Just Enough Garage

[grease_monkey]

I'm starting a new thread for my "Just Enough" garage. This is a first home and garage for me! Very exciting coming from apartment living without garage space. If I am clever, there should be just enough room for one car in the garage and a small workshop in the basement.

The house (2 bed, 1 bath)

The garage

Finally getting the garage cleared out after moving in!

View into the workshop (door height is only ~6' and I've hit my head on countless times since moving here -- will need to install a new taller door at some point)

Clutter......trying to get organized and make space in the garage....

~6'4" garage door.....no room for the truck inside

The daily driver '90 F-150 2WD 6-cylinder manual...

Making room in the garage for the '01 M3 that's still in storage for the winter....

Upcoming projects:
-Roof
-Siding
-Insulation
-Exterior doors
-Powered garage door opener
-taller interior garage door
-kitchen remodel
-bathroom remodel
-garage shelving
-garage/workshop epoxy floor

More to follow......

 

[53PontiacSD]

Nice to own your own home. Looks like you have a great plan there. Keep posting pictures as you progress. And you might put your location in so us fellow GJ can give you lots of advice, lol.

 

[53PontiacSD]

Oh wait and see, you'll find out there is no such thing as just enough garage. Thanks for posting. Billy

 

[captain14]

The garage door overhang is something I've never seen. Does it look like it was installed during the original build or added on? I bet it keeps some of the weather off the door.

Nice little house. Enjoy it before you outgrow it.

 

[grease_monkey]

Nice to own your own home. Looks like you have a great plan there. Keep posting pictures as you progress. And you might put your location in so us fellow GJ can give you lots of advice, lol.

Thanks! Just added my location. I'm in the greater Boston area.

Oh wait and see, you'll find out there is no such thing as just enough garage. Thanks for posting. Billy

I already dream of building an attached 2 car garage and adding a 2nd level to this house.....

The garage door overhang is something I've never seen. Does it look like it was installed during the original build or added on? I bet it keeps some of the weather off the door.

Nice little house. Enjoy it before you outgrow it.

It's hard to tell but the house was built in the 50's and that overhang I'm guessing was added on at some point.

A little more progress was made today. Progress will be slow the next few weeks with ski trips to Canada and Maine.

 

[grease_monkey]

I'm trying to read up and do my homework on garage / shop floor finishes. Anyone have any good links or suggestions for garage epoxy coating? Should I do the garage & workshop with the same epoxy? Any input is appreciated!

 

[Robey5]

Nice place. Lived out in the east for a short but memorable time in my life when I was very young. I have since visited Boston/Mass and all states north many times, and have noticed that the weather can be sloppy, crappy and messy at times; enough to make a difference in your floor choice.

From my perspective: I have watched epoxy floors turn from nice looking to a chipped mess of junk (many friend's houses) inside of a year because of a temperature cycle from 90F to -10F, and then adding the salt from daily drivers - even the most expensive well planned epoxy floors in garage become a mess; they just don't seem to last with our variation in temperature and elements. My 'suggestion' is that you consider a racedeck or swisstrack floor for your garage pad. Cleans up nice and will stand up to the elements; and the workshop - have you considered a porcelain floor? Find a tile store nearby that is blowing out a big(ish) size, and get what you need. Having dropped a starter (from my vette) on a porcelain floor and not having a chip result - that sounds like durability to me.

 

[grease_monkey]

Nice place. Lived out in the east for a short but memorable time in my life when I was very young. I have since visited Boston/Mass and all states north many times, and have noticed that the weather can be sloppy, crappy and messy at times; enough to make a difference in your floor choice.

From my perspective: I have watched epoxy floors turn from nice looking to a chipped mess of junk (many friend's houses) inside of a year because of a temperature cycle from 90F to -10F, and then adding the salt from daily drivers - even the most expensive well planned epoxy floors in garage become a mess; they just don't seem to last with our variation in temperature and elements. My 'suggestion' is that you consider a racedeck or swisstrack floor for your garage pad. Cleans up nice and will stand up to the elements; and the workshop - have you considered a porcelain floor? Find a tile store nearby that is blowing out a big(ish) size, and get what you need. Having dropped a starter (from my vette) on a porcelain floor and not having a chip result - that sounds like durability to me.

Good point about the temperature cycles and epoxy coatings. Most cure times are so long that the install turns into a logistical PITA. Rustoleum says you can drive on it in 24hrs but that just doesn't check out in my brain....something tells me that stuff comes right off.

The thing I don't like about racedeck type flooring is that stuff gets under the tiles (oil spills, dirt, leaves, snow etc) and you have to remove the flooring to really clean under there. I would imagine it'd be dirty all the time. Even if you get the solid tiles, I imagine that dirt gets thru every seam.

