One man's garage project from Finland..

JoniH · Jan 19, 2015

One man's garage projects from Finland..

Hello from Finland!

As i already mentioned in the introduction section, sorry about my english, i'll try to check my spellings on translator..

I am born in 1981, engaged and have a 14 months old daughter.

So, i have been flicking trough this nice forum for several years now, mostly hanging in the background, because i am a Finnish guy. We Finns don't like to talk..

Well, just kidding.. i've gotten some good ideas, seen and read many awesome projects, and after getting some courage, i thought i post something about my garage project.

Outside dimensions are ( in metric, sorry about that..) 17mx7.7m, the warm garage takes 10.5m off that. Inner height is 3m, plenty of outlets, a hole for a flush mounted scissor lift, waterline and a separate storage room/changing room for clothes, compressor, parts, etc.

I started the build at spring 2014, trying to do as much as i can myself. Long days back then, especially when having to work and take care of your family at the same time. Had a friend help me putting the frame up and finishing the outside, it goes a bit quicker when you don't have to jump up and down from the scaffolds..

Here's a load of pictures, nothing special going on.

Edit: Can't get thumbnails from photobucket, so fullsize it is.. sorry.

Admins, feel free to change the image sizes if possible or delete this thread if it is too big.

And here we go:

Nice view..

Borrowed a backhoe from a friend, i have to get one of these myself! All limbs still attached, nothing got damaged..

And a little more sand..

Well, the backhoe fits..

The base for the wall separating the warm side of garage

Frame staring to come together

My house

Trusses arrived, and so did the rain too. Plenty of it..

Progress

Got the roof on, nice warm day for that.

Getting ready for concrete

Painting

Nice looking floor, very pleased with it, just concrete, should have spend the extra euro's and got the master top in it..

Making a smaller opening, pushing the construction rules a little bit here. Normally i keep it down, if i need to get something higher in i can lift this flap up.

My little helper..

Well, it's something around 22.30 at night, still screwing drywall up.. and up to work next morning at 05.00..

Got the doors up, the second one was much faster to assembly, size 2.5mx2.75

Not too much room for errors, had to back in with the backhoe stretched out.

And done!

Storage room starting to take shape

View from the workbench area

The house, my first build in 2006-2008. Outside walls are precut (?) elements, a crew did that and the tiles on the roof.

Had to take a little time off from building when i got it finished, changed workplace, and many other things happened, so the garage build took a little time to start.

So, sorry for the long story in one post, i'll ease up on the picture amounts from now on.

drivesitfar · Jan 19, 2015

Joni: first off there is no such thing as too big of a thread or too many pictures. i'm not a MOD, but i can tell you that i'm sure they will agree that you can put up as many garage pictures as you need to so your thread will work best.

I've got to run to work so i'll comment on your pictures and process in the next post and just want to let you know that so far it looks fantastic as does your little helper.

cheers

roger440 · Jan 19, 2015

Agree with drivesitfar.

Excellent build. Im not jealous at all............................

Some serious insulation in the floor there too. Is the stuff around the outside to stop the frost getting to it?

hoho98925 · Jan 19, 2015

JoniH, nice build you got there! I especially enjoyed your use of shelving for scaffold... Nicely done :thumbup:

JoniH · Jan 20, 2015

drivesitfarThanks!

roger440 Thanks, no need to be jealous.

I already got that from a co-worker when he found out the size of this.. he said it was bigger than the apartment he lived and he didn't talk to me for the rest of the day..

Yes, same stuff on the inside and outside, keeps the frost away from the foundations. 2 layers of 50mm styrofoam on the inside, and 3 layers at the outside corners. Some use even more, but that should be enough for this half-warm garage.

BTW, nice looking Holden in your avatar, i have the poorer GM version, if you don't mind saying that.. a 3.2 l V6 GTS Vectra lives in my garage.. Nice list of the others too. :thumbup:

hoho98925 Thank you! Scaffolds were great, my friend who helped me had those. He had so much of them that we managed to get almost the entire long side of the garage done without moving them. Easy to take apart Kasten parts, usually found in warehouses for shelving pallets.

