New Build-Garage Features Suggestion

[schalliol]

I'm building a new detached garage and looking into what I should put in before we get drywall on. They're going to start doing the foundation any day now, so there's some time.

The garage is a detached 3 car garage, which will be used for parking and for projects. I do work on cars, and varying projects, but it's not going to be a full on job shop. We'll probably use in in the winter for scout gatherings and stuff like that too.

• It's in central Indiana where it gets hot during the summer and cold in the winter, but not anything particularly crazy. We'll have heat but no AC.
• It's going to have a deck off the South end with a hot tub, which will have double-doors to it with full glass that can let some good light in.
• There's a full staircase that leads to a windowless attic floor where the air handler will be for heating and the attic will have a plywood floor we'll use for storage but not a living area.
• There's a sink area with the ability for a future bathroom plumbed in, but we probably aren't going to do that. We'll have a tankless water heater in the closet under the stairs to drive that.
• I'll be installing Lutron RadioRA 2 lighting control that works with the house and plenty of 4" and 6" cans (4" whiter color temp and 6" warmer), and we'll have some exterior switched outlets with the system too. I ultimately concluded the cans will be better (assuming I have quite a dispersion of them) after reading a number of reviews here, but I'm sure some will disagree with that.
• We have 200 A available to the garage (it was easy to add to the existing service and we won't have to have a separate meter/charge).
• We'll set-up for up to three EV charging spots (we don't own any EVs today but I can imagine over the life of the garage we or others might have some).
• We'll put down an epoxy floor but will have no floor drains.
• I'm putting speakers in the area and in the soffit on by the hot tub because I can get a great deal on AV as a dealer (let me know if you need anything!).
• We'll put in a central vac with a hide-a-hose with 50' run on the western wall between the doors for light-duty car cleaning, etc., which will reach the main garage.

Additional thoughts:

• I'm thinking of installing an air compressor on the smaller side of things either in the attic or in the closet with 1-2 outlets for a reel. I've only ever used standalone compressors, and I know we have to worry about moisture in the lines. The lines would be required to be in the drywall if I do this.
• I'm thinking of putting in a pressure washer, which realistically I would use around the garage on the concrete but not in it. It would be easy to bring water to it.
• I'm trying to figure out a good way to vent the attic when it's really hot outside and we're using it, but I'd have to work with the roof and not the walls.
• I'm still not quite sure what I'll do for lighting in the attic or potentially ceiling fans.
• I'd love ideas of other things that would be easy to do now and nice but a pain later.

Thanks!

 

[jack stand]

Seems like you've thought this out well.
For a ventilation concern, a power vent that's thermostaticlly controlled up near the peak above the stairwell will do a nice job. If you're not sure, at least run a circuit for the future.

 

[dcg9381]

I added an "attic fan" that turns on via thermostat and vents out our soffit. Put heat soaked cars in there, and the fan goes on until it gets cooler.

I'd want CAT6 wired to the garage. If you're going to put security cameras in, select your drops.

We put in 240V HVAC disconnect for a "future ductless" system on the exterior wall.

I like polyurea better than epoxy... It's also a lot cheaper.

Conduit for power, future drops, with pull-strings.

My house is covered by a 20k generator. We have a load-shed device in front of the garage sub-panel.

 

[nadogail]

Sounds like you will be well prepared to drywall after the rough wiring and insulation are in.

 

[mullivan]

You sure you want to drywall? Gets banged up pretty easily. After much searching through this forum I've settled on LP Smartside for my new interior walls.

 

[metlmunchr]

I wouldn't even consider spending that sort of money on a building and not putting air conditioning in it.

 

[ZRX61]

All electrical outlets at least 4ft from the floor.

How ya gonna fix a leaking airline inside the wall?...

 

[schalliol]

Thanks everyone for your great thoughts!

• Great idea, @jack stand and @dcg9381 for the attic fan. Do any of you have parts you’d recommend?
• I’ll definitely be putting in CAT6 (maybe CAT7 since I can get it for about the same), and I’m running fiber from the house (many runs and a couple CAT7 with a surge protector).
• I didn’t mention it, but I’m also putting in an RTI KX10s control panel which actually can pull down video too, and I’ll run some conduit in case someone wants to put a proper TV in there (probably not me).
• I’ll check out polyurea, thanks!
• For power, I am planning on putting in conduit in places but definitely plenty of receptacles (including USB) with GFCI breakers in the attic. Not sure yet where the conduit will be beneficial. 4 feet up definitely makes sense.
• We aren’t planning a generator since we rarely go down (buried wire in the neighborhood at least, but I’ve thought about that. Hmm.
• @mullivan, Yeah, we’ll be doing drywall. Just no way around it, but I agree it may get beaten up. Thanks for the recommendation on the LP
• @metlmunchr, AC would be nice, and I guess we could add later and should prepare in case we do. I don’t think it’ll probably be all that needed with all the windows and doors we can open up here in Indy.
• @ZRX61 this might be the deal breaker for doing the lines. Has anyone reliably done air inside drywall?

 

[Yankeefarmer]

I don’t understand the reluctance to use drywall. If something hits the wall hard enough to damage drywall, it’s going to gouge or dent and scratch metal, ply, or other materials as well. And, in the event that should happen, drywall is by far the easiest material to repair, and, since you had to paint it originally, there’s a fair chance you already have the paint to cover the repair. In over 40 years, I’ve never incurred accidental damage to drywall in my garage or shop areas.

