new digs, new garage - suggestions?

[timgr]

Greetings to all - this is a great forum. I've read many of your previous posts with great interest.

Here's my new garage - 17'x21', detached from the house. I also have a large unfinished basement that I will use for storage, so the garage is 100% shop space. I'm pretty handy with woodworking, but mostly I will use the garage to work on my hobby cars. I've attached some pics.

The single small window is on the south side, the roll-up door faces west, and the people door faces north.

How would you all prioritize any improvements, and what changes would you suggest? Here's a starting list:

1) coat the floor
2) lights (only a single circuit, connecting to the basement)
3) security, fire extinguisher (the door has no controller, just a button)
4) insulation and interior finish (OSB below pegboard maybe)
5) bench, and a bigger south-facing window
6) shelving (I'll buy the Costco rollaway)
7) heat/AC (this one I'm really unclear about)
8) air

No construction, lifts, etc. yet please. Maybe after I've lived here for a couple of years, I'll expand the garage, but for now I want to make the most of what I have - my first real garage.

best regards Tim

 

[Der Bugmeister]

I would prioritize like this:

1. Power - You're going to want better lighting and access to electrical outlets if you plan on doing any wrenching out there. How many other things are on the same circuit right now? You may need to consider a dedicated circuit from the house and a subpanel in the garage, depending on how serious you want to get. This will also be a major determining factor in what type of air compressor, heat and A/C you'll be able to run out there. Running wires now is easier than after you've got the space full.
2. Security - As soon as you start storing tools or parts, you're a target. Make sure the building is secure.
3. Fire Extinguisher - 'nuff said!
4. Bigger Window - If you know you're going to do this, the best time to do it is before you get shelves, benches, insulation or panelling on the walls. Quick and easy when everything is exposed.
5. Work Bench - if you plan on working out there sooner rather than later
6. Shelving - before or after the workbench...
7. Insulation/Interior finishing - heating will be expensive without it. You might want to at least finish up the area behind your workbench before getting it all setup.
8. Heat/AC - depends on your climate and more especially on the power you have out there.
9. Floor finish - it's a nice to have, but not essential. I'd put it low on the priority list in comparison to the rest, but certainly doable before insulating and panelling.

Of course, that's just my opinion. Other things are bound to enter into the equation, such as budget limitations, time restrictions and the honey-do list.

Congrats on getting your own space!

 

[timgr]

1. Power - You're going to want better lighting and access to electrical outlets if you plan on doing any wrenching out there. How many other things are on the same circuit right now? You may need to consider a dedicated circuit from the house and a subpanel in the garage, depending on how serious you want to get. This will also be a major determining factor in what type of air compressor, heat and A/C you'll be able to run out there. Running wires now is easier than after you've got the space full.

Yeah, as far as I know the GD opener, bare bulb, and 2 GFI outlets are on one circuit. I don't have possession yet, so I can't check it easily.

The house has wires coming down from the pole in front, but there's no obvious electrical connection to the garage. Maybe the connection is buried.

So what's a minimum number of circuits and amperage that I need? I realize that it's better to have more rather than less, but I'd think maybe 3 or 4 20A 110V circuits, and then maybe 220V for a welder depending on the cost. I'm pretty darn serious, but I expect the real limit will be floor space. I won't have a lot of space for stand-alone machinery and still have room to work around a car. I'd like a 220V MIG, but I could probably get by on a 110V unit. Maybe lights, heat, compressor, welder, and a few small machines like a bench grinder ... can't really justify a plasma cutter or a mill or chop saw or whatever. Can I get away with 110V for a compressor?

 

[mikeyr]

I would go for 220 in a 60AMP sub-panel into the garage and then decide on the details as you go. 17x21 is plenty big for one car restoration and a bench and all the tools as long as you don't try to mix that space up with storage and daily driver parking, etc. My number on the list would power, a sub-panel and LOTS of lights, as you get older light becomes more important and its always important anyway even for the youngsters.

Putting plugs in now is also easier.

Don't plan too much, a garage is a living breathing space and will change many times overs the years, nothing is fixed in a garage, what fits perfectly today will be moved next year to another perfect place.

 

[Der Bugmeister]

Once you have possession, you'll need to do a load calculation for your house, and check the size of your main power panel. If you've only got a 100 amp service, your options may be limited, but if you've got 200 amps you will probably be ok.

Next, you'll want to check how the current current is getting out to the garage. Odds are that you'll have to upgrade the wire, which will be something of a moot point when you run a new circuit from the garage to the house panel anyhow.

Then, you get the biggest panel your system can safely handle, and you'll have plenty of versatility to wire the circuits you find yourself needing.

You don't need to go with a low number of outlets, based on the thought that more outlets means more power requirements. The philosophy is that as a hobby garage, one man can only use so many appliances at one time so the overall load won't be excessive.

Also, if you run heavy cable, 240 volt 100 amp type service out there now, it will all be in place if you ever expand the garage.

 

[timgr]

The current service is 100A, which the home inspector said was fine for a home of this size. Of course, he wasn't part of this conversation.

Lots of outlets could get expensive, since the code in MA requires GFI outlets in the garage (as I understand it). There's one now, so maybe another 4 or 5. How would the 220/230/240 devices be handled, hard-wired? Certainly the welder will need an outlet.

 

[Junkman]

GFIC receptacles are what you would use. You install the GFIC receptacle in the first outlet and then all the outlets downstream from that one are also protected. All 110 volt outlets in a garage need to be GFIC type. Lighting and 220 volt outlets don't have to be. A sub panel needs to have the neutrals and grounds separated and two ground rods installed 8' apart. Doing it to code is going to be a little on the expensive side, but well worth it in the end. Remember that the code is to protect you and your garage, not make your life difficult. Try to find a newly licensed electrician that is hungry for the work if you can't do it yourself. Just make sure that you familiarize yourself with the parts of the code that he will be working on, so he doesn't take any short cuts. You will also need to take out a electrical wiring permit from your local building department. Failure to get the permit and have it inspected, can give your insurance company an out if you have a fire, even if the fire isn't electrical in nature. You could have the home upgraded to a 200 amp service and then use the homes existing circuit breaker panel in the garage as a sub panel.

 

[Ign]

Once the electrical is done my first priority would be to brighten up the space. Finish those walls with any method of your choosing and make 'em white!

 

[trovato]

I don't think I'd bother with the big window. It just takes up valuable wall space. With enough lighting in there you won't need the window for that.

 

[timgr]

I don't think I'd bother with the big window. It just takes up valuable wall space. With enough lighting in there you won't need the window for that.

I understand that it doesn't provide much practical advantage. I think it won't be a disadvantage though, since I have plenty of storage in the basement. I want the window for the psychological value - it's a south facing wall, which will provide lots of sun. We have cold winters but lots of sunny days here, and I miss being outside.