New House, new garage

[Reverend Bow]

Well, relocation happens...

After 12 years in Yuma AZ, and my 2-car garage... I took a job in Tucson.

I finally talked the wife into me needing a 3-car... Because all those tools I have to fix stuff around the house take up room... And if she wants her car in the garage, I need more room... Because my 240sx isn't sitting in the driveway

So the house we settled on has a 3-car (2-car wide, on bay is tandem) up in the Marana (NW Tucson area, outside the emissions testing area!)

Photos from the listing:




No, the old Chrysler isn't mine, it is the current owner's

So far, the plan is her Subaru is sitting where the Chrysler is, my 240sx will be where the other car is ...


So I have to figure out how to lay out the tandem bay.


On a positive note, the wife already told me to look this putting AC in there, so I'll be looking for a mini-Split system. And if the electrical panel is on that side of the house, I am going to look at putting 220 in.

We close on the house 09 August, suggestions on how to build out this thing are welcome!

 

[Wreckster23]

absolutely love the layout, and fully interested in pictures of this 240sx. I miss mine, trash heap it was.

 

[Bill T]

Congratulations on the purchase.

 

[Mike65]

Congrats.

 

[Reverend Bow]

absolutely love the layout, and fully interested in pictures of this 240sx. I miss mine, trash heap it was.

Thanks

My 1991 240sx


I've owned it since '97
My former commuter, these days I only pull it out to drive it in Anger

 

[Reverend Bow]

Well, I am the owner of a new garage.... THe wife gets the attached house

 

[Reverend Bow]

So as I am sorting out my stuff from moving boxes, and planning for storage/workbench/ shelving.... I have another issue...

The entire garage has 2..... Count them... 2 power outlets....



The wall on the left is the outside wall, and one the other side of that is the power panel....

So I see a 220 outlet in my future....

But what is the best way to run power in a finished garage? Wall mounted boxes and conduit?

 

[GrayFlattop]

I’m a fan of surface mounted wiring in a finished garage - using metal boxes and conduit. This method allows for easy modifications or changes in the future.

Take the time to do it neatly.

 

[Max]

My shop is a two car garage. I had a 60A subpanel put in and then I wired to the subpanel using EMT and surface boxes. I would have preferred nmb and internal wiring but as my walls were already finished with drywall I didn’t see that as a good option.

It takes a bit of practice to learn how to bend EMT but it is very doable and when you do it right it looks good. I am pretty happy with how things turned out.

 

[Mezz2006]

So as I am sorting out my stuff from moving boxes, and planning for storage/workbench/ shelving.... I have another issue...

The entire garage has 2..... Count them... 2 power outlets....



The wall on the left is the outside wall, and one the other side of that is the power panel....

So I see a 220 outlet in my future....

But what is the best way to run power in a finished garage? Wall mounted boxes and conduit?

Sounds like my garage. I was all excited to move in, only to find (3) 120v outlets, all on the back wall or within 3 feet of the back wall. Surprisingly, the PO had a 20amp 220v outlet installed. I had plans of adding more outlets, but never did, since I was planning a new detached garage/shop.

With drywall I prefer the look of flush outlets. Especially since it appears that everything is already flush mount. Flush mount looks cleaner/more finished. On steel and in workshop settings, I like the look of surface mount and the ability to change it very easily. Surface mount looks more industrial.

 

[CraigStu]

I'd prefer in the wall but I hate drywall, mudding, and sanding. You could carefully cut an 8" tall piece of drywall out all around to run wires and install boxes. You could replace it and paint a 12" tall accent stripe or paint from floor up to above your patch so you only have to paint 1/2 of each wall. But I'd probably do surface mount w/ conduit or maybe surface mount w/ the plastic 'conduit'. Look at the Wiremold brand at L or HD. They have the boxes in both plastic and metal but I 'think' conduit is all plastic.

 

[Reverend Bow]

I'd prefer in the wall but I hate drywall, mudding, and sanding. You could carefully cut an 8" tall piece of drywall out all around to run wires and install boxes. You could replace it and paint a 12" tall accent stripe or paint from floor up to above your patch so you only have to paint 1/2 of each wall. But I'd probably do surface mount w/ conduit or maybe surface mount w/ the plastic 'conduit'. Look at the Wiremold brand at L or HD. They have the boxes in both plastic and metal but I 'think' conduit is all plastic.

That is an idea I had not thought of ...

I am not a fan of drywall work either, but flush-mounted would definitely be more wife approved...

 

[Max]

I'd prefer in the wall but I hate drywall, mudding, and sanding. You could carefully cut an 8" tall piece of drywall out all around to run wires and install boxes. You could replace it and paint a 12" tall accent stripe or paint from floor up to above your patch so you only have to paint 1/2 of each wall. But I'd probably do surface mount w/ conduit or maybe surface mount w/ the plastic 'conduit'. Look at the Wiremold brand at L or HD. They have the boxes in both plastic and metal but I 'think' conduit is all plastic.

That’s a very good idea. But it is more cutting if you want outlets low and switches at normal height. Having said that, for a shop having outlets at normal switch height could be a good thing.

 

[dcg9381]

I'd prefer in the wall but I hate drywall, mudding, and sanding. You could carefully cut an 8" tall piece of drywall out all around to run wires and install boxes. You could replace it and paint a 12" tall accent stripe or paint from floor up to above your patch so you only have to paint 1/2 of each wall. But I'd probably do surface mount w/ conduit or maybe surface mount w/ the plastic 'conduit'. Look at the Wiremold brand at L or HD. They have the boxes in both plastic and metal but I 'think' conduit is all plastic.

If you're "sure" about the layout, AZ is probably like it is here where you can find "cheap" drywall contractors. Shop gets electric in PVC because those are the fittings I know.

Congrats on at least 50% more garage. You're starting a habit that only gets worse.

 

[CraigStu]

I always recommend outlets to be about 46-48" off the floor so they are above workbenches and tool boxes but below wall cabinets. Out of curiosity I just measured several wall switches in our house. Bingo. Same height as the outlets in my garage. So whether one does in wall or surface mount, running everything at the same height makes it all easier.

 

[Reverend Bow]

Well, Drove to Yuma yesterday with a Uhaul pickup and car trailer to bring my 240sx to it's new home....




It is 100% drivable, but I converted it to E85 only back in 2007, it runs like a raped ape, but the gas mileage is a bit .. lacking, and there was only 1 station in the 225 mile run that sometimes has Flex-Fuel... And since the car no longer has A/C, it was in my best option to tow it ... And since my truck is a 2017 Frontier 4-cylinder/5-Speed, it wouldn't have been very happy dragging it ..

But it is at the new house, and I need to clear enough room in the garage to get it in