Downsizing :(

[Kong]

So I am losing my double garage (18 x 24) to a 8.5 x 16 single. At least I think it's that "big". We had to downsize to a townhouse from our house and that included the garage. The double garage townhomes we looked at had a much smaller square footage in the living part and the double garage didn't seem much bigger than the single (they had a pillar in the middle) and were a little narrower than two singles.

So please have pity on me. No more calling 30 x 40 foot buildings sheds. No more saying that your 50 x 60 foot garage barely has elbow room, etc.


Oh and my main request please post some pictures of your real sheds, single garages wtc. with space saving tips.

I am lucky, I have a garage and I also only have to park my motorcycle in there. The minivan gets an outside parking stall.

Kong

 

[russlaferrera]

Sad, very very sad. Does it have a high ceiling? Loft?

 

[Bib Overalls]

I could never downsize. You are a better man than I.

 

[Kong]

8 foot ceiling. I do get a small den right beside the garage. Won't be able to do any fab work in there but I can put clean parts and some of my less used tools etc. in there.

Very supportive wife but she says no oil changes in the house...

Kong

 

[DR_K13]

8 foot ceiling. I do get a small den right beside the garage. Won't be able to do any fab work in there but I can put clean parts and some of my less used tools etc. in there.

Very supportive wife but she says no oil changes in the house...

Kong

what about washing parts in the kitchen sink?

 

[Fastbird]

Honestly, I feel your pain. My wife and I just moved into our house right outside of St. Louis, that has a 3 car 33'8" x 23' deep 2 car section and 21' deep 1 car section garage. We moved into here KNOWING that in 3-5 years we WILL be moving due to my allegiance to the United States Air Force, and we KNOW that we will be downgrading wherever we end up. I'm at least 3 years from that happening, and I already dread it. So I feel your pain.

 

[rodnok1]

Prioritizing and organization is key. If you can have an outisde storage shed for **** you never use but need. Put up cabinets/shelves all the way to ceiling. I found I had too much **** on workbench so I was always looking for someplace to hang stuff. I got rid of table saw/miter saw stand. Made a rack for storing wood above garage door.

 

[goodfellow]

No worries -- I made do with a one car garage for almost 7 years. Restored two cars and three motorcycles in that space and also had room for a small machine shop.

My solution was to get everything off the floor (that's the key). A clean floor made the small shop not only much more safe, but also gave it a much bigger "look and feel". Adjustable shelves on all walls from top to botton and plenty of peg boards to hang tools. I also made some hanging shelves that came off the ceiling (car parts were stored on that space). I also invested in several mobile machine platforms from Grizzly. I put all of my heavy machinery on these things and it provided a flexible solution for space management. When I need to weld, I pushed everything else into a corner and had plenty of clean welding space. When I needed to work on the lathe, everything else was moved accordingly.

Plenty of good lighting and white reflective walls will also help in getting that wide open feeling.

Good luck!!

 

[RickP330]

So I am losing my double garage (18 x 24) to a 8.5 x 16 single.

Kong,
That has to be wrong. I have single that I’m making due. Currently I am doing a overhaul on it so stay posted for pics. My garage is 11 x 20 and it is NARROW. 8.5 doesn’t sound wide enough to get a car in. Anyway - my previous wasn't much bigger then this. I got quite a bit done in that garage too. Don't worry - I'm sure you will make do!!
Regards,
Rick

 

[amwalker]

Kong,
Don't feel so bad, I'm also a member of the USAF and am moving from my 20x20 garage with 2 3x8 closets at the back to a island off the coast of Portugal(no garage, not even a carport in base housing). My truck, my project 510, shifter kart, all the spare parts and big tools and trailer are all being hauled back to Southern California for storage at my Dad's house. We can only take one car (wife's xterra) and I'm taking most of my hand tools...

The fact that I'm loosing my personal shop (and a work space for a friend) and having to haul all of my stuff home bites, but we aren't passing up this opportunity. Think of it as a way to become a little more organized and cut some clutter out of the garage.

 

[Josh Kinzey]

I am in the middle of down sizing as well. There's no way to put it, other than it *****. Good luck!

 

[tpwalsh]

think of it this way, at least you have a garage... I've just upgraded from driveway repairs to a 1 car garage at my current apt, but I'm already itching for more space. There are a few ways to make the most of the space, most of what I've found is in this thread.

 

[Sidekick]

Ouch! Did you get a kiss with that?

 

[Kong]

Well like I said, I am grateful. I used to work on my patio - outside, 8 x 8 so I do appreciate what I have. A garage, any garage is great and better than being outside.

I did get more than a kiss, and I should be able to leverage this quite often for "space saving" tools. Like a tig from mig.

Just gonna miss the space.

Kong

 

[RickP330]

Well like I said, I am grateful. I used to work on my patio - outside, 8 x 8 so I do appreciate what I have. A garage, any garage is great and better than being outside.

I did get more than a kiss, and I should be able to leverage this quite often for "space saving" tools. Like a tig from mig.

Just gonna miss the space.

Kong

I really like the idea of an outside shed for oversized items. I have a coats 30-30 tire changer, sand blast cabinet, hydraulic press, Oxy Acetylene tanks and sandblaster that I use very infrequently now. In my new garage these things no longer fit. However I just saw a 10 x 10 steel shed in sears for 250 bucks. I’m thinking about picking up something like that for all this stuff plus a snow blower and some things I hardly use also. I am going to finish the garage first. I’m sure the shed is the subject of another post.

 

[Kong]

Well we got to go to the new place to take some measurements today (our possession date isn't for a couple of weeks)

Some good news the garage is bigger than I thought. It is 12 x 20 with an additional 3.5 feet x 8 running along one side. This is where the entry to the house is but I think there is room for my compressor and a tool cabinet there.

I will post a drawing when I get a chance.

Things are looking up!

Kong

 

[RickP330]

This is very similar to my garage. It's 11.5 x 24. Check out my thread, my work is ongoing at the moment.
Rick

 

[Morrisman]

Kong,
That has to be wrong. I have single that I’m making due. Currently I am doing a overhaul on it so stay posted for pics. My garage is 11 x 20 and it is NARROW. 8.5 doesn’t sound wide enough to get a car in. Anyway - my previous wasn't much bigger then this. I got quite a bit done in that garage too. Don't worry - I'm sure you will make do!!
Regards,
Rick

Ha. You guys are right out there if you think 11' x 20 is small!

Try 8' x 12' for size.

And I built this in it: