The Front to Back Four Car

[stelthy77]

Hey Guys,

I found this site about two or three months ago, and have really enjoyed reading about all the great upgrades and improvements you all do to your garages and shops.

When my wife and I were looking for a house in 07 a three car was a requirement for me, but we stumbled upon our current home which has a 2.5 car wide and 2-3 car deep garage. It sold the house to me, luckily the rest of it was good to go with my spouse!

I have done many upgrades already, and wanted to share them with you. I also have many plans, and can't wait to keep this updated for your comments and suggestions. For me 2016 is the year of asthetic upgrades, paint and hopefully flooring.

Here is a picture to get us started...

 

[RangerSVT]

Wow, that's an awesome size garage to start with! Looking forward to seeing the progress as you freshen it up!

 

[PRN]

"SO much room for activities!" I'm jealous. Great looking garage sir!

 

[Hpozzuoli]

And a heater to boot. Can't wait to see more!

 

[stelthy77]

Thanks for the kind words guys!

For the first few years, I didn't do much to improve the space, I was just using it as it was, for the previous owner. Pegboard underutilized, bad paint, one workbench I brought with me from my previous home.

Because of the size, it is easy to be disorganized and just line stuff up along the walls. I am hoping to clean up some of the clutter.

Certain things like the cable wiring, drove me crazy, so I organized that.

Put up some tire storage, and built some workbenches, all in 2012.

Not pictured, I also installed nylon compressed air lines along the outside wall and hung some extension cord/lights from the ceiling.

 

[stelthy77]

I usually utilize the front of the garage (near the door) as parking and keep the lawn tools and toys in that half. Then the back of the garage is used for my third car (and my Dad's third car in the winter) and as a shop area.

So I have my resources separated into two separate areas, air is ran to reels in the front and back, so I can work in either area on the cars, or add/check air pressure without having to fish a line across the garage. Both areas also have extension cords for shop vac and light for underhood work.

Both areas have drains for washing or snow runoff, so that is nice.

The back wall has pegboard and there is pegboard near the garage door on either side. I hated this pegboard at first and was going to replace it, until I found pegmate hook retainers. (On this forum no less!) They REALLY make a huge difference in the usability of the pegboard. No peg hooks flying everywhere when you yank a tool off of them. So last year, I organized my back pegboard wall to get tools off of the bottom of the workbenches where my toddler could get to them.

Found some great power tool pegboard storage solutions.

 

[2fat2fly]

That garage has a huge amount of potential. I'm looking forward to this thread and the garage build.

 

[C_F]

That deep garage would be great to have! Looking forward to your future upgrades.

 

[PugetDude]

Welcome to the forum!
Subscribed.

 

[stelthy77]

Thanks again guys. I agree that this garage has huge potential. Really it was this forum and seeing guys with well finished garages that made me want to take it from functional, to the next level.

My wife thinks I am crazy, and with a newborn at home, there isn't as much time as I would like to keep it clean.

 

[stelthy77]

So in early summer last year, I purchased a Craftsman cabinet to store hazardous materials safely away from my roaming toddler.

Shortly thereafter, I realized I needed some better wood storage. My wife actually saw this idea on pintrest.

I took an old filing cabinet removed the drawers and painted the outside Regal Red (rustoleum enamel) and the inside flat black. The color match is VERY close to the Craftsman red.

This little painting project gave me my color theme moving forward. It should look pretty good, considering a lot of my tools use a similar color theme (toss in some grey as an accent color, too). I know it isn't too original, but it should look good.

 

[stelthy77]

Workbenches.

My wife hates my workbenches.

Rather, she hates the amount of time I have spent on these damn workbenches. I will digress to explain perhaps where some of the hatred comes from...

Before our first child 3 years ago, my wife didn't really do any "nesting". Don't get me wrong, she decorated the baby's room (it looked great!), but she didn't care too much about the rest of the house like some other women. I, on the other hand, did a CRAZY amount of nesting. finishing up projects all over the house, starting new ones, even little things like patching a hole and painting. I just knew I wasn't going to have the time after the baby came, and so I was like a crazy man running all over the house, every waking minute.

In addition to the rest of the house, I started working on my workbenches. I had gotten some laminate table tops from my office redecoration, they were in perfect condition, very heavy duty, and combined with some plans from the internet (I don't remember where), some 2x4's, and my grandfather's old circular saw, I built three of these before my child arrived.

 

[sayoda]

Great work benches!!

Its really cool that you used your grandfather's saw!

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Looks like your garage is a similar size to mine, what are the dimensions?

 

[stelthy77]

Looks like your garage is a similar size to mine, what are the dimensions?

I can't find my actual dimensions, but it is about 25X48, but the back half has a stair way to the bonus room above that eats into that part a little.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Wow, that's a very deep garage, nice! Mine is only 26 x 34

 

[getbent4x4]

just think if you built a shed and moved some of that stuff outside!

 

[AldeanFan]

My garage could fit inside yours twice

 

[stelthy77]

Hey guys,

I have been neglecting this thread big time, but haven't been neglecting my garage.

I have done a bunch of updates and worked pretty hard on it this past year. I'll do my best to get it all caught up over the next few days.

My last post discussed my workbenches. Well, I wanted them to match my black and red theme, so I gave them a coat of paint. Flat black enamel on top gloss red enalmel on bottom.

 

[stelthy77]

About that same time, I painted my reznor heater side panels. I used high temp black, but I didn't need to, those sides don't get hot at all.

Speaking of that heater, does anyone know the best way to raise it up? It is at forehead cracking height right now.

I am comfortable with shortening the gas line, it is the exhaust chimney where I am not sure about how to proceed.

Right now it looks to have the correct "slight angle" on the horizontal run, but the connector where it meets the ceiling seems to be unnecessarily large. I don't even know the terminology to know what to look for.

Any help here would be appreciated.

 

[stelthy77]

just think if you built a shed and moved some of that stuff outside!

So I went ahead and moved my riding lawn mower out of the garage. There is some question as to whether we are allowed a shed in my neighborhood according to HOA rules, (different rules, different plats) but I found a solution that works.

That cut down on grass clippings this last summer. I would love to get all my lawn stuff out of the garage, but there just isn't room.

 

[ratdoggy]

Workbenches.

My wife hates my workbenches.

Rather, she hates the amount of time I have spent on these damn workbenches. I will digress to explain perhaps where some of the hatred comes from...

Before our first child 3 years ago, my wife didn't really do any "nesting". Don't get me wrong, she decorated the baby's room (it looked great!), but she didn't care too much about the rest of the house like some other women. I, on the other hand, did a CRAZY amount of nesting. finishing up projects all over the house, starting new ones, even little things like patching a hole and painting. I just knew I wasn't going to have the time after the baby came, and so I was like a crazy man running all over the house, every waking minute.

In addition to the rest of the house, I started working on my workbenches. I had gotten some laminate table tops from my office redecoration, they were in perfect condition, very heavy duty, and combined with some plans from the internet (I don't remember where), some 2x4's, and my grandfather's old circular saw, I built three of these before my child arrived.

A guy's (or gal if so inclined) first project in a house is to build at least 1 workbench....2 if the first one gets buried under stuff

 

[ratdoggy]

Your garage got me thinking if I tear out the bathroom and mudroom I'd have a 4 car also
Right now it's a 3 car
Don't think I can get Mrs.Ratdoggy on board with that

 

[stelthy77]

A guy's (or gal if so inclined) first project in a house is to build at least 1 workbench....2 if the first one gets buried under stuff

I just got rid of my old workbench (didn't match the rest), because it just became a place for **** to gather! I have 3 now, and they still always seem to be covered with half finished projects...

 

[stelthy77]

Next I put up garage vac. I love it, but the filter does clog pretty fast (I see some sort of dust deputy setup in my future). I also setup some pegs to hold the accessories.

 

[q20v]

Love what you've done so far. I have been tossing around ideas for my benches in the garage and the red/black is growing on me. Just might have to steal that idea from you.

I need a 4 car garage in my life. Like, really bad.

 

[Toododd]

Great idea for the wood storage - I have an extra deep two drawer unit which should work. Maybe I will bolt some wheels on to the bottom--errrr back.

 

[AP2TUDE]

Just saw that idea for the wood storage. That is incredible. Such a great idea.

Also, just applying a coat of paint to things makes a huge difference. That heater looks fantastic now. I would continue that paint on the exhaust pipe coming off the heater all the way to the ceiling, that would really finish it off.

 

[stelthy77]

Just saw that idea for the wood storage. That is incredible. Such a great idea.

Also, just applying a coat of paint to things makes a huge difference. That heater looks fantastic now. I would continue that paint on the exhaust pipe coming off the heater all the way to the ceiling, that would really finish it off.

Good idea to paint the exhaust! I have more high temp paint. I would love to raise the heater, I need to look into that more...

 

[stelthy77]

Love what you've done so far. I have been tossing around ideas for my benches in the garage and the red/black is growing on me. Just might have to steal that idea from you.

I need a 4 car garage in my life. Like, really bad.

Steal away! I already stole it from Craftsman. I'll be tying in the color scheme more.

