Sports car man cave double

[NSX_guy]

Good morning all,

I finally started my journey down the rabbit hole yesterday. Before we get into specifics, let me tell you about myself and how I got to this point:

My wife and I moved into a new (to us) house a few months ago with our two kidlets aged 3 and 9 months (now). We hadn't planned on moving yet, but a perfect storm happened and we found a house that was big enough, backs onto conservation land, and most importantly, has a two car garage.

The two car garage was a non-negotiable as I need to store my sports car in the garage when not in use. Of course the other spot is occupied by my wife who doesn't want to load the kids in the car in the cold northern winters which is both understandable and not wise to argue with.

As you can see on the attached garage layout, there isn't a whole lot of extra space in the garage, with my car just eeking in (red outline), and hers fitting quite comfortably. Please excuse the stick drawing, I'm not very proficient in CAD. I will be putting a cabinet over the NSX which I made at our last house, but other than that, there's no space for a work bench in front of my car. Currently, the garage measures 18' wide x 16' long (short) and 19.5' long (long side).

As an aside, the previous owner had a hook fetish which was so consuming to him that I had to fill 142 holes in the drywall yesterday, before I could even start. Also, as you may be able to see in one or two of the photos, when the house was built, it appears as though the person who mudded the walls was on his first house. I have a lot of correcting to do before I can even think about painting.

My plans for the garage are as follows:

• More lighting
• finished and painted walls
• epoxy coated floors
• Second garage door opener
• Only enough storage for car and bike related tools

With that list in mind, I would love to hear suggestions on lighting, and flooring. Right now I am thinking of twelve 4" LED pot lights, and leaving the flooring until spring due to the temperatures.

Without further ado, here's what I'm starting with.

<- Autocad rendering

I'm going to use this thread as a push to accomplish this as well.

 

[dubber]

Congrats on the new place. What area of Ontario are you in? I'm a huge fan of that car, likely the only car that would make me sway from my euro obsession. Your garage layout looks identical to my inlaws place. He has to put his Vanden Plas on the right side as its longer like yours.

I also just recently moved into a double and the previous owner had the same fondness to holes and screws. Took out what seemed to be at least 100 hahaha. The key to success with your place would be placing bulky things in that nook on either side of the house entrance door, getting things up on the walls and figuring out if a shed is possible to get the lawn, bikes and other accessories in there.

 

[NSX_guy]

Hey Dubber,

I've been following your new build quietly, but obsessively since you moved. We're in the Dundas area, which is adjacent to Hamilton.

It's odd you mention swaying from VW's, because up until I needed (!) the NSX, the only thing I ever drove were Volkswagens. My first car was a MKII Jetta coupe, followed by a MKII GTi, MKIV Jetta, and a MKII G60 GTi project car that I never got quite right. I even, for a brief moment in 2004 had a Golf Ralleye, until I called my insurance company for a quote. The next morning I had to get my deposit back.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

 

[Crown Imperial]

Nice NSX. Luv'em.
Did the VW and Audi thing for many years also.
Currently on the Mazda wagon.
No ragrets.

 

[dubber]

Hey Dubber,

I've been following your new build quietly, but obsessively since you moved. We're in the Dundas area, which is adjacent to Hamilton.

It's odd you mention swaying from VW's, because up until I needed (!) the NSX, the only thing I ever drove were Volkswagens. My first car was a MKII Jetta coupe, followed by a MKII GTi, MKIV Jetta, and a MKII G60 GTi project car that I never got quite right. I even, for a brief moment in 2004 had a Golf Ralleye, until I called my insurance company for a quote. The next morning I had to get my deposit back.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I also missed saying Welcome to the form as these are your first two posts!

Happy to hear you have stopped by my thread to check it out! Even happier to hear about your previous cars. Great selection that overlaps some of mine from the past. The mk2 GTI with dual rounds was possibly my favorite iconic dub. Funny to hear about your Rallye we have two local guys with them, I'll have to inquire. I still remember the day i transitioned from my mk2 jetta to a mk3 Gti vr6. Called insurance to switch the information and was informed my new monthly rate went from $63 to $600, i was 19 at the time. Think i dropped a deuce.

 

[MSRTom]

Welcome! Can't wait to see what happens in here.

 

[Zeke]

I'm not seeing a 'red outline'. I'd back the NSX into the left side close to the wall. Cabinets, bins either side of the door. Fold down workbench wherever. High cabinets/shelving all around including over the big door. I see what might be 2 air compressors. If you can mount the horizontal one up high you gain that much space.