I have also considered something like New Age's Versaroll which I just can't find much info or testimonials on. Seems like it would just about cover my 1-car with a single order of the stuff and would contain any spills real well and cheap enough to just replace after a few years if it gets destroyed. Maybe install splash gaurds around the perimeter of the garage also. Do these become wavy and move around after you lay it down? Google can't get me many pictures of this stuff installed.
http://newageproducts.com/flooring/

I have seen porcelain tile flooring look really good in garages. Not sure I want to invest the time/money in putting one in at this time, though. Definitely looks good and durable in Jack Olsen's internet-famous "12-gauge garage".

 

[grease_monkey]

Another rollout type flooring option. Maybe use an adhesive under it, but probably not required.

http://www.americanfloormats.com/coin-pattern-garage-flooring/#colors

I just ordered samples from them in "brick red" and "slate grey". Price for the garage would be ~$500ish I think.

 

[-Brent-]

Jeeze Louise, what's the deal with the neighbor behind you?

 

[grease_monkey]

Jeeze Louise, what's the deal with the neighbor behind you?

Everyone always asks me about the neighbor's house. He built on this super narrow lot. The house footprint fills almost the whole lot and is 4 stories tall so he can get ocean views. One of the uglier houses I've seen in my time....

His AC units are installed inches from my property line. I need to put up a fence along that property line. Everyone gets variances to build in my area as it's a lot of older houses, weird plots, and right by the ocean.

 

[-Brent-]

Good grief. For you, the sun sets about an hour early every day. Haha.

 

[grease_monkey]

Good grief. For you, the sun sets about an hour early every day. Haha.

haha....it's a good thing that house is on the North side of mine. I get great sunlight on the south side of the house. The neighbor's house just totally dwarfs my cute little ranch.

 

[Robey5]

Gee wizz. That neighbor has built a monstrosity! Hopefully he is nice and is easy to get along with.

...your "american floormat" solution has my wheels turning over here (...that is a much nicer solution than epoxy!!!). I suppose that you could put some adhesive down and lay it like a traditional linoleum floor, but I do not think that is absolutely needed if your cut is straight and as against the wall as possible. My only concern is ... how would that be delivered?

 

[grease_monkey]

Gee wizz. That neighbor has built a monstrosity! Hopefully he is nice and is easy to get along with.

...your "american floormat" solution has my wheels turning over here (...that is a much nicer solution than epoxy!!!). I suppose that you could put some adhesive down and lay it like a traditional linoleum floor, but I do not think that is absolutely needed if your cut is straight and as against the wall as possible. My only concern is ... how would that be delivered?

I think they'd ship it in a roll, but I'm very curious what the shipping costs would be. I'll update when I get the samples in hand and start deciding next steps.

 

[Robey5]

Agreed, they'd likely 'deliver' it in a roll, but I was more curious if a big-ole truck would have to bring it to your door; or ... maybe you could pick it up at a distribution center with that F-truck?

 

[grease_monkey]

Agreed, they'd likely 'deliver' it in a roll, but I was more curious if a big-ole truck would have to bring it to your door; or ... maybe you could pick it up at a distribution center with that F-truck?

I'll have to look into that.

 

[grease_monkey]

We just got back from a long weekend up at Mont Tremblant in Quebec. Great spring skiing, but now it's back to the daily grind until next weekend for another quick ski trip.

I did pick up a pair of DiBlasi folding 2-stroke scooters last night for my GF's dad and got to ride them around the block. They just had the motors rebuilt and other issues addressed. Gotta get them running right....hopefully get to spend some time in the workshop on them later tonight.

I'll update on the flooring situation later as I did get samples in.

 

[grease_monkey]

While moving in I must have broke up some of the concrete patch over the buried oil line from the tank to the boiler. The line and casing is intact so I just need to clean and patch the spot.

Flooring samples. I like the coin surface but in the red color. I'll have to think on it before I pull the trigger.

Pair of Di Blasi folding scooters in the garage:

Mountain bike project I just got really started on. Got the frame for free but needed a buddy to weld up a small crack. Just got the frame back from being welded up and now need to start buying components to build up the bare frame. Looking forward to the summer riding it.

 

[helterskelter]

Nice garage. FWIW that bike will never be the same after that weld repair. It will crack again. It would be a good practice to inspect it regularly and keep an eye on it.

