New 3 Car Garage Build

[snowmansimon]

Finally purchased my first home...Well basically a 2 bedroom man cave. So the setup is a 28 x 38 foot (Int. dimensions) 3 car garage with a 2 bedroom loft above it. There is a small bump out on the back which has the utilities and a washroom just off the garage. The garage is divided into 2/1 bays. The single bay will be used more as a basement/storage for gear and off season toys like snowmobiles or dirtbikes to maximize the space in the double bay side.

So I am starting from scratch. Coming out of an apartment and having garage related things stored at my parents place so I was limited on room. I work long hours so this will be a slow process to build a work bench, welding table, welding cart, storage cabinets, pick out a new toolbox, new mig welder, compressor, etc, etc. To top it off I am very picky and need to be 100% on a design before I build it.

So this thread will be a build of the garage I guess. Any ideas anyone has please feel free to chime in.

The one good thing about starting from nothing is I get to build a garage setup that should be well thought out and hopefully well organized.

Step one is paint, heat and find a better seal for the garage doors. For now the garage will be primed white and electric heaters will be installed which might end up just being for backup if I decide on a more efficient source of heat. Previous owner took the pellet stove when he left. Ouellette OVS residential wall heaters were recomended to me and ive installed:

http://www.ouellet.com/en-ca/products/residential-products.aspx?product=OVS

Double Bay
2x2000W
1x1500W

Single Bay
1x2000W

Hopefully nobody has anything bad to say about these as they are already installed haha.

Any recommendations on a bright color other then white for a garage? I feel like its going to stay primer white for the time being.

What about more efficient ways to seal a garage door? The current doors show light underneath them. -20C this wont be very efficient!

 

[Sunbimmer]

Love it Looks great with lots of potential. Please keep us updated on your progress and welcome to the GJ.

 

[JCByrd24]

That place is awesome, if I'm every single again this is what I'm buidling! What are electricity rates like in your area, unless they are very low I'd be looking into putting a pellet stove back in before it is -20C. Pellets beat any other heat source $$ wise unless your work schedule allows you to do wood. I'd put the stove in the upstairs for heating the apartment to room temp and keep the electrics in the garage but only run them when you are working in there. The space probably won't drop too cold, but trying to heat it warm enough to also warm the apartment even with a pellet stove might be a loosing battle with three overhead doors.

In terms of the doors there should be a weather seal on the bottom that looks like a U that will squish when the door comes down. There is usually nothing but air inside so sometime the flatten out over time. You may just need a new one, or to fill it with foam maybe. My floor isn't level so I get light on the last couple feet on one side.

 

[jwhcars]

That sure is a nice looking garage and it even comes with living quarters.

 

[snowmansimon]

Unfortunately my work schedule doesn't allow for wood or pellet. I'm on the road here and there so I have to rely on electric or propane maybe? I haven't looked into natural gas either. I plan on dropping the heat significantly when I am away. Both the garage and loft heat fairly quick once the heat is turned back up. Mind you its not -20 yet.

I will be purchasing a 56" International top and bottom chest in the coming weeks. I went with this box because of the size, 56" x 24" deep. Most other boxes I looked at were 18" deep. I think this will be a good size for generic tools, bike tool and eventually a small machine shop and the associated tools. Priced at around $1300 for the combo from Costco. Anyone with any experience on these boxes?

 

[tcccac]

Very nice and very similar to my build. Don't go white in the garage. I ended up with a lighter grey on top 8 feet, dark grey on the bottom, separated by a black stripe.

Love the windows. Can you show us the view from them? In for more pics.

 

[snowmansimon]

A couple pictures of the view. Have to admit it looks much better in the summer with leaves on the trees!

 

[snowmansimon]

Very nice and very similar to my build. Don't go white in the garage. I ended up with a lighter grey on top 8 feet, dark grey on the bottom, separated by a black stripe.

Love the windows. Can you show us the view from them? In for more pics.

Checked out your Thread. Wicked looking place! Very similar! I do like the two tone paint. Might be an option for sure. Not as bland as white. The one thing this place doesn't have that might become an issue is the ceiling height. However I have a friend who is a mechanic and he has a hoist haha.

 

[MacTexas]

I wish my first home would have looked like that. Nice place.

 

[madoc1]

wow! dream place for a single person, or even a couple. where are you located?

jim

 

[snowmansimon]

I waited a very long time and saved everything so I could move into what I wanted and not have to move again in the future. Once I had the money I had my eye on this bank repo for 1.5 years and almost lost it over $2000 in the end to another interested fellow. Glad it worked out

I am located in New Brunswick on the east coast of Canada.

Thanks for the positive replies!

 

[jb3]

Looks awesome!

