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Making space in a 2 car garage

TXST8tj

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Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
101
Location
Fulshear, TX
First, a little background:

A year ago this month, my wife and I moved from New Braunfels, TX to Katy, TX because of new jobs. Our house in New Braunfels finally sold in November and we were able to buy a house in Katy. We closed on a home in December 2008 and the work began.

We went from a brand new house that we had built in NB, to a thirty-two year old house. This is not our end-all house, but at the time, it was the best thing for us….and hey, we’re not afraid of a project.

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Over the last eight months or so, we have been updating/fixing/replacing/etc. anything we can get our hands on. Naturally, the inside comes first.
The previous inherited owners own a remodeling company. They before they sold the house, they went through and made some changes; some good, some not so good. The good: wood floors, tile, and new carpet. The not so good: yellow paint…..everywhere. They painted almost every single wall, yellow.
We have repainted the entire interior of the house, and the exterior will be done this fall. If it was not for the fact that it has been 100* almost everyday for the last couple months, it would have already been done.
Light fixtures and ceiling fans have been replaced, as have the window treatments. The end of the long story is that I FINALLY am beginning to have the opportunity to start getting some work done in my garage!

I do work on Jeeps and trucks ‘on the side’ and for friends quite often; as in, I’m booked every spare weekend I have. It has been a battle every job to work around the mess that has been piling up in the garage.
This thread is to document my garage transformation. There will be some simple construction of shelves, a couple work benches, and some cabinets. Other than that, the usual broom and shovel hangers, a paint theme, and possibly a floor treatment.

These are some shots of parts of the garage from right before we bought the house.
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Considering it is a standard, small 2 car garage, it was very nice to find that it has two cut-outs/alcoves. One is on the front wall, and one is on the left wall. The front alcove will house one of the work benches for general work and projects. I will build a set of cabinets above that for lockable power tool storage (or at least a place to store all of the plastic cases.

The side alcove will have shelves built inside it. For the amount of stuff I keep around, it should be big enough to hold every loose item; most of which are already in ‘Steralite’ plastic tubs.
So between my Craftsman rolling tool chest, the work bench and cabinet, and the shelves, there should not be anything loose laying around.

I will build a second workbench designed to handle some pounding and long/heavy items, as well as a bench vise and bench grinder. It will be long and not too deep to get in the way.
 
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TXST8tj

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
101
Location
Fulshear, TX
I just started working on the shelves for the side alcove. I am building them in to the studs for strength and to save space and lumber. By the time it's done, there will be plenty of bracing.
The 2x4s are attached to the wall with lag bolts through the studs and 3" screws through the corner studs.

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I am finally getting some good use out of my new 12" compound miter saw and mobile stand.
 
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TXST8tj

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Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
101
Location
Fulshear, TX
Thanks! Between my tools, tubs of stuff/supplies, bicycles, and my son's ride-on toys, it really is very important for everything to be as streamlined as possible so everything will fit with room for me to work. I would still be fine with only having to move a Power Wheels and wagon out of the way to work on a vehicle vs. having to move the monsterous pile of stuff sitting there now.

I am trying to get a PO from my wife to get a small shed for the backyard to keep the lawn equipment and other lawn stuff in. Our backyard wouldn't miss the space by any means, and it would give me more room and would stay clean longer.

While I like the exterior styling of the two garage doors, it really makes for a headache for me. They are extremely narrow. I can just squeeze a Wrangler in there, and I couldn't think about putting my Suburban in there.....at least my wife's 4Runner will be safe for hurricane season.
 

jj3

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Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
81
Location
Jersey Village, TX
Hey TX, welcome to the Houston area! (what do you know, this is my first post)
Looking good so far.
Quick question for you, how do you like your Ridgid stand? I just picked up a new 12" dual compound Ridgid a while back and presently have it mounted on one of my 8' workbenches but have contemplated a proper stand.

Thanks and keep us posted with your progress.
JJ
 
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TXST8tj

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Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
101
Location
Fulshear, TX
Thanks JJ!

I grew up in Sugar Land and moved away for college (Texas State Uni.), but it's nice to be back close to family.

