CAMMShaft's Garage Build

[CAMMShaft]

After lurking for a few years and gleaning this forum for many spectacular ideas that I have incorporated into my own garage, I have finally decided to create a build thread of my own.
I purchased a piece of property a few years ago to build a home with two attached garages; one for the cars and one for my "shop". I completed some initial drawings via sketchup and then worked with a contractor to finalize plans (for both the house and garage). Once the plans were complete, I left the designing of the interior of the house to my lovely wife and the garage was an open canvas for me.

You can see from the plans the the garage would be built with two 10'X10' insulated doors with windows, a man door to the garage that houses our daily drivers, and a man door to outside. The space also has a lot of windows, but they are high enough to avoid the loss of wall space and to detract "snoopers".

Once the floor plan was complete, it was time to start creating. Many hours were spent on sketchup. My wife was not near as impressed and I was with my 3D creations.

The plan was for the contractor to do the build and I would add a few things along the way such as plumbing for air, wiring for sound, paint designs, etc.

Stay tuned...

CAMMShaft

 

[CAMMShaft]

The main purpose of the garage is for motorcycle repair and maintenance with a little woodworking. It used to be the other way around, but I have found over the years that I enjoy wrenching on motorcycles a little more than woodworking.

The lot has been marked and is ready for digging.

The digging for the footings/basement begins.

The hole is dug and ready for footings.

Digging in the winter is kind of a messy project, but I was glad that it did not delay the construction. Seeing progress is exciting!

CAMM

 

[Sunbimmer]

Well I'm impressed with your 3D creations and your plans , I'm following!

 

[CAMMShaft]

Well I'm impressed with your 3D creations and your plans , I'm following!

Thanks Sunbimmer! While I am definitely a sketchup amateur, it is a fun way to dream while waiting for the project to start.

CAMM

 

[HSpencer]

I really like the woodworking nook you have designed into the shop. The layout will be very nice, and enable you to have actually two major areas. I am thinking this will work very nicely for you. Too bad your having to build in snow. I like the concepts of the new shop!!

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

 

[LXCam]

So is part of the shop in the basement or is that space just a bonus room for ya. Congrats and good luck, it looks mighty cold there.

 

[CAMMShaft]

I really like the woodworking nook you have designed into the shop. The layout will be very nice, and enable you to have actually two major areas. I am thinking this will work very nicely for you. Too bad your having to build in snow. I like the concepts of the new shop!!

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

Having two hobbies share a somewhat limited space can be a challenge, but this seems to work pretty well.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

So is part of the shop in the basement or is that space just a bonus room for ya. Congrats and good luck, it looks mighty cold there.

Fortunately, the basement is unfinished so it is mostly used for storage. I have considered moving the woodworking equipment down there, but have not pulled the trigger yet. I also have a makeshift paint booth in there as well. It makes the house smell like paint for a couple of hours, so I get some evil stares from my wife. I also buy and sell dirt bikes for fun, so it works well for winter storage of them. There is a door from the garage into the basement which is convenient (even though I don't like that I lose some garage space). The basement is also a walk-out basement so I have double doors and about 5-6 steps up to the back yard which makes it easy to get a dirt bike in and out.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

I was impressed at how quickly things progressed even though it was winter.

Footings have been poured.

Forms for the basement walls are going up.

Basement walls being poured.

Basement walls are complete.

Basement floors are being finished. The doorway at the top of the picture with the guy standing in it is a door into the garage.

The garage floors are complete. The garage on the left is for our daily drivers. The garage on the right is for my "shop".

CAMM

 

[C_F]

Looks like it's coming right along, I will enjoy watching your build.
What area of the country are you in?

 

[CAMMShaft]

Looks like it's coming right along, I will enjoy watching your build.
What area of the country are you in?

I'm in Layton, Utah...guess I should update my profile. Looks like you are close by.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

Looks like it's coming right along, I will enjoy watching your build.
What area of the country are you in?

...and I agree, SNOW BLOWS!

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

The framing begins.


The basement has been framed

The first floor is almost framed

2nd floor framing in process

Trusses are starting to go on.

Framing mostly complete

Front

Back

Sorry for all the pictures of the house rather than the "garage". Going forward it will mostly focus on garage progress.

