Cramped single car. Ideas welcome!

[Crzydmnd72]

Cramped single car. Ideas welcome! updated progress

Here is my small single car. This is a working garage that gets used nearly every weekend, by me and my son. I also share space with the washer/dryer as the pics will illustrate. We do a little of everything out here, mostly automotive.

Ideas welcome. I've hated this for years, and have shrunk the pile a little over the last few months, but it does serve many purposes so I think I will just have to be on top of it at all times since the real estate is at such a premuim out here. Sorry about the cellphone pics, I'm not a camera guy at all lol

 

[61falcon]

first off quit smoking, its a nasty habbit. i suggest cabinets as i like how neat things look when all the doors are closed and everything is out of sight.

 

[Crzydmnd72]

first off quit smoking, its a nasty habbit. i suggest cabinets as i like how neat things look when all the doors are closed and everything is out of sight.

I did in 2005. Just an occasional cigar for me. My wife is still the smoker lol and it would be perfectly OK with me if she quit.

 

[Drebs]

a shed big enough for the lawn mower and other stuff would free up a lot of space in he garage. do you have access to the attic?

 

[purplezr2]

first off quit smoking, its a nasty habit. .

I was going to say the same thing. Especially if there is a kid around. My old man smokes, but I was at least 10 before I ever saw him smoke on, and even then, I rarely see him actually smoke. With that said. Organization is your friend when space is limited. Figure out ways so every item has a designated spot. Cabinets as mentioned would be a good idea, look in the free section of CL>

 

[Crzydmnd72]

a shed big enough for the lawn mower and other stuff would free up a lot of space in he garage. do you have access to the attic?

There is actually a loft in the garage. The low ceiling is actually the floor to it. The seasonal stuff is kept up there and its fairly full also. At least its all boxes.

 

[5lima30]

All good ideas so far! Also check out Jack Olsen's garage threads for some great ideas on what can be accomplished with a small space!

 

[Weekend_warrior]

I'd suggest pulling everything into the driveway... put a donate pile, trash pile, and keep pile. Sort it. Donate the Donate pile, trash the trash pile. Evaluate the size of the keep pile. Rent a pod and store the keep stuff there while you paint and build or rearrange storage for what is in the keep pile. If you haven't used it in a while or just don't need it. Get rid of it.

Shevles and cabinets to keep things out of the middle of the floor so you can work on projects.

Once everything is built you can empty the pod oragnizing as you go. It will be the key to keeping you happy with your space that is limited.

I'd second the shed and attic if you can.

 

[internetdude]

...Rent a pod and store the keep stuff there while you paint and build or rearrange storage for what is in the keep pile...

I actually recommend you *don't* do that. Putting stuff in a storage locker is a slippery slope. Once you start putting stuff in there.... watch out... Better off dealing with it now, and if that means buying a shed for your yard and filling it, that's probably cheaper in the long run than paying rent on a locker. Plus you still see it so you'll have to deal with it sooner. Remember "out of sight, out of mind"...

 

[Jay H 237]

Something else I would try is to move the workbench on the opposite wall between the gray shelf and the fridge. That way everything large is against one wall and will make the garage look bigger than having large stuff sticking out from the walls on both sides.

 

[Laredo]

Toss the car seat. If you need a place to sit, replace it with a couple bar stool type chairs. Get everything you can off the floor. Clean up and clean out. With a garage that small, every cubic inch is critical. Seperate and sort what you use often, from what you use rarely and store accordingly.

Speaking from experience - 12x17 space.

 

[HSpencer]

My suggestion would be to go to the dollar store and get some of their clear plastic storage boxes. The size that fits nicely on your shelves. I would put like electricals in one, spray paints in another, etc. While there, a few peel and stick labels to attach and tell you what is in each box. This is a way to corral your items in a neat fashion.
As you sort into the boxes, have a large trash can to throw away the things that are useless, like empty spray cans, broken items and trash. Doing that will put you well down the road, and then you can look at getting rid of boxes. Losing the cardboard is another quick tune up for a garage. As an ex supply sergeant in the army, our commander used to tell us that cardboard boxes were created to get an item from them to you. Once you get the items you NO longer need the cardboard. I hated him at times, but the guy was on target. Any area looks better without cardboard boxes. This is a low cost way to get started. Once you do this, your on the run to a well organized shop.

 

[donnie m]

 

[Crzydmnd72]

Update, small one. My son went thru garage with me the night after I posted. He gathered all his car audio stuff and put it away, his tools and put them away.

We went thru all the tool boxes together, C-Man, Klein, and a few odd Snap-On items were kept. Great Neck, anything rusted, rounded, substandard got pitched.

The van sofa is nice to sit on but its been on everyones fence for throwaway already lol. When its not cluttered.

I am already against putting **** in storage, why pay rent on ****?

Plastic totes are a good idea, I hate cardboard also.

Small steps, but its going to lead to a more quality work experience.

I will get some updated pics in the next day or so

edited to add, no lawn equipment is kept in the garage. Its covered in the backyard. Shed gets built when life slows down a little, and I'm back hitting on all 8.

 

[Ole_Red]

Plastic totes are a clutch idea. I plan on keeping a very well organized garage once we get our new place (the search is ongoing). Having everything in the same size/style containers, well labeled, allows easier stacking and organization.

Have you thought about putting the washer and dryer on a platform? raising it 12-15" will give you more storage space underneath and be easier on your back when emptying the dryer. Heck build more shelving above the washer and dryer if possible so that more room is freed up in the open area of the garage. It would be a good area to put your "chemicals" of choice. By that I mean paints, wd-40, cleaning supplies etc.

I personally would move the computer tower to below the work bench. Its taking up valuable working area. As is the van bench. I had one of those for many years in my mom's garage. It has since sat outside for the past 5 years. It is going in the next dump load (this post has reminded me of it, I dont live there anymore so I had forgotten about it). They take up a lot of space and do a good job of getting in the way.

this is just my $0.02. I will definitely be keeping an eye on your progress!

 

[Crzydmnd72]

Re: Cramped single car. Ideas welcome! Updated

Sold some things. Threw out some trash. Rearranged a little. My son helped, his mantra throughout the summer long task was "Let Lowes store it until WE need it"

My brother scored these cabinets from a bank remodel, they were headed to the garbage until he spoke for them. On to the pics

Still can stand to throw out more i suppose. I need to build a better TV shelf as well. took all summer but i had a back surgery thrown in there, as well as going back to work. My son and a couple of his buddies REALLY helped pull this together

 

[51rider]

Nice progress

With your heater & the amount of flammable gear you have in there I'd have a metal Flammables cabinet as an urgent priority.

Unless they have sentimental value, ditch the CRT's as they take up far to much space and get a decent HD flat screen-the price has come down considerably and you can get scart connections so you can continue using the VHS. I will be pulling the trigger on a 22" Samsung in the near future and it is only £79+taxes!(USD$140 ish I think).
Think about putting the PC CPU in a cupboard too. The dust in the garage isn't good for them & just make sure you drill some ventilation holes and put some filter media in there to keep out the worst of the dust. A regular dust blow out with the air compressor will help keep it in good shape.

Keep up the good work.

 

[CodeRedZ]

Very good progress

 

[Crzydmnd72]

No attachment to the CRT's just waiting until they burn up. I'm tight as bark on a tree lol.

Computer gets blown out every 60ish days anyway, good thought on filtered cabinet.

I'm careful with the heater, it gets put out if any painting or solvent usage is planned