I love the Ridgid stand. My parent's got me the saw (12" dual compound, double bevel) and my mother-in-law got me the stand for this past Christmas.
My parents have the previous model of the stand for their saw and after using theirs, it seemed crazy not to have one myself.
The extending roller arms are very adjustable and extremely helpful. It rolls with ease. This new model has the removable mounts. They bolt to the saw and clamp to the table. You can easily move the saw where ever you need it positioned on the table. The bottoms of the mounts are flat, so it will sit nicely on the ground or on any other surface if you need to remove it and take it somewhere else.
There are cheaper stands, but this one is the best of any I have seen.
 
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TXST8tj

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Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
101
Location
Fulshear, TX
haha...sorry bout that.
We spent about a grand having all of the trees trimmed and cut back,got flood insurance, lowered our homeowner's deductibles, etc. We're doing what we can, but hopefully won't need it.
 

rustyfords

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Joined
Jun 1, 2009
Messages
34
Location
Houston area
Welcome back to the Houston area. I'm up in Conroe.

I love it here. Mainly because there is very little to attract tourists. Houston is a town that people come to in order to work and do well for themselves. If we want to play, we take a short trip to San Antonio or to the coast.

As for your garage, I'm in the same boat as you. I have multiple kids and all of their riding toys end up in the garage. Plus, my wife constantly wants to put a new rubbermaid tub of "storage items" out in the garage. And finally, I have a wicked cool 23 year old John Deere 318 that I love that occupies space in my precious garage.

My solution has been as follows:

- I built some nice/attractive shelving in the big master closet for all of my wife's rubbermaid tubs and have banned them from the garage. Plus, I used logic on her...you know, "honey, it gets really hot out here in the garage when it's closed up during the day and do you really want all of that great stuff in these tubs to be subjected to that heat?"

- I've made extensive use of bike hangars, etc. for the kids toys.

- The JD 318 (man I love that thing...hydrostatic transmission, power steering...oh sorry...got off track) is still in the garage along with the weedwhacker, etc but a backyard shed is in the works that will contain it all.

- Finally, my motto has been "organize, organize, organize". Everything in it's place and a place for everything <----- my wife's phrase. She's a kindergarten teacher.

I love these beautifully painted, surgical looking garages on this forum, but I'm more of a "use what you got" sort of guy, and my storage stuff and workbench consists mostly of cool/functional stuff that I have acquired over the years.

Good luck with the project. There's nothing better than sitting and admiring your work after it's all done.
 
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TXST8tj

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Mar 4, 2008
Messages
101
Location
Fulshear, TX
This is one of the riding toys. My 2 year old son took on my love for Jeeps very early.

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I installed an attic ladder in the garage because my wife seems to come up with "new tubs" also. There is just so much more storage area over the garage than where the inside attic access is.
 

jj3

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Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
81
Location
Jersey Village, TX
Thanks JJ!

I grew up in Sugar Land and moved away for college (Texas State Uni.), but it's nice to be back close to family.

I love the Ridgid stand. My parent's got me the saw (12" dual compound, double bevel) and my mother-in-law got me the stand for this past Christmas.
My parents have the previous model of the stand for their saw and after using theirs, it seemed crazy not to have one myself.
The extending roller arms are very adjustable and extremely helpful. It rolls with ease. This new model has the removable mounts. They bolt to the saw and clamp to the table. You can easily move the saw where ever you need it positioned on the table. The bottoms of the mounts are flat, so it will sit nicely on the ground or on any other surface if you need to remove it and take it somewhere else.
There are cheaper stands, but this one is the best of any I have seen.

Thanks for the review Patrick...will need to start the approval process from the ´war room´:)
 
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rustbucket49

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Sep 21, 2008
Messages
124
Location
Texas
Keep up the great work on the garage. My condolences to you on having to move from New Braunfels to Katy. Of course, NB has suffered some growing pains....

I'm from up the road in Luling and now live in this hell hole called Houston. Still make the occasional trip back to Clear Springs for some catfish and brews....
 

nate379

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Feb 2, 2009
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Location
Palmer, AK
Need to hook up a mower deck to that Jeep! :lol_hitti

This is one of the riding toys. My 2 year old son took on my love for Jeeps very early.

100_2254.jpg



I installed an attic ladder in the garage because my wife seems to come up with "new tubs" also. There is just so much more storage area over the garage than where the inside attic access is.
 