Also a great place for a small work station (think grinder, chop saw, vice, shop vac) is right behind the post. You could do one of those trailer hitch receiver systems with a slim vertical cabinet below to store said tools.

 

[NSX_guy]

I'm not seeing a 'red outline'. I'd back the NSX into the left side close to the wall. Cabinets, bins either side of the door. Fold down workbench wherever. High cabinets/shelving all around including over the big door. I see what might be 2 air compressors. If you can mount the horizontal one up high you gain that much space.

Also a great place for a small work station (think grinder, chop saw, vice, shop vac) is right behind the post. You could do one of those trailer hitch receiver systems with a slim vertical cabinet below to store said tools.

I've now attached the drawing directly, and you're right, the red doesn't show up very well but I will be putting the NSX in the left bay. I like your other ideas about storage though and will be liberating several of them for my own use.

As I said earlier, the only thing I want in the garage are mechanical tools, bicycles, detailing accessories and cars. I like a minimalist space and will try my best to adhere to that.

 

[55cadillacking]

Nothing wrong with epoxy, but that NSX would look even sexier resting upon a RaceDeck floor! (I'm biased). Looking forward to seeing what you do with your space. Good luck prepping your walls for paint. I can't imagine what a PITA that is. Our builder charged us extra to finish the walls smooth, and I'm thinking it was a wise investment. Painting was a big enough job. The payoff will be worth it, though. Good luck.

 

[nine4gmc]

Nice NSX. Luv'em.
Did the VW and Audi thing for many years also.
Currently on the Mazda wagon.
No ragrets.

 

[NSX_guy]

Nothing wrong with epoxy, but that NSX would look even sexier resting upon a RaceDeck floor! (I'm biased). Looking forward to seeing what you do with your space. Good luck prepping your walls for paint. I can't imagine what a PITA that is. Our builder charged us extra to finish the walls smooth, and I'm thinking it was a wise investment. Painting was a big enough job. The payoff will be worth it, though. Good luck.

I know what you mean about the walls. We paid extra at the last house, and it was worth every penny. This house, being 12 years old, we didn't have that option I'm afraid.

Tell me more about race deck. How easy was it to install, and how we'll do they treat us Canucks? The most important question is; how much will I need to beg forgiveness from my wife for blowing the budget?

 

[cdd1]

Nice NSX. Luv'em.
Did the VW and Audi thing for many years also.
Currently on the Mazda wagon.
No ragrets.

 

[55cadillacking]

I put together a page that gives you a good idea of what a RaceDeck floors entails on my new website.

Flooring

Tell your wife you will be significantly increasing her quality of life...

It's another option.

 

[budmanm3]

What about doing some half cabinets down the middle between the cars. Like the free standung cabinets from gladiator with the wooden tops. You can create storage and a work area down the middle..

Just thinking out loud..

Looking forward to what you come up with

 

[wkderf]

hahaha

 

[NSX_guy]

What about doing some half cabinets down the middle between the cars. Like the free standung cabinets from gladiator with the wooden tops. You can create storage and a work area down the middle..

Just thinking out loud..

Looking forward to what you come up with

I like that idea. I'm going to wait to see what kind of space we have when we get into the garage and live with it full time for a bit, but that sounds like and awesome idea.

Now a question for the gurus: What have you done at the foundation/drywall interface to hide the concrete? Drywall would be inconsistent, so I'm at a bit of a loss.

 

[dubber]

I like that idea. I'm going to wait to see what kind of space we have when we get into the garage and live with it full time for a bit, but that sounds like and awesome idea.

Now a question for the gurus: What have you done at the foundation/drywall interface to hide the concrete? Drywall would be inconsistent, so I'm at a bit of a loss.

I wouldn't recommend avoiding putting anything between the cars as your garage isn't very wide and that would kill all of your room to open doors.

As for the foundation question, i would fill the void between the footer and drywall and then paint the foundation with a quality appropriate paint. I did that on my last garage and my current. It makes a world of a difference.

 

[budmanm3]

The space where all the plastic boxes are now would be sufficient i believe to add two cabinets and still be able to open the doors. If anything it gives him something to use and store stuff vs nothing. There is always the option to hamg cabinets up higher for storage too.

 

[NSX_guy]

As for the foundation question, i would fill the void between the footer and drywall and then paint the foundation with a quality appropriate paint. I did that on my last garage and my current. It makes a world of a difference.

I like that idea, I think I have some left over from when I did my workshop floor in the old house.

This project is shaping up to be a lot of work. I sanded the mud on Monday night, and the condition of the existing room was deplorable.

