To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Ok so your building a garage.

dreamingmuscle

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2005
Messages
3,472
Location
Tryon Oklahoma
What would be your top ten things in order to build into said garage.

Lets say everything is paid for up to the drywall. And you have some money left over for some extras. The building not finished yet so you have time to add in a few built in luxuries like hard air lines with drops, better lighting etc. Lets assume that all will be left in the garage if you move so we are not talking about hand tools here.

Money is a factor. So adding airlines will cut into how much you can spend on a bigger air compressor. Or better lighting will cost enough to knock out the door opener.


I'll start with
1. Lighting
2. Extra electrical receptacles
3. Large Compressor
4. Work bench
5. Shelving / cabinets
6. Air lines
7. Insulated doors
8.. finished floors
9. Larger Fuse box
10. Ceiling fans

So what do you have to have in your place?

Glen
________
volcano digital
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

GSSFC

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 13, 2008
Messages
423
Location
Wolfeboro, NH
Buy what you need as you need it.

Buy the best you can afford at the time you need to buy it and hold off on other things until you have a need for them.

...Sorry I didn't really answer you question...

I'll start with
1. Lighting -I have several 4' flouresent strip lights.

2. Extra electrical receptacles -I have a sep. 200amp SVCS, outlets everywhere

3. Large Compressor -Eaton 5hp with 80 gallon tank and dryer.

4. Work bench -Several homemade ones built with 2x4's and plywood.

5. Shelving / cabinets -Lots of shelves, all homemade from 2x4's

6. Air lines -Several outlets plumbed in copper, then use rubber hoses to my work area.

7. Insulated doors -Yep!

8. Finished floors -Concrete in the shop, Carpet in the office.

9. Larger Fuse box -200 amp service, lots of extra spaces left!

10. Ceiling fans -Nope, I open the door or windows.


Tim
 
Last edited:

RobertG

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
96
Depends on the neighborhood too. I added fans to my shop because it's in a not so great part of town. This means I can keep the place locked down like Ft. Knox and still work in comfort. I also spent big money on a security system. Alarm, reinforced windows, steel doors, heavy duty deadbolts, video surveilance, etc. Between the tools, equipment, cars, and motorcycles I have over a million dollars in this building. So my list was security #1.
 

srracer

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
20
Location
Hudson, MA
Lighting/Electrical first because you want that stuff run behind the drywall. Everything else you really want on the other side of the drywall so its much easier to add later. If you;ve got the lighting/electrical worked out, then the next thing I'd do is the floor and then the compressor.

THe floor because its easiest to get it done BEFORE you cover it up with all your stuff... the compressor because you'll be able to use the compressor to build all your other stuff! :)

-Chris
 

mellowde

New member
Joined
Dec 4, 2008
Messages
3
Paint the walls a light color to help with the lighting. Dark walls soak up the light and make it difficult to see. The ceiling also. This should be done before the floor because of the fallout from the paint. Spraying is easier and can be done easily before anything else is in place. Also, after you finish your garage don't be tempted to let yourself or others bring in stuff to store in it. It can get might cluttered in a hurry as it is. Extra stuff doesn't help.
 

Ray-CA

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
3,451
Location
San Diego CA
I have dual outlets (4-outlets in each box.) Each set of two is wired to a different circuit. That way, I can run two tools, one on each circuit, without overloading the wiring. It wasn't that much more to up-size the boxes.

Ray
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

KenS

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
726
Take a few steps backward:

1.) Room trusses rather than scissor trusses for overhead storage space/accessibility/office space.

2.) Minimum 10-foot ceilings in garage providing room for a lift, tall shelves and/or overhead storage.

3.) Insulated garage doors... most definitely. Provide both weather and sound insulation.

4.) 220-volt outlets in both front and rear of garage

5.) Hardie board baseboard around floor perimeter-- tough and watertight

6.) Recessed fire extinguisher cabinets by front door and strategically located throughout the garage. (Be sure to provide proper blocking during framing.)

7.) Freebie: Mark stud locations with pencil on slab prior to drywalling.
 
OP
D

dreamingmuscle

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2005
Messages
3,472
Location
Tryon Oklahoma
Take a few steps backward:

1.) Room trusses rather than scissor trusses for overhead storage space/accessibility/office space.

2.) Minimum 10-foot ceilings in garage providing room for a lift, tall shelves and/or overhead storage.

3.) Insulated garage doors... most definitely. Provide both weather and sound insulation.

4.) 220-volt outlets in both front and rear of garage

5.) Hardie board baseboard around floor perimeter-- tough and watertight

6.) Recessed fire extinguisher cabinets by front door and strategically located throughout the garage. (Be sure to provide proper blocking during framing.)

7.) Freebie: Mark stud locations with pencil on slab prior to drywalling.

4.) 220-volt outlets in both front and rear of garage

Good idea.

5.) Hardie board baseboard around floor perimeter-- tough and watertight

Another very good economical idea.

6.) Recessed fire extinguisher cabinets by front door and strategically located throughout the garage. (Be sure to provide proper blocking during framing.)

The exact reason I asked this question is ideas like this.
________
Ford Territory history
 
Last edited:
OP
D

dreamingmuscle

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2005
Messages
3,472
Location
Tryon Oklahoma
The real reason I'm asking this question is the fact that I'm going to be moving back to Oklahoma soon and should have enough money to build a garage. The dream is 40x60 but that might have to be reduced due to budget restraints. (how much I get for my house here in VA)

Money will be tight so I want to make sure I get what I need built in to the building before it's closed up with dry wall.

Hard air lines are very nice but not a necessity. Over head reels can be added later or I can just fight the battle of the hose. :mad::mad:

Electric outlets and lights are the most difficult to upgrade with if not planned from the start IMO.

I want finished floors but not at the cost of a lift or a super air compressor.

I'm torn between heated floors and wood/oil burning stoves both for their intial cost and running cost. Not to mention repair cost if the heated floors spring a leak or the boiler goes on the fritz.

The garage will be on some acreage so smoke from a stove won't be protested.

So that's why I started this thread to find out what you guys find to be the most important things to spend the time and money on.

Thanks
Glen
________
medical dispensaries
 
Last edited:

rcleaver

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 9, 2008
Messages
357
Location
Fairfax Station VA
I have dual outlets (4-outlets in each box.) Each set of two is wired to a different circuit. That way, I can run two tools, one on each circuit, without overloading the wiring. It wasn't that much more to up-size the boxes.

Ray

That's a good idea. Did you use different colors for the outlets?

I hadn't thought of that one but I'm planning on wiring the outlets in parallel instead of in series as is normally done.
 

Ray-CA

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
3,451
Location
San Diego CA
That's a good idea. Did you use different colors for the outlets?

I hadn't thought of that one but I'm planning on wiring the outlets in parallel instead of in series as is normally done.


No, I just labeled them (P-Touch type.) But different colored outlets would have been very easy. Might have to retro-fit.....

Ray
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom