Paul's 17x20 2-Car

[55cadillacking]

Ah, I missed the word "standard" in your post there. I assumed you were speaking of the Free Flow. The FF have a lot of advantages to a standard concrete floor. The biggest are:

- looks great and lots of color/style options to work with (best looking room in my house)
- warmer and dryer surface to walk on (I often just wear socks when I need to go in there)
- keeps things clean by letting small debris fall through cracks where it can't be tracked all around the garage (most of it can be shopvac'ed without having to unfasten sections)
- easy to mop when it does get dirty (mine still looks brand new)
- allows heavier items to slide when they need moving (I slide cabinets and benches all over the place with ease)
- tough and durable if maintained properly (there are limits to what you can do on it)
- I think it provides a nice sound buffer over a standard concrete floor (less echo)

I think the major drawbacks to the FreeFlow for some people are:
- not suitable for use with jacks and jack stands
- will have to be unfastened at some point if you want to completely rid the floor of dirt
- price factor (FF is about $3/sq foot)

Those are my impressions after owning a FF floor for over 2 years. I absolutely love mine, but as you know, it isn't a one-fit for all kind of product.

Best of luck with your decision.

 

[55cadillacking]

PS...Black/Red/Alloy is my favorite! I think Black and Alloy with a strip accent in Graphite would look sharp too. Either works well with your scheme imho.

 

[Requin6]

Yeah I'm definitely leaning towards FreeFlow.

Rick is your floor Black/Red/Graphite or Black/Red/Alloy?

 

[55cadillacking]

Ugh, I meant black/red/graphite is my favorite. IIRC, the alloy is quite a bit brighter than the graphite. I have the graphite.

 

[Requin6]

So for the past 2 or 3 days I have been on a personal quest to source and fill my Hansen socket trays. Its a task that is pretty pointless and petty because the sockets I am in search for are in sizes that I will most likely never use. All the years I have been wrenching I have never had to pick up a socket in these sizes.

But since getting the Hansen trays my OCD has kicked in and it has been driving me crazy to see empty pegs. So after filling them with my current set of Craftsman sockets it left 43 pegs empty. I have been up the past couple nights scouring websites that sell individual sockets and through the combination of Craftsman, Kobalt and Husky, I am down to 12. I have sourced 10 of the remaining 12 but those 10 are pretty pricey by my standards ($12-$20 range each). At this point I honestly just want a socket to fill the peg because I know full well I will never pick it up and for some reason that I do it probably only needs to last for one use. I was all on the USA made train for my quest, but after coming to reality and realizing that they are just eye candy I have let off and will settle for anything with the correct size stamped on the side. Here is a pic of my progress so far. Just need to justify the expense for the 10 I know of before I pull the trigger.



I have been in the market for a 3/8 stubby ratchet for a while and don't like the action on the chinese Craftsman on the shelf at my local Sears, so I have been holding off. Long story short a buddy of mine turned me on to a guy he knows that had some duplicate ratchets laying around and we went over there today. I scored the USA made 3/8 stubby Craftsman I have been looking for, for $10. He even threw in a long handle USA 3/8 drive ratchet! Both look to hardly be used.



I've got a couple small projects lined up for tomorrow in the garage, guess I'll post another update once they are complete!

 

[55cadillacking]

HAVE YOU FOUND THE MISSING SOCKETS, YET? My OCD needs you to finish the task!

 

[Requin6]

HAVE YOU FOUND THE MISSING SOCKETS, YET? My OCD needs you to finish the task!

I have sourced and ordered all the missing sockets! Should be in by weeks end. I'll get you some pics off the finished trays when they all show up to put your compulsion at ease.

 

[EMC2]

Great looking garage. Doing the floor will really finish things off nicely and be very rewarding. You're in the right place to find some good options

 

[dubber]

Any closer to a decision? I got my samples last night and i'm placing an order for the Free Flow's.

 

[Cone Eater]

Hey Paul, someone just pointed me towards your thread. Love the garage! I have a townhouse with a 2-car as well, and have just started working on getting it setup properly. Mine is here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2925864&posted=1#post2925864. I'd love your input since you're working with something similar.

 

[Requin6]

Any closer to a decision? I got my samples last night and i'm placing an order for the Free Flow's.

At this moment I am probably 80% sure on the freeflow. I saw your thread, looks like we are going to be rocking the same color scheme if I go with the freeflow. I'm pumped to see yours when you get it laid down.

I priced mine out the other day and its going to be right at $1000. Gonna have to work it into the budget!

 

[Requin6]

Hey Paul, someone just pointed me towards your thread. Love the garage! I have a townhouse with a 2-car as well, and have just started working on getting it setup properly. Mine is here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2925864&posted=1#post2925864. I'd love your input since you're working with something similar.

