Small workshop addition...finally

[TAMU05]

I have a two car detached garage in an HOA controlled neighborhood. We've been in the house for four years and now I'm finally getting around to adding a small workshop area. It is a little funny shaped due the angle of the garage and easements, but it should give enough room.
Here are a few before pictures and a new floor plan.

 

[HSpencer]

Looks like a great little addition. It is always also a plus to have the raised concrete areas in the current space. Is there a hassle with the HOA? You will have a lot of nice space with the addition. Keep us posted!!!

(No chance I guess that you will paint everything in the new space "Razorback Red"?)
Just kidding.

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

 

[TAMU05]

I'm still undecided on whether I wanted the workshop area raised or not. Why do you think it would be better raised? I will have small car to move between the work shop area and the main garage, so it would be nice to have them on the same level...but it doesn't weigh much, so picking it up to move it up the step isn't too much of a hassle.
I'm submitting plans to the HOA at the end of the week. They shouldn't have much to say about it because you can't see much of the extension from the street and the roof lines and siding will match the rest of the garage. Just have to wait and see.
I can't say there will be any Razorback Red in the garage...but I promise I'll be eating pork in there on September 27th.

 

[HSpencer]

I was talking about the space you already have being a raised area. I like this as you can wash out where the car parking is without having to move the tool boxes, etc.
September 27th. I have no idea if the Hogs have improved that much or not. Time will tell.

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

 

[TAMU05]

After rereading all of the rules, I had to shrink the width by one foot which means the tool box won't fit next to the work bench as well as I was hoping. There is a good chance that this will drive me to a Steevo work bench one of these days.

Finally got everything submitted to the HOA...now I wait...

 

[TAMU05]

So far nothing but bad news from the HOA. Going back and forth now, here is how things have gone so far-
First they said no because they don't allow garage conversions. I said it's not a conversion, I will still be parking my cars in there. Then they said no because it is 3' from the fence and the guidelines require 5'. I sent them the page in the guidelines that said 3' is required. They finally agreed to both of the above but then denied it because it would not be "harmonious" with the neighborhood. I'm now trying to convince them that it will be harmonious enough, we'll see how that goes.

Anyone know how to quantify harmoniousness?

 

[captain14]

harmoniousness - does that mean to move to a HOA free zone?

Your plan is just to push the corner out to add some workshop space and not another bay? Have you shown them you drawings from here that only shows the small bump out? How many square feet will that add to the original structure?

Keep us posted. This will be nice when it is all completed.

 

[TAMU05]

Yeah... just a 100sq-ft workshop space, no room for a third bay. The dotted lines in the 3D view is the fence line which I have to stay 3' away from. I sent them the black and white drawings that are posted above. I think what they don't like the front view that's shown with what looks like a huge expansion to the side. I've asked the architect to redraw the front view as a street view (front view based on the angle of the top view above it). The street view will show that the extension only sticks out 2' from the side of the garage, I am hoping this is harmonious enough for them.

 

[TAMU05]

So many months later...
Modification committee still wouldn't approve so I had to wait till the next board meeting (another month) to state my case. Everyone at the board meeting seemed to have no issues with it. Another week went by and I got my approval letter in the mail. Finally.
Build took just under a week, here are a few pictures. I need to take pictures from the outside, should get those up tomorrow.

 

[James-W]

It's looking good so far. Keep the pictures coming.

 

[marty_p]

Looking good, and keep on keeping on, buddy!

 

[budmanm3]

Hoas are such a pain. Glad they finally approved it. Coming along nicely now

 

[venturesomerite]

Looking good, any additional space is good space.

Might be too late, but consider putting a people door in front of where the car is in your blueprint/sketch up. Especially if you can put a door that swings out. I think it would be really nice to be able to enter in and not immediately have to go around the cars, especially when it inevitably becomes packed. Just my .02.

 

[TAMU05]

Looking good, any additional space is good space.

Might be too late, but consider putting a people door in front of where the car is in your blueprint/sketch up. Especially if you can put a door that swings out. I think it would be really nice to be able to enter in and not immediately have to go around the cars, especially when it inevitably becomes packed. Just my .02.

