2/3 car suggestions?

[spent21]

I have been looking at this site for awhile now trying to get some ideas for my space. I think I have plenty of storage... I just need to finalize something.

A brief tour:
Outside looking in.
I have removed 95% of the hooks, nails, screws, and shelves the previous owners installed. I really should have taken a 'before' picture... it was ridiculous.
The remaining hooks and cabinets will probably go in the workshop side once I get some projects done. The floor has already been epoxy coated gray.

Inside out:
there is a small soffit area to the left above the door for the bonus room plumbing. To the right, I installed my hose reel.

Right side:
beer fridge, water heater, water softener (defunct), mop sink (currently unplumbed), main panel, snowboard, and entryway.

I have thought about tearing out the softener, but it's going to be a lot of work to reclaim such a small space (tearing out all of the equipment/piping, moving the water heater, and re-piping hot/cold/flue. I also thought about enclosing the softener and water heater just to reduce the black corner look.

Left side:
Double door entry to the shop area.

I scored a killer deal on the shelves. The warehouse where I purchased them felt so bad that they didn't have what they originally told me they had, they loaded me up with more shelving than I could use. After I hauled the extra off for scrap, I had $20 in this setup 30" deep, 12' wide.

I used a quick connect at the compressor so I could wheel it outside to drain the water from the tank.

And left a dirt leg before the reel. I still need to put a hose on it though.

The cabinets and work bench were on the back wall where the shelves are now. This is where they've landed for the time being.

The sub panel is behind the tool box. I had some spare space, so I wired up a 220 plug for my new 190 that is peeking out back there.

There is seriously a recepticel every 4' with a gfi every 3rd. I have 4 circuits for outlets alone.

the conduit/outlets surface mounted on the wall irks me, but I think I can live with it since I really **** at drywall.

Things I would like to address
1. Paint
2. Water heater area
3. Sink install
4. Under stair area
5. Lights
6. Shelving doors
7. Welding/work bench


1. Paint. If I got everything together and leaving the floor, I was thinking about a light gray... maybe two tone... or maybe incorporate chevelle/camaro racing stripes into the mix?

2. Water heater area. Should I spend the weekend removing the softener and replumbing this? Should I just build the removable wall around it (with vents)? What would you do?

3. Sink. Would there be any codes issues to having a sink there? The service enters/leaves the top of the panel, and I can get to all of the plumbing in the crawlspace behind the sink. I can get some counter top and cabinetry for free and toss the mop sink to make a cleaner look.

4. Under the stairs. I had the mower there for a bit, but after having all the grass just outside the door being tracked back in the house, it got a new home:

I thought about building some shelving there for the wife's gardening stuff. I put firewood there this winter. I dunno...

5. I'm pulling the incandescents and installing some surface mount t8s when I get a chance. I did a converter swap one night and had a hell of a time doing that and constantly moving the spot lights

6. Shelving doors. I have thought about a way to enclose the shelves for a bit and think I can do it with 2 sliding 'barn doors'. I've figured out how to get a bit of false wall there and how to do my track at the top. I think I like my bench where it is, but the location doesn't allow me the room to have swing out doors.

7. Bench. I have also thought about building a roll around work/welding bench and tossing the existing one. The reason being I don't want to cut/grind/weld in there in an effort to keep it clean (also why the vice is on the filing cabinet outside). If I had a large roll around bench, I could wheel it out in the garage when I needed it and not take up parking space.




I'm not looking for Morris Frye's garage:

I'm just looking to have something I can keep clean, looks nice, but still work in.

I look forward to your suggestions!

 

[mgoug]

Seems like a good canvas to start with.

Any idea why there are double doors? Could the wall removed to open the space up a bit more?

Good luck!

 

[dubber]

I'm seriously jealous of what your working with, large 2 car with significant bump, plus a whole other room, plus a huge shed. You better make this nice, so i can live vicariously through your creation.

As for the softener, even though it may be some work is it really worth leaving that there if its not used?

I assume you will be reconnecting the sink, that's very useful to have that in there for sure. We have one in our mudroom just beside the garage that i use constantly especially in the winter to clean the rubber car mats.

 

[spent21]

Seems like a good canvas to start with.

Any idea why there are double doors? Could the wall removed to open the space up a bit more?

Good luck!

I'm 95% certain that the wall could be removed. I'm just not sure that I want to. There's also a pool table above it so I'd be a bit concerned about the loss of extra support.

I'm seriously jealous of what your working with, large 2 car with significant bump, plus a whole other room, plus a huge shed. You better make this nice, so i can live vicariously through your creation.

As for the softener, even though it may be some work is it really worth leaving that there if its not used?

I assume you will be reconnecting the sink, that's very useful to have that in there for sure. We have one in our mudroom just beside the garage that i use constantly especially in the winter to clean the rubber car mats.