 

[stelthy77]

Next I looked to replace some pegboard I had in the front on either side of the garage. I have a friend at whirlpool who got me employee pricing on a bunch of Gladiator stuff. Here are some before pictures, they don't include everything I needed to store, partly because I had a lot of it on the floor...

 

[stelthy77]

And some during and after shots. This isn't the final organization, but it is pretty close. I did add some more rows of gear track to get some rarely used stuff up higher.

 

[nmk_61802]

About that same time, I painted my reznor heater side panels. I used high temp black, but I didn't need to, those sides don't get hot at all.

Speaking of that heater, does anyone know the best way to raise it up? It is at forehead cracking height right now.

I am comfortable with shortening the gas line, it is the exhaust chimney where I am not sure about how to proceed.

Right now it looks to have the correct "slight angle" on the horizontal run, but the connector where it meets the ceiling seems to be unnecessarily large. I don't even know the terminology to know what to look for.

Any help here would be appreciated.

Looks like you have a single wall run to the heater, a double wall "B" vent thru the drywall ceiling and attic space to out the roof. You are required by code to run double wall pipe thru walls.

The single wall pipe connects to the interior wall of the double wall pipe, ensuring the outer connection remains cool. The outerwall is not connected to anything on the inside. Then you have a thimble or storm collar at the ceiling itself.

Beware different manufacture do the double wall crimps slightly different and not all play well together when trying to fit collars and thimbles.

https://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/venting/gas-appliance-venting/c-9462.htm

 

[taumac]

Workbenches.

My wife hates my workbenches.

Rather, she hates the amount of time I have spent on these damn workbenches. I will digress to explain perhaps where some of the hatred comes from...

Before our first child 3 years ago, my wife didn't really do any "nesting". Don't get me wrong, she decorated the baby's room (it looked great!), but she didn't care too much about the rest of the house like some other women. I, on the other hand, did a CRAZY amount of nesting. finishing up projects all over the house, starting new ones, even little things like patching a hole and painting. I just knew I wasn't going to have the time after the baby came, and so I was like a crazy man running all over the house, every waking minute.

In addition to the rest of the house, I started working on my workbenches. I had gotten some laminate table tops from my office redecoration, they were in perfect condition, very heavy duty, and combined with some plans from the internet (I don't remember where), some 2x4's, and my grandfather's old circular saw, I built three of these before my child arrived.

LMAO, I can take heat off of you there. Have wife read my thread and you should never have another again. Trust me!!

 

[stelthy77]

Looks like you have a single wall run to the heater, a double wall "B" vent thru the drywall ceiling and attic space to out the roof. You are required by code to run double wall pipe thru walls.

The single wall pipe connects to the interior wall of the double wall pipe, ensuring the outer connection remains cool. The outerwall is not connected to anything on the inside. Then you have a thimble or storm collar at the ceiling itself.

Beware different manufacture do the double wall crimps slightly different and not all play well together when trying to fit collars and thimbles.

https://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/venting/gas-appliance-venting/c-9462.htm

Thanks, from your info and what I can find, it looks like they do make some lower profile class b wall thimbles I can use. I think for right now I will try to raise it using the pipes I have and being sure to have a 1 inch drop over 4 feet as recommended by the installation directions I found.

 

[stelthy77]

I am lucky enough to have a slop sink in the garage next to the door. It is great for all kinds of stuff. The previous owner had some old kitchen cabinets around it; I used them for for cleaning supplies and towels.

I never really liked the way they looked. I removed the old cabinets, cleaned up the back splash (lots of paint on there...), re-caulked the sink, and used some plasti-dip to paint the hose reel.

Then I replaced the cabinets with Craftsman black and red ones that fit my color theme.

Last, I put up a cleaning supply/paper towel holder shelf, and a towel hanger.

 

[stelthy77]

I posted about this in the vice thread, but I'll put it here, because it was a fun project that came about while I try to improve the look and feel of my garage.

When my grandfather passed, I got his household vice. Didn't think much about it; used it and abused it (as did he). There was all sorts of paint on it and I am sure he never greased it. But as most of you know these things are built like tanks (literally, this thing is heavy for a 4 incher).

I took the old paint off and cleaned it as much as possible before hitting it with a coat of paint and lettering it.

I purchased another similar vice to get a missing pipe jaw. I also had to fabricate a hardy for it, as it was lost some time ago.

I am sure my grandfather would appreciate it, and at the same time think it a little ridiculous the amount of time I put into it. But I hope to pass this along to my grand kids, so a little tlc now should help that...

Before:

 

[stelthy77]

I mounted it to my heavier workbenches. For fun, I used square head bolts to match the square heads on the vice.

During and After:

 

[ajohno]

Great job on the vice stelthy77.

 

[C_F]

Wow, that turned out looking really great!