Above 1200 Sq/FT Thomas' garage projects (Canada)

[TomcoPDR]

Long time lurker, thought I'd finally start my own thread. Thanks for GJ community's ideas and contributions through out the years. Thought I'd join the club. Plus to add one for Canadians, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

First, this was from 1990-2013 era. Parents were original owner (house sold), I grew up in this house. Typical suburbia attached double car, front driveway, cookie cutter. As I grew older (teenaged to college years) started putting my own money into the folk's place/take over their garage space, etc...

First set is a combination of my dad's reno work, trying to raise a family (limited budget), discounted mis-tinted paint, old materials, etc..





Then as I got older, using my own money. I just kinda took over and played around with reno/DIY.














Here're some work pieces I've done out of this garage. (don't want to start or dilute a "what did you do in your garage" thread)











There was FLAWS in the after (i.e. not showroom perfect)



Oh man this is a 2004-2005 photo, getting too old to be doing these collisions now though. This result isn't showroom brand new perfect neither.

Next post, I'll do my industrial warehouse condo era.

 

[Basher]

Welcome aboard!
That is a great record & a very promising space
even better as you are involved in its history, too.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Garage project #2

2008-2012 era, an industrial zoned warehouse condo bay (one unit in a complex). I did it more for real estate holdings, as I work out of town most the time.

Life for this warehouse unit started out as a machine shop, there were some hours involved cleaning up greasy metal shavings and scraping walls after possession (lube oil + metal shavings = sticky walls and floors; didn't take detailed photos )

Cleaned up after possession

2009-2011 phase, tenant occupied... As stated, this was more of an investment holding property than me operating, however, I did wanted an automotive theme since that's my own line of work. (it wasn't the best real estate business decision, i.e. should had just bought a "warehouse" and leased it out as-is, tenants in commercial leases are always responsible for their own renos)

Anyhow, I was in my 20's, gung-ho in building an automotive footing in the city, etc...

First thing was drainage, our city is full of by-laws. (I think there're a few GJer's in my city, for the most part we can't even wash our cars on residential driveways with general carwash soap without a neighbour calling bylaw officer on you)

Anyway, in a commercial setting, I wasn't going to risk it. So got to install a lite duty grease/dirt separator tied to the sewer system.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Tenant occupied setup:

 

[ADSR]

oh man! i love it! keep them pics coming!

 

[TomcoPDR]

oh man! i love it! keep them pics coming!

Alright.

More tenant occupied pics. (there was provision in the lease where the landlord/owner could keep doing DIY improvements, work in the space, providing it doesn't effect tenant business operations)... So I'd be always trying to learn my own DIY reno stuff, play around, my own customer's vehicles on the weekends (off hours of tenants)

I didn't do the tile work, hired professional

Low budget Ikea $50 curved curtain tracks, re-purposed as neo-angle shower track, lol

(more to follow)

 

[dubber]

Cool project. I didn't know about that issue washing a car on the driveway in calgary. Never had it come up when i was there for a few year luckily as that would really be a pain.

 

[ADSR]

Love the industrial setting!

Didn't need the shower shot tho. lol

 

[TomcoPDR]

Year: 2012. So the tenancy (renting it out) didn't work out. Got the bay completely vacant. Income wise, I make more $$ working on the road, than running a business out of this fixed local property. So these pics are just cars I've worked on during the For Sale vacancy phase.

Having a vacant commercial warehouse was cool (AND costly, lol), but it definitely brings out the boy/child outta you once again. Nothing to do at the shop, so during 2012 vacancy, it just happens my hometown had a huge hail storm blowing by. So picked up these hail damaged (White, Black, Blue) Civic's from a new dealership, and just kinda split cost/started working fixing them with another owner operator tech/friend. "just for the hell of it" (we lost more labour hours working on these than just at our regular paid jobs; this is kind of like a bodyman buying a salvaged rolled over vehicle and rebuilding from scratch; the discount was there, but so was the damages)

Testing out plastic dip (clear plastic dip)... 50/50 response, people either love it or hate it.

 

[TomcoPDR]

End of 2012, Early 2013. End of an era. Warehouse/condo bay is conditionally sold C/S. (don't need it, wasn't going to run my business out of it, don't want to be landlord of it, wanted some bling bling $$ back in piggy bank)

So tidying up for buyer, paint some walls, clean up. (they asked to keep air compressor, wall mounted pressure washer, so spent some time making sure they were lubed, etc...)

