Open Air/Exterior Garage?

[Ryan87LX]

I guess my title is an oxymoron, but I hope you all know what I mean.

I came across this picture:

a while ago. See how the outside looks like an extension of the inside? I've got a 22x22 garage that's really just big enough to park two cars in. Throw in some bicycles, lawn equipment, etc, and it gets pretty tight. And then I bought a boat.

I have a space beside my garage that is about 22 x 18. Actually building a garage over that space is out of the budget, but I wonder if there isn't a way to make it into a cool storage space. Somewhere to keep the canoe, boat, bikes, and lawn equipment, and keep them out of the elements.

If you've got ideas, or better yet pics, I'd love to see them.

 

[machine_punk]

If you need security, I think I'd put up at 10' chain link fence, with stronger corner poles, to support a roof frame, which I would cover with corrugated fiberglass roof panels. Then, I'd use screening material (sun block) on the inside of the fence, to make it harder for prying eyes.

M_P

 

[kbs2244]

I have been in dealer shops in San Juan PR that are just a tin roof and 12 foot chain link fence.
Some put a 4 foot high plastic splash guard around the bottom to protect the mech’s tool box from rain splash, but often they would rather have the breeze and cut it away.
Price of the cars doesn’t seem to matter.
I have seen it a Dodge and BMW dealers.

 

[Bull]

I think that looks awesome, but the owner must be in a place that doesn't see much rain. I mean, there is a large saw of some kind in the back, just hanging out in the open. That would be junk after a very short time anywhere that sees rain regularly.

 

[Jack Olsen]

That's Kiwi Kev's shop. He's out here on the west coast, I think in Ventura? I doubt he gets much rain at all.

 

[LowKat]

When i lived in the SoCal desert 3/4 of my garage consisted of 90% shade cloth but it rained about 8" per year. Now that I'm in Oregon I have a 2 car garage with a 2 car carport in front of it. The outdoor portion is a good workplace in the summer but I move inside during the winter,

 

[bigbubba]

I think that looks awesome, but the owner must be in a place that doesn't see much rain. I mean, there is a large saw of some kind in the back, just hanging out in the open. That would be junk after a very short time anywhere that sees rain regularly.

I think that "saw" is a large planishing hammer.

 

[PatJ800]

My favorite was the old shop that "Rick's restorations" used on that American Restoration show. Before they moved to the new shop. That was cool I would love to have a setup like that.

 

[shannonw]

I have a space beside my garage that is about 22 x 18. Actually building a garage over that space is out of the budget, but I wonder if there isn't a way to make it into a cool storage space. Somewhere to keep the canoe, boat, bikes, and lawn equipment, and keep them out of the elements.

If you've got ideas, or better yet pics, I'd love to see them.

I've struggled with a 2 car for years and way too many hobbies. Here's what I'd do or did rather (i'm still in the process).

1 car in the garage, bikes wall hung in the garage. In a 2 car with 1 car there is enough room for my workbench, toolboxes,compressor,etc. I ditched lawn equiptment but i'm getting rid of most of the lawn anyways, eitherway you could get a small rubbermaid shed for those (craigslist). Just my opinion but i hate lawn equipment in a garage, i'd get a shed...it just seems like a waste of expensive space if you're space challenged like me.

If you have space and a garage is out of the question...side drive and carport (but make it high enough that you can pull your boat under if need be) and I'd put the boat in a storage place and don't skimp on the cover. Canoe can be hoisted with some pulleys either under the carport roof or in the garage.

Key here with a boat is make the side drive wide and nice so you can pull it out of storage and bring it over to do stuff.

Also a play on the shed/carport is to build the carport and a bumpout along a side wall under the carport, you could have doors that roll open,etc and have workbench, tablesaws,etc or just storage there.

If money is tight do it in stages.