Help with getting started on my garage organization!!!??

[HiccaBurp]

Been lurking a bit and what a great site you all have!! I need help in getting my garage organized. It's sooo messy, I don't even know where to get started. It's a 3 car. The 2 car is longer by about 4' then the 1 car part.

Heres some details..
*I'm in the remodeling business.. so I have lot's of tools and many doubles/triples of stuff. 2 large wet saws/3 table saws/4 miter boxes/3 shop vacs/lot's of specialty saws/many cordless kits/etc... etc... etc...
*I also grew up working on cars and love working on my own cars. Just it's so disorganized, it's makes it hard.
*I got some great deals on the US General boxes. I was going to replace the craftsman in the back of the 1 car. The big one is mostly empty since my head spins every time I look inside the garage.
*Wood shelving in back is a huge mess and very poor use of space
*I also have lot's of materials I don't like to throw away. The pile of lumber in the 1 car has been returned
*We have 4 kids and lot's of toys/bikes/trikes
*We have 2 scooters in there as well
*The big aluminum rack is off my work van. I was getting sick of not being able to drive thru a carwash and it hardly gets used. But I don't want to sell it yet?? I'll probably put it outside since it's SS and won't rust. Or hang it off my ceiling in the garage??

Here's a few pics.. where do I start? I don't have much money to spend(remodeling biz pretty slow still). Maybe $1,000 or so dollars??
*I was thinking the back wall of 2 car some floor to ceiling type cabinets/shelves for tools in box storage only to the left. Then make a work type bench going towards the house door
*I do not have a shed yet The size/quality I'd like to build is not feasible at the moment. I am thinking of building some cheap shed for a year or two to get some of this stuff out of the garage before I loose my sanity!!
*I do plan on selling some of the tools that I don't use/need.. but don't even know where to get started with that..


Help.. I'd like to get my car and the wifes MPV in for the winter. The Chevy can't fit.. doors to short.

 

[Kevin54]

Garage sale and a shed is a must!!! I hate to say, but you have a three car garage and everything is setting outside. Time to liquidate some items for starters. What you don't use, haven't used, or totally forgot about.....garage sale it or donate it. Then I'd start by starting on some storage racks and tubs to store items.

 

[Jack90210]

First (I think), you need boxes in which to keep all of the small stuff that is taking up valuable real estate on those shelves. Get the little stuff into big boxes (or plastic trays, etc) and free up some room for other things that you are keeping on the floor.

EDIT: Then, you need shelving in the small garage. Make that the storage area for stuff you won't regularly need in the shop. Once you clear out some floor space in the big garage, it'll be easier to see if and how you need to change your shelving setup in the rear.

PS: the little girl is a real doll!

 

[Fudge]

What do you want the garage to function as? Is it just for storage and parking cars or would you like to do a hobby in there? Check out this boarda nd do lots of searching and reading, there are thousands of awsome ideas to steal on here. Hang the ladders from the ceiling and just keep a short one around to get them down. Put the garbage cans and yard tools in the side yard, it won't hurt them. Like the others said slim down your ****, is that a pile of 20 bicycles? How many bikes do they need? I build cars in mine so if its not for that it goes in the shed or the trash. I think I would empty the 1 car totally and turn it into a serious storage and tool room. If things have a place they are more apt to be put away. I like pallet racking and plastic tubs, just write the contents of the tub in Sharpie an face it out that way you know whats in there. Once you get the 1 car done I bet everything you want to keep will fit in it and you can park the cars inside. Good luck Bro you can do it

 

[HiccaBurp]

Garage sale and a shed is a must!!! I hate to say, but you have a three car garage and everything is setting outside. Time to liquidate some items for starters. What you don't use, haven't used, or totally forgot about.....garage sale it or donate it. Then I'd start by starting on some storage racks and tubs to store items.

It's so hard to have a "garage sale" when I don't have the room to set up!! I've sold some stuff and have a pile to sell still. What would you recommend for online? Craigslist? eBay? I did start on tubs(can barely see them) by separating plumbing/electrical/tools/woodworking/tilling/etc... That's part of the problem.. I do soo many things and have tools for them all.

PS: the little girl is a real doll!

Thank you!!! She is my little "peanut".. she loves hanging around daddy and helping!! Such a little ham!!

What do you want the garage to function as? Is it just for storage and parking cars or would you like to do a hobby in there?

For right now, I'd like to have things organized and be able to park the car and minivan. This will also enable me to get general maintenance items on the vehicles done. Especially in the N.IL cold winters I need my heated garage!! At least I got that done a couple years ago Plus I take care of moms/MIL/BIL and friends cars occasionally.

Check out this boarda nd do lots of searching and reading, there are thousands of awsome ideas to steal on here.

Thats what I have been doing and what is giving me the motivation to get'er done!! I hope in the near future I can post up pictures that would make you all proud!!

Put the garbage cans and yard tools in the side yard, it won't hurt them.

Side yard is probably not an option as both neighbors houses are back a bit from mine and would see it driving up. Plus we have lot's of ***** and other wildlife. And, if the garbage cans where outside, it means the wife would have me take the garbage out ALWAYS!! I've been training her in doing it and don't want to go backwards!!! LOL

Like the others said slim down your ****, is that a pile of 20 bicycles? How many bikes do they need?

Yes, I need to sell some stuff. But it's always the tool you sold/lent/got stolen that you need!!! A few years ago I had a couple crews working and hence all the repetition of tools. Plus some are for demo work some for rough and some for finish. It's sooooo hard!! But at the same time, business is to the point where me and one guy barely get a full week(okay, past couple months it has picked up). I did start a pile of tools to sell. As for bicycles.. yeah, we have a 1.5, 3, 5 and 12 year old... so we have a wide range of stuff. Plus we are penny pinchers right now and don't want to get rid of something that one of the kids might need soon. I am planning on a small decorative toy shed just for all the kids stuff. I'd like to get it done before winter.. but it's coming fast.

I think I would empty the 1 car totally and turn it into a serious storage and tool room.

I've been toying with both options. 1. make the 1 car in tool storage and still have a work bench and cabinets in the 2 car against the back wall. OR 2. have the 1 car for my car and tool box and the 2 car for the wifes MV and shelving on all walls which will still give her plenty of room for getting in and out with the kids?? Both have +/-.. which one do you like?

Good luck Bro you can do it

Thanks!! All the cool garages on here have given me inspiration!!


I do plan on building a proper workshop in the back. We are on 1.25 acres and have lot's of room in the back of the lot. Area for wood shop and area for working on cars with a lift before I get to old!! That is one of the reason I hate spending money on a shed as I know I want this shop asap!! How cheap can I build a 12x16 shed?? That would really help..

 

[TEXACMAN]

Yeah definitely get all of the lawnwork equipment supplies in a shed out by itself , it will help. You might rent one of those pods to sort surplus tools and equipment you may not need at the moment , or atleast until you can organize, just getting floor space will make you feel more productive.

 

[PaulR]

*We have 4 kids and lot's of toys/bikes/trikes

Ding. You're done.

Dude, I got three, and I have a 30x50 shop plus a 2 car garage, moved in three months ago, all filled up

. As organized as you want to be you simply just won't have enough space.

1) Move as much as possible to the basement.
2) Get the biggest shed possible.

 

[Lippyp]

Build a small lean to shed for the garbage cans at the side of the garage, keeps them clean and dry and keeps the animals out. Give the wife a key for it!