Kind of had this gut feeling for my line of work, and personal preference. I, IMO, would rather have a 500-1,000sqft personal home garage (and just rent/pay commission to use other people's shop space), than to have my own 3,000 sqft commercial shop/business, again. So selling this warehouse would probably end a phase in life where for the next decade, I probably won't re-visit.

So thought I'd go out with a bang. For our neighbours down south in the States, most of you know it gets quite chilly up in Canada. So just went on a random spending spree, bought these power wheels for a friend's two daughters, lol. (I don't have kids) For Christmas 2012. It was fun riding these around the shop while it's freezing cold outside. (I know in the pic there isn't snow, but trust me, it was cold)

 

[TomcoPDR]

Garage project #3

Current to date, Spring 2015. Sorry for working backwards on my info (pics are current stage, but once I get time, I'll load up from the beginning)

Personal house bought in 2013. Built in 1968, but the seller was a "contractor house flipper" who already gutted the house inside and out and remodeled it, and built a basic (very small 22' by 30') "triple garage" (double door and single door). The biggest small size they can build to call it a triple, if that makes sense, lol

Sorry for throwing up too many teasers, but just kinda proud pulling 12-14 hour shifts on it with a contractor friend. 3am local time now. lol

 

[dubber]

Congrats on the new garage. Sweet Turbo as well

 

[TomcoPDR]

Cool project. I didn't know about that issue washing a car on the driveway in calgary. Never had it come up when i was there for a few year luckily as that would really be a pain.

Yup, under our drainage bylaw. City claims street water goes to fresh water supply, even though you get tons of vehicles leaking (whatever) parked on the street, and when it rains it all goes down the storm drain as well, to think they don't process storm water sounds odd to me. IMO, I think it's protectionism for the car wash businesses since they probably only get 5-7 months of solid flow.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages/Bylaws-by-topic/Drainage.aspx

Love the industrial setting!

Didn't need the shower shot tho. lol

Sorry, lol. Ok, more garage pics

Congrats on the new garage. Sweet Turbo as well

All the nicer cars are either customers or friends visiting, lol.

 

[55cadillacking]

Nice to see more Calgary representation here! If you don't mind me asking, what neighbourhood was your family home in? I like to think I know this city well, but I'm having a hard time placing that one. I want to say either Douglasdale or Edgemont/Hawkwood. I could be way off...

 

[dubber]

Nice to see more Calgary representation here! If you don't mind me asking, what neighbourhood was your family home in? I like to think I know this city well, but I'm having a hard time placing that one. I want to say either Douglasdale or Edgemont/Hawkwood. I could be way off...

I lived in both Edgemont and Edenstone.

Rick does this mean you illegally wash your car on your driveway? Or do you get away with it by doing it in the garage? This bylaw is crazy!

 

[55cadillacking]

I use my shop vac to ensure no soapy runoff leaves my garage. I dump the vac in the laundry room sink so I am not allowing any soap to enter our storm sewer system. It *****.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Nice to see more Calgary representation here! If you don't mind me asking, what neighbourhood was your family home in? I like to think I know this city well, but I'm having a hard time placing that one. I want to say either Douglasdale or Edgemont/Hawkwood. I could be way off...

Replied in PM.

And yes, I've been following your awesome and forever constantly improving detailing garage too.

 

[55cadillacking]

Received.

Did everyone's parents have a Tempo or Topaz growing up in the YYC? I think so.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Received.

Did everyone's parents have a Tempo or Topaz growing up in the YYC? I think so.

Those things were the best, unreliable, widely untrusted vehicles of its time. lol

Dad did everything with it, multi sheets of drywall doing the basement. Lumber hauls for fences and deck extension. (my dad has some weird *** math system, he'd rather do 5-6 trips in a day with the Topaz, than to pay 1 truck delivered fee at the door once all your materials were calculated for the job)

(not meant as an insult), any of you old timers remember the days where the smaller local lumber store (Totem, Beaver lumber; for the Canadians here) where they'd give out free cardboard that folds into roof racks?? I'm just glad I wasn't in the autobody/dent business when our family Topaz hit the bed, that roof was toast.

Derailing the thread here, but here's a small project dad hauled with his Topaz 25 ish years ago... deck extension and his version of a sunroom, lol...

20 years later, I whined and bitched about having to make 2-3 runs to the local Home Depot with my truck re-surfacing the deck with Cedar.

 

[dubber]

Nice deck resurfacing! My grandma in Calgary had a white Topaz lol.... BTW i think IKEA still does those cardboard "roof racks".

 

[ADSR]

deck looks a LOT better!