ADSR · Jan 20, 2015

Cool looking shop! What's with the garage within a garage? is that part cold storage only?

JoniH · Jan 20, 2015

Thanks guys!

Originally it was meant to be a separate warm storage room with a door only from the outside. For gardening tools and other stuff, but i think i have better use for it having parts, paints, nuts and bolts in it. And a changing room for clothes before getting back to the house.

Hoping to make this summer more cold storage behind the garage, if nothing else, to keep the trailer clean from snow and maybe later making it a shelter for a tractor.

But first i have to get the yard done, promised the girlfriend that this summer we will have lawn on our backyard.

JoniH · Jan 20, 2015

Last night got the frame done for some shelving up on the workbench area. Not quite pleased with it, looks like a bunkbed.. It will need some doors on it, sliding or normal, hopefully it will improve the looks of it. Just catches my eyes every time i enter the garage.. Hate to waste good storage space, but.. I have to take a cup of coffee and try to figure out what to do with it, maybe i take it all apart.

1/2 Cup · Jan 20, 2015

Well done and a fabulous build.. :thumbup:

Regards

drivesitfar · Jan 20, 2015

Joni: check out Woody's thread here where he puts simple doors on some upper shelving. he only has a one car garage, but you'll like how he is maximizing his space and the quality of things he uses.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=263351

enjoy the read and I hope it helps you or gives you a few good ideas.

JoniH · Jan 20, 2015

drivesitfar Thanks for the tip, read through the topic, Woody has done a great job! I think i'll have to visit the hardware store tomorrow..

Good day today, got plenty done. Cleaned the garage, threw the excess drywall bits out and sanded the walls ready for paint. Also made little changes with the shelf over the workbench, i'm starting to like it.

Painted the framing for it with semi-gloss varnish, think it will go nicely with the plywood walls and white sliding doors. I'm going to hang the worklight(s) with some chains and turn buckles from underneath the shelf, leaving the frame exposed.

drivesitfar · Jan 20, 2015

Joni: looking good. also one thing to remember as you are doing all the framing is to run wire for lights, tools and maybe tv and internet if you might need them. better to run a few extra wires while you have the walls open than to have to do it later.

some guys even use empty pvc type conduit or pipe to run in wires later if they are needed.

glad you like Woody's thread and really hard not to like it with all the cool videos and work he is doing. i'm sure he'd like to hear your comments so make a few posts and ask questions if you see something that you are not sure about. that works in all the threads and that's how we learn and also teach others.

JoniH · Jan 20, 2015

The wires for lights and outlets are all in place, there's a couple of them hanging just behind the center column, hard to see them from the picture. The outlets and work light switches near the workbench will be underneath the worktop in a aluminium/plastic rail, so when using power tools, the cords are not in the way. Those wires come through the storage room wall, keeps them protected.

No tv for this garage, besides, the programs here are no good.. Well, maybe not Fast 'n loud..

Forgot to pull the phone line in so i'm getting a wlan-booster for the internet, connection should work fine from my house.

Hopefully tomorrow i get to open the paint bucket, but before that, i'll have to cut a couple holes in the wall to get the airflow working.

HMEN · Jan 20, 2015

Great looking garage, looking forward to see the finish outcome.

Denwood · Jan 20, 2015

Looking awesome! Thunder Bay apparently has the largest Finnish population in Canada, outside of Finland, so I feel very familiar all of a sudden. I even have a sauna in my basement

I'll be following your build along.

drivesitfar · Jan 21, 2015

Joni: it sounds like you have all the wiring installed so hoping your plan works. i don't think you mentioned what kind of work you are going to do in your new shop garage. or did you?

i think you said having your tractor and trailer inside the garage. any cars? are you a welder or more of a woodworker? just asking because maybe i (we) can send you some ideas or threads to read to give you a little help.

or do you just want us to sit back enjoy the pictures of your progress and enjoy your picture jokes which are pretty funny by the way.

one of our Norwegian members lives up north and he posted a few pictures of the Northern Lights. here's one i thought was pretty cool. can you see the lights from where you live or are you south where you actually get a bit of daylight during the day?

JoniH · Jan 21, 2015

drivesitfar Yes, everything should be in order with the wiring, if not, then i'm the only one to blaim.

The tractor is a upcoming purchase, someday.. Just like a motorbike is. It's more fun to push snow than shoveling it. Besides, when you live in the countryside, you have to have a tractor, right?

And by trailer, i meant the on that hooks up on my car. These will get their own cold shed behind the garage, after final inspections are done by the building inspectors.

I have a project car at my old/uncles garage, will move it here after i get the floor painted. We built it together several years ago, and now that i'm getting my own, i gave my share of it to him.

It's a -85 720 Datsun, so i think i'm more of a welder now..

Had to re-make both sides of the bed, most of the cabin floor, patch the frame several places, etc..

The sides gonna need some bondo..

I actually like to do both, metalwork and wood, it's been really nice for a change to make something from wood than welding on a rotten car. So after the garage is finished or at least almost, i'm moving my attention on the Datsun.

We live near the South coast, so we don't have that often Northern lights here. Nice that the days are getting longer, in about 2 months the winter is hopefully gone.

xtremek · Jan 22, 2015

JoniH said:
Hello from Finland!

My little helper..

Glad to see you had a proper supervisor directing the work. :lol:

Very nice build and the Datsun looks like it's a fun project.

JoniH · Jan 22, 2015

xtremek Thanks! She does a great job on that, i'm hoping to spend lots of time with her at the garage working on projects together.

The Datsun will get a update from the sd23 diesel under it's bonnet, but i'm keeping the outside more of a sleeper-look.
But, that'll have to wait, more important things to do before that.

Like painting the walls and ceiling. Dammit.

Going a bit backwards with the job order, i painted the bottom of the walls grey today, 2 layers should do the job. Filled the screw holes in ceilings sheetrock and sanding it tomorrow. Hoping to get the ceiling and upper parts of the walls painted by the weekend. Still waiting for Mr.Sandblaster to call, should get the fire door back in a few days.

The grey and white will get a red stripe between them, a pretty common but nice looking color scheme.

The paint is still wet in the picture, it darkens a bit when it's dried.

Well, nothing special in this update, just stoked to finally get some paint on those damn sheetrocks.

I'm starting to get allergic from that stuff, 2 layers inside at the walls and ceiling.. and one on the outside preventing the wind to blow in the insulation.

minimowog · Jan 22, 2015

what a great build and a great big space to work in

datto ute looks in good hands as well

drivesitfar · Jan 22, 2015

Joni: get yourself a good mask if you haven't already. or those little paper masks help because sheet rock dust tends to head straight for your nose. i'm sneezing just thinking about it.

also make sure to keep your little girl out of the garage with paint and other smells. i'm also guessing the door will have a lock on it if you are using that back room for chemicals? little kids like to put everything in their mouths so the more you can pick up and keep stuff off the floor the less Dr. visits you'll need at the emergency room.

Paint looks awesome

janok · Jan 22, 2015

Hello!

Jan Oskar from Norway here

Nice garage you are building, where in Finland do you live?

JoniH · Jan 22, 2015

drivesitfar I have a Scott half-mask, don't like to use the paper one's. It's nice to wear, not that expensive and you can get replacement filters to it from several places.

Don't worry, even the cough-medicines are on the upper shelves.

Hi janok! Thanks, we live near the south coast, in Kotka.

JoniH · Jan 25, 2015

Small update: got the ceiling and walls painted. Also as a bonus, got my neck sore and a inflammation on my left shoulder. Wich is nice..

ticci · Jan 25, 2015

JoniH said:
Nice that the days are getting longer, in about 2 months the winter is hopefully gone.

Well, we have some optimist here don't we?

Great thread JoniH, keep it coming! Not sure did you mention how are you going to keep the garage half warm? Ilmalämpöpumpulla?

