the trips and aggravation.

here are some pics of the mess this stuff makes.

 

[Paul V]

Well, I got the electrical work done. 3 outlets installed, 20 amps, 2 lines. wired for 4 floresent lights on a three way switch.

Also got the sheetrock installed and the first hand of tape and spackle.

 

[Paul V]

I know its been a couple weeks.

Here is an update

After several hands of tape spackle, Primer, Paint and hung up some cabinets.

 

[Paul V]

Also installed the floresent fixtures

 

[wanted]

Great progress Paul. Any more updates?

Also - got any shots of the attic space storage and the access port?

 

[sam 8]

Looks good, it never ceases to amaze me how much brighter the space gets when you put some paint on it to make the light "pop".

 

[Paul V]

This is what it looks like today. I still have some details to take care of.

My favorite part of the garage is the wheel rack. I love it!

 

[PoorOwner]

Amazing makeover!

how do you like the tirerack? Is it adjustable width? Any problems with shipping this item to you?

Do you have to watch your head on the side wall with those wall cabinets?

 

[jay50]

Man, what a man-cave!
Did you put the flooring down yourself? Please describe; you've got me wanting to do the same.

 

[GunMoto]

Wow, I haven't really browsed the forum in a while...but Paul! Your garage makeover is AMAZING.

Dunno if I missed your post...but was there a reason you decided to with VCT v. epoxy? (Not saying one is better than the other, but I was deciding between the two also, but went with epoxy.)

EDIT: Nice STi!

 

[Jaguar Fan]

From your pictures, it looks like your garage doors are not insulated. If that's true, you can pick up styrofoam insulation panels at Lowe's or Home Depot that are designed for the garage doors -- it will help a lot. We did it for garage doors in Las Vegas, and it dropped the temperature of the garage at least 15 degrees (the garage doors face west, so the afternoon sun is a bear).

 

[GunMoto]

From your pictures, it looks like your garage doors are not insulated. If that's true, you can pick up styrofoam insulation panels at Lowe's or Home Depot that are designed for the garage doors -- it will help a lot. We did it for garage doors in Las Vegas, and it dropped the temperature of the garage at least 15 degrees (the garage doors face west, so the afternoon sun is a bear).

Did you need to adjust the spring tension of the garage door?

Also, did the garage have exhaust gas ventilation ducts/holes, and if so, I presume the insulation still helped with the heat?

Thanks!

 

[82_454_shorty]

Very nice space

 

[Paul V]

Amazing makeover!

how do you like the tirerack? Is it adjustable width? Any problems with shipping this item to you?

Do you have to watch your head on the side wall with those wall cabinets?

You can check out tirerack.com They have all the info there. It cost me around $150 shipped. I dont have to watch my head cause I short 5'6" LOL

I had a friend over who is 6'4" and he had to be carefull.

Man, what a man-cave!
Did you put the flooring down yourself? Please describe; you've got me wanting to do the same.

Yes I did the floor install myself. I paid someone to grind down the old cement and install a fresh layer of 0-1 inch self leveing cement which provided as a prfect subflooring.

Wow, I haven't really browsed the forum in a while...but Paul! Your garage makeover is AMAZING.

Dunno if I missed your post...but was there a reason you decided to with VCT v. epoxy? (Not saying one is better than the other, but I was deciding between the two also, but went with epoxy.)
EDIT: Nice STi!

LOL Thanks
The main reason I decided VCT was $$. I was already over budget when it was time for the floor install.

From your pictures, it looks like your garage doors are not insulated. If that's true, you can pick up styrofoam insulation panels at Lowe's or Home Depot that are designed for the garage doors -- it will help a lot. We did it for garage doors in Las Vegas, and it dropped the temperature of the garage at least 15 degrees (the garage doors face west, so the afternoon sun is a bear).

They dont have the garage door insulation kit at any of my home depots or Lowes. But yes the insulation helps a ton! It helps keep my home cooler and warmer too. The furnace is in the garage and now it does not come on as often. But in the summer it also gets very hot and stays that way when I park a hot car in it.

Did you need to adjust the spring tension of the garage door?

Also, did the garage have exhaust gas ventilation ducts/holes, and if so, I presume the insulation still helped with the heat?
Thanks!

I dont have the car running in the garage so I dont need the ventilation. There is also a carbon Monoxcide detector in the house.

 

[strnge]

Where did you get the large floor tiles? How have they held up in 4 months? What size are they?

 

[Kevin54]

Amazing makeover. Who would have thought that from the first few pics that it would turn out like that. Great job.!!!