Shop improvments on the cheap

[BarrelRoll]

I'm a college kid with a 4x4 addiction that's lucky enough to have a garage for my buddies and I to work in. I'm on a pretty tight budget though i'm ready to spend some money to make the shop nicer to work/ presentable for doing "side work" in. I think i'll have $1000 to spend on the shop after I'm done working for the summer.

I've got a 24x24x9' with 2 8' doors block garage with probably a 2:12 pitch roof. Right now there's no ceiling, maybe 4 ceiling joists, it's just open to the wood roof, and 4 or 5 menards chepie flourscents that arn't enough. It's dark, dirty, and just not fun to work in. Some times budies/ room mates use my shop (it's kinda complicated/ a disaster, easier said then done to say FU you can't use it) so keeping stuff locked up/ out of site is a priority.

I want to add a ceiling, what's the best bang for the buck, i'm going to have to add ceiling joists so something that supports it's self will probably be better. I was thinking either OSB painted white/ light grey or metal roofing. How thick of OSB should I use, i'm not sure if i'd run ceiling joists 2' or 4' on center, just enough to keep it up there

My lights ****, I think I have 4 working 2 bulb mernards chepie flourscents, I want lots of light. What's a good bang for the buck light to use?

In 1 of the corrners I want to add a 4'x6' insulated/ locked closet in one corrner. I want to keep my air compressor, welder, torch tanks, and some other shop equipment in and out of side. I was thinking just using 1/4" osb walls with some 2x4 framing and foam board on the inside, will that be enough insulation? The corrner I was planning on using allready has a "chimney" for a wood stove, is that enough of a vent?

I also want to add a cabinet for chemicals/ paint and another for general shop supplies. Any good sources for cheap metal ones or should I just make them out of plywood or osb? Anyone make a home made chemical cabinet, did you put vents in it?

It has a concrete floor that's been abused, we've been working on 4x4's in there for 4 years so it's been soaked in mud/grease/oil dry for a while and it's really bad, you get dirty when ever you lie down on it. What's the best way to clean it make it clean?

 

[rickairmedic]

Barrel Roll I am gonna turn you onto cheap materials cabinets Etc. maybe even free if you watch close enough . I belong to two Yahoo Groups one is called Cheapcycle the other is Freecycle they have groups all over the country . I have gotten all kinds of cheap and free materials off of them and also a place called Craigslist which is also nationwide . Feel free to check out my current garage redo in the garage gallery under Houston we have a problem only things I have paid for is paint and some peg board all cabinets were free along with most of the wood I am using . Hope this helps you some .

Rick

 

[1320stang]

Do you own the garage or just rent it?

I think we need a pic of the existing ceiling, 4 joists doesn't sound right, that would put them 4 feet on center. If that's all you have I wonder how the roof is constructed. Based on the info you've given, I'd put up white Visqueen on the ceiling, it's light weight and cheap. But I'd put up more lights before putting it up. 'K' metal would be the second option, heavier and more expensive, but lighter and less likely to sag than about anything else.

Paint the walls white, pressure wash the floor and maybe use a light stain/sealer?

I'd try to go 2'x8' closet, less floor space used, and you don't need to step inside. Just use 4x8 sheets of plywood for the doors, maybe make them bi-fold so you can open the whole thing up, matter of fact, make them all bi-fold to the wall.

 

[Zoobee]

I assume the wood stove is gone? Wouldn't want your torch tanks in there.

 

[Dave88LX]

Except pressure wash the floors before you paint the walls hehe.

I'm in your boat kind of with having to finish a garage, but I think I have a little better/more standard garge to start with...how much money do you have to spend?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

First off, sweep the place out and borrow a pressure washer (2300 psi or better) and do the floor. It is tedious, you have to get the nozzle real close and do a 3 or 4 inch wide area at a time. Don't think you can wave a wand over it and its will get clean.

Second, put up a sign, 'you use, you clean" or "I ain't your momma, pick up, and sweep up after yourselves if you want to keep using the place".