I am going to try to get some mud put on tonight and see how it looks after that. It's our Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend, so if She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO) lets me, I think I'll be spending a lot of time out there at least levelling the walls and ceiling.

 

[BluCamaro]

Welcome neighbor!
I also had a previous owner with a hook fetish. Had to patch a couple hundred holes before I painted.

For lighting, I highly recommend T-5's. I installed 6, 4 footers and it's very bright They are a bit pricey but work well in the cold weather too. I also have no ragrets. lol

Pic with painted walls and you can see how bright the T-5's make it.

I still need to patch and finish off the concrete below the drywall as well.

 

[NSX_guy]

Welcome neighbor!

Thanks, I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one whose PO liked to poke holes into the wall like it was his job. As a funny coincidence, my great-grandparents lived in Freelton when I was a kid.

This weekend was mostly busy doing family stuff as it was our Canadian Thanksgiving, however, I did get some mud up on the walls on Monday afternoon. I went through almost an entire small tub of mud just leveling out half the walls in the garage. This is going to be a long journey.

After I got some stuff on the walls, I went and visited a friend for some inspiration; and got to play some foosball for the first time since college.

I've used his garage as kind of an inspiration, but we'll see how construction progresses and where my whims take me.

 

[Dakota00]

Thanks, I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one whose PO liked to poke holes into the wall like it was his job.

Same here, the PO was screw happy as well!

 

[dubber]

I'm sure his garage will give you lots of inspiration. One thing to note is it will help you decide what you really want in there and what can/could go in the basement or a future shed.

EDIT: And to show you that your not alone. This was my best wall....

 

[Madhatter10-6]

LOVE the NSX. Still one of my all time favorite cars.

 

[s2kattracks]

Although its alot of work, atleast you have a good starting point.

Love the NSX, I will get one one day for now the s2k will do(when I get number 3 lol)

 

[NSX_guy]

LOVE the NSX. Still one of my all time favorite cars.

Although its alot of work, atleast you have a good starting point.
Love the NSX, I will get one one day for now the s2k will do(when I get number 3 lol)

Thanks for the kind words guys, after 5 years of hearing me bleat on about wanting one, my wife finally had enough and told me to just buy the damn thing.

I'm sure his garage will give you lots of inspiration. One thing to note is it will help you decide what you really want in there and what can/could go in the basement or a future shed.

EDIT: And to show you that your not alone. This was my best wall....

Same here, the PO was screw happy as well!

This just blows me away how people just pop holes in their walls. Dubber, I think the only things that will be in the garage are car related tools, one bike and a cupboard. I like the minimalist look.

I also think I found the solution to my lighting dilemma; Rona offers retrofit LED pot lights for insulated ceilings. I am going to start by installing 10 lights on a dimmed switch and see how I like that. If I feel the need to add more, I have left room in between the two rows for more.

Here's what I have for a model.

 

[3.5TT]

looks like a good starting platform,(love the nsx btw) think I recognize your friends car, stoney creek? i wont post the street but i believe he lives close to my old house..

 

[wagzilla]

Looking good, working on my man cave Were do the stairs go??

James

 

[mrsingh]

Any man with an NSX is a friend to me, welcome to the forums! Love the classic Formula Red NA1, and your friend's Imola Orange NA2 is also droolworthy.

 

[EMAGDNIM]

Nice car (and your friends NA2 looks great as well). I'm curious to see how the pot lights will look in your garage.

 

[NSX_guy]

Thanks, unfortunately this project has taken a bit of a back seat lately due to some family issues and such, but I plan on sanding the second coat of mud tomorrow.

As for the pot lights, I need to go see my local hardware store about them tomorrow as well. Rona has LED pot lights, but given my druthers, I'd rather support the local guys.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Cool car and garage! My uncle lives in Dundas, you may see the "Gaskin Restorations" van rolling around... I like Dundas, it is a nice area!

Have a look in my thread for some ideas for fold down work benches if you are interested.

 

[NSX_guy]

Well guys, it's been about 7 months since I last updated this thread. The Canadian winter was horrible, so as I didn't finish the mudding of the garage prior to winter, I didn't really have a reasonable opportunity to do anything.

My two excuses are: I have an unheated garage, and I couldn't awake the sleeping car in order to pull it outside for long enough to mud and subsequently sand the surfaces. Plus, I guess I'm a bit soft; I spent most of my winter at the hobby table building model kits. What can I say, I really am a man child.

