Creating cheap, smart, and useful multi-purpose garage...

[Josh B]

29Nov10

Every project has to begin somewhere. I start with a cluttered storage-workshop-parking area. I am newly married and just starting out. I don't have the luxury of my own mancave/shop. I am very thankful for having a 24x24 garage with my very first home, but I strive to make it more.

I doubt that I ever will have a garage with a WOW factor, I am very tight with money. I just want a place where I can get "IT" done, in a clutter free area. Somewhere the wife can store some things and I can store some things in a presentable fashion.

Some Pics:

I am making progress slowly, I am in the middle of a bathroom renovation project. I need some type of shelving, but need to get rid of the "junk" first. I just sold two bulky items on Ebay, the third will be on its way out this week.

 

[jmauld]

Is a small outdoor storage building/cabinet an option? If so, start with that. Remove everything from the garage that doesn't get used in the garage. Yard tools, bicycles, etc...

Also, just a quick suggestion, but your stereo (or any electrical equipment IMO) should be higher than your work surface. There are vents in that equipment that will collect metal pieces when you're not watching.

 

[Josh B]

I have no building at the moment, but I do have a couple options. (1) Once I get the bathroom done, I might put lattice around the deck. The deck is high off the ground around back, and I could close off a section to make a "shed" under the deck. I could also throw my ladders under there.(2) I have a small area of flat ground to work with. I could put a small shed in the backyard, but I am worried it that it will look funky.

Yea, I need to move that stereo. I threw it down there to get it out of the way. I want to use it in the garage, but I said that 4 months ago as well.

 

[cobymedic]

I feel your pain!! I am also working with a 24x24 on a tight budget. Watch your local sales flyers for the items you need to come on sale crab them up.

jmauld has the right idea also, I have a 10x10 shed behind the garage and that holds all my lawn equipment, shovels, ladders, and anything else that I dont need in the garage. I am actually thinking about doing the samething to my deck as well, I was just looking at it yesterday. We have this white nasty cold stuff all over the ground right now, so that will have to want till spring.

I notice there is a beam running across your ceiling. You could always build or buy some shelfs or cabinets and stick up there for the stuff you dont use that often to. It would be interesting to see if something like that would work out.

 

[Josh B]

Speaking of tight budget, I'm a huge Harbor Freight fan. Other than my Hitachi mini drill/impact and Craftsman wrenches/sockets, most of my stuff is from there.

You know, I looked at XcYZ's garage and was really impressed with the soffit storage idea. That beam is about a foot in height, I suppose I could do a mini version of XcYZ's soffit.

 

[Tjc]

Does that get flooded? If you had any machinery I would get a hoist or something to prevent damage and rust.

 

[Jack Olsen]

It's a cool-looking space. Nice that the walls have already been finished and that there are a fair number of outlets installed. It's a great starting point for a garage and shop.

I'd keep an eye on that drain -- make sure it stays clean. Also keep in mind that with the garage recessed that way you might be slightly more vulnerable to gasses (inert or explosive) pooling in there. I wouldn't worry about it too much, but it's something to keep aware of if you take up welding or do a lot of paint work in there.

 

[Mark H]

To most of us on this side of the pond,that's a BIG garage.For years I had to make do with a 16 ft x 7ft lock-up!
Wall mounted storage cabinets would be a good start to help free up floor space.Extra power outlets can be added as required so you don't need to run cables everywhere.
Worth checking out Jack Olsen's thread,'The 12-Guage Garage',some clever storage and space saving solutions on there.

 

[Mark H]

It's a cool-looking space. Nice that the walls have already been finished and that there are a fair number of outlets installed. It's a great starting point for a garage and shop.

I'd keep an eye on that drain -- make sure it stays clean. Also keep in mind that with the garage recessed that way you might be slightly more vulnerable to gasses (inert or explosive) pooling in there. I wouldn't worry about it too much, but it's something to keep aware of if you take up welding or do a lot of paint work in there.

Man,I type way too slow!

 

[ddawg16]

Cluttered? You call that cluttered? If you compare your garage to most of the ones here....that is empty....

The good news is that you have the right attitude....

