My garage is due for a make over, i need your help!

[UNKNOWN_MEMBER]

I share the garage with my family, so we have many stuff of all sorts. From 3 bikes, to one dirt bike, to one motorcycle, to 1 engine stand, etc.....Please point me in the right direction, i look at my garage and i dont even know where to start! You guys be the judge.....The camera used makes the garage actually look bigger than it really is.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Is building a shed an option? That's the best way to create one place for 'storage' and preserve the other space for 'work.'

If not, I would build some storage cabinets above 80" and as high as you can go.

It'd be nice to have a workbench in there, too. And you could store some more stuff in cabinets underneath it.

 

[rickairmedic]

I see 2 options one pick a wall and get started or rent a POD and empty the whole thing out and reorganize as you put it back.


Rick

 

[NUTTSGT]

Is building a shed an option? That's the best way to create one place for 'storage' and preserve the other space for 'work.'

If not, I would build some storage cabinets above 80" and as high as you can go.

It'd be nice to have a workbench in there, too. And you could store some more stuff in cabinets underneath it.

I'd say Jack is leading you in the right direction. It looks like your garage may need a serious cleaning to determine what stays and what goes. It needs to be deemed as a "non drop off" point for whatever.

 

[blazsawgras]

that what i did got me another storage shed for storage so i would have garage room for working.

 

[ddawg16]

A lot of potential in there.....but I gotta tell you....all things considered.....at least it's somewhat of an organized mess....

The first thing that I see is the attic.....I think you could turn some of that space into some good storage.....put the items that you don't use on a regular basis up there.

Next....follow Jack's advice....cabinets up high.....

 

[solows10]

im with them start by putting the storage bins up top then some selfing, then i wouls get some kinda up moveable storage area like this http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM217623677P?prdNo=28

 

[fringeofinsanity]

A few things I see, and I'll assume that like me, a shed isn't an option. But if it is, that'd be the first thing I'd do. I actually used under the stairs in my basement at the back of my indoor workshop since I couldn't add a shed.

1) First things first, you need to purge - I noticed multiple things like car batteries, antifreeze jugs, etc
2) Plan out how you can utilize what space you do have. Things like overhead storage and cabinets will give you back alot of floor space.
3) Large items like that folding table are going to limit your wall storage potential, but consider making a rack where you can place multiple items or maybe a false wall or partition you could slide it behind and yet have some type of storage mounted to the front.

 

[digdug18]

Ideally, a shed would though be first on your list of things to buy to clean up the space. Get the things out of the garage that are for yard work, move a lot of the storage items out there as well.

Looks like you have some room above the garage door, up front for starters. I'd re-organize, start tossing the things in your garage that you have not used in a long time. You can put your bikes in the back of your garage, along the back wall, and pull the one your working on out.

In the back of your shop I'd build shelves out of 2x4's from floor to as high as you can go, get those things in the back of the shop off the floor to start with, going through them as you go.

What are the dimensions of the space, long wide high? It looks like the back wall is the start of another room, and the attic above goes over that, is that correct?

Andrew

 

[TLCDino]

My garage is a bit larger, but I had the same issues - a lot of clutter with no plan. Here is what I would suggest:

1. Get a good idea of how much space you have. Start by measuring and do a little thinking about how you want to use the space.

2. Put it on paper. Try and diagram what you want. Use either some planning software (yes, there is an App for that) or the back of an envelope and understand the big picture goal.

3. Get a dumpster. Start by draining all the clutter, trash, duplicates and things you have not used or touched in the past 24 months. Odds are you want need them in the next 24 month either.

4. Plan dedicated storage either with cabinets or using shelves and plastic bins - clear is great because you can see everything.

5. Pull the thing together, execute and reload!

Simple advise, but it has worked for me....

 

[UNKNOWN_MEMBER]

Wow, i didn't expect to get so much help! First things first, apparently I need a shed. You guys are right, i need to trash and store a lot of stuff, i'll go ahead and do that. Cash is limited, so maybe building my own shed will save me money? I'll be searching for ways on how to build a shed, if you guys have any helpful information please share. I never done any construction work but I think i could handle it, i just need blueprints and ideas.

 

[little d]

UNKNOWN, most box stores, lowes, home depo, ect... will have diy plans. Go to the contractors desk and tell one of those guys what your wanting to build, after ya figure out what your going to put into it.

 

[UNKNOWN_MEMBER]

UNKNOWN, most box stores, lowes, home depo, ect... will have diy plans. Go to the contractors desk and tell one of those guys what your wanting to build, after ya figure out what your going to put into it.

Perfect! that's exactly what i was looking for. Actually instead of building a shed, i want to fully utilize all the back of the garage with shelves stacked to the top first....so i just go to the desk by lumbar dept. and they give diy plans? Or is there a website out there with blueprints that i can mimick to my own measurements?

EDIT: Might just do this to supplement the cylinder blocks used for the shelves in the back. As you can tell, i have NO CLUE when it comes to building shelves and racks and what not lol! http://www.askthebuilder.com/249_Some_Simple_Shelves_For_Your_House_.shtml

 

[rickairmedic]

Craigslist is a good place to find a cheap or free shed . I picked up a 15X10 metal shed off of craigs in great shape . The shed had been set up on a concrete pad and I paid $100.00 for it . I just had to take it down there and then put it back up at my location.


Rick

 

[digdug18]

Where are you located at? If you need help many members, like myself, are more then glad to help out a fellow member. And if you provide beer and hotdogs, you'll get even more people.

 

[fringeofinsanity]

Did someone say there's free beer involved?

 

[UNKNOWN_MEMBER]

well i did some cleaning and i got the car to fit including the motorcycle. It's a tight fit, but none-the-less they fit. let me try and get some pictures up soon.....i'm loving the setup so far.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

The right shed would also garage a motorcycle if and when required, but figure you want the front of the garage with walls clear for extra wide working room, and the back of the garage set up for rolling the cycle back there when you are not using the space. Any power tools roll to the front when needed.

 

[Kevin54]

There's so much stuff in there the walls are bowed out

 

[Scoutman]

Give this layout planner a try. It's free and pretty easy to use. I've been playing around with it the past few days and it has helped a great deal.
http://www.cbstructuresinc.com/layout-planner/


Other than some of the things that have been said above, after the cleaning house part, I would first isolate the things that HAVE to be on the floor. Everything else should go up. Buy some storage bins and set up a work station. Everything has a place and everything should be in it's place.

I have a hard time seeing what's in the back corner but I'm not convinced that you need to build a shed just yet. I think with a good weekend's worth of cleaning and re-organizing, you should have ample space to work and be comfortable. I see too much un-used wall space and inefficient storage to think it can't work as is.

Paint and light can go a long way to making the space feel bigger too.

 

[UNKNOWN_MEMBER]

i've worked on it a little bit. I built a better shelving unit, added a tool box, organized tools i use more to the bigger bulky tools i rarely use. I plan to keep remodeling the garage slowly but surely. Next i want to make the whole back of the garage shelves but with a cut out to fit the engine hoist deep in as well as the dirt bike. I'd also like to remove both tables and replace it with a more user friendly table covered with sheet metal with a huge vice. More lights would be nice with dry wall. Here's the garage with the car and bike in it.

 

[JC23]

When you start assigning space for storage, start with the higher levels such as in the roof for things you don't use often. Then, work yer way down to the shop level.

You gonna fill those walls with insulation? Eitherway, paint 'em white or light gray for better vision.

 

[BEAVO]

shed would be nice but if you don't have the cash you can always build more shelves high on the wall or in that attic space you have just get things off floors would be a big help you can also hang your bikes to