Building a brand new 2.5 car garage

[bmw325_num99]

After years of moving around and then living in apartments, I have finally bought a house and can spend the next few years perfecting the garage of my dreams.

I am having a professional build my 2.5 car garage (24' wide x 22' deep) with an offset 18' wide door so I can cram in my 2 car and my wife's Civic.

Since I cherish my cheap-o fleet and like to maintain and tinker on each vehicle, I need the space to be functional but slick looking; I want to be proud of my garage and the work I do in it. As my budget and wallet will allow, I will be finishing and improving it over the next months and years so I would welcome advice and insight from forum members with more experience than I (pretty much everyone).

The vision: a vintage-looking German or Eastern European theme inside with industrial signage, pre-owned equipment whenever possible and a clutter-free work and storage areas.

Feel free to post with advice on design or ways to keep me warm in the Chicago winters!

 

[bmw325_num99]

Here is what we had when we moved in. Just a car pad that was too thin to support a garage (according to the Village of Oak Park). Its got to go.

 

[bmw325_num99]

Parking pad demolished 6 months after we moved in. The construction begins!

 

[bmw325_num99]

Here is my plan for the garage construction:
-24' wide x 22' deep. I want to have my 3 cars crammed inside with room for a visitor (or 4th car!) on the car pad next to the garage.
-Car door will be 18' wide to allow easier parking and offset to one side so my BMW car can be parked during the week when I dont drive it and stay out of the way.
-Pedestrian door will be approximately centered with the car door on the opposite wall.
-Pedestrian door wall will also contain 3 electrical outlets and windows mounted high near the eaves

 

[bmw325_num99]

Concrete is poured and cured. Framing and roofing start tomorrow (10/8/12)!

 

[Henricogolfer]

Very nice, I too now have a garage after 7 years without one. It's only been 10 days, but these moving boxes and to do lists are driving me crazy.

 

[AZ Pete]

Make it deeper, our garage is 20' deep and though '22 would help, I would be so much happier if it was 24' deep, or more. I also think you are being optimistic about getting all three cars in a 24' wide garage. If there is any way to make it bigger, I would sure try.

 

[bmw325_num99]

Make it deeper, our garage is 20' deep and though '22 would help, I would be so much happier if it was 24' deep, or more. I also think you are being optimistic about getting all three cars in a 24' wide garage. If there is any way to make it bigger, I would sure try.

A fair point but 2 reasons I could not/did not make it bigger.
1) In my village, there are rules that say length or widths greater than 24' require a trench and extra structure of some kind which increased the price something like 60%
2) making the garage 2' deeper would have been nice but my wife and I (mostly my wife) were concerned about lost yard space. Living 15 minutes west of downtown Chicago, land is at a premium as you can imagine.

 

[bmw325_num99]

Very nice, I too now have a garage after 7 years without one. It's only been 10 days, but these moving boxes and to do lists are driving me crazy.

Congratulations...any pics? Any plans or still settling in?

 

[bmw325_num99]

Big update today. The garage is constructed! We have fit all 3 cars inside with enough room to open each driver/passenger door. I am so happy it is done. I have been loving having electrical, a flat concrete floor and enclosed area to work on the cars and keep my stuff. I will be hanging up the bicycles on a pulley system soon!

The posts are for a fence/car gate for additional parking and access to the backyard. The concrete is still curing so I cant hang anything yet.

[/IMG]

 

[Zeke]

Very nice, indeed. Barely a 2.5 garage. But if you factor in barely a car, you got it.

I'd be all over that side being a workbench.

 

[bmw325_num99]

Very nice, indeed. Barely a 2.5 garage. But if you factor in barely a car, you got it.

I'd be all over that side being a workbench.

That would be nice, but I'd rather have all my cars indoors. I will be making folding tables and work benches, with suspended cabinets. That way I can move one car out when i need room for a project or to work on another. Ill put it on the car pad next to the garage.

 

[bmw325_num99]

Bicycle pulleys are up. I can place the hood of the BMW under the bikes to make more space in the back if I need to work on something.

 

[kbs2244]

You are a thinner and more flexable man than me if you can get in and out of the cars that close together.
But then, in Oak Park, you are used to tight parking spaces.

