Help me layout my new garage!

[Winchester38]

I'm about to take possession of a new house, and will FINALLY be getting a garage.

It measures approximately 21' deep, and 22' wide. The wife will park her car on the left side, and the remainder will be used for motorcycles, work benches, tool boxes, and more motorcycles.

I'm looking for suggestions/feedback on everything from lighting to layout, to storage.

Currently thinking I'll have eight 4' dual T8 bulb fluorescent fixtures (total of 16 4' bulbs), plus some additional lighting over the workbench, wherever it ends up.

Planning to do slatwall on the wall near her car, and probably somewhere else too (near the workbench theoretically).

Workbench won't need to be huge, just big enough to rebuild bike engines. No real specialty tools, just standard handtools/boxes, and a small-ish compressor (20-30gal).

I'm also thinking that eventually there will be a bike lift so that I'm not constantly on the floor while wrenching.

Below is a rough (not to scale) sketch of the layout/size. Open to any and all feedback/suggestions/critique!

 

[matt_i]

I find there is some utility to have a set of a few (old incandescent, now CFL) fixtures for what I call "house lights" when you just need to go in and get something out. Maybe 4 x 22W = 88W which is the old 100W equivalent.

That instead of starting up 16 x 32W bulbs = 512W every time you need a trash bag or a rag or a screwdriver.

I put a 4 bulb T5HO over my workbench, its quite nice. I felt like it might not be appreciated when looking thru the welding mask due to the glare from the backside, but that has not been an issue whatsoever.

 

[Zeke]

I'm about to take possession of a new house, and will FINALLY be getting a garage.

It measures approximately 21' deep, and 22' wide. The wife will park her car on the left side, and the remainder will be used for motorcycles, work benches, tool boxes, and more motorcycles.

I'm looking for suggestions/feedback on everything from lighting to layout, to storage.

Currently thinking I'll have eight 4' dual T8 bulb fluorescent fixtures (total of 16 4' bulbs), plus some additional lighting over the workbench, wherever it ends up.

Planning to do slatwall on the wall near her car, and probably somewhere else too (near the workbench theoretically).

Workbench won't need to be huge, just big enough to rebuild bike engines. No real specialty tools, just standard handtools/boxes, and a small-ish compressor (20-30gal).

I'm also thinking that eventually there will be a bike lift so that I'm not constantly on the floor while wrenching.

Below is a rough (not to scale) sketch of the layout/size. Open to any and all feedback/suggestions/critique!

I think you're going to be surprised once you move stuff in.

 

[Winchester38]

I find there is some utility to have a set of a few (old incandescent, now CFL) fixtures for what I call "house lights" when you just need to go in and get something out. Maybe 4 x 22W = 88W which is the old 100W equivalent.

I'm thinking there will be the light in the garage door opener for that sort of stuff, and that I'm going to wire the lights so that it's four lights to a switch. Turn one side of the garage on, or both. Great suggestion though.

I think you're going to be surprised once you move stuff in.

You should have seen my 8x10 shed at our last house. Two running/riding motorcycles, a third in parts, all of the yard "stuff", tools, and a 22" wide, 8' long workbench down one side. It was incredibly cramped, and miserable to work in, but I made do for four years.

I assure you, I would much rather have a 40'x40', but this is what I've got to work with, and it's a HUGE step up. I'm currently thinking lots of wall storage to conserve space, and work bench/tools/compressor/etc down the right hand wall. Should leave me enough room for my two running/riding bikes, and still have room for a bike lift to assemble my third bike on.

House stuff will stay in the house, yard stuff will live in our garden shed.

 

[Zeke]

One idea is to run a high shelf all around the garage even over the door. You can get a lot up there in boxes and label them so you can see what the contents are from below. Another row of cabinets below that over the workbench and lights under that. Then there's the under bench storage. So, yeah, a small space can hold a lot.

But you said 'motorcycles and more motorcycles'.

 

[bczygan]

One suggestion I always make, when thinking about using a space, is to think outside the box......literally.

Think of how you can use the entire property for the uses you have.

I try to get as much dead storage OUT of work spaces, as I possibly can. Sheds, basements, attics, under stairways all come into play.

And I try to think of how to make the workspace more pleasant. I hate working in an enclosed box. It's like being in a cell. I try to get a window over the workbench, so I can look out into the yard. At least consider a skylight to get some sunlight in.

As far as planning on paper, it can only take you so far. Once you start cramming stuff into the space, it somehow shrinks!