 

[grease_monkey]

This 50's house had basically no insulation in the walls and only ~2" in the attic. We have a state program that helps pay for efficiency and insulation upgrades that helped us out quite a bit (covers %75% up to $2000 of work). There's a crew finishing up insulating the exterior walls, attic, and bedroom floor over the garage. Should have a big impact for heating (and cooling if I put in A/C) costs.

Lots of holes in the house to blow in the wall insulation, but that will all be covered up once we put new siding up this summer hopefully.

 

[WeekendWarrior83]

Nice M3! What size is your garage and the adjoining workshop area?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Wow, your neighbor has quite the house. 4 stories tall and then a widows walk on top of it.

 

[grease_monkey]

Nice M3! What size is your garage and the adjoining workshop area?

Thanks! The garage is ~10.5' x 18'. The workshop is smaller and shares space with the boiler and oil tank. It's about the same length but only a little over 7' wide.

Wow, your neighbor has quite the house. 4 stories tall and then a widows walk on top of it.

He's got great ocean views from the top I'm sure.

 

[grease_monkey]

Spring is now here! Got some work done over the Easter weekend. Brought the M3 to the house and put it in the garage. Not much space, so I need to find a home for everything left in the garage. Very pleased to have the car at the house now and looking forward to the summer.

Mountain bike build is coming along with a new fork. Wheels / brakes / seat post dropper are on order. Next up is to source a crankset and drivetrain.

Also helped my dad with the boat this weekend and got it in the water with minimal work needed.

 

[dawgee]

try Chainreaction.com for parts

 

[grease_monkey]

try Chainreaction.com for parts

Thanks for the suggestion. I've been having good luck with pinkbike.com and ebay so far. Been browsing jensonusa.com as well, but tyring to do a lot of used or new take-off parts to keep the build under $1500.

 

[Mpower5266]

A basement garage with a BMW in it??? You know Im subscribing.

 

[grease_monkey]

A basement garage with a BMW in it??? You know Im subscribing.

I've been following your thread for a while now. Very impressive work space you've created in the basement. I've day dreamed about tearing down all the walls in my basement to make a big basement garage like yours....

 

[grease_monkey]

I finally got around to hanging the license plate map I made a few years ago. Upstairs is all painted too. Should be replacing exterior doors and basement windows in the next few weeks. Doors are already on order. More projects and pictures to follow.......

 

[Brian R]

A Boston Whaler and Guinness - life is good!
Neat project, thanks for posting.

 

[grease_monkey]

Bike project is moving slowly along....

Also picked up a free lawnmower from my parents that hasn't been used in some years. Got it running but the gas tank leaks a lot so I got some parts on order for a repair and tune up.

 

[grease_monkey]

Lots of things going on, but here's a quick update on how things are progressing.

Siding the house coming along nicely, should be done next week:

New exterior doors:

New bathroom window and tile:

Work friends newly imported '81 Defender diesel (for sale @$70k)

M3 out and about:

Bike is finally just about done except for fine tuning. Got to ride it yesterday and am stoked for the rest of the season. Rode real well.

 

[tweidman]

That siding looks very similar to mine. What product is that? I'm doing basically the same to my house.

 

[grease_monkey]

That siding looks very similar to mine. What product is that? I'm doing basically the same to my house.

It's CertainTeed Cedar Impressions in pacific blue. Looks so much like real shingles its impressive.

 

[tweidman]

I know that product. I still have some samples at home. I wanted something a little darker than that, although in the pictures it looks pretty dark.
I like the look of the cedar shingle. Much more interesting than just a lap siding and no visible seems.

 

[grease_monkey]

I know that product. I still have some samples at home. I wanted something a little darker than that, although in the pictures it looks pretty dark.
I like the look of the cedar shingle. Much more interesting than just a lap siding and no visible seems.

Initially I wanted to paint the old shingles instead of siding, but decided to go vinyl once I saw how much it doesn't look like lap siding. And low/no maintenance!

 

[OzarkMan]

House looks gorgeous! Congrats on your first place. You could always increase the size of your garage if you take up the small shop space. Do you have more basement space under the house or does it end at the back of the garage?

 

[grease_monkey]

House looks gorgeous! Congrats on your first place. You could always increase the size of your garage if you take up the small shop space. Do you have more basement space under the house or does it end at the back of the garage?

Thanks! The house has a full basement under, but it'd be difficult to expand as the garage block walls support the main beams for the house. There's the garage, the small workshop, and a larger washer/dryer/storage area with the boiler/water heater right in the middle.

 

[M-technik-3]

You have to be near the water, why else would someone take a small cape and make it so strange. I used to live out in Plymouth as a kid and saw all sorts of strange things done so people could say they had a view of the bay.

MassSaves is a great program you just need to keep on the contractor to make sure they stay honest.