As already asked, do you own it or rent it or does it belong to a relative? You don't want to spend alot of money on something you will someday have to walk off and leave. Usually improvments have to remain when you are renting and vacate.

Charles

 

[boiler7904]

I've got a 24x24x9' with 2 8' doors block garage with probably a 2:12 pitch roof. Right now there's no ceiling, maybe 4 ceiling joists, it's just open to the wood roof.

If there are only 4 of them, I'd guess that they are ties of some sort to keep the walls from bowing out.

I want to add a ceiling, what's the best bang for the buck, i'm going to have to add ceiling joists so something that supports it's self will probably be better. I was thinking either OSB painted white/ light grey or metal roofing. How thick of OSB should I use, i'm not sure if i'd run ceiling joists 2' or 4' on center, just enough to keep it up there

With the conditions you mentioned (only 4 joists/collar ties) you'll need a lot of framing to make a ceiling a viable option. Framing = $$. Unless there is a practically reason for a ceiling, just rent an airless paint sprayer and get a 5 gallon bucket of white paint from the home center. Put a nice even coat of paint on all of the roof framing.

In 1 of the corrners I want to add a 4'x6' insulated/ locked closet in one corrner. I want to keep my air compressor, welder, torch tanks, and some other shop equipment in and out of side. I was thinking just using 1/4" osb walls with some 2x4 framing and foam board on the inside, will that be enough insulation? The corrner I was planning on using allready has a "chimney" for a wood stove, is that enough of a vent?

Build a 2x4 stud wall to the size you want and use regular fiberglass insulation. Use 1/2" gypsum board on both sides of the framing.

I also want to add a cabinet for chemicals/ paint and another for general shop supplies. Any good sources for cheap metal ones or should I just make them out of plywood or osb? Anyone make a home made chemical cabinet, did you put vents in it?

Talk to office furniture dealers and see if they have any old metal office supply storage cabinets available or if they have scratch / dent items they want to get rid of. Some schools sell that stuff from time to time as well. You may also try talking to a business that is going through a remodel or is currently moving.

It has a concrete floor that's been abused, we've been working on 4x4's in there for 4 years so it's been soaked in mud/grease/oil dry for a while and it's really bad, you get dirty when ever you lie down on it. What's the best way to clean it make it clean?

Pressure wash it a couple of times. I'd also use a cleanser like Simple Green (strong mix) and a stiff broom. If you can get it really clean, you might consider spraying it with a clear concrete sealer. The epoxy systems would be an expensive waste of money for you because of the application (welding, fabrication, ignorant "friends" that use the space, etc.).

You can also make a lot of cheap (and sturdy) shelving and workbenches out of 2x4s and 1/2" or 3/4" plywood.

 

[BarrelRoll]

It's my dad's house/ garage, it'll probably be the college 4x4 club house long after I'm gone. It's fine if I take lights/ improvments when I leave as long as there is something that resembles a light when I leave.

It's been my shop for 3 years before we moved into the house a year ago. My truck/ tools are 10 min. away at a buddy's nice 30x50 4 bay, because other people's junk is in there and it's a disaster. If I can keep working on my junk at my buddy's house i'll probably just give up on my shop and stop caring.

I'm pretty sure the shop was built in the '30's by rail road workers that were out of work and doing mechanical work to get by. It's pretty "interesting". There's a rail road tie for the main beam.

I might just do the plastic or paint the ceiling. I might give up on building a closet to save money though i'm pretty sure between a 60 gallon air compressor, mig welder, torch tanks, folded up cherry picker, folded up engine stand, and 2 floor jacks would fill up a 4x8 closet. Lights are a must though and they can move with me.

 

[Dave88LX]

Best thing I did with both my garages was paint the walls & ceilings. It was from Wal Mart, I can't recall the exact color if it was bright white or gloss white or semi-gloss white exterior paint. I love light reflection! Really brightened it up in there.