Buying this place has been a long time in the making, and we paid a little more than we were looking to spend because of the space.

The softener has a bypass valve on it, so no water even goes through there. The electronics are fubar'd and the water quality is fine.

The sink was actually removed from the washroom. I re-worked the layout and added a work counter above the washer/dryer with some cabinets. There just wasn't anymore room for it in there.

 

[CNGsaves]

Nice big space to plan out what you want. Congrats! Lots of GJer's have used Sketch-Up software to consider many different layouts and functions for garages.

Few items I noticed you could think about:
a) Wash basin/sink right under electrical panel is against code . . . water and electricity don't mix. I'd move the frig into the extra room and move sink away from electrical panel over to where frig was (might be better to downsize frig to mini-frig)
b) Get rid of open shelf over electrical panel. I'd install hanging cabinets to left of panel with doors so everything stored inside
c) Need sturdy bench with vise in garage for big projects
d) Extra room with sturdy shelves could be configured to actually store a motorcycle off the ground instead of plastic tubs - - motorcycle lift?
e) Air compressor needs upgraded to 60 gal / 5 HP and extend copper airline system throughout garage (use little compressor as portable one or sell)
f) Install sturdy shelving up near ceiling in garage itself for plastic tub storage so small room can be for frequently used items / motorcycle related

My 2 cents . . . have fun deciding on how you want your layout.

 

[gtsonoma]

Congrats!!, Very nice property. My thoughts....
1. Spin the frig around 180 and put it under the stairs, looks like it might be a good fit there
2. Do the work to get rid of the water softener or make it functional
3. Move the sink to where the frig is now.
4. If you remove the softener, move the water heater into the corner, finish off that corner with counter top, base and wall cabinets, maybe even convert the sink to a big single basin stainless steel unit.
5. Build or install kitchen wall cabinets on the wall from the back door to the wall with the double doors. No base cabinets, park all your scooters here.
6. Make the entire room behind the double doors your work shop. Contain all your dust, sparks, etc in that room and keep all your vehicles clean and away from flying sparks....
7. Mount the air hose reel in the ceiling or high on the wall just inside the double door.
8. The steel shelves are nice, but open shelving collects dust and dirt, build sliding doors to cover that entire end of that room.
9. Repurpose the base, counter top and wall cabinet to the area the fridge is at now.
10. Build a steel work table on wheels for the shop area.
11. Floor and walls look to have a good clean finish, but both spaces could use some character, add some color/strips part way up the walls.
12. Shed looks to be a real good size but might be nice to have another set of doors on one end, park the atv out there.

 

[spent21]

Nice big space to plan out what you want. Congrats! Lots of GJer's have used Sketch-Up software to consider many different layouts and functions for garages...

I couldn't help but notice the KS OK CNG reference. My dad recently hooked up with a couple of guys out of OK (I believe) that are trying to get the CNG market off the ground in Jackson, MS. He just spent a few weeks in West Virginia IIRC getting certified as a refueling site inspector, and bought a CNG F250.

 

[CNGsaves]

I couldn't help but notice the KS OK CNG reference. My dad recently hooked up with a couple of guys out of OK (I believe) that are trying to get the CNG market off the ground in Jackson, MS. He just spent a few weeks in West Virginia IIRC getting certified as a refueling site inspector, and bought a CNG F250.

That's great what your dad is doing . . . getting in on ground floor of growing CNG transition as transportation fuel. Lot of the southern states have long ways to go in getting public cng pumps setup so opportunity is great. Several cng pumps going in Alabama and Louisana, but had not heard about Mississippi.

 

[spent21]

Well, I haven't done as much as I would have liked by now, but here's what I did.
I pulled the water softener and moved the water heater to the corner.
I scoot the fridge up against the water heater
I came up with a cabinet set from work... for free... that has a small sink in it already, so that goes next to the fridge
I hung cabs above the sink and in the corner next to the door.
I painted the ceiling and the walls.
Since I was going to be painting, I ran down my lighting wires and split the 'fridge light' away from what will be several t8's


Water softener gone and water heater moved

corner/door cabinet

Dartboard

So I'm holding off on moving everything back over there until I get the plumbing set for the sink. I received a quote for $1200 to run the water lines and the drain to the hand sink, so I guess I'll just do it myself. Since I'll need a hammer drill, I'm going to go ahead and run the gas line for my grill.

My next thing to address (and maybe before the plumbing) is installing the lights in the main part of the garage.
Then I can get started on the other side.

 

[spent21]

I've had a busy year. Here's some of the other things I've been up to.

Cataloged, photographed, and listed over 300 quad parts.

built this little guy

and this little guy

sold the bike

and I worked on my truck...

Went to Mexico

and most recently, we got a puppy.

 

[WillyKJr]

Cool puppy. Other stuff is pretty good too. Looks like you're paying good attention to the space and enjoying it. Niiiice.