Shop Completion / Makeover in Progress

[bobbyd]

Well, I built this shop originally with the house about eight years ago. Budget and time constraints at the time and since have kept me from ever finishing it. I've done little things here and there over the years but never quite had the time or motiviation to finish.

Being a newly single full time father has changed some perspectives and since my son and I spend so much time in the shop, well most the time outside of work or school actually, and with winter quickly approaching, I figured it's time to get it done. I installed a central air furnace when I built it but haven't been able to use it due to the lack of complete insulation.

I also figured that starting a thread on it will keep the motivation level high as everyone here seems to always be so thirsty for new pictures and updates. So here it goes.

Here are a few pictures of the current state of affairs as of last week (beggining of October 2010)

 

[bobbyd]

Got started last Friday by unloading the lockers on the north wall and getting them off the wall so the insulation and plywood/OSB could be completed. I already had this done on the west and south walls.

 

[bobbyd]

I've read the debates on this forum regarding materials for wall coverings in garages and shops. I knew I wanted the flexibility of wood panels so that basically anything could be hung anywhere. However, I did not want the look of just painted OSB or plywood. I had to have something a little more refined and closer to smooth drywall. So I call this my hybrid system. Start with OSB, fill the seems and screw holes with drywall mud, sand and then texture the entire wall with an orange peel texture. Here are a few pics of the north wall nearly done texturing.

 

[bobbyd]

As you can see, the finished product is nearly indistinguishablefrom textured drywall. This wall took less than a day and about $12 in material to complete. So, by my math, for around $40 and my time, I'll be able to do the whole shop.

As you can see from the pictures above, I already had all of the wiring done, HVAC installed, some of the ceiling and lights done, etc.

The biggest hassle is moving all the stuff I already had in there around and out of the way.

Next problem, what colors to paint?

 

[jeffk14]

Next problem, what colors to paint?

I like white or off-white. The bright colors always give the illusion of space and light. When you're working, (especially when your eyes start aging like mine) you want LIGHT.

 

[viper86]

I like white or off-white. The bright colors always give the illusion of space and light. When you're working, (especially when your eyes start aging like mine) you want LIGHT.

+1. I just did my garage interior in flat white. Used exterior latex. Covered up the old nasty '70's brown drywall. MUCH brighter.

 

[NUTTSGT]

It a great father/son project, enjoy the time spent together.

I'll second the lighter color paint.

 

[thesharkman]

ok, love the garage even though it's not done. any place w/ a coke machine is good enough for me... =)

shark

 

[wfochris]

Keep it up! anxious to see the finished product.

 

[bobbyd]

Well, ran into a slight snag when I got home Monday night. I was a little worried about this but thought I was in the clear as several hours after I textured it, everything looked fine. However, once dried, it appears that the moisture from the drywall mud texturing caused the grain on the OSB to lift and in some cases pop loose. Where the panels were plywood, it looks great. Anywhere it was OSB the grain is transmitting through and flakes have come loose.

So....Two solutions. 1) where it is already textured, I'm skim coating the entire surface to get it flat again and will re-texture. There should be no additional lifting due to the barrier between the OSB and new mud. 2) Where I have yet to texture, the OSB is going to get sealed with an oil based primer (kilz) before texturing.

Luckily enough, about 3/4 of the walls are plywood instead of OSB meaning that all though kind of a pain in the ****, it's really not that big a deal.

Pictures are as good as I could get with my phone.

 

[wbrian63]

I was wondering if you were going to get away with mudding the surface of the OSB without any pops. If misery loves company, check out post 34 of my shop thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60859&page=2

When all was said and done, we had at least a 5-gallon bucket worth of "pops". I suspect using an oil-based primer would have limited this, but frankly, I could predict where most of the pops were going to occur as the primer was going on the wall. I could hear the difference in sound when the roller would pass over a flake that wasn't fully bonded. In that situation, it wasn't the water in the primer causing the glue to let go, it was the moisture in the paint causing the poorly bonded flake to swell and lift off the surface. In those situations, I think oil-based primer would cause the same thing.

