Townhouse Double Garage (26x18) in Alberta

lourens13 · Nov 22, 2017

Hey everyone! I've lurked around this site taking ideas and admiring tons of garage and finally figured it was time to post my own. This year I purchased my first house, a townhouse with an oversized double garage, which measures 18x26. During the summer the garage housed two cars, my Nissan 240SX (track car) and my daily, but during the winter a third car is using it as well. Lots of work left to be done, but once completed the garage will be used primarily for maintenance and tinkering on the 240SX and small woodworking projects.

Garage when I bought the house.

Starting some sanding.

Paint!

Two tone.

Adding some colour.

Paint is finished! Also removed the two incandescent bulbs that came with the house, replaced with four LED shop lights.

More updates and pics to come!

scuba0459 · Nov 23, 2017

I’m interested in your garage but it appears all the links to the images are broken.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Stuart in MN · Nov 23, 2017

It appears you have to be signed up to Google Pictures to see them.

TomcoPDR · Nov 23, 2017

Congrats being a first time home owner.

Like others have said, can’t see the photos except for the drywalled starting out picture. Can’t wait to see progress and finished product

Bigdukaaa · Nov 23, 2017

congrats, can't wait to see you fill the canvas

Bessy · Nov 23, 2017

I'm a Google Photos user (or at least I should be, since I have the Pixel...) and all I see is the first photo of mud/tape.

lourens13 · Nov 23, 2017

Fixed (I think)! All of the images are now hosted on Flickr.

marty_p · Nov 23, 2017

Can't wait to follow your progress! :thumbup:

lourens13 · Nov 23, 2017

Have started filling up the garage with goodies
- spare motor
- engine crane
- air compressor
- beer fridge
- wheels and tires
- racks for other assorted tools and parts
- started decorating with some old drifting memorabilia

Next up is a workbench. I would like to build one at the front of the garage, between the air compressor and black tool chest), as well as thinking about making a folding one somewhere along the side. The front of the garage is a little tight and crowded with the red car pushed to the front for the winter.

lourens13 · Nov 24, 2017

This what the front of the garage looked like, before the shelves were hung and before the red car was tucked away for the winter. I'd like to build a workbench between the air compressor on the left and the toolbox on the right, with it going over top of the beer fridge. Still looking at designs and figuring out the best way to tackle it.

The powerbar with the LED's in it and the wire to the roof lights will all be cleaned up once the bench is built.

rywats · Nov 24, 2017

Looks good so far. Where in Edmonton did you buy?

What are you going to do for flooring?

lourens13 · Nov 25, 2017

rywats said:
Looks good so far. Where in Edmonton did you buy?

What are you going to do for flooring?

I bought in the north - northwest, towards St. Albert.

At this point likely just keep it as is. Some of the reviews of the DIY epoxy kits scare me and I'm unfortunately on a bit of a budget and can't splurge to have it professionally done or any of the nice interlocking tiles.

lourens13 · Dec 1, 2017

Decided on workbench plans, going to steal an idea from another GJ thread.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85769

Hopefully have the bench 12 feet wide between the air compressor and black tool box, with a six foot shelf on the right side and then room for the fridge, stools, etc on the left side.

MrQuiet · Dec 3, 2017

Subscribed! This looks very much like what I have to work with.

I should have done the two-tone walls, to be Garage Journal approved

racestatus · Dec 4, 2017

the work bench looks great! taking ideas as I want to build a new one this winter.

lourens13 · Dec 5, 2017

racestatus said:
the work bench looks great! taking ideas as I want to build a new one this winter.

Sorry, that could have been confusing, that is not MY workbench, just a picture of the design I'm stealing. I went out and bought the lumber and my workbench construction will start this weekend!

In the meantime, rearranged some of the shelves. Initially the 8 foot shelf was on the wall behind the heater and the 6 foot shelf was on the right wall near the door (as pictured below).

The 8 foot shelf above the black toolbox kind of cluttered the area above where the workbench will be built, so swapped the location of the 6 and 8 foot shelves to make some more room.

buildyourown · Dec 5, 2017

Whatever you do with your bench, figure out how to best utilize the storage underneath.
I never sit down in my shop unless I'm tig welding so I dont see the need for stools.
My point is to think it through. Every sqft in my shop has to be earned too

sean Buick 76 · Dec 6, 2017

Very nice job on the garage so far! Look into some fold down work benches off the walls if you are interested... I found that to be very useful on the side of the garage where my wife parks her daily driver... Then when her vehicle is out I flip down the extra benches and have room to work for a few hours. She comes home and I clean up and make space for princess to park again LOL!

lourens13 · Dec 6, 2017

buildyourown said:
Whatever you do with your bench, figure out how to best utilize the storage underneath.
I never sit down in my shop unless I'm tig welding so I dont see the need for stools.
My point is to think it through. Every sqft in my shop has to be earned too

Perfect, thank you for the feedback / ideas! I personally kind of like the ideas of having a pair of stools in there. As much as the garage is used for work, there's still a beer fridge and I would eventually like to include a small TV for when I want to take a break and just watch the game.

sean Buick 76 said:
Very nice job on the garage so far! Look into some fold down work benches off the walls if you are interested... I found that to be very useful on the side of the garage where my wife parks her daily driver...

Definitely! I would like to eventually put one folding bench on one of the sides where the two daily drivers park. The bench I'm building this weekend is at the very front of the garage, and while the red car is tucked away for the winter, like it currently is, there won't be a ton of room to use that bench.

Ls9drew · Dec 6, 2017

Love how the paint really set off the garage

lourens13 · Dec 9, 2017

Workbench is done! Well, close to it. Really happy with how it turned out. I think I'll take a 2x6 and wrap the front and sides of the plywood top, just to protect it and make clamping a little easier. For the time being I decided against the stools, but it would be easy to turn the red and black cart sideways if I change my mind. Will eventually paint it grey to match the walls, but for now I like how it looks!