CAMM

 

[C_F]

I'm in Layton, Utah...guess I should update my profile. Looks like you are close by.

I'm near Lehi, so not too far away. Dang, they are really cranking away on your house build! At this rate, you might be in by Christmas!

 

[T_R]

...and I agree, SNOW BLOWS!

CAMM

No way, I like the snow. I saw your pics and was jealous. We have nothing here yet. Last year at this time it was highs in the 20s and 2 feet on the ground already. This year it's 50, no snow but lots of mud.

Everything looks good so far.

 

[CAMMShaft]

The house is actually already complete, I am just slow to get it written up on here.

CAMM

 

[C_F]

No way, I like the snow. I saw your pics and was jealous. We have nothing here yet. Last year at this time it was highs in the 20s and 2 feet on the ground already. This year it's 50, no snow but lots of mud.

Not me...if I never see another snowflake in my life, that would be fine by me. To me, the only thing it's good for is doing donuts in empty parking lots.
Oh, and keeping your beer cold.

The house is actually already complete, I am just slow to get it written up on here.

CAMM

LOL! Okay, that makes sense.

 

[savethatclassic]

Looking good!

 

[Power Sedan]

Things I'm noting during construction of my next home build... attached oversized work shop! Nice step up!

 

[CAMMShaft]

Looking good!

Thanks!

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

Things I'm noting during construction of my next home build... attached oversized work shop! Nice step up!

Thanks! One of the great things about it being attached to the house is that it is quick access. It is no big deal to quickly grab a tool or something needed in the house. It also stays warmer, so it is cheaper to heat.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

Here are a couple of pictures of the framed garage. The stairway leads to an unfinished basement.

Next up, plumbing for air.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

I decided that I would plumb my air system using PEX. My compressor is a 7HP, 80 Gallon. I ran 3/4" PEX from the compressor to the attic and ran a 3/4" loop through the attic from one end of the garage to other and back, a few feet from the walls. I tried to run the loop so that moisture would run downhill towards the line to the compressor. A valve was installed at this point to drain water as needed. It was challenging to get the PEX to line up so that moisture would always run downhill since it is flexible tubing. Despite trying my best, I am sure there are some low spots. The good thing is that I live in a really dry climate so humidity has not been too much of a problem.

I then ran 1/2" PEX off of the 3/4" loop for all of my drops attached to quick disconnects. Where the 1/2" connects to the 3/4" I ran the 1/2" PEX up before running it down to avoid moisture from the main line running into the drops. I have two 1/4" quick disconnects in the ceiling for hose reels, five 1/4" disconnects on the walls, and two 3/8" disconnects on the walls. I have a water separator at most of the quick disconnects. This is definitely overkill for a garage this size, but why not. It is cheap and easy when the framing is exposed.

Ceiling quick disconnect for a hose reel

Ignore the poor drilling of holes. This is what you resort to when your tools are in storage. Luckily it will be covered by drywall.

I have a 3/4" hydraulic hose that will connect the 3/4" PEX to the compressor. More on the compressor hook up later.

For the hose reels I added a 2X6 between the trusses with some metal brackets (just in case) as a mounting point. I am really glad I did this as mounting the reels would have been problematic without these and adding them after drywall would have been painful.

Using PEX worked great and was easy and is leak free. I only have the power turned on to the compressor when running air hungry tools or the sand blast cabinet. Other than that, the compressor and air lines hold enough air for the easy day-to-day stuff.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

The more I read this forum, the more I wish I would have used PVC instead...






or not. (could not resist)


CAMM

 

[J_French06]

Big house and a nice garage to go along with it

 

[CAMMShaft]

Big house and a nice garage to go along with it

Thanks!

CAMM

 

[shortykorte]

I guess the 3/8 disconnects are for air hungry tools. Is the blast cabinet going to be hooked with 3/8? What will you be running on larger disconnects?

Now I have to rethink my layout. I like the idea of a couple of larger disconnects.

 

[CAMMShaft]

I guess the 3/8 disconnects are for air hungry tools. Is the blast cabinet going to be hooked with 3/8? What will you be running on larger disconnects?

Now I have to rethink my layout. I like the idea of a couple of larger disconnects.