My original plan was for a small roll up door there (when I had a motorcycle)...but when the motorcycle left so did that need. I have my toolbox in the front and currently feel like the wall space on the other walls is too valuable to put in a man door. It's not TOO hard to get around the two vehicles in the garage now, hopefully that doesn't change too much.

 

[TAMU05]

My mess moved into the new area fairly quickly. I've started running electrical and lighting, should be done with those this weekend and I'll be able to post a much brighter picture.

Here are the next things on my to do list:
Work top-
Work top will be hinged to fold down when not in use. I'm using an existing 6' 1.25" thick wood top that will need a slight trim due to the screwy wall angles. I have a 6' workbench in the main part of the garage, so I shouldn't need to use this on a regular basis.
Pegboard-
Metal pegboard will be made to size (36x60) offset from the wall to allow space for outlets.
Tire rack-
The length of the wall worked out just right to be able to fit two sets of tires in the rack. I'd like to think that was good planning but I think luck had a lot more to do with it.
Air compressor-
I stumbled onto a free 60 gal oil free air compressor when a buddy got tired of the noise and upgraded his. It's my first compressor, so it'll need electrical, lines plumbed, and a drawer full of tools.
Walls-
My current plan is to insulate and skin the walls with plywood after I've spent some time working in the new space and am more sure I won't need any more air/electrical connections.

Work top, pegboard, and tire rack have no out of pocket expenses, so those will likely be done first. Planning on having those ready to install next weekend then I can get back to working on the toy car (lots of out of pocket expenses)

 

[TAMU05]

I got the lights and extension reel up and some wire ran. Work top is just on regular legs for now, need something to keep the various boxes on till I get get them installed. Can't do much more on the electrical side untill I get the sub panel installed...which still requires a trip to the hardware store.
Tire rack and folding work top should be ready to install this weekend. Sorry for the bad picture, I never got around to taking one when the cars weren't in.

 

[TAMU05]

Didn't get too much done this weekend...
Finally got the tire rack installed and cleaned up the work top a little.

 

[TAMU05]

It's been a little while...A one year old made my time in the garage come to a screeching halt.

I got few pneumatic tools for Christmas. I couldn't find a rack for just deep sockets, so I made a little rack for them that fits nicely in the drawer.

 

[sams]

I think you done a good job with what the space you have. I particularly like things like your tyre rack as it's always good to get things on the walls as high as possible to get them out of the way.

Do you have any new updates?

I am also really interested in that vehicle you have in there, do you have any more pictures or information that you are willing to share?

You might find some of the things in my own workshop interesting as I also have been pushed for space that required some creative thinking to make it all work. The link is in my signature.

 

[Purist]

It's been a little while...A one year old made my time in the garage come to a screeching halt.

I got few pneumatic tools for Christmas. I couldn't find a rack for just deep sockets, so I made a little rack for them that fits nicely in the drawer.

It's funny how that works, huh?! Babies tend to take up a good amount of your free time. But I'm sure like me, you wouldn't change it for anything!

As my son gets older (15 months now), I'm looking forward to including him in some of my garage projects down the road. He's already obsessed with cars and is always playing with his various toy cars and trucks. And says "cah" (we're pretty sure it's the Boston accent) whenever he sees a car or truck on the road.

That's my boy!

 

[TAMU05]

I used Rapid Air lines to connect the compressor. I'm real happy with how easily it all went together. No leaks and the flexible line weaved around the walls as advertised.
I added an extra port to one block, but other than that no changes so far

 

[TAMU05]

And... another year has come and gone.
I've managed to get the little workshop area insulated and all electrical work done. Toy car is slowly coming along, should be rolling again in a month or so.

Now that that is going well...

We've decided to move.

New house will have a three car garage with a 4' extension on the 2 bay door. Should have some decent work area. Lots to figure out still on the details. It's a new build, so won't be moving in till late June.

Garage layout-



I've searched for new build threads but haven't found too much. Anyone have a thread they'd recommend for garage or general home insights?

 

[sams]

That's a significant increase in the space you will have available.

As for suggestions on build threads I cover optimisations for space including some very efficient storage solutions in my worklog:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95951

EDIT: Ah ****, I forgot about the photobucket policy change which means all the images on my thread are now broken.

 

[ned911]

Gig'em

Going through the "find a new house with more garage space" or land to build additional bays in Austin. Not that much fun.