Still, having wood walls is the best when it comes time to hang stuff.

Looking good.

Enjoy those moments with your son - these are times you'll both remember forever.

Regards

 

[Bellicose]

Good on ya mate.

Pic's are always good but, having a son that's keen on working in the shed with dad (a damn rarity these days) instead of sitting in front of the computer or XBox should be motivation enough for you to finish the garage.

Keep up the good work with son and garage.

 

[ctfortner]

I been doing the same in my shop with OSB. I used kilz oil primer, 2 coats and then 2 coats of exterior latex semi gloss. Here is crappy cell phone pic of how its turning out, pretty pleased. I didnt spend much time on seams though

One thing that saves a LOT of time and energy is using a 1-1/4" nap roller. I used a 3/4 first and it worked me to death trying to fill it all in.

 

[bobbyd]

Well, I finally have an opportunity to provide an update. Not a huge amount of progress in the last month but some. Between finishing one job (6 months)and starting another one (20 months) and being a single dad, not a lot of time for the shop.

Anyway, Got one wall painted and I am currently painting the lockers that go on that wall so I can get them hung back up and get all the stuff back in them that is currently scattered everywhere.

Got a guy coming this afternoon to fix the beer fridge (finally). Getting real tired of buying ice. Hopefully paint another locker yet this afternoon once I get off work as well.

Threw in a before shot for comparison.

 

[ctfortner]

Looking real good man! I assume the beer fridge is the pepsi cooler? I need one of those, easier access

 

[bobbyd]

Well, a little more progress. Few more lockers are painted and hung back up. Starting to get everything put away again. Only two more to go. Why I ever decided to paint these with an automotive base/clear finish I'll never know. Just takes a lot of time especially now that the weather is colder. I really don't want to run the furnace until I finish the insulation in the ceiling.

Beer fridge also appears to be fixed. Found three leaks in the suction line. Fixed those, sucked it down and charged it (man it's hard to track down R-12 anymore). It's been maintaining a frosty 31 degrees for a couple weeks now so looks good so far.

Also threw in a picture of the project I just finished that was eating up most of my time. Some of you from up north have been in one of these before. I'll see who can guess what it is.

 

[bobbyd]

Oh, and the beer fridge is the pepsi cooler. I bought that thing several years ago for $75 from the local drag strip when they sold out. I knew it had a leak when it quit working a year or so ago just couldn't find it. Finally called in a pro to help out. He done this as a favor for another buddy whom I had helped build a hay bale feeder for a couple months ago so in the long run, I still only have $75 bucks in it plus two cans of R-12.

 

[rwhite692]

Also threw in a picture of the project I just finished that was eating up most of my time. Some of you from up north have been in one of these before. I'll see who can guess what it is.

A Costco warehouse?

 

[ishiboo]

A Costco warehouse?

My vote is a Menards. They use the glass high bays... IIRC when I lived in California, Costco was fluorescent

 

[bobbyd]

My vote is a Menards. They use the glass high bays... IIRC when I lived in California, Costco was fluorescent

Ding, ding, ding. Winner.

 

[bobbyd]

Well, it's been a while since I've been able to update. Got a fair amount done on the shop on the last couple of months.

Got all the lockers painted and re-hung.

Got the back wall textured and painted.

Got the ceiling finished up and installed some faux cedar beams to give it a little detail.

Installed a couple of ceiling fans

Got the ceiling insulation blown in and installed an attic access hatch.

Just finished texturing the south wall and will be painting it this weekend.

So really, only thing left is the garage door wall and whatever I decide to do with the floor. As hard as I am on it, I don't know if I'll do anything to it.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Good progress! I hope you and your son are enjoying the time spent together on your shop project. The lockers look to be doing their intended job.