Small space. Need ideas.

[T56 Impala]

Okay since I'm new here I hope I'm posting in the right place AND You guys can think of something I haven't thought of yet.

I recently moved into this house. The house is great but the garage is pretty small. I don't have the measurements at hand but, lets just say the my 745Li barely fits. With the door closed I have about 6 inches front and back. I have "stuff" that needs to be in the garage. I can't build an out building due to the HOA.

My biggest problems at the moment are:

1. Bike storage.
I have a Garage Gorilla but they just don't go high enough to walk under. Not to mention that it doesn't look too good with the bikes hanging there in the open. I am thinking of making a platform to lay the bikes on their side. I will use the GG to lift it to the ceiling. (I have no attic above. Its the Master BR.) Any suggestions?

2. Riding mower.
Not sure what to do about this. I didn't use it this year due to the drought and the fact I was having a back yard built. (It was a very steep drop off, now its not and its fenced.) I could pay someone to do the lawn and sell the mower, but I kinda like working in the yard. Mowing being part of what I like. I may just have to live with it being in the garage.

I have 95% of the paint done in the garage. The shelves and cabinet are hung. (What few I have that is!) I still have to do the epoxy but its going to have to wait till spring. I have no work bench at the moment. (I have a nice SS bakery table I want to use.) I'm not real sure I will have room for it anyway.

I'm not much of a car guy these days. I was, but now I just don't have the time for tinkering. I do want a nice garage though. A place for ME to spend some quite time. Maybe if I have a nice place I will start messing with cars again.

I'm going to snap some pictures (excuse the mess) and see what you folks think. I may post up a rough drawing in MS paint to give you an Idea of what I have.

Any Ideas, suggestions?

 

[AverageJoe]

I feel your pain! I just moved and I have the largest house we've ever owned... and the smallest garage! It's tight with two cars (typical subdivision home). I built storage platform hanging from joists over the garage door in the "wasted" space (you can also buy a ready-made version at a big box store), installed peg board on one side of the garage, with a shelf along the top but about 2' down from the ceiling. This has allowed storage on the platform, the shelf and on the peg. I also hang my ladder flat along the ceiling. The trick I always think is using every inch of vertical height. I have to admit too that I built a 8' x 6' shed under my elevated deck - it is technically against the HOA rules but I painted it the same color as my siding and it can hardly be seen - quite discreet.

 

[T56 Impala]

Okay, so I don't know how to post pictures. Any help?

 

[autoist]

Bikes & riding mowers in the garage? Noooooooooooooooooooooo

Put 'em in a storage building out back....the garage is for "man toys" - cars, trucks, jeeps & such!!

 

[T56 Impala]

As I said, No out buildings alowed here. No sheds, no tents, no detatched garages..... nothing.

 

[Jey]

do you have a walk out basement?

if so, problem solved. make part of your basement the shed.

 

[T56 Impala]

The basement is fully finished. It is a walk out. Right out to the outdoor kitchen.

 

[timgr]

JMO - lifestyle adjustment needed. No outbuildings -> no gardening. You can replace the turf lawn with an 'eco-lawn' that rarely requires cutting and much much less water. Does not look as tidy as the turf lawns, but that's the trade-off. Set aside space for the bikes in the basement - they should be clean enough to allow walking them through the outdoor kitchen.

Re the pictures - use the "Go Advanced" button. You can upload attachments (of limited size) there. For big attachments, you'll need to host them someplace and link to them.

 

[Jey]

The basement is fully finished. It is a walk out. Right out to the outdoor kitchen.

sounds like you could add another door to the side, and make a little shed.

it'd be perfect for storing simple things.

And then just get a lawn service.

or move.

or sue the HOA.

 

[BrianAltenhofel]

I could never live anywhere with an HOA. The cons outweigh the pros.

 

[autoist]

Time to move again...hehehehe

Seriously, is there a way to do something with the area around the walk-out basement?