New member with a new garage!

[justintiime]

Hey guys! My name is Justin. Just recently bought a house, and one of the requisites was a garage for my cars. It measures 25x32 and fits all my stuff nicely! There *is* a second "story". Its not a full floor because of the rafters....more of a loft I guess. The kicker is there is no access to it. There is a spot on the back for a deck/stairs to it but the previous owner never finished it. Thats where I start I guess.

Here is the loft. It measures 12x32. Not too sure what to do with it but the walls are sheetrocked and there is power up there now.

I'll be relying on this forum for ideas, tips, tricks etc

 

[930dreamer]

Welcome to the GJ, insulation and sheetrock will help with the heat/cool part in the lower portion. I'm no expert on the loft access part so I'll wait for someone else to chime in. That's good storage up there.

 

[justintiime]

ideas I have so far:

-DirecTV (being hooked up next week)
-Recessed lighting
-Air compressor in the loft
-Bar/lounge area near the TV
-Tile/painted floor
-insulations/sheetrock walls
-4 post lift

among other things

 

[atotalnincompoop]

welcome

 

[regguy1]

Justin,
Nice size garage, don't paint the floor...paint lifts right off under the tires. Use epoxy / VCT / Racedeck type tiles. Do research on the various options and choose your favorite.

I used epoxy, you can see it in the video link below

 

[TerryStolmeier]

Justin,
Nice find! (where's the jealous button?) Tons of potential!

I would consider a few things before starting:

The four post lifts appear to be nicer, but they take up a tremendous amount of floor space and are limiting with what you can do with them, not to mention they cost a lot more when compared to a two post. I built a shop about 8 years ago for work and went with four posts and regretted it. I've now moved into two separate shops and went with two post in both of them.

The air compressor would probably be best outside (back of the shop) in it's own closet/enclosure. Rubber pads and sound deadened walls will keep the noise down.

Epoxy for the floor is the only way to go. The thicker the better!


Good luck with it!

 

[RHD 4 LIFE]

Welcome. Nice place you picked up there!
I too agree, no paint on the floor and a soundproof but accessible room for the compressor as well!

Lots of info on here, have fun with it!

John

 

[justintiime]

how hard would it be to run water to the garage? Don't you have to cut up the concrete and bury the pipes, etc?

 

[wornoutoldman]

Love the Ventura! Please tell me it's got a 428 and a 4 speed in it!

 

[justintiime]

I wish lol

I got it from the original owners. They ordered it to raise a family of 3 kids. So no, only a 400 and 2 barrel. Its in real nice shape. This past summer I won a gold award with it in the "Survivor" class at the international Pontiac-Oakland club meet in Kentucky. Its been in their magazine too

The old man wanted a GTO (of course) but the wife said no, so he "got some options she wouldnt know about" like tinted glass, safe-t-trak posi, larger battery, and wider tires (hid by the fender skirts).

I love it. Its a cruiser!

Best part...I bought it as you see it for $670 ( a play on the year....1967)

 

[Scott65]

Great space, a drop down ladder will get you some basic access to the loft until you determine the long term solution. They are nice, but limit the size of what you can get in there. A set of stairs would be the best solution, but a lot more work with regard to cutting and bracing the joists to get some extra width for the stairs to pass through, not to mention lost floor space for the stairs.

Have fun!

 

[1965gp]

Nice collection- I read about the 67 in Smoke Signals. Great story!

 

[justintiime]

haha thanks!! What chapter are you in? I'm in the Star City chapter in Roanoke, VA

 

[justintiime]

So the upgrading has begun. The garage lacked the drain tubing off the gutters that you bury in the ground. The water was overflowing the gutters and running right into an auxilary storage shed (rotting the floors). Installed some gutter gaurds, and I installed about 100 foot of the proper tubing. I really am new to this stuff....I was told that it came in a box. I figured OK no big deal I will put it in my cadilllac. Well I pull around back and its a HUGE roll! I attempted to see if it would work and well.....I had to go get my van LOL I will post a pic soon. I guess now is the time to start a build thread too hug?

 

[justintiime]

 

[JBR]

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but what kind of drain tubing is that? Is it perforated? Do you just trench it in and end it under ground or does it go to some type of drywall or sump? I would like to do something with mine.
Thanks,
Jon

 

[mad57]

Ok i say stairs out back to the loft area, and enclose under them for the compressor housing, inside garage small attic opening lift away square to get parts up there or lifting winch ect. good luck its an open pallett.

 

[justintiime]

JBR thats not perforated. But the descent down the hill is great enough where the water will drain out. We had a bad rain 2 days ago and it worked fine

As far as the loft, heres the plan:

Between the two windows on the back wall I am going to put a steel door. On the back I am going to put a 24x12 deck. Off the deck will be a set of stairs to get to the loft. Outside the loft will be a 8x6 deck. The steps will incorporate a mini landing on the back corner of the deck, against the corner of the garage. I've received quotes of $2000 for lumber and labor by a local handyman/ex contractor.

 

[carbons4]

So that is what a empty garage/shop looks like. I almost forgot. You have a good start there. Hint (you never can have enough storage space.)

 

[justintiime]

there will be some storage on the back deck

 

[DryGravyTrain]

You are planning the same setup as me, I have a loft area above the garage, with stairs out the back. Also planning an upper and lower deck of similar size. Only difference is my garage is attached to the house, but loft entry is not.

My loft is my future 'game/media room'.

Good luck, its a fun setup with tons of possibilities

 

[carbons4]

Think of how much storage you will EVER need and triple it. That is a good start.

 

[flybefree]

Like the idea of putting the stairs out the back with a deck. Can you get a utility sink line out the shop? That is a nice luxury. Great potential here, look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Shaun