Reorganization, it's like a renovation.

[GirlnAgarage]

Reorganization, it's like a renovation

The Original "Reorganization"

Index of Projects
3-17-2014
​

• Shelving: Beginning - Post #31
• Horizontal Wall Stripes: Post #58-59
• Welders on wheels: Post #77
• 24"x48" Workbench on wheels: #78
• 2'x10' Workbench: Post #79-
  
  - Workbench Top: Post #544​
• 48" Press Brake, 16ga: Post #111-
  
  - Test Video: Post #228​
  - Inside-the-box Jig: Post #226​
• Materials - Drawers & Slides: Post #136-
• Drawer Folding: #276-
  
  - 19" Bends 1 & 2​
  - 26" Bends 3 & 4 (Inside-the-box) video​
  - Drawers Installed: Post #398​
  - Drawers Finished: Post #409​
• Delta Homecraft 11-120 Drill Press: Post #350
• Overhead Materials Rack: Post #615
• Installing Additional Outlets w/ EMT: Post #622-
• Sprinkler Box: Post #672
• Truing Evolution Rage3 CSMS: Post #776
• Wall Shelf Curtain: Post #800
• Craftsman Drill Press 103.23130: Post #847
• We Moved!: Post #890

-------------------------------------------------------------------



We don't have no beer. Just tequila.

What's tequila?

It's like beer.

Is it fattening?

Fattenings?

Forget it. If it's like beer,
we'll have some. Three tequilas.

Sure. Sure, amigos.

¡Three Amigos! (1986)

GirlnAgarage's Garage Reorganization​

Ok, so the two terms really aren't the same - reorganization, renovation. Ya, big difference. Our HVAC unit really helped us understand that in this thread HERE. It was $9400 worth of ouch (DH really wanted the heat pump system). It is what it is. We'll make due.

May 25th will mark two years since we closed on this house, our first 'own' home. Prior to we rented as DH was active duty Navy.

Garage Specs
Build year: 1985
Size: 370sqft (18.5’x20’)
18’4”w x 19’10¾”d x 8’3” h
Ceiling: master bedroom & bath, HVAC, guest bath, hallway, one outlet
Front wall (east): entry way door, ½ bath, laundry room, one outlet
North wall: insulated, water pipes, interior & exterior wall
South wall: non-insulated
Garage door (west): non-insulated
Floor: cement slab



As you can see the place really needs to be spruced up. There's **** everywhere, shelves are mismatched and there's just no good flow. It's your normal garage. It is used as the primary pass through to the house. I do a variety of projects here such as woodwork, metalwork, vehicle maintenance, stationary bike workouts and general ‘fixin’ stuff’. It also serves as the only home storage area. The garage could use more outlets and more light. It was going to get new drywall and insulation but that part was chopped for cost. My husband also wants to park his car in here. Oh boy. Let's get started.


(Disclaimer: This thread is to chronicle the work, not to show off accumulated display quality stuff. It will be boring and long-winded. It will take me forever as I'm the one doing the work when I have time in my real life of a self-employed, thirty-something married gal running a house.)

 

[GirlnAgarage]

This is what I'm planning for the front shelves



Sunday, April 10


The first step is to get the sprinkler control box off the front wall. It and its PVC tubing take up both front walls. Doing so is a matter of unscrewing the wire terminals for each zone, then unscrewing the box from the wall, then pulling apart the ¾” PVC that houses the 18’ of wiring. When that was done I temporarily mounted the box on the side wall, rolled up the extra wire and will run the system using an extension cord. Not a big deal for now. I also moved the garage door opener buttons from the wall to the door trim. When you've lived with that crappy PVC for as long as we have we can see a difference already.


Cost: $0


Behind the welder you can see the patch covering where the cat door use to be. I’ve already patched the brickwork on the outside. Just need to mud the joints and paint the wall. Don't ask about that gap on the right





After pulling that stuff down I hopped online and asked why paint flakes off walls HERE. Then I took a scraper to the peeling sections. Then I made a hole and pulled a peek patch. Finding no evidence of moisture, old or critters, I had a patch to repair now.



Wednesday, April 13


With two other patches in the garage that needed the same attention I hit Lowes for joint compound, joint webbing and some new paint.

Cost: $72
I bought a $20 Home Wiring book in addition to supplies

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Friday, April 15


Pulled all the stuff off the front walls, wiped them down and painted them with a couple layers of Kilz Original. Finally got a nice uniform wall and they’re ready for shelves. I also put a layer on the trim around the door. I’m so sick of the ugly brown.

Saturday, April 16


After letting the front wall paint and door trim set overnight I gave it a few layers of some Behr latex green color we had left from painting the den. I figured what the heck. It is a nice change. I also gave the side wall by the cat door it’s coat of white paint. It is awesome to have that ugly thing gone. Though I swear I can still see it through the paint. Guess the horror is etched in my mind.

While I let the paint dry I ran to Lowes to get the lumber for the shelves. With a head of steam I cut twenty 8’ 2x4s to size.

Cost: $79

- 20 2x4x8'
- 5lb 3.5" deck screws
- 1lb box 1 5/8" deck screws
- couple paint rollers





From there I built the first four shelves, marked the walls and got them just about up. It was coming up on 10pm and I was running out of steam. That top shelf is a doozie. It’s time for a shower and bed. Hopefully finish the shelves tomorrow and maybe start the paint. I should have enough green paint left to do the shelves.


Sorry about the blur on some pics. I had the camera settings wrong.

 

[trbomax]

Slightly off-topic,but tell us about your scooter.

 

[rickairmedic]

We don't have no beer. Just tequila.

What's tequila?

It's like beer.

Is it fattening?

Fattenings?

Forget it. If it's like beer,
we'll have some. Three tequilas.

Sure. Sure, amigos.

¡Three Amigos! (1986)



GirlnAgarage's Garage Reorganization

Ok, so the two terms really aren't the same - reorganization, renovation. Ya, big difference. Our HVAC unit really helped us understand that in this thread

HERE.

It was $9400 worth of ouch (DH really wanted the heat pump system). It is what it is. We'll make due.

May 25th will mark two years since we closed on this house, our first 'own' home. Prior to we rented as DH was active duty Navy.

Specs
Build year: 1985
Size: 370sqft (18.5’x20’)
18’4”w x 19’10¾”d x 8’3” h
Ceiling: master bedroom & bath, HVAC, guest bath, hallway, one outlet
Front wall (east): entry way door, ½ bath, laundry room, one outlet
North wall: insulated, water pipes, interior & exterior wall
South wall: non-insulated
Garage door (west): non-insulated
Floor: cement slab

As you can see the place really needs to be spruced up. There's **** everywhere, shelves are mismatched and there's just no good flow. It's your normal garage. It is used as the primary pass through to the house. I do a variety of projects here such as woodwork, metalwork, vehicle maintenance, stationary bike workouts and general ‘fixin’ stuff’. It also serves as the only home storage area. The garage could use more outlets and more light. It was going to get new drywall and insulation but that part was chopped for cost. My husband also wants to park his car in here. Oh boy. Let's get started.


(Disclaimer: This thread is to chronicle the work, not to show off accumulated display quality stuff. It will be boring and long-winded. It will take me forever as I'm the one doing the work when I have time in my real life of a self-employed, thirty-something married gal running a house.)

Hi GirlinAgarage . I think you figured out the picture posting thing by the second post in this thread . Just incase though you can see the differance here between my quote and your original post . The trick to this is when you get done writing before placing an image tag hit the enter button a couple of times and then again hit it once or twice between image tags . This will keep your post going up and down and pictures lined up one ontop of another instead of them going sideways . Looks like a fun project and not to terribly out of shape to start with . Looking forward to seeing how it turns out .


Rick

 

[MadMark]

what software are you using? I like the 3d of the car that shows how much space it occupies

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Slightly off-topic,but tell us about your scooter.

2001 (IIRC) Kawasaki Vulcan 750...cobra pipes (loud as heck) and a jet kit...drag bars...

Hi GirlinAgarage . I think you figured out the picture posting thing by the second post in this thread . Just incase though you can see the differance here between my quote and your original post . The trick to this is when you get done writing before placing an image tag hit the enter button a couple of times and then again hit it once or twice between image tags . This will keep your post going up and down and pictures lined up one ontop of another instead of them going sideways . Looks like a fun project and not to terribly out of shape to start with . Looking forward to seeing how it turns out .


Rick

Thanks Rick I think I had the pics tagged centered. And I'm not sizing them down as much as I probably should so they're still kinda big.

what software are you using? I like the 3d of the car that shows how much space it occupies

Google Sketchup. Yup the car is for reference to be certain it'll fit. What I did was take the overall dimensions of the car (minus mirrors) and made a box. Then I downloaded an online version of the car's rendering then scaled it to fit in my box. If you look close there's a rectangle on the garage floor near the door. That's my reference/drag point for the corner of the car's box. Makes moving in and out of the garage in the sketch much easier

 

[rickairmedic]

Yep I removed all the center tags as well in my QUOTE . I will say the picture sizes themselves are fine I am old and my eyes dont work like they used to . I need to get back to work on my garage " been organising" for 4 or 5 years now and I think its almost as bad today as when I first started well ok its not that bad but its not done yet either .