 

[Onebean]

Sounds like an amazing space, I’d go for A/C at the build and be done with it. In the past I swore I’d never have Drywall in a garage/work space, but I’ve done a 180 on that thought process. I’ve seen lots of folks using French cleats on drywall for hanging things / storage, and it’s very attractive and versatile. With the current prices of wood sheet and steel, drywall is almost a bargain.

 

[schalliol]

Good thoughts, @Onebean My AC problem is that this garage essentially has all 4 sides as “front” surfaces, and there isn’t any aesthetically supportable place for a AC compressor unit. Everything is enclosed. I’m not aware of any proper AC unit that would therefore fit the bill, short of a wall unit. I’m sure many will say we should just **** it up and put one somew on the ground, but are there any other ideas? Thanks!

 

[durk_2007]

I've ran 3/4 pex in the walls for air line. Works great, no concern of UV degrading it and it is sealed well enough the compressor won't kick on for days

 

[dcg9381]

Thanks everyone for your great thoughts!

• Great idea, @jack stand and @dcg9381 for the attic fan. Do any of you have parts you’d recommend?

Just appropriate CFM and size that fits between your studs. There are "horizontal" fan options that can be mounted in an exterior wall, but I prefer to put it in the ceiling and use the vented soffit (or ridge vent) to keep it all hidden. Simple thermostatic switches are easy to find.

Typical "garage" AC is ductless split that does have an outside compressor. You CAN do an inside unit or units, but you need to have a hot air vent (typically like a dryer vent) and need to have a way to get rid of the condensation (you need a drain line).

 

[thammel]

Not sure what your source for heat is - propane or natural gas? Why not a heat pump or mini -split? I love having a cool garage in the summer! I would definitely do a bathroom and would include a shower. If you don't, you'll probably regret not doing that. Also, think about how you are insulating. Be sure to do a great job on this. I'm also wondering if the attic will be a conditioned space....for any kind of use and storage, it will be best if it does have heat (and hopefully ac). One more thought about the attic; regardless of whether it is conditioned, be sure to have a door either at the bottom or top of the stairs closing it off from the first floor garage.

 

[cpttuna]

insulate, have at least 100amp service, reinforce walls where you are likely to hang heavy items like ladders or shelves.220 for welder??? and wide side door in case of power outages.

 

[HUSTLESTUFF]

I too would look at a mini split or at least figure out where I might put it and run the lines and cap them at both ends. They have cassette units that fit into ceiling joists.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Another vote for a mini-split. It will cool the garage in the summer, and it will provide heat in the winter.

I have a mini-split in my garage and so does one of my friend and it makes working on projects in the summer, fun.

 

[schalliol]

These are all great thoughts!

• @durk_2007, the PEX in wall sounds pretty great for an air system. Do you happen to have any pictures of your system in total you'd be willing to share? If so, a PM would be awesome!
• @dcg9381 The thermostatic vent like you're describing sounds great.
• Also, I do need to look at indoor compressor options, which I were unaware might exist. We will have a ducted electric furnace (no gas/propane available), and we will have drains available. If there's a way to actually cool through the ducted system without an outdoor unit, I'd probably pull the trigger on that and swap out the furnace for one meant to have AC.
• @HUSTLESTUFF or @Mtl-Marc , are you aware of something we can do without an outside unit? The cassette idea looks good, but the air isn't going to be the problem as much as it is finding the place to put a compressor.
• @thammel, good point on the door. Yeah, it seems we really ought to have one.
• @cpttuna, we'll have 200A dedicated and I like the reinforced wall idea for hanging items. We have a double person door on the South End, so I think that should be nice.

Thanks!!

 

[38Chevy454]

2x6 walls, with corresponding R-18 insulation. Insulation helps both heating and cooling. it moderates the inside temps. Agree on the mini split for the heating and cooling. The outside compressor/condenser unit is fairly small and easy to mount with a smaller footprint. Have good ceiling insulation as well.

I would go with the half bath. One of the best things I did for my detached. I put a utility tub sink instead of a std cabinet and sink.

Airlines can be behind the wall, but if you ever need to do service it means removing the wall material. I put my air lines on outside of wall.

Put many more outlets than you think. Put some 240v in for larger air compressors or welders, even if you don't anticipate it now.

 

[HUSTLESTUFF]

These are all great thoughts!

• @durk_2007, the PEX in wall sounds pretty great for an air system. Do you happen to have any pictures of your system in total you'd be willing to share? If so, a PM would be awesome!
• @dcg9381 The thermostatic vent like you're describing sounds great.
• Also, I do need to look at indoor compressor options, which I were unaware might exist. We will have a ducted electric furnace (no gas/propane available), and we will have drains available. If there's a way to actually cool through the ducted system without an outdoor unit, I'd probably pull the trigger on that and swap out the furnace for one meant to have AC.
• @HUSTLESTUFF or @Mtl-Marc , are you aware of something we can do without an outside unit? The cassette idea looks good, but the air isn't going to be the problem as much as it is finding the place to put a compressor.
• @thammel, good point on the door. Yeah, it seems we really ought to have one.
• @cpttuna, we'll have 200A dedicated and I like the reinforced wall idea for hanging items. We have a double person door on the South End, so I think that should be nice.

Thanks!!

I've seen the units hung on outside walls or mounted on a small pad. No where near the size of a conventional unit.
Google this: mini split condensing unit wall mount bracket kit
and look at some images