skinny 3 car tandem

[507caddy]

I have been looking over this forum for the past few year and am in my 3rd house since lurking. The last two garages, oversized 2 car and three car across were not organized and in general looked pretty bad.

I promised the wife that I would have the newest garage looking much better. While there is not very much room for more than 2 cars I do have a large attic so this time it looks like it will be possible.

Moved in three months ago and have made a bit of progress so far.

Here is the garage after a couple of days decking in the attic and moving quite a bit of stuff up.

My old 26" toolchest was overrun with tools, in the last garage I used pegboard for the overflow. It worked fine but added to my cluttered look.
Got a HF 56" chest

Got the car moved over after clearing that wall
Moved the fridge, toolboxes and workbench to the back wall, had to remove the edging around the workbench and cut down the top to get it all on the wall.

Last weekend i got the ladders out of the way

Next on the list is a few cabinets along the back wall and I really need to insulate the garage door. The door is dark and gets full afternoon sun which really heats up the garage.

thanks for any feedback.

 

[dubber]

Excellent project. That tandem section is a huge bonus. Keep at it!

 

[UN4GTBL]

Nice!!

 

[Jagmandave]

My garage is very similar in layout, but I have a door to the back yard on the wall where your tool box is now, and the bump in front of the Chevelle in my garage is the laundry room - the good news tho is there's a toilet and sink in there too.

Your next step should be to paint the walls white and get some lighting in there, especially in the back where the tool boxes are.

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I also have those low ceilings, but a scissor lift works well for the cars I work on....

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I got mine off of Craigslist, but it took 3 years of looking to find it.

It if were me, I'd move the tool box over to that right wall and put a bench across the back - that moves the tools closer to the cars you'll be working on and gives you a work surface you'll need. I think I'd also move the fridge where the drill press is, and the DP next to the bench on the back wall, then you can put a pedestal grinder to the left of it on the side wall.
Welding equip can go on that same wall between the fridge and the pedestal grinder etc. Storage under the workbench for other equipment and the kids toys and garden tools go out into a shed in the back yard, not in the garage. This way you'll have a u-shaped workspace with everything you need within easy reach, put your lights over the bench and tools also in a u-shape so you get the light where you'll be standing and working - not in the middle of the room.

 

[507caddy]

Thanks for the responses.

I have been looking at lighting a bit, it is very dark.

I attempted to get the builder to paint it white for me and they refused, it was already painted but needed to be touched up. I plan to do that in the future. Probably shortly before laying tile, still working through that plan.
I really wish i had a door to the back/side. It gets very stagnant in there.
I looked at fans with lights but the ceiling is right at 8' so I do not want anything hanging from the ceiling and a fan/light would most likely not give out much light (compared to what you have there)

At Sams last weekend i saw what looked like wall mounted fans, I have not seen anything like that on any of these threads.

 

[kamlung]

great look... i always loved tandems as it allowed for the possibility of stashing a toy in the back bay with a possible lift...

 

[BRIANBB]

Fellow Katy resident here. Looks like a nice space to work with. What is behind that wall in the bump out? I was able to put a roll up up door at the back of my detached garage. It sure lets the breeze go through and cool things down. Also you can put that insulation on the back side of the garage door to keep the radiant heat down.

 

[Jagmandave]

You definitely need ventilation in there, maybe you could put a window over the workbench or in that wall to the right to let in some light as well as a breeze?

The other thing you could do is mount a thru the wall A/C-heat unit or a mini-split on that wall, that would push the air the right direction and give some circulation, as well as conditioning. I don't know if you need heat in the winter or not, but here in Kansas it definitely makes a big difference in being able to use the garage year round.....and having the A/C in the summer is a god-send!

Do the easy and inexpensive things first like painting the walls, getting good lighting in etc, the floor should be the last thing you do once you've got everything else done.

 

[507caddy]

The bump out in front of the chevelle is the kitchen and the breakfast area is in front of the deeper area. The only real option would be a window or door to the right into the backyard.
The whole house is brick so expect those would be costly options. At that point I think a mini split would start to look more attractive.

 

[507caddy]

BRIANBB,
Is there much need for heating in the winter, on avg anyway.

 

[BRIANBB]

BRIANBB,
Is there much need for heating in the winter, on avg anyway.