 

[KCarGuy]

Congratulations on your Garage.
Most of My Family always had the Alley Garages...Chicago, Brookfield and Evergreen Park Neighborhoods.
A Huge Garage would always be nice...But all in all, you will be real Happy with what ya got.
Looks Good! Enjoy!

 

[JimVonBaden]

Make it deeper, our garage is 20' deep and though '22 would help, I would be so much happier if it was 24' deep, or more. I also think you are being optimistic about getting all three cars in a 24' wide garage. If there is any way to make it bigger, I would sure try.

I agree. I can barely get two in my 20X20, and that is so tight I can't easily get out of one of them.

Jim

Edit, apparently you can! Great!

 

[oldldh]

Being in one of the colder parts of this great land, I sincerely hope there's some insulation in there...and some kind of heating system...

I hope the garage is everything you've hoped it would be...

Congratulations!!!

 

[bmw325_num99]

Being in one of the colder parts of this great land, I sincerely hope there's some insulation in there...and some kind of heating system...

I hope the garage is everything you've hoped it would be...

Congratulations!!!

Hardly mandatory, but yes, I will be putting in insulation and portable heat. Thanks for the congratulations!

 

[bmw325_num99]

Added some folding tables made out of my old Ikea coffee table. should be pretty stout and save space when not needed. Just need a good place to mount a vice now...maybe a rolling post with a tire on the bottom as a base so it can stay out of the way until needed.

 

[bmw325_num99]

Also added some hooks for tool storage like rakes and shovels.

 

[bmw325_num99]

Found some cabinets on Craigslist from a kitchen reno. Put up about half of them so far, still figuring out where is the best place to put the rest of them. When all the storage fab, drywalling and tool hanging is done, I will be painting the walls white with gray trim (matches my BMW and some furniture I have in the house). Gray also good to hide the greasy fingerprints!

 

[bmw325_num99]

Did the insulating today, I guess I should insulate the ceiling next but at least the walls are done. Drywall, paint and loft storage remain.

 

[sundevil64]

Have you considered spray foam for the ceiling?

 

[bmw325_num99]

I have not. Does it stick to the ceiling or must I seal it in somehow?

 

[bazzateer]

Don't forget the vapour barrier over the insulation before fitting the drywall. Also, make sure there is a small air gap between the insulation and the outside wall for ventilation.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Interesting, I have never seen somebody chain cabinets up.

Since your roof rafters appear to be larger than 24", I'd put the ceiling up and then blow in cellulouse or fiberglass on top of it. .. . . unless you can sprayfoam it.

 

[DonnyT]

Did the insulating today, I guess I should insulate the ceiling next but at least the walls are done. Drywall, paint and loft storage remain.

No vapor barrier??

 

[bmw325_num99]

Don't forget the vapour barrier over the insulation before fitting the drywall. Also, make sure there is a small air gap between the insulation and the outside wall for ventilation.

Thanks for the tips, I didnt know that.

 

[bmw325_num99]

Interesting, I have never seen somebody chain cabinets up.

Since your roof rafters appear to be larger than 24", I'd put the ceiling up and then blow in cellulouse or fiberglass on top of it. .. . . unless you can sprayfoam it.

The chains are just a backup for the screws. I know its kind of "belt AND suspenders" but I need to be able to sleep at night with all my heavy stuff in there!

 

[bmw325_num99]

No vapor barrier??

Hmm, glad I posted. I had no idea I needed a vapor barrier. I will be sure to add it before I begin drywalling, thanks!

 

[cj7365]

Interesting, I have never seen somebody chain cabinets up.

Thanks for the tips, I didnt know that.

The chains are just a backup for the screws. I know its kind of "belt AND suspenders" but I need to be able to sleep at night with all my heavy stuff in there!

 

[bmw325_num99]

I added the plastic vapor barrier (thanks for the tip) and then the drywall last weekend. Went alright but the tough part was dealing with the electrical conduit that protrudes from each stud (basically lined up with where the surface of the drywall should be). I left the conduit exposed for now. I am thinking I will cover the conduit with 4" or so PVC piping cut in half. Anyone else have thoughts on how to clean up the look before plastering and painting?

I also removed the bicycle pulleys for a simpler rack/hook using a 2x4.

Lastly, I added the gutter and the rain chain (from Home Depot, nothing very artistic).

