:OUTLINE:
Overall I love the place and the potential in it; I just need to find the best way to use the space effectively. This is where you fine folks enter, as experienced individuals that have likely seen the best and worst way to have things setup, I'll rest heavily on your input for storage, organization and equipment to accomplish my varied goals and establish reasonable limits.
The garage will be my domain, the wife said as such as soon as we walked in the door for the first viewing. We have a shed in the back yard that once cleaned up will house all of the yard equipment, house paint and other household items that would otherwise ruin a perfectly good garage. Part of this journey will no doubt include making the shed a great place to keep things stowed.
My main goals are to have adequate parking for two cars and up to two motorcycles, a tidy work space for research by book or internet, lots of counter space for various projects as well as respective storage for tools and equipment related to those tasks. I'd like to have a couple comfy chairs near the desk area for visitors or when I need a moment to take step back and rethink a challenge I'm facing. At present I'm well-versed in equipment and machine repair but have little to no experience in metalworking or woodworking. I'd like to change that as both skills will serve my family and me well with the endeavor of this property and home. People like Jack Olsen, 'shopnut', 'sakurama' and many others here serve as inspiration for both my build and knowledge aspirations.
:GOALS:
-Durable floor that looks natural but resists staining from common vehicle fluids and chemicals
-Parking for up to two cars
-Parking for up to two motorcycles
-Work space that will fit a car or a motorcycle at any given time, though primarily will be working on motorcycles.
-Lots of counter space
-Lots of storage space, including drawers, shelves, cabinets
-The above three goals include having organized sections (woodwork, metalwork, detailing and general purpose/repair)
-A desk space (either a 40's tanker or custom arrangement like that of Jack Olsen's)
-At least one task chair and hopefully one or two comfy chairs
-Adequate lighting -- florescent most likely for practicality, and some hanging-incandescent for look and comfort
-Adequate 120v power access for power tools and random equipment
-At least one 220v for powering 60gal compressor
-Would like to have a MIG welder at some point... maybe another 220v or switchable with compressor source
-Drill press, likely desk mounted near the work surface where my vice(s) will be
-Maybe a small lathe and small mill if my skill and pocket change ever allow for them
-Metal I-beam across ceiling for hoisting duties
-At least one wall mounted fan, maybe more
-No lawn equipment or household items stored inside. (We have a shed for that, YAY!)
-Style will be functional with a bit of throwback to 40's/50's garages
LANNING PHASE:
First order of business is the floor, as it needs to be done before we move in. At first I was going to take the DIY route as I'm just that sort of person and cheap is in my wheelhouse. I did a bit of poking around and through GJ I found Legacy's HD6600 sealer that offers protection against staining, a nice finished concrete look with relatively easy prep/application and low-cost. My job is rather demanding though and we have a lot of other important tasks to tackle with the new home. My wife also believes in outsourcing when time is a precious commodity so I'll be meeting a professional installer on Thursday to talk options. I'd like to keep things natural and simple but protect against stains, abrasion and sun-damage. I'd also like to fill the reliefs with gel to assure any wayward fasteners cannot wander too far.
Once the floor is done, I'll need to get a rough idea on what will actually fit in the garage in regards to my goals and how to arrange it all in a practical and tidy way.
More to come, including actual pictures, I promise!
Yes, we like to think of it as our first-last home and hopefully we are fortunate enough for that to be the case.
First home! Jeebus, that is sweet congrats!