Rick

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Yep I removed all the center tags as well in my QUOTE . I will say the picture sizes themselves are fine I am old and my eyes dont work like they used to . I need to get back to work on my garage " been organising" for 4 or 5 years now and I think its almost as bad today as when I first started well ok its not that bad but its not done yet either .


Rick

Lol


Cool My laptop screen is a little smaller than my last one and I've got the setting on a high resolution. So, I'm not certain what my stuff looks like on someone else's screen.

Well I better get back to work. I came in for a bite to eat. Got the second set of shelves together and my lines drawn. Just gotta hang them and I can lay some paint if I'm feeling up to it.

 

[archimedes]

hi,

okey, dokey

so here goes my formula --- measure your junk.
How do you measure? - with tape measure, n'book & pen go to your local WalMart.
find the Sterilite (plastic storage bins) aisle. there are 5 basic
shapes & your WMT may not stock sizes as my store. Pick out the shapes
you think will hold the organized & miscellaneous junk you own. now measure
them. write down all of the dimensions (with lids affixed) including inner
depth. go home & start organizing your junk into these dimensions.
Why am I doing this? (u may ask) - quick story . . . i owned a pretty serious hobbyist
machine shop (serious & hobbyist is not an oxymoron phrase). i had all
of my junk nicely organized on shelving 32" from the ceiling & 28" from the
perimeter wall -- basically a perimeter bunkbed hung from the ceiling. my buddy came over
one day & was bored. we talked about my intent to design & build a
geodesic dome (the Fuller variety). on the sly my aspiring engineer minded
friend got a pad & a calculator from my desk. while i am deep into
a machining project he quietly calculated the total square feet of my in use
storage (the bunkbed stuff). 35 minutes later my geodesic dome plan
got nixed ---- why? because my raised bunkbed storage was in
sqare footage equal to my on floor sqare footage. so no geodesic dome for me.

finally, i can't say enough about the Sterilite system for organizing. its
quick, its consistent & its fool-proof. once the dimensions are established
the constructor can easily design a shelving system to meet the objectives
for each bin & the summation for all of the bins. yes, you will say to me --
we are broke! i know. its painful. but the long run will outlive your
emphasis on the short run cost structure.
just have faith . . . .

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Sunday, April 17


Finished putting up the shelves. The top shelf of each was tough. I decided to call it a day. I'm tired. Next up is to mask off the walls to paint. After paint I'll lay the 1/2" plywood, then transfer over items to start clearing off the plastic shelves and side walls.

I'm realizing this reorganizing isn't spectacular or flashy, but it still has to be done to have a fresh look without spending a ton of money. It's more like spending a ton of elbow grease.

 

[rickairmedic]

The shelves look good and even better when you get a little extra money ahead it wont be hard to take some plywood and close them in and put doors on them to hide all the stuff inside .


Rick

 

[JC23]

You gonna paint all that shelving? That will keep mold at bay. If you still have some Kilz lefy, that could work.

Lookin' good so far.

 

[Submarine_Sailor]

You're doing good, and fear not.... It has been my experience that reorganization is as good as remodeling. I did the same thing about 6 months ago and my garage is much more comfortable and user friendly since. Keep up the good work and keep it coming.....subscribed.

 

[slimpickins]

Nice start! You can never have too much shelf space!

 

[GirlnAgarage]

The shelves look good and even better when you get a little extra money ahead it wont be hard to take some plywood and close them in and put doors on them to hide all the stuff inside .


Rick

Thanks Rick. I'm keeping the options open about the doors. I do like that I can hide everything but they would make getting in there difficult if the car is in. Nothing major, just a consideration

You gonna paint all that shelving? That will keep mold at bay. If you still have some Kilz lefy, that could work.

Lookin' good so far.

Thank you.

I have pretty much a whole gallon of Kilz left. But I don't have a mold problem so I'm not thinking I need to use it on the shelves. I'm planning the green Behr latex.

I will be putting the Kilz on the sidewalls again once I clear out the plastic shelves. I'm going to reinforce the current drywall with additional screws since its pulling away from the studs due to the use of nails. So, I'll have some screw heads to patch. Plus some paint peeling areas to fix.

We're not destitute by any means, but I'm going to try to not buy more supplies than I have to doing any extras.

