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Garage remodel - Progress thread

Tonixx

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Apr 8, 2013
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So Cal
Hello all! I've been lurking for a month or so, learning a lot and asking a few questions. Yesterday we finally started the garage remodel. Before I post some pics, here's a little background on the house:

It was built in 1956, and it is in Long Beach, California, which is about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. It's your typical mid-century ranch three-bedroom home. We've remodeled just about every other room in the house. The garage has always been messy, bare-beam and a home for critters of all sorts (possums, raccoons, bugs, etc).

The work will include adding more outlets, installing overhead lights, drywalling all walls and the ceiling, installing custom cabinetry, installing a new man-door and frame, cleaning up plumbing, and some other small stuff here and there.

Here are a few before shots. These aren't the best, as they only show areas where there will be custom cabinets.








Here it is empty, ready to go:






In the last pic, you can see the mobile storage unit that we rented to hold the junk while we do the work.

One side of the garage will house my wife's car (as it always has) and the other side will be optimized as a workshop for my hobby: restoring Italian motorscooters. Here's one that will be started once the garage is finished:



The lighting will come from Barn Light Electric (http://www.barnlightelectric.com/), particularly these for the overhead:
http://www.barnlightelectric.com/pe...t-lights/the-original-stem-mount-pendant.html

I'll keep updating this post as the work progresses. Thanks to all for the community and the great resources this site offers!
 
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Tonixx

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Apr 8, 2013
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So Cal
So the project is progressing nicely. Below are pics of the most recent work:

Framing, electrical, insulation, drywall:
There wasn't much framing necessary: Adding soffits for the storage above them, cleaning up some stuff and reinforcing other places. Some shear paneling was added as well.

Electrical was beefed up a bit, adding more outlets and moving the main set of switches.

This was an open beam garage before, so it wasn't insulated and got super hot in the summer, very cold in the winter. It didn't make me want to work in the garage when the temps were at the extremes. The insulation will help a lot.


Ceiling joists reinforced so they will take drywall. You can also see the framing for the cabinetry which will go above the rear man-door.


Main switch block (3-gang).


Plumbing cleaned up for the water softener. Before, this piping was exposed, running along the walls. Note the back of the button-board: yes, this house is old! :)


Insulation


Ceiling insulation. There is radiant-reflector sheets below this insulation to keep out even more heat.


Drywall, west wall


East wall


Washer/dryer area

Next steps:

Drywall tape, mud and texturing
Hang new man-door complete with cat door, casing, etc
Paint
Finish electrical and plumbing
Install new garage door opener and garage door
Install cabinets

More to come, and thanks for looking!
 
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HSpencer

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Nov 28, 2010
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2,854
Location
South Central US
Now that is a good project and you have gotten a great start to it. I think the garage is one of the most fun areas for a remodel. Usually you have a blank slate and the only one you actually have to please is yourself. Yes it is a lot of work, but the bang-for-buck to me is best. I want to keep tracking your work and see how it all goes along. Good Job!!!

Best Regards
Herb Spencer
 

aps63

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Dec 3, 2012
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371
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New Jersey
Great progress so far Tonixx.
I actually have a storage unit in my driveway too.
Makes working in the garage sooooooooo much easier.
Keep it up.
 

Omphaloskeptic

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Looks like the garage is going to be a great place to pursue your hobby any time of the year. Have fun!

P.S. - Is that red sidecar made for a scooter? If you have the time, please post pics of the scooters you have redone. When I was shopping for a used scooter for my daughter (50 cc Metro), I was amazed by the whole scooter subculture out there alive and well and living on the internet.
 
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Tonixx

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Apr 8, 2013
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Location
So Cal
Looks like the garage is going to be a great place to pursue your hobby any time of the year. Have fun!

P.S. - Is that red sidecar made for a scooter? If you have the time, please post pics of the scooters you have redone. When I was shopping for a used scooter for my daughter (50 cc Metro), I was amazed by the whole scooter subculture out there alive and well and living on the internet.


Thanks!
Yes, the red sidecar is for a scooter. The posted picture was taken in the garage of the guy I bought it from. That is his sidecar and other scooters in the background. My first project is halfway done... at the painters right now, so I figured it would be a good time to finish the garage. I'll post links to pics when I start working on it... IN MY NEW GARAGE! :bounce:

And yes, the scooter subculture is amazingly big! You've got the twist-n-go people, and then you've got the classic people. I'm in the latter group, but love all things two wheeled!
 
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Tonixx

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Apr 8, 2013
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Location
So Cal
More updates. The drywall, paint, finish electrical, plumbing and new garage door opener and rails was done this week. Here are some pics.


My car in one half. Paint done, new garage door rails.


New garage door opener. This was a pretty custom job. The drywall was done in a way that allowed us to tuck this thing in between two studs, giving us the room needed to install it. This is a Liftmaster 8500. I call it 'The Sidewinder'. As you can see, it doesn't hang in the center of the garage ceiling. It actuates the torsion bar itself. It's very quiet and I can control it with my smart phone (which is more gimickey than anything, but kind of cool).


New sink and faucet. Washer and dryer put in place. The wires below the sink go to the sprinkler valves. I'll be cleaning them up and installing a new sprinkler controller soon.


Main water shutoff tucked into a valve box behind the water softener.

More to come in the next week, which includes custom cabinetry and storage, ceiling fixtures, new man-door and stucco around it. Keep watching for updates.
 
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Tonixx

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Apr 8, 2013
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So Cal
Thanks for the kudos, everyone. Dubber, your work thread was the first I read when I got here. Nice job to you as well!
 
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Tonixx

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Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
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Location
So Cal
Update!

The cabinetry is in and the garage is coming back together. Here are some shots of the cabinets. Click for larger images.



This one shows the new toolbox under a small counter area.








And finally, the new toolbox is coming together. Here's my socket drawer:



More pics to come soon of the lighting and pegboard. Thanks for looking!
 
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