If its empty id look into maybe some fire safety systems built in before you do some hot work. Seems like every couple years there some horror story about some guy buring his house down doing welding or grinding in a basement or attached garage.

With you living directly above it, that would be a concern for me.

 

[bazzateer]

Perfect place for a single guy like me!

 

[snowmansimon]

Got the place painted and heaters are in. Had the truck in also and still plenty of room to work!

 

[dubber]

Great new blank slate you have to work with. And your right, even with the truck in there its roomy.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Looks great! What are you using for heat upstairs?

 

[snowmansimon]

Just regular baseboard heaters upstairs. Once I see a steady electric bill I will start to look at alternatives. Pretty limited because I travel so much so wood and pellet stove are out for sure.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Great pics and look forward to updates...Mike

 

[snowmansimon]

Ordered the International 56" toolbox from Costco. Got it all set up and organized the garage a bit. Have a few temporary tables until I build a workbench and a fab table. At least I can use the space now. Slowly coming along.

 

[bazzateer]

Looking good!

 

[diggler306]

How sweet is this place! That's a great size. I wish I had that extra 4 feet (28'). Subscribed.

 

[snowmansimon]

Got some time off work and poking around in the garage when I'm not out on the sled. Got some new dead bolts and door knobs installed and started working on a welding cart:

Steel plate to avoid doors being kicked in:


Welding cart base:

 

[snowmansimon]

Few more odds and ends around the house/garage.

Welding cart done.


Gravel pad before and after.

 

[adillabaugh]

I would definitely love to see blueprints to this garage. Been scouring the internet for months and can't find a plan with three dormers on a full height wall on the second level. If anyone know where I can get some that'd be awesome

 

[rixtrix1]

Very nice and very similar to my build. Don't go white in the garage. I ended up with a lighter grey on top 8 feet, dark grey on the bottom, separated by a black stripe.

Love the windows. Can you show us the view from them? In for more pics.

Good color choice. I have off-white on top and ceiling with a dark gray/blue on the bottom 3.5 feet separated by separate dark purple and orange stripes.

I love a garage below the living area. Very nice that you had your own choice available to finish the inside. Did you get any land with the building? You might want to post a location below your avatar to help us visualize your area better.

 

[rixtrix1]

Got some time off work and poking around in the garage when I'm not out on the sled. Got some new dead bolts and door knobs installed and started working on a welding cart:

Steel plate to avoid doors being kicked in:


Welding cart base:

I added a piece of pipe drilled through 3 studs to the steel plate I put in my door frames to accept the 1.5" deadbolts I got. I'm kinda paranoid about that so overkill is just right. Nice cart! I just got a full sized argon tank like yours and now I have to get better rear wheels to hold the weight. It didn't matter when I used my aluminum 120cf tank, but that big steel one is HEAVY!

 

[jesse72]

Really great garage and loft, I think that is the perfect thing for a bachelor pad and I think every guy on here envy's it! Do you have any more pictures of how the loft is set up, maybe the floorplan? Thanks!

 

[snowmansimon]

Life’s been busy. Working too much and switching jobs this year. Have been picking away at the garage when I can so here is an update.

Decided to install a mini split for the upstairs living quarters. Was just too hot in the summers so this gives A/C in the summer and heat in the winter. This pic also shows the contraption I built to be able to install/remove the cap off my truck by myself and keeps it off the ground for storage.


Installed a hose real near the door for easy access.


Also installed an air compressor and hose real. Used copper pipe for the air line. Picked it up for about half price used.

 

[snowmansimon]

Finally got around to building a welding table. Kept it pretty plain for now. Will be adding to it over the years. Rolls on wheels and once in place the 4 feet can be adjusted to raise it off the wheels. I used threaded rod and it runs up through the leg and out the top so the legs can be adjusted from the top of the table instead of laying on the ground with a wrench. Also have four 2” receivers for future additions and tools.


Started working on a bench to mount a sander, grinder, grinder with wire wheel and buffer, small drill press, small parts cleaner. I will add doors and sides to it for storage of the shop vac, small bender, misc large items.


Started at the landscaping in the fall when a friend bought a mini excavator. I fixed his trailer and he let me have it for 2 weeks and I put a battery in another friends dump trailer and had it for the 2 weeks also. I had to do some grading to get water to run off the driveway and not down the driveway. Also added a parking spot next to the garage for the trailer and added some gravel to the driveway. Now that I will have a lawn I picked up a used Kubota BX1860 for a pretty good price. Will use it to mow once the lawn is done and have already used the box blade for the driveway and grading of the yard.





Been busy building front weights for the Kubota. I have under $70 invested so far and that includes a small single burner stove to melt down lead wheel weights. I will have 5 of these weights filled with lead and should be around 70lb each.


Also built this for moving the trailer around quickly.