Garage and Shed: Splitting Storage

[lawfarm]

As per a few other recent posts, we're buying a new (old) house. The house and location are great, but the garage setup is a downgrade from what I'm used to.

The garage is 19x24 with a 16x7 garage door. I will be parking one car in the garage (Dodge Durango) that will take up basically half of it (other than room for storage in front of the vehicle). The garage has plywood that has been installed across the 2x4 collar ties, with cables between the ridge and the middle of the ties to offer some greater support. That can suffice as lighter item storage, but nothing too heavy, obviously.

There is also a 10x12 storage shed.

My tool setup is pretty broad. A few rolling tool chests (44 and 36"), woodworking tools (portable table saw, full router setup, compound miter saw, joining tools, etc.), automotive tools (jack, jackstands, ramps, etc), fabrication tools (benchtop drill press, portaband, etc.), household tools (generator, mower, snowblower, weed wacker, blower), and bike tools...along with 5 bikes (one of them a tandem).

I'm approaching garage setup from a very intentional, planned perspective. I'd like to have everything in its place, and a place for everything. I've been on this board for roughly a decade now, although I've been lurking for a few years. I've got a scale drawing of both garage and shed going, but the biggest question I'm running into is philosophical: how to decide what items go in which building.

Some things are pretty easy: roller tool chests and such go in the garage, so if I'm working on cars, they're there. I'd like to keep the mower/snowblower/etc in the shed.

Some things are much harder. The compound miter only used to get used a handful of times per year. But part of the reason why it was used infrequently was because it was up on a shelf in an inconvenient location...so I'd grab a circular saw to make cuts that the miter would have been better for.

So the fundamental question is this: for those of you who split space between a shed and garage, what philosophy or principles govern your decisions on where to place things? Have you made your shed a storage space or work space, and why? I'm inclined to think the garage should be the true work space and the shed a storage space, but I'm open to different ideas. Your collective wisdom is appreciated.

 

[B964]

I'll tell you from my experience that you will never get it down pat. Whatever shop or shed you are in at the time will not have what you need in it.

That said....

Lawn/garden and spare car parts in shed.
House stuff (paint, plumbing, electric) in basement.
Car cleaning, waxing, and light maintenance in smaller two bay garage.
Heavy car work, wood work in larger 4 bay garage.

 

[tjdux]

I have similar sized garage and garden shed and i have this issue as well. One thing i try to do is maximize space by haveing deul use type storage setups.

By that for example i have a dedicated miter saw table that is very tall and my table saw/router table are on castors and they roll under the mitersaw for storage. The air compressor lives down there too.

Same for my main workbench, it has an assembly table that can roll out from under it. Also the assembly table is the same height as the table saw and can double as out feed table.

My shed is dedicated to storage only. It houses my folding trailer, atv, mowers, garden tractor, paint and drywall eqip, long handled outdoor tools, ladders, parts storage and so forth. I don't do any real work in there as its just too small. I could if i wanted to change it completely but why with a bigger garage.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Matstock4]

I don't have a shed yet, but I'm looking to get one to declutter the garage. So I'm interested in what everyone has to say as well. Great post!

 

[Colin Len]

I have almost the exact same configuration, just smaller. It's not "done" by any means in terms of organization and I"m in the same boat with your dilemmas.

Garage: 17x19, no "attic" storage. I keep one car in there and it takes up almost all the room left after my tool boxes, cabinets and bench. I have a ton of cabinets and they aren't even full yet to those need better organization. Lots of stuff I may otherwise store in the shed I keep in these cabinets simply because there's room there and they're smaller compartments so it's well suited for boxes of small parts and things. My main hobby is cars so my intention is to have the garage be an automotive focused workshop. But, it needs to share that space with a good amount of home/wood tools and projects too.

Shed #1: 8x14, lean to style, stick built on backside of garage, not too much height. This is basically garage overflow, mainly bigger things and longer term storage. Christmas decorations, car parts I'm hoarding, spare engine/transmission, wheels, our bicycles, extra bedding for the house, ez-ups, engine stand, paint/drywall/plaster tools, box full of electrical wire/cable, box full of plumbing supplies & specialized tools. I built the shelves in here so they could hold a specific plastic container I store things in. For things like those last items on the list (paint, elec...etc) I have a box dedicated to each so it's all stored together and most importantly, out of the garage.