JoniH · Jan 25, 2015

ticci said:
Well, we have some optimist here don't we?

I'm hoping that, so far the winter has been good..

The floor area in front of the workbench has a warming cable, wiring in four places under the windows for radiators if needed and main heating is done with a heat/cooling pump.

drivesitfar · Jan 25, 2015

Joni: painting looks great and what is it that they say. no pain no gain?

sorry to hear your neck is sore, but i bought an inversion table about 7 years ago and i haven't seen a chiropractor since. here's a picture of my 81 year old mom using mine because here Dr. couldn't find anything wrong and only recommended pain pills. Saunas won't cure everything and i'm pretty sure you'll like the inversion table if you try one. after 3 weeks of using mine every day for 5 minutes a day she was off the pain pills and running around again. that is her on the inversion table in the picture.

i would say if you have any back or pains it's the one piece all family's should have. here's a couple links. my old chiropractor told me not to use more than 5 minutes at a time and the only time I've seen him in 7 years is to have lunch.

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Invert-Align-Inversion-Table/3399117/product.html

https://teetertv.com/?gclid=CPm2yebYr8MCFc6Cfgodh5wAaA

JoniH · Jan 25, 2015

Thanks drivesitfar, i'll have a look at them.

I made a promise to myself, that when this project is fairly finished, and have a little more time after that, i'm getting back on the workout stuff.. or maybe a little bit earlier than that.

drivesitfar · Jan 25, 2015

Joni: on some days when i lift a few tons like when i moved this shelving unit and put a few of my big vises on it i hang 5 minutes in the AM and another 5 minutes at night and a few days later i'm good as new.

just ask if you are thinking about gym equipment purchases and i'll help if i can because I've seen a lot of good stuff over the years and some junk too. you can also get a great workout with a pair of adjustable dumbbells and some bands and a small bench as long as you make the effort to do it almost daily.

i like how one of your neighbors thinks your optimism is above the norm after having another cold and dark winter. keep positive and the ups and downs of life seem to be more fun.

JoniH · Jan 28, 2015

Got the fireproof door back, sandblasted and painted dark grey. Welded the hinges back and fixed them with new bolts and bearings, the door was cut off from the frame to get it out. Got it free from a friend who did a update on their boiler room. Weighs a ton, it's from 1967..

That's all for now, expecting to get a couple of cabinets in place by the weekend.

drivesitfar · Jan 28, 2015

Joni: nice looking door and a little over kill for a wood framed space, but i like it. can you tell me (us) why you didn't put the door all the way to the floor and why you left that little toe kicker at the bottom? or am i seeing things?

paint job is looking good. it's always a little bit of a pain to do as in your neck this time, but it always makes things look better.

JoniH · Jan 29, 2015

Morning drivesitfar

Well, the door was free, and our building regulations require it to be fireproof in some cases. The door frame is not open at the bottom so had to install it that way, nothing wrong with your eyesight..

Need to get the floor painted before installing the floor moldings, probably going with (15cm) 6" high strips of plywood to protect the drywall.

JoniH · Feb 8, 2015

So, no spectacular progress over here. Been busy working and spending time with the family. We got about 8 inches snow in two days, and that caused some problems.. Heavy snow on trees and power lines = problems.

Had the power down maybe five times one day, and a spike in the current fried the boilers hot water pump.. so for a couple of days the showering was pretty quick..

Well, got that fixed, can't wait to see the bill on that..

Today i had a few hours for myself, got a bunch of small things done.

Workbench light in place, decided to go just with the turn buckles, adding a piece of chain would lower the light too much.

Took all the pictures with a potato, as you can see from the quality..

Minor changes for one cabinet, had to cut it because the light switches would bee too close to the door. The amplifier will be on the upper shelve and maybe the vacuum cleaner can move in also..if it behaves.

Got the sink in place, and a plexiglass to keep the plywood clean.

