A quiet 'Clean' garage from Dorset in the UK

Koje · Jul 10, 2016

Hello, like many on here i have been around the forums for a couple of years but have only just started posting. When we bought our house many years ago i fell in love with the garage as i had always wanted a garage workshop. At 6 x 6 m (19 x 19 ft) it is a nice double size in the UK but nothing compared to a lot on here! My wife was 6 months pregnant with our first child back then, we now have two so as you know time fly's and the garage was put on the back burner.
Well a couple of years ago i was following Toms turbo garage on you tube where he was converting a Mazda MX5 (or Miata) with an LS3 V8 (seriously check it out) and he mentioned The Garage Journal for anyone looking to build their own shop. Again like many i was inspired by The 12 Gauge garage but i have taken ideas from many more.

So i thought well why not make a start! With two kids and a stay at home wife both time and money are a premium so this was something i would be doing all myself and it is going to take time.

I doubt i will do anything different to anyone already on here but i wanted a 'Clean look' garage i.e. no tools showing and trying to keep things looking tidy. So thanks for reading and i shall start with the obligatory messy garage pics - :thumbup:

This was taken just after deciding to make a start as you can see the metal cupboards i bought used from ebay.

This shows the mess and the benches i threw together when we moved in.

Koje · Jul 10, 2016

I had to make space for the garden tools and the kids stuff so i cleared a space in the side garden and also next to the garage for a couple of 'cheap' sheds.

Putting up the sheds by myself was fun. I ended up using heavy wheely bins as supports for the walls whist i screwed it all together. I also made sure it was a calm day!

Koje · Jul 10, 2016

Then was time to clear everything out. Garden tools and toys into the garden shed and bikes etc.. into the garage shed for easy access.
I then moved the benches as i wanted a corner bench and the keen eyed of you may notice i cut the bench legs down at the bottom this was to make them a better height. I also cut some thin ply wood to go on top as a work surface that i can replace as it gets battered over time :thumbup:

As you can see i have no ceiling and just a single power socket....this was next on the list. I also wanted the walls white and planned to have black garage 'furniture'.

Koje · Jul 10, 2016

Next was the ceiling. I looked into using various different materials but the cheapest was going to be plasterboard so i decided to use this and insulate the loft space to keep heat in in the winter. I have never done this before so spent time talking to friends and watching youtube videos!
Their was also an angle to join each side which i wasn't looking forward to.
I ended up putting some wheels on square piece of wood to act as a trolley which allowed me to lift one side of my longer bench so i could put it on the trolley and wheel the bench around to use as a platform to fit the plaster boards. I also made a 'T' piece to support them when up against the ceiling so i could screw them in place.
This took a few weeks on my own but not bad for a first try, i also added two more single strip lights to the double already in place for more lighting.

As you can see i had to patch up a few places but again i have not done this before :lol_hitti

I also fitted a loft hatch with some trim wood so i can use the loft space for storage.

I then skimmed and lightly sanded all the joints. Again took a while by myself as first time i had done it and only getting a hour or two here and there doesn't help.

Where the angles meet it took me a while to get a good edge bit i think it turned out ok.

fastbike02 · Jul 10, 2016

I think it looks good for your first time! I have come to hate finishing drywall with a passion lol

cletus66 · Jul 10, 2016

It's coming along nicely. What kind of bushes do you have around your back yard?

jumbojak · Jul 10, 2016

That'll be a nice space to work in. My "garage" alternates between an unenclosed cow barn and jackstands on plywood. Best of luck on the drywall. I never could get the knack for that stuff.

Koje · Jul 10, 2016

It's coming along nicely. What kind of bushes do you have around your back yard?

Thanks. I have been getting great satisfaction from doing it all myself but it takes me a long time to get anything done!
I am no expert on horticultural matters but i believe they are conifer hedges.

We have them down two sides of the garden they are great for privacy. I live in a corner plot and we have an 'L' shaped bungalow so although it is very quiet i have four borders to look after.

Koje · Jul 10, 2016

I decided again to save money by not skimming the plaster board (or dry wall if you prefer

). So once lightly sanding the taped and skimmed joints i simply coated with a watered down first coat and then a normal second coat with dulux paint using a roller.
Once again i have never done this so was happy how it turned out.

Koje · Jul 10, 2016

More progress....I added two sockets either side of the garage and four where the benches (and planned wall cupboards) are going to be.
I also purchased a used pillar drill in poor condition that i plan to clean up.
I lightly sanded down the cupboards and sprayed them matt black, i chose them because they had a clean look with no handles.
I would have liked to have insulated the walls with plaster board (sorry drywall.....

