The project that should have taken 2 weeks

burtonry · Mar 18, 2009

Okay, I've been reading ever post on this site for the past 3 months and haven't felt far enough along in my project to post anything yet. It all started back in July when my wife mentioned it would be nice to have a "mudroom" (for shoes and coats) when winter rolled around. Our house is only 4 years old so I looked at her and said I would think about it.

After 2 months of planning and drawing it up I decided the best way to accomplish this would be to steal the place from the garage :lol_hitti

I came up with a plan that only stole 2X4 feet of space and the rest was pretty much wasted walking space used to turn at the bottom of the stairs. I removed the old redwood deck and pushed it to the side of the garage and started building the platform that would become the floor in the mudroom.

After building the platform I built 3 walls to enclose the room, I moved the door from the house to the garage and made it the door from the mudroom to the garage. I installed a window to allow my wife to yell out at me without having to invade the "holy ground".

Final result is a room that is 10' wide by 4' deep, I installed hooks and shelves and other **** that you put inside mudrooms. This is a view looking in from the garage, the doorway on the left is the old doorway into the garage.

burtonry · Mar 18, 2009

This led the wife an I on the hunt for flooring that could stand up to wet boots and snow clothes laying on it without ruining the floor, after finding what we likes I was going to pick the floor up the next weekend. We only needed 40 square feet so I was pretty sure it would set me back too much, WELL of course it went on sale for 60% off so the wife wanted it in the WHOLE HOUSE!!! :Toilet:

This led to her wanting a wall in the living room for her piano and BLAH BLAH BLAH

And 4 months later it was done!!! :thumbup:

The wife is happy and she gave me the go ahead to spend a little money (under $500) in the garage

burtonry · Mar 18, 2009

Now to the important stuff!!!
I first built a bench for my toolboxes I uses the leftover subfloor (3/4 OSB) from the mudroom to build a simple bench. In the middle I installed rails that accept dollar store tubs perfectly.

I am taking the next 3 days off to try and finish the garage so it will be getting painted by Friday.

The next task was to wrangle up all the kids balls and build an organizer for them. I recycled some shelves from a corner desk that I was throwing away, I drilled 6 holes in each and stretched some bungee cords through the holes. After 1 month I have yet to have 1 ball fall out :thumbup:

burtonry · Mar 18, 2009

My next storage idea was to build a hanging tote system from a beam that runs the width of the garage, the beam drops down about 24" from the ceiling and is LVL with drywall over it. I mounted 2 full sheets of 3/4 OSB using lag bolts directly into the beam with chains and turnbuckles at each corner. I weight tested it and got almost zero movement when doing a pull-up each side. I then mounted 5 upside down T rails built out of 2x3's and 2x4's on each sheet of OSB. This allows the system to hold over 36 totes I picked up from HD for $3.44 a piece.

I don't store anything over 15-20 lbs in the hanging totes, they slide in and out with ease and this has freed up a ton of room for store holiday decorations and seasonal stuff.

burtonry · Mar 18, 2009

My newest addition is the rail wall tool storage system, because of my budget I couldn't get a slatwall system so I came up with this very inexpensive solution. I bought 2 sheets of 18 MM plywood at HD; I don't know why it was listed in MM but they are very sturdy and straight as an arrow, they were priced at $40 a sheet so it didn't break the bank. I ripped the sheets down to 6" strips the 3" strips @ a 45° angle, this yielded over 12 8' long rails that are mounted on the wall with enough left over to make more brackets than I know what to do with.

Before

Rails getting wipe-on poly

Rails getting mounted every 20" or so

Bracket design some are 4" some are 12" depending on load and width of what it's holding.

I also mounted a few things that are useful to move around the wall

And here is a view of some of the tools I am storing on the wall now.

I have the next 3 days off of work before I leave on a week long business trip so I am planning on getting the whole garage painted and install the rest of the rails around the garage. I'll post an update of each days progress.

vjquan · Mar 18, 2009

I like the rail wall! Very creative!! Your other work is very good also, but this one I might actually steal someday.

goodfellow · Mar 18, 2009

Love the "French Cleats" -- that's very innovative solution -- good job!!

PAToyota · Mar 18, 2009

I like the ball storage - nice thinking! :thumbup:

T56 Impala · Mar 18, 2009

Some very interesting ideas here. The French Cleats are a very good idea. The rail system has been stolen, I'll tell you that right now! I was wondering how I was going to organize the garden stuff, Now I know. Thanks for the very nice post! In case no one else says it..... WELCOME!!!!

JohnK007 · Mar 18, 2009

Your totes on the T-rail system has given me an inspiration to try it for holiday junk, and the French cleat rail might work out in the garden shed. Thanks, now I've got more to do!

