Meeting with architect tomorrow. I cleaned up the list, regroup the items to areas I thought worked better to described what I want. I have a survey of the property, aerial shoot, photos of the ideas I want to implement... anything else I should take for the first meeting?
Here is the updated list:
I am thinking about a 50’x60’ structure that would serve as a workshop and a weekend house. Using 32'-44’x50’ (L-Shaped) for the workshop and 16’x50’ for the Kitchen/Family quarters downstairs and 20'x50' upstairs for the bedrooms... Since I had put this off for so long I have to go back to the drawings I had and see if I need to modify those dimensions.
Garage ideas or must have list (the list is a compilation of different threads I have seen over the years, my ideas, ideas from magazine or various websites). I liked the format Marc used for his thread so I reformatted my list. Here it goes:
Structural
1. Raised structure (at least 24” stem wall). Even if it is not in a flood zone but since it is close to the river. To have some peace of mind
2. 4 or 5” 4000 psi concrete slab floor with thickened (6”) pads for car lift
3. Steel beam on the ceiling to be used as an engine hoist, allowing me to remove an engine and then slide it from the two-post lift area along the metal rail to the work surface (bench).
4. Drains in garage floor in each bay
5. Garage door notch for weather-proofing
6. Plumbing and drain (3/4” water supply) for sink in garage (using a restaurant type stainless steel sink to serve as dual sink and parts cleaner).
7. Outside taps
a. By garage door next to main entrance
b. By deck area
c. By side and back of structure
8. 14' ceiling in first floor
9. 10’ ceiling in second floor
10. Three 12' x 10' insulated door. High lift track doors. Door should be pneumatic for quiet operation or using LiftMaster 3800.
11. In-ceiling pipes for air hose and electrical extension reels (or maybe do those outside for easy troubleshooting later if something goes wrong with them). Which ever is more cost effective.
12. Air compressor room in garage area with insulated walls to keep noise down
13. Full bathroom with closet area for working clothes. To be shared with first floor (two access doors, one from the garage and one from the living area). Toilet should have area for magazines to maximize the time reading the latest from CAR, Excellence, Panorama, etc.
14. A large floor level sink in the garage. Provides an excellent area to clean mops or parts.
15. Propane tank for generator.
16. Hidden area for generator.
17. Deck area kitchen provision (would like to later build an area with a sink, cooktop area, and built-in BBQ so I will need water, electrical, and drainage for this to be available).
18. Two-car driveway from entrance to house.
Electrical (not a complete list)
1. 200 amp 220 volt service panel
2. 30 amp 220 volt circuit for lift in ceiling
3. 30 amp 220 volt circuit for two-post lift
4. 30 amp 220 volt circuit for welder
5. 30 amp 220 volt circuit for powder coating oven
6. 30 amp 220 volt switched outlet for compressor
7. 30 amp 110/220 volt outlet for washer
8. 30 amp 110/220 volt outlet for dryer
9. 30 amp 220 volt outlet as spare
10. 30 amp 110/220 volt circuits for A/C
a. One for the garage
b. Two for living area
11. Three Train A/C units
a. One for the garage
b. One for the living area First Floor
c. One for the living area Second Floor
12. 20 amp 110 volt outlets in ceiling for lift, drop lines, ceiling fans, and air filter
13. 15 amp 110-volt GFI outlets outside on each side of garage door, deck, back walls.
14. 15 amp 110 volt outlet for exhaust fan
15. 110 volt GFI outlets at 48-52” height using double gang boxes located every 4’ around garage (approx 60 total)
16. Overhead high-output fluorescent lights (T8 bulbs, 4 per light)
a. 6 rows of lights with 5 lights in each, each row on switched circuit
b. 2 above work bench
c. 2 above cleaning area
d. For the bays, these need to be off-center with the bay to have the light come from the side when working on the cars
17. Florescent lights in garage door columns in bay area where lift is. I want to make sure there is enough light when working under the car. One light on each column next to this door will be perfect. See photo.