Yes, the blast cabinet is hooked to one of the 3/8" disconnects. Other than that I do not use the 3/8" disconnects much, but they will be good if I ever need to do some serious impact wrenching or something similar.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

The next step of the build was electrical. I provided a map to the electricians of all the electrical I wanted in the garage. I am definitely not an electrician and therefore, I am not familiar with all the symbols/lingo, so don't make too much fun of my map.

After seeing my map, they decided to run 400 amp service to the house with a 200 amp panel in the garage. It was nice that the electrician/builder came to this conclusion on their own and the builder therefore did not increase my cost.

The electricians installed 3 240v outlets, 14 120v outlets, and 9 4-bulb T-8 light fixtures. I have been really happy with how bright the lighting is in the garage. I rarely have to use an auxiliary light.

After the electricians finished, I ran Cat5 and Coax to the garage. I also wired the garage for 7 speakers. I then installed thermostat wire for the heater. The Cat5, Coax, speaker wire, and thermostat wire all run to a central location where I have a desk, computer, audio receiver, and the thermostat.

(The blue boxes are speaker wire)

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

I had hot and cold water along with a drain run into the garage. After drywall I installed a sink and a spigot that has both hot and cold water. My old garage did not have a sink and it is great having one now! I use it almost every time I am out there, if anything just to wash my hands before going back into the house. The spigots have been very useful for washing the motorcycles. The hot water works great when used with a pressure washer.

A natural gas line, exhaust vent, and electrical were installed in the corner for a heater. This is another upgrade from my last garage and I love it! It is probably my favorite part of the garage. Being able to work in the garage during the Utah winters without freezing my tail off has be great. I even have a portion of the garage set up as a home office that I work from at times. This would not be feasible in the winter without the heater.

The sink and heater make my garage so much more functional!

CAMM

 

[LCG]

Are your previous posts in "real time" as progress went?

like from nothing on 12/02 to your last post today?

I'm out...

 

[CAMMShaft]

Are your previous posts in "real time" as progress went?

like from nothing on 12/02 to your last post today?

I'm out...

The garage is already finished, I am just slow to get it posted.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

Next up was the insulation of the garage. The exterior walls are 2X6 and were insulated with batt insulation (I cant remember the R-value) and the ceiling was blown in insulation. The 10X10 garage doors are also insulated. In addition, I added a man door between "my shop" and the garage for the daily drivers. This has been very helpful in maintaining heat and not letting in cold every time we pull a car in or out of the garage. I debated putting a door in between the two and I am really glad I did. I keep the thermostat at 45 degrees when I am not in there and it rarely kicks on. It pretty much has to be in single digits or colder outside. When I am in the shop I set the thermostat to 60-65 degrees and it warms up pretty quickly.

Once insulation was complete, drywall came next.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

And then the drywall was taped and mudded.

This shows the 3/4 PEX that will connect the air system to the air compressor.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

...Then the painting began. It was started with the contractor painting the ceiling and walls white.

Next, I painted green stripes on the walls.

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

...the contractor then painted the lower portion of the walls dark grey.

You will notice in these pictures that the garage is pretty much complete. All electrical and lighting is completed, the railing on the basement stairs is installed, the garage and man doors are hung, the air line quick disconnects are installed, and one of the hose reels is installed. Still left is the epoxy flooring, sink and spigot install, speakers, cord reels, and heater.

I only installed an automatic door opener on the door I anticipated I would be using the most. The other door is wired, but has no opener installed. I have been fine with it this way and at this point don't think I will be installing a 2nd opener anytime soon.


CAMM

 

[Sunbimmer]

That looks fantastic good color combo

 

[CAMMShaft]

That looks fantastic good color combo

Thanks! I had one of the stripes completed with my original color choice and my wife described it as the color of baby poop. I ended up changing to the green in the pictures and it was much better

CAMM

 

[CAMMShaft]

Next to be completed was the flooring. I happen to know a guy who has expoxied some of the hanger floors at Hill Air Force Base. He did my floors and they have held up very well without any issues. He first acid etched the floors and then put down a grey epoxy. He then did a full broadcast flake which was 50% grey, 25% white, and 25% black flakes (IIRC). The flakes were then covered with clear epoxy. I don't have any pictures of the bare floor, but here are some when I started moving my stuff in.

CAMM

 

[C_F]

That turned out looking really nice! So how many cars get parked in there? Just curious how much is shop space vs. parking.