Mike83 · Mar 18, 2009

Waitscoting in the mudroom - very nice! You do great work, I like the storage solutions. We don't have enough stuff for all the storage need (no kids yet), but the time will come!

JMURiz · Mar 18, 2009

Very cool ideas, and cost effective too.
Great idea on the mudroom! How big was/is your garage anyway, must be decent depth?

lilcuda · Mar 18, 2009

Love the tote storage idea. Genious! The rails are cool, too.

Scotto · Mar 18, 2009

The bin setup is a great idea. I'm definitely going to use that design somewhere in my garage/basement. Definitely make some labels for them or you'll go crazy trying to find things!

sammerdog · Mar 18, 2009

Great job on the mudroom.... too good. Now how do we get the moderators to blow away this thread before any of our wives see burtonry's work? Man, if our women (or life-partners in the case of the Southern California members) see the "hollerin' window" and the killer flooring in the kitchen.....

...we'll all be losin' garage space thanks to this pot-licker!

You also have what looks like 10' or better ceilings. I would like to award you a "you ****" award for the nice set-up.

Stargeezer · Mar 18, 2009

Welcome. Great post. Like the ball keeper. Very good way to store them and still give the kids easy access. All of your storage ideas are smart and cost effective.

wrigh003 · Mar 18, 2009

Wow- if you got all that done over even a few months, you move a lot quicker than I do.

Nice work. I am stealing your french cleat wall system idea AND your mudroom deal. I already have it 2/3 of the way there, but the mudroom/closet shoe keeper area for the kids makes way more sense than the open porch I have there now.

His200HerScout · Mar 18, 2009

Those organizing rails are genius!

Great job on everything else.

thdewey · Mar 18, 2009

Ryan
I will be stealing some your ideas. Your simple storage ideas are brillant. I particularly love the bin storage under the workbench. The floor turned out great.

Keep the pics coming.

ket-tek · Mar 18, 2009

Nice, you did a good job. I really like the mud room addition...

e-tek · Mar 18, 2009

This is fabulous (and I don't use that term often)! What a handy-man!
This thread sparked my interest because I have to do several of these jobs myself this summer. We have a Kitchen reno happening and Mrs. E-tek wants the entire main level floored with laminate - but I'll leave that to the professionals! She also wants part of the garage made into a mud room, plus I want to re-do the walls and floor.
Is that laminate or hardwood? If laminate, is it 8mm or 12mm?
Did you have to use much bullnose edging- or did most of it work to a wall?

autoist · Mar 18, 2009

I now how those projects can run on & on...I've been working on the gameroom, bathroom & pantry in/over my garage since after Thanksgiving......saw a couple of things I can use from your project also.

Oh, I also used that wainscoating in my bathroom.

e-tek · Mar 19, 2009

autoist said:
I now how those projects can run on & on...I've been working on the gameroom, bathroom & pantry in/over my garage since after Thanksgiving......saw a couple of things I can use from your project also.

Oh, I also used that wainscoating in my bathroom.

Not to hijack the thread, but any updates Autoist?? :thumbup:

burtonry · Mar 19, 2009

I forgot to post the specs before I started. The garage was 21' wide by 23' deep before the mudroom addition, the mudroom is 4X10 so the garage is now 19' deep for the 10' of the room. I looked out because the floor height of the mudroom allows a few inches of my Tahoe's front bumper to go under. The wife is extremely careful and hasn't hit the wall since I built it :thumbup:

. 19' is adequate room to open the rear doors with the garage door closed, the old deck and stair combo was 3' so I really only lost 1' of depth. The height is 11' with the bottom 28" being a poured concrete foundation.

Today I got a slow start because I had to run some errands and to HD for some wood, of course I wandered around looking for anything I didn't need that was priced to good to pass up :drool:

. I started moving everything out at noon and had to wrap up by 6 pm.

Here's the progress. Pulled everything out from underneath the mudroom, built 1 of 2 rolling storage bins (ran out of washers used on the casters).

What a mess :shocking:

The storage bin is 48" wide by 42" long and 22" high on 3 7/8 casters

I was able to fit almost 3/4 of the stuff back under 1/2 the mudroom

I also got the hose reel and extension cord reel hung from the ceiling.

Tomorrow I should get to work on it around 10 am and I don't have to quit until bedtime so I'm hoping for a lot of progress, I'll keep y'all posted.

burtonry · Mar 19, 2009

e-tek said:
Is that laminate or hardwood? If laminate, is it 8mm or 12mm?
Did you have to use much bullnose edging- or did most of it work to a wall?