18. Switched (with motion sensor) outside 500w halogen floodlight. One on each corner.
19. Recess lights outside, over garage doors entrance
20. Individually switched ceiling fans
a. Over computer desk
b. Over car bays (off centered)
21. Propane/Natural Gas, backup generator capable of running the living areas in the first and second floor
22. Decorative lamps on each outside column
23. Electrical entrance gate with video intercom
Other wiring
1. Wired alarm system
2. Telephone service
3. Cable/satellite wired (lines for each room and garage)
4. Cat-5e network cables (lines for each room and garage)
5. Wire speakers for in-ceiling speakers in all rooms and garage
6. Wire video surveillance (power/video lines for 4 cameras)
7. Spare conduit to pull other future cables
8. Video/Intercom to entrance
Equipment
1. Asymmetrical two-post rotary auto Lift (since my Mid-raise lift would stay in my house). See specifications sheet attached.
2. Air compressor. See specification sheet attached.
3. Refrigerator in the garage for cold refreshments
4. In-floor lighting. Excellent way to illuminate the underside of the vehicle when it's up on a lift. These lights are flush with the floor and have break resistant lenses.
5. Wash-up area with deep stainless steel sink. An NSF-rated stainless sink with two sinks and a drain board. There are two sinks so one can be converted to be a parts washer, using an aqueous solution that is EPA-rated to just be flushed down the drain. No solvents, no headaches, and no permanent parts washer to use up space
6. Computer desk area with deep bookshelves (books, magazines, workshop manuals), cabinets with glass door to place the 1:43 and 1:18 model cars, two separate phone jacks, two separate cable TV drops/jacks (one for network and one for Cable TV). All receptacles should be at desk height to avoid having to bend down under the desk to connect/disconnect computer, phone, etc.
7. Air line reels hanging from the ceiling and in the side walls
8. Electrical line reels hanging from the ceiling and in the side walls
9. Provision in the wall to connect a hose to use to expel exhaust gases from garage when doors are closed
10. Provision for Laundry area with Washer, Dryer, and sink to clean oily rags and dirty towels so they don't mix with the regular clothes.
11. Fire-suppression system (unsure if this is required by code or not, if not, a few fire extinguishers will do)
12. Central vacuum system (unsure if this needs to be installed as part of the build or afterwards).
13. Non-skid tiled (porcelain tiles) floor.
Tools in Garage
1. Pneumatic sit-on creeper
2. Keys cabinet
3. Stools for the workbench
4. 2’x3’ white board (sometimes you just want to make sketches and the floor or walls are not the place to do this…)
5. Tools cabinets with stainless top
6. Powder coating equipment
7. Engine lift/hoist
8. Engine stand
9. Drill press, grinder, cutter, polisher/buffer, drills, electric saws
10. Hose to use to expel exhaust gases from garage when doors are closed
11. HUGE fan (to cool down engine, exhaust, etc and to get fumes out of garage
12. Fireproof cabinet for cleaning chemicals
13. Portable low-temp work lights (fluorescent or LEDs)
14. Mig/Tig welder and cutting torch
15. Oscilloscope, digital multimeter, digital micrometer, digital calipers, diagnostic computer, and temperature probe/sensor
16. Computer with digital camera, manuals on CD-ROM, and Internet connection.
17. Flat screen TV with DVD/VCR so that I can watch instructional videos on tuning engines, and play PS3 Gran Turismo to hone my driving skills, etc.
18. Cordless phone and speakerphone for conferences.
19. Two nice big tool case with wheels on it (in addition to the ones that are fixed) for moving the tools, under use, around easily
20. Oil drain unit (on wheels to move under the car when on the lift)
Miscellaneous
1. Carpets/rugs to check for leaks and keep mess off of tiled floor
2. Soap and towel dispenser
a. In bathroom
b. In each wall
c. Next to computer desk to avoid greasy keyboards
3. A TON of sport cars/bikes posters, flags, toys, etc
4. EVERY garage MUST contain at least ONE "pinup" calendar that the wife/girlfriend/significant other does not approve of! This is a MUST! No respectable garage is without one! These are the rules and we as car enthusiasts must adhere to them! It does not have to be ******* or something like that, but bikini-clad women in/around/near sports cars or on beaches is a requisite. This is age-old tradition so don't question it! Ok, ok. I will be the first one to admit that my garage does not have this because the last thing I want is my daughter to ask me why I have that in the garage... thus I will have it inside one of the tool box
, etc.