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TXST8tj

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Mar 4, 2008
Messages
101
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Fulshear, TX
Keep up the great work on the garage. My condolences to you on having to move from New Braunfels to Katy. Of course, NB has suffered some growing pains....

I'm from up the road in Luling and now live in this hell hole called Houston. Still make the occasional trip back to Clear Springs for some catfish and brews....

we certainly miss it, but the job change was definitely worth it :).
you had to mention Clear Springs!!!! man i miss that place. our supply of cups is running low...need to go back.
 

rustbucket49

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Texas
we certainly miss it, but the job change was definitely worth it :).
you had to mention Clear Springs!!!! man i miss that place. our supply of cups is running low...need to go back.

Clear Springs is one of my tops for "most favorite hang-outs". I love that place..... Get a pile of O-rings and a few Bud Lites...... yeah man!! :bowdown::bowdown:

However, if you are ever outside of Conroe on Hwy 105, check out Vernon's Katfish Kitchen - great place w/ awesome green tomatoes, great catfish, cold brews and some good pies.... Probably tops for me here in the hell hole called Houston.
 
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TXST8tj

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Mar 4, 2008
Messages
101
Location
Fulshear, TX
I'll have to check out Vernon's. I'm out in Conroe every now and then for work.


Some of you build entire garages in the time it has taken me to build a set of shelves, but I haven't had any time out in the garage since I started the thread. I came home from work and got a little more done.
I have a few jobs coming up and it would be great to have my garage back.

Each shelf is 5'w X 3' deep. The whole area is just under 8' tall.

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3" screws in the corners, and lag bolts on the faces of the 2x4's into the studs. So far...rock solid.

I have figured that I will add a 2x4 down the outside middle for support against sag. I was really not wanting to, but I think it will likely be necessary over the longterm once the shelves are weighted down.
 
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348guy

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Feb 7, 2008
Messages
108
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Allen Park, MI
Those alcoves are nice. You'll sure need them. I also have a small 2 car garage that I'm trying to squeeze every last inch of space out of. One other thing I did with mine is hang as much as I could on the ceiling. I hung ladders, spare wood, bikes, etc. And don't forget to utilize that narrow strip between garage doors. My strip takes the garbage can, recycling, shop vac, and push mower.

Nice job so far. Keep up the good work!:beer:
 
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TXST8tj

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Mar 4, 2008
Messages
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Fulshear, TX
Thanks!
I was very happy to see the alcoves when we first walked the house before we bought it. With having two separate garage doors, I need all the floor space and clear wall space I can get. Those doors are extremely narrow, so if there is anything deeper than a ladder up against the wall, you can't fit a vehicle in there....it's that tight.
I unfortunately don't have too much overhead space, but there is one area I will be building an rack to store lumber and such.
And everything that can be hung on the wall, will certainly be hung on the wall.
 
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TXST8tj

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Messages
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The side shelves are complete other than the very top shelf board, but they are a mess right now anyway because everything got throw on them as I was tearing down the shelves the previous owner put up. They were there, so I used them, but now all that stuff is on the new shelves, but not organized. They will be taken care of soon.

I have been rebuilding my workbench. I won't bother posting pictures of it in its previous state, but I really did not impress myself with it. This version is coming along much nicer.

I have it in the alcove deal at the head of the garage. This build is a combo of floating (bolted to the walls) and braced with 4x4 posts at the front.

The left side of it is made to house the shopvac with a short shelf above it.
The right side is set up to just be shelves.
I am going to add one more level of shelves on the right side.

Between the back and side 2x4s being lag bolted to the back and then the front and sides being tied into the 4x4s up front, it is already plenty strong. I still have some more screws to run, but it is taking its basic shape.

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The **** wire shelf above the bench will be removed and I will build a built-in cabinet up there with doors to hold my power tools and cases.
The bottom of that shelf will be the perfect place to mount some lights to shine down on the bench.
I will probably also do either some tray storage system on the back wall, or I will peg board it and go from there.


So far, the dimensions are: 31" deep x 71" wide x 44" tall (from the garage floor level). Add at least 3/4" for the top sheet, and another inch to the depth, at the front in the form of an overhang. That overhang will have the top flush with the walls.
I am 6'5", so the height and depth are perfect for me. I am lucky that my size allows me to have a tall and deep work space.

A couple more screws and that last shelf, and it will be ready for its top sheet.


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