20x20 garage, budget, simple

[tnjarrett]

Hi All!

A couple of years ago I made an intro thread.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4857648#post4857648

To sum it up: Never had a garage and love working on cars with friends. A couple years ago father in law built a workshop and said I could have the old space if I cleaned it out enough to use. It was a 21x20 garage with a 16 ft door. Done Deal! Grabbed some friends and got at it.

Well with all things and all people, I haven't moved as far as I would of liked by now. I have been able to get it functional and have slowly been chipping away at getting things emptied out and reorganized.

I am currently wanting to get the walls painted, brick coated, and floor covered.

Before: May 2015

First time the floor was open

Whoa! A worksurface!

At this point I had it empty enough to get a Miata in. Perfect! Time to use the space.

 

[tnjarrett]

Re: 20x20 garage, budget, simple pt.2

Now that it was open, it was time to fill it up! I brought over a tool box I had been given from my Papaw.

Here is a panorama of my first "layout"

Added a t.v. and started to move things around for a bit more usable room.

Brought an old computer and a spare chromecast, all one needs.

Changed years on the miata, did some fun side projects.

 

[tnjarrett]

Got a worktable for Christmas. This sent me on a spiral to clean again.

Yes... It is already that messy.

All in all the space is wonderful and I am incredibly lucky to have it, but it is not mine so at the end of the day I have to keep that in mind. The budget needs to be small unless I can eventually take it with me. Things like paint, shelving, floor, sink(plumbing is there) can be and must be done as frugally as possible.

This has us basically up to date. In addition to the worktable, I received a couple Gift cards, Those became paint & Supplies/ Track Shelving. I started last week with emptying the walls and painting.

I still have the pegboard corner and around the garage door.

 

[tnjarrett]

Currently...
This Cabinet and drawers was always too tall to use and just something of the FIL's I wanted to get out of the way.

Well last week it hit me, I need a place to store tools while I refinish my boxes. I also need a place to sort and organize bolts, large power tools, and well... Things.
Time for some drawer Jenga! These all had things already in them. moved them to the bottom so I could put the my tools in the empty ones on top.

I took the top section off and set it to the side.

This has inspired me to try and make a base to level them. Then put a tabletop on it for a vise or sander to be used.

Wanted the plugs and switches to stand out, so I painted them yellow.

Turns out I don't like yellow. I went with the favorite color. Aqua

I also painted the back of a couple of glass panes. The frames were broken, but i needed some dry erase note boards. Done!

Added a mini-fridge and some drinks.

got this working

Snagged a random bench seat from a van, as in FREE COUCH!

OK! I know it was a ton to start with. I appreciate any and all that stuck with it.
This is where I left it Sunday night.

This last photo has a roll of carpet in it. Got it for $11 at Lowes and want to use it to sort of define a chill spot. $11!

I would love any suggestions or ideas anyone has. I'm not the most imaginative

 

[rixtrix1]

Welcome. It's looking good (wish mine was that empty, lol)!

 

[tnjarrett]

Welcome. It's looking good (wish mine was that empty, lol)!

Thank you! I just checked out your thread real quick, and I don't know what you mean. You have made crazy progress and it looks amazing! I am super lucky as it would be an entirely different level of clutter if the garage was actually at my house and could be used for any real storage.

 

[quadrcr87]

I like the exposed brick. I would not paint it. Keep the character. Some additional cabinet bases on wheels would work well in there since you can take them with you when you move into your own place. They would also help a lot organizing the small stuff.

Great start in there!

 

[tnjarrett]

I like the exposed brick. I would not paint it. Keep the character. Some additional cabinet bases on wheels would work well in there since you can take them with you when you move into your own place. They would also help a lot organizing the small stuff.

Great start in there!

Thanks for the suggestion. I was planning on washing it and sealing. I'll look into some cabinet bases. Thanks.

 

[tnjarrett]

Going in a couple hours to pick up a free sink and possible water heater. Hopefully I can make them work. Did I mention Free?

 

[tnjarrett]

I went and picked up an HVAC blower, 19 gal. water heater, and a counter including a sink. I'll take it!

Hoping to get the water connected this weeked/ Next Week sometime.