Shed #2: Old metal shed that came with the house, probably ~6x6. This one is reserved for lawn/garden tools, potting soil, and storage of house paint.

I'm thinking I need a third shed, a plastic/metal one for more garden tools, or maybe just a slightly bigger/better one to replace shed #2.

 

[crewchief888]

my garage is 19x22, dark cramped and crowded.

this spring i put up an 8x10 shed, the shed has yard "stuff" in it. rakes, shovels, snowblower, trimmer, blower, new riding mower, and (for now) the pressure washer.
all the wifes gardening stuff, and storage for all the outdoor seat cushions.

i have all my woodworking type stuff downstairs in the basement. miter saw and table saw are portable, and light enough to get back up the stairs if i need to.

i have enough debris blowing around the garage without adding sawdust to the mix.

 

[tjdux]

I have almost the exact same configuration, just smaller. It's not "done" by any means in terms of organization and I"m in the same boat with your dilemmas.

Garage: 17x19, no "attic" storage. I keep one car in there and it takes up almost all the room left after my tool boxes, cabinets and bench. I have a ton of cabinets and they aren't even full yet to those need better organization. Lots of stuff I may otherwise store in the shed I keep in these cabinets simply because there's room there and they're smaller compartments so it's well suited for boxes of small parts and things. My main hobby is cars so my intention is to have the garage be an automotive focused workshop. But, it needs to share that space with a good amount of home/wood tools and projects too.

Shed #1: 8x14, lean to style, stick built on backside of garage, not too much height. This is basically garage overflow, mainly bigger things and longer term storage. Christmas decorations, car parts I'm hoarding, spare engine/transmission, wheels, our bicycles, extra bedding for the house, ez-ups, engine stand, paint/drywall/plaster tools, box full of electrical wire/cable, box full of plumbing supplies & specialized tools. I built the shelves in here so they could hold a specific plastic container I store things in. For things like those last items on the list (paint, elec...etc) I have a box dedicated to each so it's all stored together and most importantly, out of the garage.

Shed #2: Old metal shed that came with the house, probably ~6x6. This one is reserved for lawn/garden tools, potting soil, and storage of house paint.

I'm thinking I need a third shed, a plastic/metal one for more garden tools, or maybe just a slightly bigger/better one to replace shed #2.

My vote is replace #2 with bigger and better. Concrete floor and enough height to stand up or even more height for shelves. I build my garden shed 12x14 with 8 and 10ft high walls for lots of vertical space.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Colin Len]

My vote is replace #2 with bigger and better. Concrete floor and enough height to stand up or even more height for shelves. I build my garden shed 12x14 with 8 and 10ft high walls for lots of vertical space.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Unfortunately that isn't an option in my situation. Shed #1 is already super stout, concrete pad...etc (built like a house). So I already spent a good amount on that one and don't have money for another. Plus, I'm already maxing out what I think my city will allow. The next one will be another modular one from Home Depot if I ever buy one - but again, that's not in the current budget. I'll make due with what I've got for now unless I find something free on craigslist.

I should also mention that Shed #1 is insulated and water tight, shed #2 is not. So that also helps me determine what sorts of things go in each.

 

[Bigbandguy]

It would be interesting to hear from the OP as to if he could put up another shed or not. I think a decent solution would be to have a second smaller shed for the yard machines etc. and use the larger one for some of the workshop use. As some have mentioned there is always a need for a particular tool in the wrong space. I tend to keep metal work stuff, air tools and auto related equipment in the garage and woodworking in the shed. I do think I wouldn't' mind having a drill press in both... again more from the OP will help narrow down the speculation.

 

[Jon_E]

I, too, have a garage (36 x 24) and a shed (16 x 20). Both have second floor/loft storage. I have found so far that the shed tends to get general storage items and lawn/garden stuff, and the garage gets all of the tools and items that are for more frequent use (such as camping equipment). I also store lumber in both places, although most of it will eventually wind up in the garage as that is my primary woodworking shop. Ideally, the shed will only have seasonal and long-term storage items in it and the garage will have everything else.

 

[MushCreek]

In general, I try to keep all of my gas-powered equipment in the shed. I'd hate to lose my barn and tools because some POS Chinese carburetor drooled gas that started a fire.