Angle showing Conduit Problem

Vapor Barrier

 

[bmw325_num99]

Here is a past-due update:

Drywall has been up since Feb 4 but I guess I forgot to post. Waiting for the weather to warm up to mud the joints and paint. I am thinking white walls with a gray horizontal strip around all 3 walls, gray door sill and gray repainted cabinets.

The cabinets were found on Craigslist which I will use for my tools, stereo and supplies. I also found an old TV to put on top to watch the NASCAR and F1 races when I am working out there.

After paint and drywall finishing, I gotta figure out how to cover the conduit pipes. Unfortunately the electrical sub contractor attached them to the outside of the studs so the drywall cant be flush. I think Ill cut some PVC in half to cover them up.

Lastly, for immediate plans, are ceiling/rafter insulation and floor coating. For the former, I think Ill use some thin paneling and attach them to the bottom of the rafters somehow. For the floor, maybe some epoxy compound or used rubber matts. Any suggestions on either?

 

[CNGsaves]

So what's story on surface mounting electrical BEFORE doing sheetrock?? Why not wire everything up like you want it while walls were still open stud??

Have you considered heat (including natural gas run), lighting, etc. along with other things you'll need later??

 

[Trey T]

^I was gonna ask the same thing. I suggest getting rid of the surface mount conduit and rerun the wires.

I would love to have a 2.5 garage with the side space for a big long workbench and tool boxes.

 

[bmw325_num99]

So what's story on surface mounting electrical BEFORE doing sheetrock?? Why not wire everything up like you want it while walls were still open stud??

Have you considered heat (including natural gas run), lighting, etc. along with other things you'll need later??

The short answer is I didn't think it was that important. Also, I didn't want to deal with moving all that conduit around as I don't trust myself with electrical. I also like the idea of having it accessible for anything down the road. I agree it looks ugly but it was installed while I wasnt there and I figured the chances of the electrical guy coming back to move it all was slim; what do you think?

That being said, if I change my mind I could have it changed but rightly or wrongly I think I'll leave it be.

 

[bmw325_num99]

The short answer is I didn't think it was that important. Also, I didn't want to deal with moving all that conduit around as I don't trust myself with electrical. I also like the idea of having it accessible for anything down the road. I agree it looks ugly but it was installed while I wasnt there and I figured the chances of the electrical guy coming back to move it all was slim; what do you think?

That being said, if I change my mind I could have it changed but rightly or wrongly I think I'll leave it be.

By the way, I should make it clear that I did not do the electrical. I just came home from work one day and saw that it had been done like that. The subcontractor who did it had already left. If I had to do it again I would have specified the make the conduit and electrial outlets flush with the studs. I'm guessing the electrician does it this way b/c its easier and more people dont drywall their garage.

 

[Trey T]

It's not too late to take off the drywall and redo it yourself. Those electrical stuff is a simple task. Check out youtube, they probably have an episode of it.

 

[ford33]

If you are planning on staying in the home for a long time, then you should consider changing the electrical to make it look better. It is not hard to re-do the conduit and run the wires. The electrician did the design and installation, you just need to modify it.

 

[CNGsaves]

The short answer is I didn't think it was that important. Also, I didn't want to deal with moving all that conduit around as I don't trust myself with electrical. I also like the idea of having it accessible for anything down the road. I agree it looks ugly but it was installed while I wasnt there and I figured the chances of the electrical guy coming back to move it all was slim; what do you think?

That being said, if I change my mind I could have it changed but rightly or wrongly I think I'll leave it be.

Did you pay an electrician to install the surface-mounted conduit electrical?? Did he know you were planning on finishing the garage (ie insulation and sheetrock would be done)??

I'd just suggest you PLAN out what you want done in the long-term and do it step by step. Next thing you'll want is Rough Wiring in ceiling for proper lighting. Thus, I would recommend imbedded wiring for ceiling like most residential garages have - - - See other GJ threads on CFL lighting using normal porcelin fixtures (this is least cost method for good lighting):

Veno
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38658&highlight=CFL+lighting

James-W
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=193332&highlight=CFL+lighting

Coolerman
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152338&highlight=CFL+lighting

P.S. Can you fix the earlier 10/7/12 posts where the pictures are not showing up??