) but again to save cost and time i decided to paint them, took two coats of masonry paint but looks good enough for me.

Koje · Jul 10, 2016

So onto the wall cupboards....
I tried to take lots of pics as i know everyone likes pics!
I wanted nice metal cabinets but they are very expensive and nearly impossible to find matching cabinets second hand so decided to make some myself :scared:

Again cost sent me down the MDF board route. I measured the walls above the benches and sketched them large enough to fit two plastic containers. I also did a sketch of the sheets and the pieces i needed so to make the cutting as efficient as possible....yep sad i know.

Cutting the sheets down with a circular saw. I used a piece with a factory edge as a guide for straight cuts. I rested them on some old fence posts to make cutting easy.

Once cut i put them into the correct piles and sanded the edges down.

I used a couple of corner clamps to hold the edges and just glued and screwed them. I counter sunk all the holes and where the screws would show i went a little deeper and filled the head with filler and sanded flat to hide them.

Assembled with no doors. As you can see some of the backs i had to set in so that the new plug socked wires/trunking can fit behind them. Where they will bolt to the wall at the top i added a packing piece.

jwhcars · Jul 10, 2016

Looking good sir, enjoy your garage.

Koje · Jul 10, 2016

I had a few hinges lying around so used as many as i could (cost again!).

I primed them all with MDF sealer and painted with rustins matt black, great paint as it only needed one coat. I also gave the doors a light coat with the same spray i used for the cupboards just so they look the same.

I bolted them to the wall through the back with large bolts. I did consider using a french cleat but bolting them directly seemed easier. This is them fitted with no trim.

This pretty much takes me upto date. I have added a trim piece in between them and also a skirt piece underneath. I have also added some strip led's underneath. The BMW sign i bought and drilled a hole in and dismantled an old clock and fitted the time piece of the clock to the sign. I may take a better picture. I also painted my portable tool box to match! Next its onto the benches but it has probably taken me 10 months to get this far :eyecrazy:

TRS63 · Jul 10, 2016

Looks really good until now, keep the good work!

Antoine

yhprum · Jul 10, 2016

Nice work! How did you round over the edges on the doors?

Koje · Jul 11, 2016

Thanks guys.
Still loads to do but making progress which is the main thing. The cupboard doors i routed the face edges all around with a 45 deg bit.
I did also get some minimal handles but i really like the clean look of none and they are easy to open from the bottom because i hinged them at the top. I also have some gas struts to fit so the doors hold open.

ajohno · Jul 11, 2016

Looking good.
Thanks for sharing.

bigjon · Jul 11, 2016

Looks schmick! Great job on the gyprock.

What's your number plate say?

M-technik-3 · Jul 11, 2016

Nice work, like the place. Feels way more inviting than the move in disaster.

Ol'WhiteCap · Jul 11, 2016

Very nice Koje! Thanks for posting that your progress has taken about 10 months. That helps me keep my garage project in perspective. I've only been working about a month.
Do you have pictures of the trolley that you made to install the ceiling plaster board. I have been dragging my feet on that part of my make-over. Your progress is a motivator to me to start a couple cabinets that I want.

Koje · Jul 11, 2016

Very nice Koje! Thanks for posting that your progress has taken about 10 months. That helps me keep my garage project in perspective. I've only been working about a month.
Do you have pictures of the trolley that you made to install the ceiling plaster board. I have been dragging my feet on that part of my make-over. Your progress is a motivator to me to start a couple cabinets that I want.

I am glad i can help motivate! I have been trying to add a bit of detail on how i am doing things so that others like me with no experience may get some ideas.
If you look in the middle of the picture below you can see it at the end of the ladder. It is simply a cut piece of old kitchen work top with some swivel wheels screwed to it. I originally made it for wheeling my telescope around but it came in handy for moving the benches on my own too.
If i can help anymore let me know.

Alvetro · Jul 12, 2016

Looking really good. Just an idea, why not make some storage below the steel cabinets. This will raise them to the same level as the other cupboards ( my OCD at work). Will make great storage for a trolley jack and jack stands etc. Not sure what projects you are into or other heavier items.
Alwie

Koje · Jul 14, 2016

Looking really good. Just an idea, why not make some storage below the steel cabinets. This will raise them to the same level as the other cupboards ( my OCD at work).

Nice to see i am not the only one! I had not considered raising them. But considering their weight it would need to be substantial. I have thought about fitting a 'vanity' panel above them or building some small matching cabinets to sit on top. Once i have completed the big items i will start looking at my OCD erm i mean clean look....

fireeqpsrv · Jul 14, 2016

That is coming along nicely. Good job!

Koje · Jul 15, 2016

Not an update on the garage as such but time spent in the garage. I promised the kids a sand pit so with a couple of decking boards and some scrap/leftover wood made this.

I have some time off over the next couple of weeks so hope to find some time to finish the benches in the garage.

dlcwent · Jul 15, 2016

Koje, you have a fantastic garage. I love the cupboards that you added. And for someone that has never done drywall before, it came out wonderfully. I'll be following. :thumbup:

Denwood · Jul 15, 2016

It's coming along very nicely indeed! I'm loving the cabinets...very much as functional as the expensive steel cabinets, but I'm sure at much less cost.

M-technik-3 · Jul 16, 2016

Keeping them entertained so Daddy can work on his stuff with a pause to work on some Tonka's.

Koje · Jul 17, 2016

Thanks for the comments. Glad i did a thread now!

Keeping them entertained so Daddy can work on his stuff with a pause to work on some Tonka's.

I have no idea what you are talking about....

-Brent- · Jul 17, 2016

That's a sharp looking sandbox. The grooved lines in the lumber is that just a shallow cut?

Koje · Jul 19, 2016

That's a sharp looking sandbox. The grooved lines in the lumber is that just a shallow cut?

Thanks, the kids like it which was the plan. Just need to keep it covered to prevent the local cats using it! Not cut by me, i used a couple of decking boards. They normally have a decorative side (or a different finish either side if you spend more money) which is what you can see.
I just cut all the pieces to length and nailed them together. I have some square timber in the corners (under the seats), and i cut a rabbet? in the boards on the bottom to accept the bottom panel.

Koje · Jul 19, 2016

Ok some time in the garage at last. We have had a heat wave in the UK the last couple of days. Over 30deg in the south here which is very rare so a tough days work! :bounce:

I first finished off a rustic bench i have been planning for the garden. The legs and beam are from fallen fence posts, the side panels from and old crate and the top i used some spare OSB board and decorated it with some spare baton from the new fence panels i cut to size. I then sanded it down and coated it with Oak varnish. It was a bit rushed but i think it looks ok and adds to the 'rustic'.

Koje · Jul 19, 2016

Also got some time on the garage in the heat.

Added some baton to the benches to enable sliding doors to be fitted.

I taped where i wanted to cut the hardboard to prevent it being rough. Then sanded the edges.

I painted the batons and cut and painted some side panels.

I now just need to paint the sliding doors, drill some holes so i can slide them and once in place fit the side panels.

55cadillacking · Jul 19, 2016

Coming together nicely. Helps when you're handy.

Koje · Jul 24, 2016

Busy busy but have managed a couple of hours here and there. Needs a clean up but sliding door benches are done. Starting to look clean.

Next on the list is to get the pillar drill cleaned and repainted and given a bit of a service and get it on the bench. I also have a small vice i will paint and fit at some stage. Not much time over the next few weeks though.

Skeetobite · Jul 24, 2016

Looking very clean!

bryck · Jul 24, 2016

That back left corner in particular looks very clean indeed. Quite a transformation you've managed.

Bib Overalls · Jul 24, 2016

When you said "white walls and black cabinetry" I was taken back a bit. Here at the Garage Journal the trend is grey walls up to 4', a red band about 6" wide, and white above. Red or stainless steel cabinetry. A good combination of colors for most folks including me, although I opted for a dark grey band. In actuality, your color selection, while not for everybody, really pops in a very positive way. Well done!

oldironfarmer · Jul 24, 2016

I really like how it is coming along. Clean and neat! Keep up the good work!

By the way, how big is that telescope?

Koje · Jul 27, 2016

Thanks guys appreciate the comments.

When you said "white walls and black cabinetry" I was taken back a bit. Here at the Garage Journal the trend is grey walls up to 4', a red band about 6" wide, and white above. Red or stainless steel cabinetry. A good combination of colors for most folks including me, although I opted for a dark grey band. In actuality, your color selection, while not for everybody, really pops in a very positive way. Well done!

That's good of you to say because i was thinking i wouldn't be doing anything different to anyone else, not for everyone but its what i was going for :thumbup:

By the way, how big is that telescope?

Its a 12" Skywatcher dobsonian. A lot of scope for the price point, everything is manual but i like that. I do plan to start astrophotography but it is another thing on the list for the future....

A quiet 'Clean' garage from Dorset in the UK

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