You're doing good, and fear not.... It has been my experience that reorganization is as good as remodeling. I did the same thing about 6 months ago and my garage is much more comfortable and user friendly since. Keep up the good work and keep it coming.....subscribed.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to more user friendly. What we have isn't bad and I've done a lot in there. Just one of those 'would be nice if' kinda things. I appreciate the encouragement

Nice start! You can never have too much shelf space!

Agreed!

 

[eurojetta]

I had a similar access issue for some shelves I built and ended up using coated canvas drop sheets intended for painting as curtains to keep stuff hidden and reduce dust build up. They've worked great and being coated they are somewhat stiff and don't move around too much.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I had a similar access issue for some shelves I built and ended up using coated canvas drop sheets intended for painting as curtains to keep stuff hidden and reduce dust build up. They've worked great and being coated they are somewhat stiff and don't move around too much.

I'm so glad you mentioned that. I was seriously considering curtains but didn't want to say it

Any pics of your setup?

 

[usmc_noma]

Looking good so far. You do one hell of job in sketchup too. How long did it take to do all that.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Looking good so far. You do one hell of job in sketchup too. How long did it take to do all that.

Thanks

Hard to say how long I've spent on the garage drawings. I go back and doodle when I get an idea. Before I got started I took a couple of dedicated days to learn sketch up with the tutorials. It was painstakingly slow. Since doing that I can work up a sketch fairly quick.

To draw up a room I take the laptopto where I'm measuring and input everything on the spot. Keeps me from having to take a note pad and write down everything twice.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Monday, April 18


Painted the shelves. I had enough paint to do the inside of the boards but I decided to leave them bare. I'll be leaving the top plywood bare and I kind of like the color contrast between the dark green, the bare wood and the white walls. I'm suspecting I'll do my workbench with this green when that time comes.

Well, doesn't look like much yet until I can start clearing the floor. I'm gonna let the paint dry while I figure out how much plywood I need.

 

[onething]

You are doing an excellent job! Keep it up.

Close in the ends of the shelf units with plywood and use old school roller shades. If you want to get fancy, you can even put facer boards on your upright 2x4's to keep them from flapping in the breeze when the garage door is open

 

[Brad54]

It was a pain in the ***, but I painted all my shelf board white latex... it seals the wood and keeps them from absorbing grease and oil (I store a lot of car parts), but it also reflects light making the back wall of the shop seem a little brighter.

I painted both sides of my shelves in Florida (top and underside), and it made a really big difference.

Just something to consider.

Project is looking really good!

-Brad

 

[GirlnAgarage]

April 18...a little later...


I went out and painted the rest. I couldn't stand it



I'm gonna go grill something. Time for supper.

 

[Alchymist]

May 25th will mark two years since we closed on this house, our first 'own' home. Prior to we rented as DH was active duty Navy.

[/I]

Give my thanks to DH for his service, and my thanks to you for putting up with it!

 

[onething]

Give my thanks to DH for his service, and my thanks to you for putting up with it!

What he said

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Thanks guys for the ideas!

I will also pass on the message to DH. I'm sure he will appreciate it!

 

[SpeedCoach]

Looks good! Keep the updates coming.

 

[Hogan646]

Great simple design. Looking forward to seeing more updates.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Tuesday, April 19

Added up the plywood and I figure on four 4x8' sheets to get my eight 20"x70" shelves. While I was reviewing the options (and reading about sagging) I felt I better add a center support. The 70" span is wide. I shoulda built those in when I framed the shelf but I figured the 20" width wouldn't have me worry. I always end up second guessing myself But, better be safe than sorry...man I'm a slow DIYer. I had enough leftovers from the original lumber plus a few pieces from a previous project to get the cross supports together. I was crawling around on those shelves like a monkey in a jungle gym. I figured I'd fall off for good measure but that never materialized.

I meant to go get the plywood but eh, maybe tomorrow. I had some other stuff to take care of. But the sooner I get the plywood cut and installed the sooner I can move stuff!

Look. Now I have more stuff to paint.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Wednesday, April 20

Finally feels like some progress.

Went to Lowes and picked out four 19/32" 4x8' plywood sheets. The guy there said he could rip cut the lengths I needed so I said 'let's do it' as it would save me some time and work. I had the guy cut each whole sheet to 70", then rip cut two 20"s. That left me with two 8x70"s (no clue what I'll use those for) and four good sized 26x48" which will be good tops for the workbench(s?) I'll build later.

