Seattle, two car garage remodel

[Bleu Omdurman]

I thought I would share my current project. Please post your suggestions and feedback. I'm not a handy person so the more technical work will generally be done by pros.

Here is a photo of the garage before starting.

 

[55cadillacking]

You've got some good height to work with. What's the garage being used for?

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

The current garage:
-Attached two car
-18'x20' with 14'5" ceiling.

The current plan:
-The concept is to have a very bright white garage with black accents and focal points.
-Flooring: bright white professional epoxy with a reflective finish.
-Lighting: bright T8 or LEDs so mimic natural full spectrum light. I want any colors to show true.
-Walls: refinished and textured smooth with a gloss white paint to finish. We are putting in an enclosure to surround the furnace, water heater and central vacuum. Of course it will be properly ventilated.
-Electrical: tripling the number of outlets and running more capacity for the lighting and whatever minimal load I may run from tools.
-Cabinets: white cabinets with black trim. They will be 12 inches off the floor and will not touch the floor at any point. Everything in the garage will be in a cabinet, nothing will be on the floor.
-Lift: Black four post lift on opposite side of garage from cabinets. Lift will run on 120v.
-Garage door: white frosted glass door to let in as much light as possible as well as create a nice evening look.
-Art: we will have a few prints. One will be the evolution of the V8 Ferrari. Another will be the evolution of the Porsche 911. We may do a few others via commissioning that involve tracks I have driven and cars I have owned or driven.

The garage will hold a black (nero) Ferrari and a black Radical SR3. It may also hold a black Lotus. All cars will be completely black (except for lights, that's just not for me) with black wheels and yellow calipers.

For those that might want to point out how white gets dirty, I know. This isn't a garage where much "work" will happen. I haven't decided yet but if there is enough room I may put in some black furniture, glass coffee table, flat screen and surround sound for watching F1.

Okay please share your thoughts and advice!

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

@55cad- the garage will be a place to keep the cars and hopefully to hang out with friends. Primarily it is to be a clinical feeling storage space. If there is room the man cave aspects will happen later. I am currently working on my wife lettin me take over the large guest room as my den. Oddly the den and garage solution are tied. He den I want will be above the garage which affords certain benefits.

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Photo after this weekend's work.

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Here is where we stand right now.

The garage door should be installed soon. In the meantime I'm looking for an electrical contractor.

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Door ordered!

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Not sure why those other pictures are sideways

 

[55cadillacking]

Wow, you seem to have a very clear vision in mind for your space. From your description, I'm already in love with it. I'll be sure to follow your progress. Keep us all updated.

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Two new photos of the garage

Here are inside and outside photos of the garage with the new garage door. They are having trouble with the learn function so the project isn't done. As you can see the motor is small and tucked out I the way. This should allow for great clearance when the lift goes in.

The next step is the electrical and lighting. Notice the extension cord used now for the power to the door.

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Inside.

 

[dubber]

Love those doors!!

 

[55cadillacking]

Very upscale! Fits with my impressions of the Seattle aesthetic.

 

[purpurite]

I know Seattle doesn't get too much cold weather, but it does get enough... how much insulation is on that door? I had an insulated door in my previous house, and this new one does not have any at all and it's very noticeable.

Nice start so far!

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

It has no insulation at all. Seattle isn't that cold but there are a couple of days each year where we get snow and temps get to freezing about 5-10 days a year.

It is roughly the same R factor as my previous partial board door. Only now it is FAR more sealed up around the edges.

I haven't decided if I will try to keep the garage warm (65+). Given the volume of the space and how little time I spend in a garage it isn't a priority but is a nice to have. The walls are also not insulated so there is plenty of room for improvement on this insulation front.

As a side note, I'm slowly losing the battle with my wife on giving me the big guest room as my den vs. the small room I have now. What this means is the garage is more likely to get some attention as a man cave... If that happens then insulation will move up the list but the door stays!

 

[flybefree]

Bleu, Awesome looking garage door...words I find I don't use often enough...HAH!

Looking good.

v/r

Shaun

 

[purpurite]

It has no insulation at all. Seattle isn't that cold but there are a couple of days each year where we get snow and temps get to freezing about 5-10 days a year.

If you are going to spend any time out there at all outside of the summer months, consider it a priority. I didn't realize how well my previous garage was insulated (door, seams + wall insulation) until we got to a newer house where the garage was done with R18 and drywall and nothing more (if that). It's 10° outside right now and 20° in my garage—not workable as a man cave or shop or anything else without added heating and insulation.

Something to think about.

 

[Ed Litsch]

That's a pretty good idea. The space should come in pretty handy. Thanks for showing it to us.

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Okay as the door nears completion it is time for lighting.

Would these do the trick? Forgive the multiple posts. I can only do one photo per post from my phone.

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Powered by...

So with that, given the dimensions noted in the OP, will these work an how many ought I have installed?

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

If you are going to spend any time out there at all outside of the summer months, consider it a priority. I didn't realize how well my previous garage was insulated (door, seams + wall insulation) until we got to a newer house where the garage was done with R18 and drywall and nothing more (if that). It's 10° outside right now and 20° in my garage—not workable as a man cave or shop or anything else without added heating and insulation.

Something to think about.

Hi Apex,

It 45 degrees this time of year in Seattle. My garage has zero insulation and it is 63 degrees in there this morning. Insulation is less of a factor here.

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Eletrical work happens this week!! then we will be refinishing the walls. we might do new drywall depending on how much damage the electrical workers do to the existing. If I do much of the drywall then we migt add insulation since we're there. after the drywall is done, we'll be painting the exposed ducting white as well to help it blend in. We've found a solution I think, to the nasty appearance of the exposed utilities and will be putting up an "enclosure" that has plenty of ventilation and ease of access. it will also add space to hang some automotive art (like Steve Anderson paintings perhaps)

hoping to have most of this done by November before the floor guys come to stain and polish the concrete "Midnight Black." once that's done, then I'll paint the concrete lip black to blend in.

Then we can finally get the cabinets in and then the lift!

 

[dubber]

Those lights will make a huge difference.

 

[rubberrodder]

Bleu,
This sounds like a really nice build. In post #2 you said white floors. In #22, you have gone to "Midnight Black". What changed your mind?

 

[Wuaname]

Any updated pics?

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Next few posts will have updated pics. The lights are in and powered. The outlets are cut and wires run, but not connected. The dimming ballast is also not installed. I'm doing the walls now which need to be patched and finished in white. Here is where things are as of tonight!

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Garage

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Another wall

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Another

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Outside of garage looking in with door open

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

Outside of garage door at night with lights on inside.

 

[Bleu Omdurman]

I couldn't get good photos of the lights but I have about 1200 watts. 36 T8 builds in 6 lamps!

 

[rubberrodder]

Looking at post #30 I have a better idea of the space. MANN! The garage art you can hang on those tall walls!

 

[weems]

Looks great!

 

[s2kattracks]

Cool garage door! Love that style!