Mtriple
Member
It's kind of strange posting here for the first time after being a member for over 13 years...lol. I bought my house back in 2002 because of the garages and had big plans from the start but there was always another home improvement project that took priority, hence the "Procrastination" title. For the BMW guys in here, especially those interested in E30's, here is my other "Procrastination" thread...lol.
https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=207175
The house was built in 1977 by a doctor and his wife as their retirement home. One of the add-on's that the builder offered for homes with a walkout basement was a second garage under the primary garage. The ceilings are low at 7 feet but its not an issue for me. I think they just used it for storage as it only had a single light bulb in the ceiling and no other electrical, not even an outlet. The garage was basically storage for me for the first few years where I kept my summer car, motorcycles, lawn mower, 4 wheelers etc. I installed a dedicated circuit for outlets, added and electric heater, upgraded the single light bulb to (8) 4ft. fluorescent fixtures, and added a new insulated garage door and opener in 2007 or so. That was it, it was good enough for me to work on a car I've been restoring since then.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
We had the old blacktop ripped out 3 years ago and had a new concrete driveway installed with an additional driveway and stairs down to the backyard.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
While the driveway was being done, we decided to add a shed to the back of the yard with a fire pit. Even with two garages, its nice to have all of the garden tools and lawnmower out of the garages. It also work out great to store the snowblower in the summer and store our scooters in the winter.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Here it is a few weeks ago as I was putting everything away for the winter. I ran electrical out to the shed from the house in order to have battery maintainers on the mowers and scooters as well as motion lights for security.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Fast forward to this time last year when we decided to have both of our garage floors done by a professional. That was really what pushed me to finally finish the garage. My wife and I have updated almost every part of our house and she gave me the green light this fall to finish the garage. I started by ditching the electric heater and adding a natural gas heater. Reworking the electrical knowing that eventually I would be adding cabinets for storage.
Upper Garage:
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Lower Garage:
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
While I was reworking the electrical, I began to paint the walls using a masonry paint by Valspar, similar to Drylok, but better based on the input from the guys at the hardware store. We used this same product when we remodeled our basement 5 years ago just as an added measure to keep moisture out. It worked really well and my wife was able to have it tinted to a color she liked. Anyway, I was able to completely cover the wall before the conduit went up.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
With everything moving along, I started to get bids for cabinets in October. I was originally going to make my own custom cabinets and have all of the doors farmed out but I just don't have the time right now. We decided to go with Garage Experts, the same guy that did our floors. We had such a good experience with the floors, it was really a no-brainer for us. Here are some of the renderings they provided.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Once the cabinets were ordered, it was full steam ahead for my wife and I to finish the electrical and paint the rest of the walls.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
With all of the walls painted and everything moved out of the way for the installers, we were ready.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
The cabinets were ordered in mid-October and finally delivered for installation this past Monday. It took them about three days and with some other jobs mixed in, they finished this afternoon. I'm at work until tomorrow so I haven't seen the finished product yet but I'm anxious to get home tomorrow morning and start organizing. They sent me pictures this afternoon once they finished.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Now that the cabinets are installed, I will start working on the lighting. I bought some LED fixtures to replace the fluorescent fixtures. I decided to hold off on installation until after the cabinets were installed so that placement would be correct. I'll be painting the ceilings as well with the same masonry paint as the walls.
Updates to come.
https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=207175
The house was built in 1977 by a doctor and his wife as their retirement home. One of the add-on's that the builder offered for homes with a walkout basement was a second garage under the primary garage. The ceilings are low at 7 feet but its not an issue for me. I think they just used it for storage as it only had a single light bulb in the ceiling and no other electrical, not even an outlet. The garage was basically storage for me for the first few years where I kept my summer car, motorcycles, lawn mower, 4 wheelers etc. I installed a dedicated circuit for outlets, added and electric heater, upgraded the single light bulb to (8) 4ft. fluorescent fixtures, and added a new insulated garage door and opener in 2007 or so. That was it, it was good enough for me to work on a car I've been restoring since then.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrWe had the old blacktop ripped out 3 years ago and had a new concrete driveway installed with an additional driveway and stairs down to the backyard.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrWhile the driveway was being done, we decided to add a shed to the back of the yard with a fire pit. Even with two garages, its nice to have all of the garden tools and lawnmower out of the garages. It also work out great to store the snowblower in the summer and store our scooters in the winter.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrHere it is a few weeks ago as I was putting everything away for the winter. I ran electrical out to the shed from the house in order to have battery maintainers on the mowers and scooters as well as motion lights for security.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrFast forward to this time last year when we decided to have both of our garage floors done by a professional. That was really what pushed me to finally finish the garage. My wife and I have updated almost every part of our house and she gave me the green light this fall to finish the garage. I started by ditching the electric heater and adding a natural gas heater. Reworking the electrical knowing that eventually I would be adding cabinets for storage.
Upper Garage:
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr Lower Garage:
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrWhile I was reworking the electrical, I began to paint the walls using a masonry paint by Valspar, similar to Drylok, but better based on the input from the guys at the hardware store. We used this same product when we remodeled our basement 5 years ago just as an added measure to keep moisture out. It worked really well and my wife was able to have it tinted to a color she liked. Anyway, I was able to completely cover the wall before the conduit went up.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrWith everything moving along, I started to get bids for cabinets in October. I was originally going to make my own custom cabinets and have all of the doors farmed out but I just don't have the time right now. We decided to go with Garage Experts, the same guy that did our floors. We had such a good experience with the floors, it was really a no-brainer for us. Here are some of the renderings they provided.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrOnce the cabinets were ordered, it was full steam ahead for my wife and I to finish the electrical and paint the rest of the walls.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrWith all of the walls painted and everything moved out of the way for the installers, we were ready.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrThe cabinets were ordered in mid-October and finally delivered for installation this past Monday. It took them about three days and with some other jobs mixed in, they finished this afternoon. I'm at work until tomorrow so I haven't seen the finished product yet but I'm anxious to get home tomorrow morning and start organizing. They sent me pictures this afternoon once they finished.
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on Flickr
Untitled by Bob Cooper, on FlickrNow that the cabinets are installed, I will start working on the lighting. I bought some LED fixtures to replace the fluorescent fixtures. I decided to hold off on installation until after the cabinets were installed so that placement would be correct. I'll be painting the ceilings as well with the same masonry paint as the walls.
Updates to come.
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