Thanks! I'll comment on your thread.

 

[dubber]

At this moment I am probably 80% sure on the freeflow. I saw your thread, looks like we are going to be rocking the same color scheme if I go with the freeflow. I'm pumped to see yours when you get it laid down.

I priced mine out the other day and its going to be right at $1000. Gonna have to work it into the budget!

Excellent! Yes I've played with my layout several times and received some input from a few members here. Mine will be installed by the end of next weekend.

 

[Requin6]

HAVE YOU FOUND THE MISSING SOCKETS, YET? My OCD needs you to finish the task!

My quest has been fulfilled! Got the last 3 sockets in today from Amazon.

I just got in from re-organizing the tool chest (once again). Added some new ratchets recently and I cleared out a drawer so they can all have a home together.

I have 4 sockets left on my chopped up impact trays. They should be here Tuesday

 

[55cadillacking]

Congrats! I can sleep now.

 

[Requin6]

A little update...

Finished up my impact socket tray the other day, took a quick pic.



Finished up a little project as well. I had some extra plywood laying around and the left over red paint from the stripe on the wall so I thought I would put it to use. I was tired of having my fire extinguisher on the floor in the corner. I would always be kicking it and it got in the way sometimes. I just cut up the wood, gave it several coats and gave it a spot on the wall!





Not too bad right?

 

[HellaFab]

Very nice garage.

I am inspired!

 

[55cadillacking]

I'm stealing the fire extinguisher mount idea. Killer.

 

[Mooniac]

Excellent work! Very tidy and functional while looking great. I like the compressor in the attic and hose reel on the ceiling... I've been contemplating doing something like that with a big compressor in the future, but don't know yet if my trusses will support a big compressor.

I'm in the midst of a build-out in my detached garage and I went with a vinyl floor roll and am pretty happy with it so far. Got 3 of 'em from Sam's Club in 10' x 22' for $200 each (plus shipping). They are brick red, with raised ribs running lengthwise. I'd prefer the coin top treatment, but for this size at the time it was the only option without spending a lot more money. Easy to install, not permanent, no squeaky noises like the Race Deck tiles, and easy to clean. I had some coin top in my old garage that I got from company surplus years ago for CHEAP but didn't have enough to do the new garage. There are diamond tread and leather-like (smooth) textures as well from various manufacturers.

 

[Cone Eater]

I'm stealing the fire extinguisher mount idea. Killer.

Agreed, that's a fantastic idea. Simple, and looks very professional.

 

[dubber]

Its all about the little things, 100%. And i'm sure you felt great that night after finally mounting it. Those are my favorite nights after you complete something little like that. I usually then show my wife and she just smiles and goes about her business hahaha.

Well done.

Oh and btw, thanks, i USED to be happy with my extinguisher....

 

[Requin6]

Yeah the little things add up for sure. Glad to have inspired you guys a little. I have another little woodworking idea that I might get around to this weekend. Ill be happy to get rid of a little scrap lumber I have laying around!

 

[WarrenJ]

Did you get the socket trays on line? Any reason you didn't go with Craftsman?

 

[Requin6]

Did you get the socket trays on line? Any reason you didn't go with Craftsman?

They are branded Hansen but they are sold at Sears and several other online retailers. Craftsman doesn't really have a tray like this of their own.

 

[dubber]

Paul have you made a flooring decision yet? Or you still waiting on seeing mine hehehe.

 

[WarrenJ]

Paul,

Thanks for the info. I'll have to stop Sears.

 

[Requin6]

Paul have you made a flooring decision yet? Or you still waiting on seeing mine hehehe.

Haha I am waiting to see yours even though I already know it will be badass. I had a few car repairs that came up and ate up some the floor fund.

My wife is graduating from grad school in May and I am going to throw her a party at the house so I need to get a floor down by then! I am pretty sure I am going freeflow. I've had the 2x4 sample down for a couple weeks now and I like the way it feels. I just worry about dropping nuts or bolts on it and having trouble recovering them.

 

[Eslader]

Thanks Rick. Not much in the way of plumbing for air. Just hoisted my semi portable air compressor up to the overhead storage and got a 10ft Goodyear hose as a lead in to the hose reel. I just plug the compressor in when I need it! Its not a huge compressor so it does cycle more than I would like it to but for space saving its the most ideal for my size garage.

How do you drain the compressor? Do you have to climb up to the attic, or have you attached some sort of petcock valve extender on it so you can drain from the garage?

 

[dubber]

That will be fun to have a party in there, just don't steal her thunder as they say showing off the floor!

I don't see that being an issue regarding dropping nuts bolts etc, maybe washers yet but a magnet would work and they are easy to pop out if need be. Start practicing on your samples!