PhantomEB · Dec 10, 2017

Looks good!

Me I would of done the double boxes underneath to gain more workbench space.

Any plans to run a few more lights?

Styx · Dec 10, 2017

Great use of space for sure. Is that a gas or electric heater??? Kind of close to the tires don't you think...

Cheers Randy...

lourens13 · Dec 10, 2017

PhantomEB said:
Looks good!

Me I would of done the double boxes underneath to gain more workbench space.

Any plans to run a few more lights?

How do you mean double boxes?

I'm not sure, there's currently four big LED shop lights as well as additional LED lights on the workbench. Maybe eventually, but I would say it's brighter in there than my iPhone pictures show.

Styx said:
Great use of space for sure. Is that a gas or electric heater??? Kind of close to the tires don't you think...

Just an electric heater, so I would guess it doesn't get as hot as a gas heater? Regardless, I haven't really turned it on yet. It came with the house but the garage is quite well insulated, even when it dipped down to -20 at night I didn't see it get below 10 degrees in the garage.

Started running a 2x2 the length of the bench to hang some wrenches and screwdrivers on. I'll eventually paint match it red but figured I would get it all laid out before I apply the paint.

The vice isn't mounted yet. Would pre drilling the some holes into the 2x4s and installing lag bolts like pictured work, or thoughts on a better idea? Or maybe a better location?

lourens13 · Dec 13, 2017

Cleaned up the wiring a bit on the workbench light and hung some more wrenches.

Anyone have feedback / suggestions on the bench place to mount the vise? And best method? Through the 2x4? Through the plywood with reinforcements underneath?

Legacyruss · Dec 13, 2017

For all the bench mounted vices I have owned (2), I have bolted through the plywood. On 1 of those vices I doubled up the thickness of the plywood and bolted through that. doubling up you ply also gets the vise away form the bench-top making it easier to turn and manipulate.

lourens13 · Jan 11, 2018

Minor update to the workbench! Took some 1x6 and ripped it to size for trim on the front and sides to protect the edge of the plywood and then left the back tall to prevent pencils and drill bits from running off the back.

I'm not sure where to go with the workbench next, I had initially wanted to paint it grey to match the wall but now I'm starting to think I may stain it instead.

Hung some more screwdrivers and files from the 2x2 and mounted an old TV on the wall.

nicholam77 · Jan 11, 2018

Bench is looking great. I am building a similar one right now (and have similar space along the back wall as you - 18').

I too am contemplating how to mount a vice. I think I am going to put it in the left corner where you have yours sitting and lag screw into the 2x4 legs. Two of the mounting holes will be over 3/4 inch plywood alone, so I will likely double up underneath the work surface for those. Not sure if this is the best method (instructions that came with my vice said long bolts with washers and locking nuts) but that won't work if mounted in the corner due to the bench leg. So that's my plan.

Would be interested in more details on the electric heater. Does it run on 110v?

Keep sharing and great progress!

lourens13 · Jan 11, 2018

nicholam77 said:
I think I am going to put it in the left corner where you have yours sitting and lag screw into the 2x4 legs. Two of the mounting holes will be over 3/4 inch plywood alone, so I will likely double up underneath the work surface for those. Not sure if this is the best method (instructions that came with my vice said long bolts with washers and locking nuts) but that won't work if mounted in the corner due to the bench leg. So that's my plan.

Would be interested in more details on the electric heater. Does it run on 110v?

Just checked your thread, very nice! Very similar to mine, from the color scheme, to the tire racks, to the workbench.

For the vice, will you be using bolts and screws on the two bolts that do not go into the legs?

As for the heater, I'm not sure. It came with the house and is hardwired, not plugged in. I would need to check in my homeowner binder that came with the house to find more info.

sean Buick 76 · Jan 12, 2018

Where you locate the vice over the leg you can use a lag bolt instead of a nut and bolt on that one spot, just pre-drill it so it does not crack. I would not bother with locking nuts but I would use a second nut to tighten onto the first nut, then it will not loosen up.

Have a look into a few of these I find them handy:

I have a vice mounted on one, a drill press, a grinder etc, I just need to mount the receiver nice and sturdy and then I can just slide in whichever tool I want into the bench.

Enjoying the -30?? I know I am not LOL!

https://www.harborfreight.com/hitch-mount-vise-plate-66260.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/3500-lb-capacity-step-bumper-receiver-67159.html

PhantomEB · Jan 13, 2018

Looks awesome, Neighbour!

I sure am intrigued to see the exterior of this place. Way to acheive #dowithwhatyougot!

I would love to see more townhouses being built around the city with first floor garages, best of all worlds!

lourens13 · Jan 14, 2018

sean Buick 76 said:
Have a look into a few of these I find them handy:

https://www.harborfreight.com/hitch-mount-vise-plate-66260.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/3500-lb-capacity-step-bumper-receiver-67159.html

I'll take a look, thanks!

PhantomEB said:
Looks awesome, Neighbour!

I sure am intrigued to see the exterior of this place. Way to acheive #dowithwhatyougot!

Couple photos from the builder's website.

lourens13 · May 10, 2018

Minor update to the garage! Finally mounted the vise. Mounted on the left side where there's more room away from the toolbox. Mounted through the plywood and then another piece of plywood underneath, with the stationary jaw mounted flush with the edge of the bench.

Also ran seem 2x6 which was ripped to size along the edge of the bench, to protect the edge of the plywood and give more area to clamp on.

Townhouse Double Garage (26x18) in Alberta

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