Garage Makeover - Design Plans

[Mordi]

I am thinking about doing a garage makeover in my 2 car garage. I want to add a 4 post lift, install some flooring and do some lighting upgrades. At the same time, I also want to add some cabinets, a compressor, electrical outlets and some storage space as well.

Rather than starting from scratch, I would like to see or learn about some alternative design plans to try to get some ideas about what works well and and also, what does not work

Thanks,
Mordi

 

[Mordi]

Well, ok then, I guess I will have to start the ball rolling with a few things I have been thinking about

Retractable Power Cord & Light - I was orginally thinking about mounting this on the ceiling (near the garage door). Then I got to thinking that I am going to have to raise the garage rails to make room for the 4 post lift. So now I am thinking I will have to locate this on the ceiling toward the center of the garage . I just purchased one from Costco for around $30.00.

Compressor - I am trying to maintain a clean look, so I was thinking of putting this in perhaps a closet to get it out of the way. Any drawback to this idea?

Bicycle/Lawnmower Storage - I would like to get the bikes stored out of sight in a closet. Anybody store their bikes upright in a closet to save space? Any suggestions on bike hooks?

Does that prompt any ideas/thoughts from anyone?

Thanks,
Mordi

 

[JMURiz]

One thing that might help is to know what is going to be stored/worked on in the garage and the size of the garage.

I have a 22'wx24'd space so we might be in the same boat. It'll store 2 cars, 2+ motorcycles, bicycles and perhaps more once I get a lift myself.

I do have a cool storage for my bike, it's a Michelangelo bike rack:

I am going to build a slim lean-to shed for my yard tools and mower, maybe with a compressor annex at some point. Another idea for a compressor is to get a 'laydow' compressor and build large shelf for it, put it under a work bench, or put it in the ceiling.

Again, letting us know the size and stuff that'll go into it would really help.

Best of luck,

 

[Mordi]

Hi Nathan,

Thanks for responding to the post. I was not aware I had not furnished all the needed info - so thanks for pointing that out

Garage is a two car version- approx 20'x20 unit - attached to a single story house. I currently have a new side mounted Garage Door Opener, so when I install the lift, I will not have to relocate the opener. But, I am planning on raising the inside structure of the garage from 8.5 ft height to approx 11ft. This should allow me to "almost" stand under the lift, when it is fully raised. I also plan on installing insulation in the roof area and then drywall. After the rafters have been rearranged, I will have to raise the garage tracks in a more vertical fashion to run along the new interior configuration.

The garage will be mostly for storing 3 cars - 2 on the lift and 1 car next to the lift. The floor will most likely be racedeck. I also want to enclose the water heater, water softner and solar tank behind some fold up accordion type doors, so I don't have to see that stuff anymore As I mentioned, I want to have a compressor for the lift and be able to remove tires and jack up the cars for occasional maintenance. Fluorescent lighting is planned for the ceiling, along with some new cirsuits and a 220V upgrade.

I need to have a work space/work bench for small repairs and really want to have lots of storage area. I like the Ulti Mate line of storage cabinets. (Since I live in SoCal, we do not have basements here and storage is almost non existant). I like to have a clean look and therefore would like as much as possible out of sight, behind cabinet doors. In addition to storing the 3 vehicles, I need to have storage for 2 bikes, lawnmower, leaf blower and string trimmer (all out of sight )

Hope this helps,

Thanks,
Mordi

 

[Wardrum]

Garage is a two car version- approx 20'x20 unit - attached to a single story house.

The garage will be mostly for storing 3 cars - 2 on the lift and 1 car next to the lift. The floor will most likely be racedeck. I also want to enclose the water heater, water softner and solar tank behind some fold up accordion type doors, so I don't have to see that stuff anymore As I mentioned, I want to have a compressor for the lift and be able to remove tires and jack up the cars for occasional maintenance. Fluorescent lighting is planned for the ceiling, along with some new cirsuits and a 220V upgrade.

I need to have a work space/work bench for small repairs and really want to have lots of storage area. I like the Ulti Mate line of storage cabinets. (Since I live in SoCal, we do not have basements here and storage is almost non existant). I like to have a clean look and therefore would like as much as possible out of sight, behind cabinet doors. In addition to storing the 3 vehicles, I need to have storage for 2 bikes, lawnmower, leaf blower and string trimmer (all out of sight )

I hope you have 3 very SMALL cars

That is a lot of stuff to put into a 20' x 20' space unless you use your vertical space wisely. Try to build storage as high as possible so that the small stuff that WILL find its way into the garage can be stored above some of the larger stuff. The compressor, leaf blower and string trimmer can easily be mounted high, perhaps above the water heater, water softner or solar tank. Bikes could be hung on a wall or from the ceiling. Try to keep floor space free for the work bench, mower, etc.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.