Hello all! Brand new the the forum and anxious to get started on my garage. I would really appreciate any and all advice. The space is a 20x22' original detached garage from 1952. It's a 2 car size but has a 5' bathroom in one corner which actually is amazingly handy for long projects in the garage. To get started, here are my priorities:
I spend lots of time in the garage so I have no problem putting in some effort to really make it nice. I have 3 weeks off work to complete the project at the end of this month. I think drywall, paint, and new shelving will go a VERY long way towards improving it. I have a rough idea of what I want, but I'm still playing with the layout to accommodate all of our big tools like the tool chests, table saw, compressor, etc. I've put together some of the thoughts I've had below.
Ceiling:
This is where I'm stuck for planning. I would like to cover up all the ugly beams and add temperature and sound isolation to create a "finished" space. A few options, let me know what you think:
If I decide to paint, do you think I should powerwash the ceiling and beams first? The garage is about 50yrs old so there is a lot of dust and loose debris on the wood. Will the water soak in and do damage?
Drywall:
Walls will be easy. There is a concrete wall that goes up 2' and then about 7' of studs above that. That means I can rip a foot of the top of a 4x8' sheet and lay them side by side. There will be a few cuts around the bathroom and window but no big deal. Taping and Mudding the Joints should be easy because all the framing is flat and straight. I've done drywall before so I can do this pretty quickly.
Floor:
The floor is in pretty good shape overall. There are no major cracks or chunks lifting. I'll powerwash the entire thing and then fill the pitted areas with a Quickrete type product made for resurfacing. Last step will be to do the two coat Epoxy floor covering. That will make it all fresh and new looking and be bullet proof for spills and what not.
Lighting and Electrical:
Most of it is pretty good. I think I'll clean it up and leave it as is. Good thing about coastal San Diego, no need for heat or A/C.
Storage:
I was considering full sized cabinets but I like the idea of just shelving with everything in boxes. Should help the budget and be functional.
Here are a few pictures of the existing condition. Scary huh?
- Clean and Safe Parking
- Make it look "Finished" for resale
- Keep lots of work space for projects and storage for tools
- Organize and Clean out Unneeded Tools, Equipment, Junk, Etc that has accumulated
I spend lots of time in the garage so I have no problem putting in some effort to really make it nice. I have 3 weeks off work to complete the project at the end of this month. I think drywall, paint, and new shelving will go a VERY long way towards improving it. I have a rough idea of what I want, but I'm still playing with the layout to accommodate all of our big tools like the tool chests, table saw, compressor, etc. I've put together some of the thoughts I've had below.
Ceiling:
This is where I'm stuck for planning. I would like to cover up all the ugly beams and add temperature and sound isolation to create a "finished" space. A few options, let me know what you think:
- Drywall room-level Ceiling: would have to add beams to hang drywall, Garage Door Opener is in the way, No Storage, Feels Smaller.
- Drywall as a Vaulted Ceiling: Leave the hanging beams exposed. Finished Space, Keeps Storage, Insulated, Most amount of work.
- Paint Entire Ceiling As-Is: white or black. Gives a clean look, Keeps Storage, Cheapest/Easiest. Not a Finished Space, no sound or temp insulation.
If I decide to paint, do you think I should powerwash the ceiling and beams first? The garage is about 50yrs old so there is a lot of dust and loose debris on the wood. Will the water soak in and do damage?
Drywall:
Walls will be easy. There is a concrete wall that goes up 2' and then about 7' of studs above that. That means I can rip a foot of the top of a 4x8' sheet and lay them side by side. There will be a few cuts around the bathroom and window but no big deal. Taping and Mudding the Joints should be easy because all the framing is flat and straight. I've done drywall before so I can do this pretty quickly.
Floor:
The floor is in pretty good shape overall. There are no major cracks or chunks lifting. I'll powerwash the entire thing and then fill the pitted areas with a Quickrete type product made for resurfacing. Last step will be to do the two coat Epoxy floor covering. That will make it all fresh and new looking and be bullet proof for spills and what not.
Lighting and Electrical:
Most of it is pretty good. I think I'll clean it up and leave it as is. Good thing about coastal San Diego, no need for heat or A/C.
Storage:
I was considering full sized cabinets but I like the idea of just shelving with everything in boxes. Should help the budget and be functional.
Here are a few pictures of the existing condition. Scary huh?
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