It is an 8mm laminate from Ikea, not the highest quality but I haven't had any problems with it since installed. I pulled all of the 3 1/2" baseboard up and installed new 6" baseboard I got for 61¢ a foot from a friend that works at a trim supplier. When building our house the cabinet guy through away about 30' of perfectly good maple 3/8" trim so I grabbed it and stuck it in the joist space in the basement, pretty much forgot about it until I was installing the new floor. I guess it pays to be a pack rat sometimes.

burtonry · May 23, 2011

After 2 years of no changes to the garage I finally got the bug to work on more storage solutions.

The first thing I got started on was to re-do the ball/helmet storage bin, my kids never used the old bin because it was to hard for them to get past the 2 motorcycles in the way. My solution was to build a new bin lower to the ground and place it in the opposite corner where it will never be obstructed. Since it was built last week my kids have played every ball and used their helmets every time they've ridden their bikes.
<a href="http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z120/theburtons4/?action=view&current=IMG_0991.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z120/theburtons4/IMG_0991.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

As I was building the ball storage bin I kept tripping on their Razor Scooters so I decided to put this little rack together. Took me about an hour and the kids actually put them away after every use.

<a href="http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z120/theburtons4/?action=view&current=Scooter.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z120/theburtons4/Scooter.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I also built a rattle can paint storage shelf (forgot to take a picture), I still need to paint everything and build a level base for the ball bin. I'm thinking of building a wall of cabinets on the other side of the garage but I haven't figured out a solid plan of attack. Maybe plywood and 2X's...

nissan_crawler · May 23, 2011

Awesome storage ideas. I have one suggestion, though. I would remove those s hooks on the suspended shelves, and replace them with a threaded chain quick link.

I say this from experience for two reasons. One, I had them open up over time...***** when you walk in, and the shelves broke off and everything is scattered.

Two, I didn't learn and put heavier hooks in...which worked great until the bottom of the shelf got slammed into hard (long story), and bounced up enough for the s hooks to come out of the turnbuckle. I got the hint that time.

nate379 · May 23, 2011

With that tall of a ceiling I would be rolling in a lift! Looks like you have 12-14ft?!

IMXCITD · May 23, 2011

great storage solutions! :thumbup:

bazzateer · May 23, 2011

Really like the rails and tote storage - so many ideas to steal from this site!

Zeke · May 23, 2011

Nice ideas. I guess you kept the fire door to the house, because the window sure violates some codes. Did you ever attach a handrail next to the steps? The landing looks small and the underside of the "deck" probably needs a one hour wall. I don't know, if I was a real building inspector instead of one of these shyster contractors everyone yells about, I'd have to open the book.

I think homeowners should try at least a little bit to build to code.

nate379 · May 23, 2011

Looks to me like he built a deck off the garage wall and drywalled it in. Why would you need a fire rating for that? The original fire wall and door are still there from what I can tell.

"at least a little bit to build to code"

You make it should like he threw up some **** with no regards to safety, or hell even a tape measure. Sorry but I'm just not seeing. I am seeing someone that is jealous of a nice project and great work though.

draglink · May 23, 2011

The "Mike Holmes" attitude is really getting on my nerves these days

project looks GREAT

padstack · May 23, 2011

milt said:
Nice ideas. I guess you kept the fire door to the house, because the window sure violates some codes. Did you ever attach a handrail next to the steps? The landing looks small and the underside of the "deck" probably needs a one hour wall. I don't know, if I was a real building inspector instead of one of these shyster contractors everyone yells about, I'd have to open the book.

I think homeowners should try at least a little bit to build to code.

Or possibly ask the question instead of imply and act like "lord frothy buns" himself???? Seems a little unwarranted to use this guy's thread to try and make a "point".

nissan_crawler · May 24, 2011

milt said:
Nice ideas. I guess you kept the fire door to the house, because the window sure violates some codes. Did you ever attach a handrail next to the steps? The landing looks small and the underside of the "deck" probably needs a one hour wall. I don't know, if I was a real building inspector instead of one of these shyster contractors everyone yells about, I'd have to open the book.

I think homeowners should try at least a little bit to build to code.

Wow.

Who cares what size his landing is? I'm pretty sure he's not putting a bbq grill on it and having picnics there.

What code does the window violate? I'm pretty sure windows are allowed in buildings, and that one doesn't look any different than any other. If you're referring to how the install was done, why not say what the issue is?

Victorymike18 · May 24, 2011

Awesome storage ideas, and very nice fit & finish!

I have a 5-month old, and I'm sure I will be "stealing" a few of these ideas in the near future.

Oh, and I'm jealous of your high ceiling! I've got 10' and I think it's going to be just a little too low to effectively hang bicycles from those pulley systems...

Keep it up.

The project that should have taken 2 weeks

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