Cost $62

I screwed the tops and got started moving some things over. Only the stuff I knew was staying. Now is a good time to sort **** from the shelves and throw out, sell or donate stuff we don't need. Heck, I'm even gonna sell the shelves


Oh six boxes of Christmas stuff. MIL has got to stop sending us decorations she goes crazy buying at those after Christmas sales

 

[BEAVO]

great job im going to build some shelfs as well looks like you still have lots of room left on them shelves.but im sure that wont last long never does

 

[marty_p]

Good 4 u! And I love the paint on them too!

 

[Kevin54]

As far as doors go, if you decide to, make the doors where they are bypass doors instead of opening out. The shelves turned out great. Looks like it is really going to open up the garage floor space now.

 

[IMXCITD]

Lookin good! Way to take the bull by the horns and do it yourself!

 

[GirlnAgarage]

great job im going to build some shelfs as well looks like you still have lots of room left on them shelves.but im sure that wont last long never does

Thanks! And that's what I'm afraid off.

Good 4 u! And I love the paint on them too!

Thank you.

As far as doors go, if you decide to, make the doors where they are bypass doors instead of opening out. The shelves turned out great. Looks like it is really going to open up the garage floor space now.

I hadn't thought of bypass doors - thanks You're right, it really does open up floor space. I've got 3 of the 4 floor shelves cleared, the last being one that holds yard stuff. I'm holding onto the shelves until I get the shed built. Might need one or two of them in there.

Things are moving along.

Lookin good! Way to take the bull by the horns and do it yourself!

 

[petee_c]

looks good.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

looks good.

Thanks petee



Feels like it has been forever since I had a chance to work on this. The last few weeks I've been burning $4/gal diesel across the state and it isn't over yet. I'll head out next week to run a team marathon on the weekend. I sure hope it rains, otherwise it'll be killer hot. Should be the last run (pun intended) for a while, thank goodness.

Before this last trip out I got one side of the garage cleared out and DH did get his car in. "Yay, it fits - but you don't get to park inside until your motorcycle is out. That's still my half buddy".

I'll be working my way down the side walls and getting the sprinkler box set once and for all. I'm also debating a color scheme.

 

[W650Mike]

Look’n good!

Some ideas:

Extension ladders are needed but seldom used. Hang it from the ceiling; hang the step ladder on the wall under the ext. ladder – for convenience when you need to get the ext.

Garage sale the rest of the sagging plastic shelving and build more of the wooden units. They look like **** next to your construction. Great job on them BTW.

Hang the mower on the wall (spark plug up) high enough to keep from bumping your head. Or…on your next shelving module, build the bottom shelf high enough for the mower to fit under with the handle folded. Mowers are a ***** to store and consume considerable floor space.

Cabinets on the side walls against the ceiling would take the seldom used (Christmas stuff etc.) items out of your way and they don’t consume floor space (build them high enough so you don’t bump your head.)

I don’t know if we’re neighbors or not. I’m in Eastland – but Texas is a pretty big country!

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Look’n good!

Some ideas:

Extension ladders are needed but seldom used. Hang it from the ceiling; hang the step ladder on the wall under the ext. ladder – for convenience when you need to get the ext.

Garage sale the rest of the sagging plastic shelving and build more of the wooden units. They look like **** next to your construction. Great job on them BTW.

Hang the mower on the wall (spark plug up) high enough to keep from bumping your head. Or…on your next shelving module, build the bottom shelf high enough for the mower to fit under with the handle folded. Mowers are a ***** to store and consume considerable floor space.

Cabinets on the side walls against the ceiling would take the seldom used (Christmas stuff etc.) items out of your way and they don’t consume floor space (build them high enough so you don’t bump your head.)

I don’t know if we’re neighbors or not. I’m in Eastland – but Texas is a pretty big country!

Thanks Mike for the ideas. We are neighbors. You're only an hour or so away. I'm in Grapevine. Isn't it funny that here in TX we count distance by hours and one is close???

I will be heeding that advice on the ladders. Ladders are great to have when you need them, but the rest of the time they can be cumbersome to move and store in smaller spaces.

For the lawn equipment I'll be building a shed in the back yard. I'm excited at the prospect of clearing some more room. But the fruits of that labor are farther away until I get the shed built. When I don't have time I have the energy. When I have the energy I don't have time.

I'm trying to coincide the shed build with this garage work so I can shuffle stuff around as I go. It is the shuffling of stuff that takes the energy right out.


Oh, the last thing I'm thinking I'll do is a nice long workbench with some storage underneath. I'll put that on that left side where the water heater nook creates that extra 30" width on that side of the garage. It seems it would fit better there. Plus my husband can park nose in on the right side. He's not very good at backing up vehicles especially to park