 

[Requin6]

How do you drain the compressor? Do you have to climb up to the attic, or have you attached some sort of petcock valve extender on it so you can drain from the garage?

The compressor is located in the overhead storage. Luckily its open so its easy to access. I can get to the drain valve from a ladder.

 

[Requin6]

That will be fun to have a party in there, just don't steal her thunder as they say showing off the floor!

I don't see that being an issue regarding dropping nuts bolts etc, maybe washers yet but a magnet would work and they are easy to pop out if need be. Start practicing on your samples!

Yeah I have messed with it and I am thinking it won't be a major problem. Kneeling down on it with the ribbed design is not the most comfortable but again nothing major.

 

[Requin6]

Completed another little project today. As much as I hate to admit it my daily driver has oil and gear lube leaks. Nothing major, usually a drop a day from both the engine and the trans. To make sure I don't have an oil slick on my hands I had a Griots Garage cardboard oil drip pan with their oil absorbent mat to catch my drips. After about a month of owning it, it was a mess. Not from the fluid but the cardboard came apart and just looked a mess...as evidence from some previous pictures of mine. I put up with it for 2 years basically because it was just a catch pan.

Like the fire extinguisher mod, I used some scrap lumber and leftover paint I had laying around to make a catch pan that both won't move around and fall apart after a month. This might be a little overkill, but what the heck it was free!

I am happy with the results. It will go well with my anticipated floor design as well.

 

[dubber]

Awesome, nice little fix for sure. Beats the piece of cardboard i had on my garage floor a couple years ago when my audi was dripping oil in the garage.

 

[dubber]

Umm flooring update, where are you? hahaha. Nothing like a little peer pressure for YOUR project!

 

[Requin6]

Umm flooring update, where are you? hahaha. Nothing like a little peer pressure for YOUR project!

I am still just himming and hawing. I'm still on board with the free flow, although I have been having porcelain on the brain lately. If I can find a style at Lowe's or HD that I like on discount I may just spring for it. The $1k price tag on the Free Flow always lingers in my mind, just can't shake it!

Otherwise I am just rocking the bare concrete for now. Doesn't look cool, but certainly gets the job done.

I appreciate your interest!

 

[55cadillacking]

$1000 amortized over 20 years = $50/year.

 

[Kevin54]

Completed another little project today. As much as I hate to admit it my daily driver has oil and gear lube leaks. Nothing major, usually a drop a day from both the engine and the trans. To make sure I don't have an oil slick on my hands I had a Griots Garage cardboard oil drip pan with their oil absorbent mat to catch my drips. After about a month of owning it, it was a mess. Not from the fluid but the cardboard came apart and just looked a mess...as evidence from some previous pictures of mine. I put up with it for 2 years basically because it was just a catch pan.

Like the fire extinguisher mod, I used some scrap lumber and leftover paint I had laying around to make a catch pan that both won't move around and fall apart after a month. This might be a little overkill, but what the heck it was free!

I am happy with the results. It will go well with my anticipated floor design as well.

Go to WallyWorld around the automotive and oil section and they sell huge metal trays for under the vehicle for $10. The pans are 2' x 3' with a lip all around maybe an inch in height.

 

[crepr12]

Thanks for the post finally a build for normal folk...lol...love the GT-R poster...almost snagged one awhile back but decided on a Z06 instead...On topic...Nice work and thanks for the ideas

 

[Requin6]

Go to WallyWorld around the automotive and oil section and they sell huge metal trays for under the vehicle for $10. The pans are 2' x 3' with a lip all around maybe an inch in height.

I have used those before and they just become pain to wipe down and for some reason I could never get it to stay put on the concrete floor. It always wanted to grow legs and venture around the garage.

Thanks for the post finally a build for normal folk...lol...love the GT-R poster...almost snagged one awhile back but decided on a Z06 instead...On topic...Nice work and thanks for the ideas

You know what, I really appreciate that. I am just a guy with the plan to make my small garage be as efficient as possible. Oh yeah and look good too

I get all googly eyed at these huge scale, high dollar builds. Hopefully one day I'll get to that level, but for now this is what I have.

We also share the same taste. I hope to have a C5 Z06 in my possession one day. Hopefully sooner rather than later

 

[JimVonBaden]

I have used those before and they just become pain to wipe down and for some reason I could never get it to stay put on the concrete floor. It always wanted to grow legs and venture around the garage.

I semi-agree. To combat the movement issues I added 6 dollops of black silicone RTV to the bottom. It keeps mine from skidding around. Inside the pan I added cuts of cardboard of about the same size. I just picked them out and threw them away when they start to get saturated.

This worked for about a year with my old Opel GT. I still use it for when I do maintenance on my bike to keep the mess down.

Jim