Not really. There is about a month of coldish temps that may or may not hamper your time out there. Being that it is an attached garage and pretty well insulated(except the door) it should be bearable. Mine is detatched so the temps get pretty low. I am around the Mason and I-10 area if you need help with anything.

 

[duc916]

What brand is that lift?

 

[507caddy]

Updated pictures, still have some cleaning up to do on the workbench and toolchest top but made some progress. I also got a small shed put up in the backyard that got the genset and mower out of the garage.
I am trying to keep everything as far up as possible to allow plenty of room at the rear of the car if needed. This arrangement allows the car to be pulled up pretty far into the garage.

I will be looking for a couple of wall mounted fans so i can get rid of the fan pictured. I am also saving a little money for some cabinets to hang high above the tool box.

 

[507caddy]

Slow progress
Built a shelf and started painting



Continued organizing

 

[hoho98925]

Big improvement, keep up the good work.

 

[jsherid1]

Welcome from North Texas (where it is going to be pretty darn cold, at least by Texas standards, this week). I'm curious about your screen name--is that the engine that is going into the Chevelle? The 500/472 is a great platform for power and production of "the torques"!

 

[507caddy]

Welcome from North Texas (where it is going to be pretty darn cold, at least by Texas standards, this week). I'm curious about your screen name--is that the engine that is going into the Chevelle? The 500/472 is a great platform for power and production of "the torques"!

Thanks for the welcome, we just moved from Alaska so we are loving this weather right now.

The Chevelle does have a 500, bored to 507".

happy to share pictures, once i get a little further on the garage I hope to get back to work on the car.

 

[TiFJ]

Great space. We had a similar garage to yours when I was growing up. Looking forward to see what you do with it!

 

[Coloradotrailrider]

I have the exact same style garage, the tandem is great. For extra light I added four 4ft flouresent light fixtures throughout the garage. It looks like you have attic access to run the romex wiring. You could flush mount them to the ceiling for clearance. I also added a window on my long walk in the center, that added a lot of light in the day.

It has taken me fours years to finish my garage completely, to include insulation, drywall, texture and paint, heat, and the list goes on and on.
Looks like you off to a great start, it's looking good.

 

[507caddy]

Thanks for the information, I will not be able to add a window but I am looking into lighting. Definetly next on the list and I do have easy access.

 

[thetastelingers]

Lighting looks to be in need for sure. nice space you have.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Cool Chevelle, I like the stance! How does the lift work with the the Chevelle? Do you have any pics of the lift under the velle?

 

[507caddy]

Thanks I have the SC&C stage 2 kit; lowering springs f&r, adj. top a-arms, tall ball joints and 1.25" front sway bar. I like it so far but it is very low, scrapes a lot. I have not gotten to drive enough to really know how it will handle.

I do not have a lift, i think you are referring to Jagmandave 's garage.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Thanks I have the SC&C stage 2 kit; lowering springs f&r, adj. top a-arms, tall ball joints and 1.25" front sway bar. I like it so far but it is very low, scrapes a lot. I have not gotten to drive enough to really know how it will handle.

I do not have a lift, i think you are referring to Jagmandave 's garage.

Thanks for the info about the stance!

Sorry I was talking about the scissor lift...

 

[Jagmandave]

The scissor lift is in my garage, I have no idea what brand it is, there are no ID plate or markings on it anywhere - even the owner's manual has no brand name on it anywhere! I got it off CL, the guy I bought it from used it for BMW's mostly, but also lifted his F150 with it all the time.

At any rate, it's rated for 6Klbs so it will easily pick up the Chevelle - I've had my wife's 4000lb Audi on it and it lifted it with no issues.

 

[s.gaspar]

very interested in what you do, my garage is almost identical and i cant figure out how to set it up

 

[507caddy]

In the process of moving about 8 miles further out of town. From .22 acres to almost half acre. New house has a 3 across garage and 200sqft more space (700sqft). Excited to get started.
Only disappointment is there is no space on the sides of the garage, talking about 8” on the sides of the garage doors. It is however extra deep so it should be nice. Will post pictures as I go.

 

[507caddy]

Scale sketch with Chevelle in the single bay, wifes Expedition in the double. My truck will fit also but to tight to mess with on a daily basis.