Organizational advice

[mntbkrguy]

Hello,

I have lurked for some time would like some advice that I have been unable to find searching the site through Google.

I am buying my first house and it is finally time to make the garage my garage. I have rented several places and done slight modifications to best utilize the limited space I have had but I could never build cabinets or anything like that.

The new garage is a 1 car roughly 14' x 25' (per dimensions on listing). I am a Jeep guy that enjoys making random Frankenstein bicycles. I have small horizontal tank compressor, Shopsmith, 2 - 3' wide craftsman tool boxes and several other small power tools, grinders, chop saws, belt sander, etc. that I set on top of benches when needed.

With a baby on the way I will now need to add baby strollers and other required items which I never had to store in the garage and somehow keep them free of the dust produced by my metal fab.

I would like advice about basic locations for Items that over the years of experience you have come to find is the most useful.

ex:
compressor tucked in the back corner (where mine has always been)?
Welder close to the door for easy cleaning (a thought I had for the new place)
Better tricks to store things out of the way than just on a shelf, tubs cabinets
Do you like to hang certain tools on the wall vs. in a toolbox?
Placementof electrical outlets.

Anything you can think of

Pics would be great!

 

[KEH]

You must not be planning to store a car in there. Kid's equipment take up a lot of room, plus all you already have. Did you mention lawn mower, or are you in a dry area?

For electrical outlets, I would put 4 on one 25 foot wall, and, assuming there is a door on the other 25' wall, try for 4 on it also. Two should be enough on the 14' wall.

You can make or buy a wall cabinet to put over the workbench for tool storage.

Build as many shelves on the walls as you can. The downside of wall shelves is that things placed on them will get dusty.

KEH

 

[Falcon67]

FWIW - your modern strollers, portable cribs, etc all fold down into small spaces and should store in a house closet - unless the closets are dang small. You do not want baby stuff in any environment where debris is generated.

 

[carhunter]

Hello,



With a baby on the way I will now need to add baby strollers and other required items which I never had to store in the garage and somehow keep them free of the dust produced by my metal fab.

You're screwed The garage will become the natural offloading point for Mom and the kids. Stroller and other toys will need to go in a place of easy access for Mom, so she doesn't have to reach for things while juggling baby.

And don't forget the lawn tools, snow shovels, tupper bins full of extra stuff that doesn't fit in the house...

Ask me how I know?

 

[cheechi]

Horizontal compressor (depending on the size) doesn't play well with a small space like that. Make use of vertical space, build shelves up above it.

What I do with my 1 car garage is have (nearly) floor to ceiling shelves on the long walls, and put tool chest, work table, anything small enough to be moved sitting in front of the shelves. You have to move them to get to stored items, but if it's stuff you don't use often you can consolidate it to one side or section and put heavier (tool chest) things in front of it.

I try to use the small wall for permanent things like work bench, fridge, etc. My current garage isn't set up exactly this way due to outlet constraints. Do yourself a favor and add at least 6 outlets more than you think you need now. If you're doing the wiring yourself, add a 240v circuit and at least a few outlets with 20 Amps breakers on each wall. Even if you don't ever need them, you'll be happier doing it all at once and before the garage is full of stuff.

 

[Duck72]

I'm a father of two and never needed to store any baby items in the garage. The stroller always stayed in my wife's vehicle. Any of the other items like a walker or travel crib stayed in a closet or spare room until needed. Of course if you are lacking extra space in your new home the garage may have to do. Now that my kids are both in elementary school the only items of theirs kept in the garage are their bikes, a basket full of balls and pool toys.

Another idea is to use an upright storage cabinet that closes. It may not be perfectly dust free but it will keep the items handy.

And yes, my wife doesn't like having to pull stuff off of tall shelves or bikes hanging on the wall. She likes stuff at short reach level and ready to roll.

I look forward to seeing some posts about jeep stuff and frankenbikes. I've got about 15 bikes in my garage.

 

[BWS]

Is the garage entrance the only way In house?

If theres a proper front door,do everything in your power to train folks to use that instead of coming through your sho......err,garage.

"Offloading"...as posted above is a huge problem.And not limited to garages.Commercial shops of just about any flavor(wood,sheet metal,machineshops,ect) can be brought to there knees if the basic design of "offloading" allows it.

You'll also see it in kitchen design.........look at how islands get clutter-fucked,everytime someone passes them by.

So,take a hard look at this problem.One thing is to not have any large surfaces near an entrance.....a table saw near the fr door of a wood shop.People are naturally lazy....given half a chance they'll drop their chit right where it dosen't belong.And this is somewhat independent of total sq ftg.IOWs....we're sitting on a 30,000 sq ft floor,and people still put their pkgs on the first table(saw) they see.

 

[mntbkrguy]

All this is GREAT advice and exactly what I was looking for. Fortunately the new house house has a metal shed in the back yard along with 2 of the smaller cabinets for yard stuff. (The PO enjoyed gardening) So all yard stuff and things resistant to moysture can be placed there.

Another idea is to use an upright storage cabinet that closes. It may not be perfectly dust free but it will keep the items handy.

I was thinking a cabinet inside for things like the stroller and being a first time father I didn't think about keeping strollers in the cars and there is some closet space that is easilly accessable for that kind of stuff. I bet she will be happier not having to go in the garage.

In my current house the owners have the back wall full of shelves large enough for tubs where I have a lot of things stored. I tacked an old curtain on the outside and that has done well for keeping dust out.

I have 10 complete bikes now, a lot of parts and odd sculptures I have made over the years. I will post some pics of the other fun projects

 

[Vvmvbb]

Similar situation for me, though my kids are now older. Some thoughts:
-strollers will end up in the cars anyway.
-maximize the shed (yard stuff, extra winter wheels, etc.).
-store stuff in the rafters if you can.
-benches along the back wall works nicely
-horizontal compressor is a pain. I have mine on the left wall in front of the benches, and that's not awful. Eventually I'll move it a little shed-let just outside.
-I intend to insulate this fall and sheath the whole inside in white peg board.
-I use a lot of white Knape & Vogt shelving and will be using more after the sheathing (cheep enough, flexible, available everywhere). Melamine shelves from HD.
-Kids bicycles might be a problem in your future - they like to be in the garage. You might also plan for a basket of balls, sand toys, etc.

Good luck! I've found it's not un-fun trying to get the most out of a constrained situation.