It's not about how much you can cram into the space. It's about how much you can remove from it, and still be functional.

Compressor should definitely be in a separate space because of noise. Any dirty functions like sanding and sandblast cabinets should be housed elsewhere. Special attention needs to be made for an area suitable for painting, whether it is in the garage, or elsewhere.

Can you have a shed or accessory building?

 

[Falcon67]

For engine work and general use, I'd recommend the bench be around 30~36" x 60", steel top and on locking casters or otherwise mobile with the option to make stationary.

 

[bczygan]

Lighting is something else that you can plan, but in action may need tweaking.

Plan for general illumination and also task lighting.

Are you going T8 or LED?

 

[bczygan]

What is the inside height of the garage?

Is it insulated and the inside finished?

Where are you in the country?

Do you have photos of the inside and outside? We LOVE photos!

And how about photos of that shed you had. Sounds interesting.

And BIKES! What kind? We need photos of THOSE!

 

[Homerr]

Fluorescent fixtures seem archaic. Check out the Feit LED shop lights at Costco, cheap, bright.

http://www.costco.com/Feit-Electric-4’-LED-Shop-Light-2-pack.product.100155638.html

 

[Winchester38]

One idea is to run a high shelf all around the garage even over the door. You can get a lot up there in boxes and label them so you can see what the contents are from below. Another row of cabinets below that over the workbench and lights under that. Then there's the under bench storage. So, yeah, a small space can hold a lot.

But you said 'motorcycles and more motorcycles'.

Thanks Zeke. I'm definitely wanting to get as much stuff up and off of the floor as possible. The majority of the house stuff will stay in the house, and the yard stuff will be in our shed, but there's still bound to be "stuff" that would be better served being in the garage, and up out of the way. I'm thinking shelves, slat wall, and some sort of hanging storage possibly. Also thinking I'll put in a wall mounted tire rack for tires to live on in the off seasons.

As for the motorcycles, I've got a bit of an acquisition disorder. I can't ever see myself without at least two runners.

Compressor should definitely be in a separate space because of noise. Any dirty functions like sanding and sandblast cabinets should be housed elsewhere. Special attention needs to be made for an area suitable for painting, whether it is in the garage, or elsewhere.

Can you have a shed or accessory building?

Thanks. The compressor will likely need to stay in the garage, unless I run lines either to the shed (probably a 15-20' run) or through the walls, into the house, and into the crawl space under the stairs. Either would be a great solution, but not sure how SWMBO will feel about a compressor blatting away under the stairs in the evenings.

For engine work and general use, I'd recommend the bench be around 30~36" x 60", steel top and on locking casters or otherwise mobile with the option to make stationary.

Thanks, I was thinking somewhere in the 24"-30" range, and 4-5' long. Most of the engines/etc I'll be working on will be smallish, since they'll be bike engines, but the space to lay everything out on shop towels before assembly would be nice. I have a friend that's a welder by trade, so I may have him fab a bench up for me.

Lighting is something else that you can plan, but in action may need tweaking.

Plan for general illumination and also task lighting.

Are you going T8 or LED?

Planning to go with T8's, as my budget is moderately tight (we've just doubled our mortgage, and then some). Currently thinking two banks of four, 4' long, dual bulb T8's for a total of eight fixtures (16 bulbs), plus the light in the garage door opener, and some sort of overhead lighting over the workbench. With the small window, and the garage door windows, I'm hoping/expecting this to be adequate.

What is the inside height of the garage?

Is it insulated and the inside finished?

Where are you in the country?

Do you have photos of the inside and outside? We LOVE photos!

And how about photos of that shed you had. Sounds interesting.

And BIKES! What kind? We need photos of THOSE!

Inside height is in the 9' range. Walls are insulated, drywalled and firetaped currently. I'll be having a final mud/sand done (I hate doing drywall work), before painting the walls and ceiling.

Located in the Edmonton area.

Currently the pic below is all I've got of the new place. No interior pics until we take possession on the 31st.

Also below, is the only pic I seem to be able to dig up of the old shed. This pic was mid-winter when I brought my new Triumph home. The bikes in this pic are a 2011 Triumph Sprint GT (left) and an '80 Yamaha XS850 (right) that I was in the process of a café build on. There's also a '70 Triumph T100 on the shelving unit in the back left corner, and in the overhead storage. The overhead storage, and under bench storage was all that kept that place usable. Lots of shelving, hanging, and hooks were used.

