25x24 Blank Slate ...

[jfranco]

Hi,

Getting to the final stages of a new 25x24 two car and looking for some advice/lessons learned. Right side of garage is set aside for a hot rod, left side is the family car.

The garage has a vaulted ceiling, I wanted the height, look and the possibility for a lift in the future. I am in the process of running the electrical, sub-feed cable is visible for eventual sub-panel. I plan on fully insulating and putting sheetrock. Going with recessed lighting, any suggestions?

Going with a gas heater.

Doors coming soon, when I can find someone to do install to follow roof slope.

Was thinking of using pallet shelving on right, up to the ceiling for storage. Back wall will be workbench area. Left brick side, bikes, kids stuff, commonly accessed items, etc.

At some point I will have the driveway repaved, but for now, any advice on simple, stable, clean way to level up step to driveway?

I eventually want to put a floor down, but it seems my contractor did a crappy job with the concrete. I was told he should be 'smoothing' it, he is saying that I want it 'polished' for an additional $2k... It was my understanding that they are not one in the same? Does it matter if I am going to put a floor down anyway?

Any other do's and don't so far?

Thanks!

 

[jfranco]

Bumping up, still looking for advice ....

 

[Gentle_Ben]

Going with recessed lighting, any suggestions?

Check out my thread for some lighting methods that I used. I used several different styles of lighting so it might give you a few ideas.

I eventually want to put a floor down, but it seems my contractor did a crappy job with the concrete. I was told he should be 'smoothing' it, he is saying that I want it 'polished' for an additional $2k... It was my understanding that they are not one in the same? Does it matter if I am going to put a floor down anyway?

First, that looks like a pretty poor job on the concrete. There is a difference between a properly finished surface and a polished surface. It appears from your photos that this wasn't finished properly.

Second, $2,000 for polishing a brand new concrete floor is out of line, he should be doing it for free after looking at the finished product he left you. You could also probably hire a service directly for less money or even rent the machine and do it yourself.

Any other do's and don't so far?
Thanks!

When you are designing your cabinets and workbench, it helps to draw them in sketchup or another 3D drawing program ahead of time to give you an idea of how much space you will have around your vehicles. My garage interior design changed completely and I ended up rotating the garage dimensionally 90 degrees once I saw it sketched.

 

[jp828108]

I am no concrete guy, but that finish looks pretty bad. When my uncle poured my dad and brothers building he finished and left if with a polished look that very day. It's smooth as glass, and slicker than you know what. That is before it is damp or oiled down. Maybe you can get by with that for now, and eventually rent a grinder and epoxy it. I imagine some of the flooring guys will chime in soon.