Need to get the floor painted, but i might bolt the cabinets already in place so that i can get the stereo and speakers wired. I was thinking to place them up on the cabinets, but i need to do a soundcheck before installing cable covers.

That's all for now, seems that i'm now in a stage where i need to do this before that but can't do it before i get something else done before it.. slowly but surely..

magnusk750 · Feb 8, 2015

Hello from Estonia. Nice build! I like the plywood. Good Idea to have something sturdy for hanging tools, tool boards etc.

drivesitfar · Feb 8, 2015

Joni: sorry to hear about the power spike causing you to repair something that was already working fine. what a pain. i have some of those spike prevention units to plug my computers into so it shuts down power with the hint of a spike and not sure what to do for bigger stuff.

got a question. i think Google's translation said you took pictures with a potato instead of what you were trying to say. maybe cell camera? i like the turnbuckles instead of chain so the big light is a little more solid. also are you just going to drain the sink outside or do you have a drain i can't see in the garage. also hot and cold water or just a drain? pretty cool looking sink.

take care and keep us posted. cheers

JoniH · Feb 9, 2015

Thanks magnusk750 Not sure yet will i go with open shelfs or closed cabinets, but either way, no need for togglers.

Waiting for summer so we can visit Tallinn old town again.

drivesitfar, pictures are mostly taken with my cell phone, the quality in last ones are not that good.

That's what i meant with the potato part.

Sink has been laying in the woodshed for years, finally found use for it. It came with the house, someone counted wrong and i got two of them. The drain is under the cabinet, you can see a little of the white pipes coming from there. Only cold water for now, maybe adding a small warm water boiler after final inspection.

Wrote this in a hurry with my tab, i'll check the spelling later.

JoniH · Feb 16, 2015

Re: One man's garage projects from Finland..

Well this has been a ****** day, i'm quite pleased that it's almost time to go to sleep.. And like a cherry on top of the cake, my tablet decided to freeze just when i got to the point where to submit reply..

*Whining starts*
Day of from work, thought that i have a full day to work on my projects. Well, i did get a couple of hours. Most of the day went taking care of other things.. I just hate when you have to do something in a hurry, resulting in half-assed things.
*Whining ends*

Oh well, i just have to work a little faster tomorrow..

Moved my drill and all the bench parts to my garage, left a mess in the old garage..

Next project is to weld a couple of shelving brackets for storing some iron flat bars, angles, tubes , etc.

Metalwork finished on the drill bench, last pieces painted today.

One inch thick plywood for the worktop is cut to right size, edges chamfered, sanded and a layer of clear varnish applied on both sides.

Still need to build the shelves and a drawer, trying to start on those tomorrow. And a small edit on the title, as things start to include more than just building the garage itself..

Edit: For some reason i can't change the original topic title..

sean Buick 76 · Feb 16, 2015

Nice work, keep up the updates they are all really nice to see!

JoniH · Feb 17, 2015

Thanks sean Buick 76! You got some nice projects going on too. :thumbup:

A little update, got the bench finished. Wheels work great, it's easy to move around, feels a little top heavy maybe but pretty sturdy.

Shelves and the drawer got chamfered edges just for the fun of it. Maybe adding a piece of rubber mat on the worktop, not sure yet.
It's going to get dirty anyway.

Everything i need fits in and there's plenty of room for more.

I'm quite pleased how it turned out, took a little more time than i thought, but it was a fun project.

EDIT: Added/changed a couple of pictures.

JoniH · Feb 23, 2015

Things have been little slow on the progress, found some decent priced tool wall panels with hooks and wall mount storage boxes. Been going through many plastic bags with nuts, bolts, washers, etc. filling them up.. Brought the rest of my tools from the old garage, and it's pretty obvius i need to visit the tool shops..

I've already moved the panels a couple of times, just hanging stuff on them to get my temporary workbench mess cleaned. Black/yellow units are just lifted up from the floor, they won't be staying there.

Started to draw plans about the workbench, i think i'll make it L-shaped so that the smaller bit is against the storage room wall.

One man's garage project from Finland..

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