As mentioned, my current "main" bike is a 2011 Triumph Sprint GT. The other current runner I've got is an '02 Kawasaki KX250 that I just finished rebuilding. Now that I'll have the space, I'm hoping to build the '70 Triumph late this summer.

New house

Old shed

Triumph Sprint GT

KX250

 

[bczygan]

Thanks Zeke. I'm definitely wanting to get as much stuff up and off of the floor as possible. The majority of the house stuff will stay in the house, and the yard stuff will be in our shed, but there's still bound to be "stuff" that would be better served being in the garage, and up out of the way. I'm thinking shelves, slat wall, and some sort of hanging storage possibly. Also thinking I'll put in a wall mounted tire rack for tires to live on in the off seasons.

As for the motorcycles, I've got a bit of an acquisition disorder. I can't ever see myself without at least two runners.



Thanks. The compressor will likely need to stay in the garage, unless I run lines either to the shed (probably a 15-20' run) or through the walls, into the house, and into the crawl space under the stairs. Either would be a great solution, but not sure how SWMBO will feel about a compressor blatting away under the stairs in the evenings.



Thanks, I was thinking somewhere in the 24"-30" range, and 4-5' long. Most of the engines/etc I'll be working on will be smallish, since they'll be bike engines, but the space to lay everything out on shop towels before assembly would be nice. I have a friend that's a welder by trade, so I may have him fab a bench up for me.



Planning to go with T8's, as my budget is moderately tight (we've just doubled our mortgage, and then some). Currently thinking two banks of four, 4' long, dual bulb T8's for a total of eight fixtures (16 bulbs), plus the light in the garage door opener, and some sort of overhead lighting over the workbench. With the small window, and the garage door windows, I'm hoping/expecting this to be adequate.



Inside height is in the 9' range. Walls are insulated, drywalled and firetaped currently. I'll be having a final mud/sand done (I hate doing drywall work), before painting the walls and ceiling.

Located in the Edmonton area.

Currently the pic below is all I've got of the new place. No interior pics until we take possession on the 31st.

Also below, is the only pic I seem to be able to dig up of the old shed. This pic was mid-winter when I brought my new Triumph home. The bikes in this pic are a 2011 Triumph Sprint GT (left) and an '80 Yamaha XS850 (right) that I was in the process of a café build on. There's also a '70 Triumph T100 on the shelving unit in the back left corner, and in the overhead storage. The overhead storage, and under bench storage was all that kept that place usable. Lots of shelving, hanging, and hooks were used.

As mentioned, my current "main" bike is a 2011 Triumph Sprint GT. The other current runner I've got is an '02 Kawasaki KX250 that I just finished rebuilding. Now that I'll have the space, I'm hoping to build the '70 Triumph late this summer.

New house

Old shed

Triumph Sprint GT

KX250

Nice bikes. And I love your former space. Shows what you can do. And welcome to GJ!

Bill

 

[ryan77]

you double your space if you make the wife park outside.

 

[Winchester38]

Pics of the new digs!

 

[Winchester38]

Lighting is far better than I remembered. It's currently got six 4' dual-T8 fixtures, plus the light in the door opener and two floodlights (on the wall in the second picture). Thinking I'm going to hang one more 4' dual-T8 fixture over what will be my work area, and another the same size above the workbench (wherever it ends up).

Walls need a final mud/sand, then the walls and ceiling will get paint. White ceiling, walls will likely be white on top, grey on bottom.

Floor is in pretty good shape. No stains, or major chipping, etc. I'm currently thinking I'm going to use the Rustoleum one step epoxyshield paint after a good scrubbing and etch with muriatic acid. I know I'm going to get some push back, but my fit-out is going to be on a pretty tight budget, so the cost savings, and ease of touch-ups down the road are pretty appealing.

I'm thinking I might take out the lowest level of the suspended shelving, and use the space under it to place my workbench, tool boxes, etc. As mentioned above, one additional 4' dual-T8 fixture would get hung above the bench.

Any suggestions for what to do underneath the bump-out on the front wall? It's the backside of a closet in the interior of the house. The empty space underneath it measures 49" high, 38 1/2" wide, and 14" deep. Currently thinking maybe some sort of drawer/cabinet underneath, and that eventually, a flat panel TV will get mounted on the top section of the bump.

I'm going to look for a wardrobe/armoire/locker that'll fit in the space between the wall on the left side, and the stairs into the house. It'll house motorcycle riding gear/helmets/etc.