I would suggest storage and organization as a start....I have found that the more 'holes' I make to store stuff, the better I am at putting the object back in the hole....and I spend much less time looking for it the next time I want to use it.

I would suggest looking at how Jack did his garage (click on the link in his sig). You can also get some ideas from mine (not as neat as Jacks though).

Case in point....your metal peg board (I like it)...see how you have a place for everything? If you see an empty hole, you know your missing it (it tells you to look under the hood of your car before you drive away).

It looks like you have some woodworking capabilties/abilities illustrated by the selection of wood and wood working tools. Some of the most wasted space is upper cabinets (once again, check out what Jack did.....are you starting to see a patern here?) It's not hard to make good cabinets.

Oh....and welcome to GJ.

 

[Josh B]

Does that get flooded?

We moved in our place around the end of April, no problems yet. This summer had several HARD rains. The drain is sloped to the outside of the house, runs into corrugated piping, then over the hill.

Cluttered? You call that cluttered? If you compare your garage to most of the ones here....that is empty....

You are right, disorganized is the better term. I can park both our cars in the garage every night. However, I am starting to get overwhelmed if something doesn't have a "home".

It looks like you have some woodworking capabilties/abilities illustrated by the selection of wood and wood working tools. Some of the most wasted space is upper cabinets (once again, check out what Jack did.....are you starting to see a patern here?) It's not hard to make good cabinets.

This one of my new found skills, and I like it. I am chomping at the bit to make the cabinets with sliding doors all over my garage. If not for the wife, I would put the master bath repair/remodel project on hold and make me some!

 

[markviii]

Nice space, Josh. Finishing up that master bath is definitely #1 priority. You'll both appreciate it, your wife will love you for it, and she won't "bother" you so much about the time/effort you put into and spend in your garage workspace. This is coming from the wife of BB767 of the Restored 1930's Auto Shop with 35+ years of blissful (sometimes, but always interesting) married life. Watch out for those priorities!

Chris

 

[thomask]

Nice space, Josh. Finishing up that master bath is definitely #1 priority. You'll both appreciate it, your wife will love you for it, and she won't "bother" you so much about the time/effort you put into and spend in your garage workspace. This is coming from the wife of BB767 of the Restored 1930's Auto Shop with 35+ years of blissful (sometimes, but always interesting) married life. Watch out for those priorities!

Chris

JOSH, Listen to what your elders are telling you. They have years of experience dealing with the true Supervisor of all men's projects. Keeping the better half happy is Job 1 and makes everything run smoother.

Good luck and I bet you will do a great job there. We will be watching your progress. I got some used but nice cabinets from an office remodel.

Jack Olsen did a great job on his storage in LA, check his thread out for pictures and ideas.

 

[Josh B]

JOSH, Listen to what your elders are telling you. They have years of experience dealing with the true Supervisor of all men's projects. Keeping the better half happy is Job 1 and makes everything run smoother.

10-4

I did a photoshop pic of my garage while dealing with insomnia last night. (Hey, I was bored...lol). It is real close to scale, I painted over top a real image.

This is what I want to accomplish with the back wall...

 

[Agatha]

There's a lot to be said for sweat-equity. Sometimes the lack of a fat wallet is a good thing as it forces us to become very creative. A chest of drawers isn't always meant for a bedroom. Check out yard sales and look at items for what they can be, not what they are. A friend of mine took an old chest of drawers, removed the knobs, painted it with a glossy black spray paint, found decorative auto knobs and you've got it - A really great storage unit for his garage. He also put a black rubber mat on the top so that while he was working he could just throw his tools on the top and not worry about misplacing them. An old hubcap became a place to put nuts, bolts, screws, etc. You get the picture. Good luck and it's beginning to be your 'garagemajal.'

 

[wornoutoldman]

Once you get everything off the floor you will feel relieved and ready to tackle some "fun" garage projects.

 

[rsanter]

chill out
you have a decent space to start with there and not that much stuff

you need some shelving as a good start. keep an eye out as you would be amazed at what people throw out, including very usable shelving or spare wood that can be used to make shelving

you are starting out, you are better off than some people and with some time and effort you will get there

bob

 

[illmatyk]

Very nice place!