In order, the pictures are:
1. Bare ceiling

2. Holes for pot lights in the ceilings

3. alternate view

4. Wiring run, from the primary garage door.

5. Some channels and holes we had to run for routing the wire. The builders placed a beam across the ceiling about 1/2" above the drywall which really complicated the wire pulls, but we persevered.

6. Wires run, lights installed, and shining brightly.

What I don't show in those pictures is the channels I run in the ceiling in order to move the garage door opener outlets from the wall to the ceilings. Why the builder originally put outlets in the wall for the garage door openers, I'll never know; but it's fixed now.

Tonight after work I plan on priming the walls, then start the final skim coat on the ceiling.

As you can see in picture #6, I've decided to frame out the bottom of the wall, and rather than paint the exposed concrete foundation, I will get sheets of formica to cover the bottom 12" to 18". That should lend a nice water resistant strip to the bottom and allow me to rinse the cars inside with relatively little cause for concern.

Now I just need to figure out what I want to do with the floor!

 

[NSX_guy]

A major project milestone happened tonight; my first coat of primer. After sitting exposed for nearly 13 years, the drywall was thirsty. The walls and ceiling sucked up 2 gallons like nobody's business.

I haven't yet decided whether or not to put a second primer coat on yet, but I'll decide by the weekend and get working again.

 

[cat06]

you might want to go with two coats of primer. after years of no paint on drywall the paper tends to "yellow" and bleeds through, about half the time it has to be primed with oil base kilz to prevent the bleed through

 

[BluCamaro]

you might want to go with two coats of primer. after years of no paint on drywall the paper tends to "yellow" and bleeds through, about half the time it has to be primed with oil base kilz to prevent the bleed through

Congrats on the milestone! I highly recommend another coat of primer. My walls had been painted but the ceiling was original unpainted drywall. Probably 25 years old. I did one coat of primer and two coats of white and the yellow really bleeds through. Most people won't notice it, but I do and it bugs me.

 

[NSX_guy]

you might want to go with two coats of primer. after years of no paint on drywall the paper tends to "yellow" and bleeds through, about half the time it has to be primed with oil base kilz to prevent the bleed through

I hadn't even thought that once covered I'd get bleed through, but it makes sense. I'm just happy to have a bright space finally!

Congrats on the milestone! I highly recommend another coat of primer. My walls had been painted but the ceiling was original unpainted drywall. Probably 25 years old. I did one coat of primer and two coats of white and the yellow really bleeds through. Most people won't notice it, but I do and it bugs me.

Well then it seems to be settled, I will go get some Kilz tomorrow and apply a liberal coating all over. I used that in my last house and loved it; but the drywall was fresh then.

 

[NSX_guy]

SO this weekend opportunity, ambition and a paint sale all intersected and I was able to finally paint the garage.

Friday night, I painted the lower portion of the walls with two coats of the darker colour.

Saturday afternoon, I painted the upper portion of the walls with two coats of the lighter colour on the walls.

Sunday, after the paint had dried, I installed the upper cabinet which I built for my old house. Either by good luck or good planning, the cabinet had about 3" of room left on either side of the ends.


I also got the car detailed on Saturday. So happy with how she looks.






Peeking into from the outside.


Still on my never ending to-do list:

Finish the skirting - I plan on using a formica cut to height in order to alleviate any moisture concerns if I wash the cars in the garage.

Paint those ugly garage doors. I'm not sure if they were originally yellow, but they're pretty ugly now..

Coat the floor - likely with an epoxy. I've been back and forth on this one, and I think an epoxy with a clear coat might be the way to go.

Paint the ceiling and door. As it sits right now, they're just primed.

Paint a red stripe down the dividing line of the paint colors. I plan on having the colour matched to the NSX.

Finish the front end of the garage. I plan on boxing in the door springs etc, and spraying the tracks black.

Trim out the window.

Paint the cabinet doors to match the upper wall colour.

Hang some art in the garage. Maybe even a TV.

 

[dubber]

Walls look great. Looks like you have a solid plan going forward. I really found painting and fixing up all the details around the garage doors helps tremendously. I also sprayed the springs black in my last garage and it mad a HUGE difference.

 

[NSX_guy]

Walls look great. Looks like you have a solid plan going forward. I really found painting and fixing up all the details around the garage doors helps tremendously. I also sprayed the springs black in my last garage and it mad a HUGE difference.

Thanks for the kind words.

I like the idea of spray painting the springs and leaving them as - is. I think I may try that before I box everything in. That front wall is a real pain, because everything sticks out in a different spot and it will be a nightmare to make look presentable.

But, as we've seen by this thread; it doesn't have to be done overnight.