Another Garage Cabinet Build

[TravisT]

I'm in the process of building some storage cabinets (soffit style) around the back perimeter of the garage. I've seen numerous threads in the past of builds, but can't seem to find but a few now.

I'm trying to figure out a couple things. First is the door system. I seem to remember that they sell some type of track at rockler or something for this, but also wondered about the rolling door track like they use for closets. What are you guys using?

Also, I'm considering adding some recessed lighting. I'm using 2x4 framing that will be sheetrocked. I know I won't have too much room, and LEDs would probably be the best bet. If anyone has a good source for LED recessed lighting that would fit in this space, I'd love to go that route. I have about 20' across the back wall and about 7' from the back corners out towards the garage doors. All in all, about 26 linear feet that I need to light. I'm thinking about 7 lights would be in order.

I'll post some pictures up in the next day or so.

 

[dladcock]

Maybe this one will help. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45022&highlight=finishing+garage

Sounds like you have a plan, post those pics when you can.

dla

 

[PhantomEB]

Personally I prefer door style over sliders, keeps it even just a wee bit more enclosed thus dust free inside. The only instance I would go slider is back near door tracks but my thinkin was just make the doors shorter back there and have taller shelf space at the top for those cabinets.

 

[TravisT]

Thanks for the input so far. I've seen XcYZ's thread, and all I can say is that I hope mine come out half that nice.

I think I'm going to go with sliding doors, but I'm not ruling anything out at this point.

Here's a couple of pictures of what I've done so far. Need to make another lowe's run to get some more 2x4s to finish the framing up. I plan to deck it next and hopefully clear out some room in the garage to give myself more working room for sheetrocking.

As of right now, I only have three outlets in the garage, and two of them are in the ceiling. I think I'm going to install an extended box and conduit around the garage under the cabinets and add 3 more outlets (two on back wall and one opposite the current outlet), as well as a vertical run in the wall to feed the lighting for under the cabinets.

 

[LWW]

Definitely add your electrical now before your garage is filled up and you can't get to it anymore! You can never have enough outlets! When I moved into my house I epoxied my floor and upgraded the electrical before I put ANYTHING else in the garage knowing that I would never get another chance to do it right.

I now have 16 110v 20A, 1 230v 30A and 1 230v 40A outlet on each wall. I don't have to walk more than 3 steps to reach an outlet in almost any direction.

I'm also crazy about good lighting in my work space and installed 12 4' Dual bulb fluorescent light fixtures while I was in there. 6 of them are in my "work area", 4 in my "tool/storage" area and 2 in my wife's parking spot.

It would have been immensely more difficult to get all this installed after I was "settled" into the space.

 

[sakurama]

Maybe this will help from Family Handyman. I find their site a great resource. Also check out lilscorpion's organization thread as he goes over some builds.

Gregor

 

[tornadocaster]

Hello
Here's mine. I just cladded some osb with aluminum to match the rest of the garage cabinets and used the "double J" style closet tracks
I had to go with a track system as swinging doors would hit my garage door track.
Cheers
Gio

On pg 5 of my link you can see how I added some quick storage and lighting under the shelf.

 

[TravisT]

Thanks for the replies.

Family Handyman really has some good ideas. I have a digital subscription and love to flip through them. There's a good article on there about running conduit in your garage to add lighting and outlets. I've always had a one story house until now, and because of that using conduit had never crossed my mind.

I'm going to keep researching the lighting options to see what the possibilities are. I can always hang a couple fluorescent fixtures under there if push comes to shove. As much as I'd like to put LEDs throughout the garage (and house) the cost may inhibit it.


Always something...

 

[TravisT]

Ok, so I'm about to load up the trailer tomorrow to pick up another round of supplies to get this project finished. Have had time to get 80% of the framing up. I need to pick up the material I plan to deck the shelves with as well as some sheetrock.

Right now I have 2x4 supports that were evenly spaced at about 28" centers in each section that I put up. I'm considering going back and cutting these out and re-installing them on 16" centers. Don't think it should matter that much, but will make putting the drywall up a little bit easier. Not to mention that 2x4's are pretty inexpensive.

What is the recommended material/thickness for the shelving? Also, which thickness drywall should I use for this? Don't think it should matter too much, but don't remember what the standard is.

 

[TravisT]

TornadoCaster,

BTW, your lighting is on pg 4 of your thread in case anyone else may be looking for it. Unless maybe my default posts per page are set differently than everyone elses, in which case maybe it is on pg 5

 

[mauris69]

I have about 20' across the back wall and about 7' from the back corners out towards the garage doors. All in all, about 26 linear feet that I need to light. I'm thinking about 7 lights would be in order.

I'll post some pictures up in the next day or so.

It sounds like you'll have plenty of storage room! it helps so much..
Why not going all the way to the front of the garage with the side walls cabinets? Is dead unused space anyway, might as well take advantage of it....

Lights: under cabinet, hockey puck type, You can add as many as you need
Hope to see pics soon!

 

[jlckmj]

Travis,
Here is the thread that I started on my soffit cabinet build

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=198872

 

[TravisT]

It sounds like you'll have plenty of storage room! it helps so much..
Why not going all the way to the front of the garage with the side walls cabinets? Is dead unused space anyway, might as well take advantage of it....

Lights: under cabinet, hockey puck type, You can add as many as you need
Hope to see pics soon!

The tracks for my garage door are about 8" from the wall, so it would be hard to use those cabinets. If I had more space between the side of the garage door and the wall I would definitely do that though. They don't build garages in VA like they did in GA, that's for sure. The amount of room I will free up building this storage will free up a huge amount of floor space once I get everything organized.

I ended up going with 3/4" MDF for the shelving. I think it's overkill, but it won't sag and it's nice and smooth. With some paint, I think it will look nice. I'd post more pictures, but it really doesn't look any different than the last ones yet. By next weekend I hope to show more progress.

I went to Lowe's today trying to get a 2-gang "handi-box" that could mount to a single-gang outlet in the garage. I planned to extend the box and run conduit to 3 more outlets and a switch for the recessed lighting under the soffits. The guys thought I was crazy and said what I was trying to do wasn't to code. I can't say that the guy seemed like he knew what he was talking about, but I don't claim to know NEC stuff either. What I can say is that typically, the code is there for a reason and the rules typically make sense. I can't see any reason why doing what I'm planning would be against code. (Not to mention The Family Handyman magazine did an article a couple months back doing this exact thing. I would think the articles would be checked for compliance with at least national code before printing...)

Any electricians care to comment on the right way to add outlets and a light switch in the garage without tearing up all the walls? The house was build in 2006 and has a GFCI in the garage already. Plan to add these circuits on the load side of the GFCI.