 

[TomcoPDR]

Garage project #3

Onto current garage. Purchased this house June, 2013 (to current). Always liked these little old granny neighbourhoods.

1968 bungalow on corner lot. It was already renovated (looks like flipped by contractors) when I purchased it. The flipper/seller also built a small 22' by 30' triple garage.

 

[Hostyle]

Sweet looking bungalow, renovations have done it well.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Nice work!

I will make you a deal:

If you do not post any more shower shots I will stick around LOL...

I like the dent pulling you are doing, nice work...

I may need to get you to help out my truck, a few dents in the side that DRIVE me nuts...

 

[TomcoPDR]

Nice work!

I will make you a deal:

If you do not post any more shower shots I will stick around LOL...

I like the dent pulling you are doing, nice work...

I may need to get you to help out my truck, a few dents in the side that DRIVE me nuts...

Sweet looking bungalow, renovations have done it well.

deck looks a LOT better!

Thanks, thanks, thanks.

Ok, no more shower pics, lol.

I'll try catching up with uploading pics from the beginning for this garage #3 reno.

 

[dubber]

Love the look of the outside of your new place. They did a great job with the renos.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Alright, the beginning of current garage reno (Garage project #3, current home)

Rough plans are:

- Modern style interior (i.e. looking like a house interior, a pretty garage instead of real work)
- Heat, more power (i.e. overhead heater, subpanel)

So kind of K.I.S.S. keep simple concept.

First step is for gas line and power. (builder had entire garage on one 15amp), planning a 60 amp subpanel.

Found a guy off Kijiji that'll trench 60' feet distance for $300 (yes, I've checked out he's a registered business in my city, as well as having worker's compensation clearance account)

He was in and out within 30 minutes for actual work, setup/take down took longer, lol

(premature pic, backfilling gas/electric after city rough inspection approved)

 

[55cadillacking]

What a great modern house in an established neighbourhood. You certainly are a man who likes having a project. My hat is off to you. Looking fwd to seeing what you do to modernize the interior of your garage to match your home. If you see a blue SQ5 stalking your street, don't be too concerned....

 

[TomcoPDR]

What a great modern house in an established neighbourhood. You certainly are a man who likes having a project. My hat is off to you. Looking fwd to seeing what you do to modernize the interior of your garage to match your home. If you see a blue SQ5 stalking your street, don't be too concerned....

The rough-in work I settled on was:

- 60 amp subpanel
- 45,000 btu Modine Hot Dawg heater (gas fitter did his calculations)

I wanted receptacles every 4' feet, I think I'm just preaching to the choir among GJ group. You never know where you want your work bench, or re-model after few months of a setup.

In the corner, I always love working with "L" shaped work benches (but, as of "NOW", I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to do my layout, but not gonna spoil the thread getting ahead of ourselves)... So yes, I am, winging-it. lol... Regardless, if I do end up doing corner "L" shaped work area, might as well put in 20amp plugs. (not shown, there's also future outlet for 240v)

Two areas for coxial and Cat5, to move the house older LED's into the garage. (So I can upgrade to a curve TV on main floor of house, and something bigger in basement)

I'm just glad the gas fitter and electricians got along in such a confined space. (Did the "GC" myself, since it's such a small job, but called them to come the same week, lol)

 

[somgaet]

I missed where you said what business you are in. I read back, but do not seem to see anything. Are you a dent removal specialist? Dent Doctor?

 

[TomcoPDR]

I missed where you said what business you are in. I read back, but do not seem to see anything. Are you a dent removal specialist? Dent Doctor?

Correct, (car) dent removal business. More into hail removal side of it. Private contractor corporation though.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Forgot this outlet... Thought it's pretty cool having outlet between the two garage doors. Lot of non-Garage Journal folks called me crazy (why you need a plug between the garage doors, etc...)... But I'm pretty sure GJ would support.

Well gentlemen, I'm going to have to take a pause on the current garage update. Just got possession of an old rental unit my parents had for a decade or two (1992 to June 1, 2015 to current, will be listed for sale)... Not looking good guys.

 

[Hostyle]

You can never have to many outlets!

But what the hell happened to that back yard? And I don't know if I want to see what the inside is like...

 

[dubber]

Good luck with that.

 

[55cadillacking]

You can never have to many outlets!

But what the hell happened to that back yard? And I don't know if I want to see what the inside is like...

Calgary renters. Ouch.

 

[TomcoPDR]

Huge respect for those full service, sincere junk removers.

Unplugged fridge, freezers with food in it.

Let these $50 worth of fresheners sit over night. Made the call, hiring $1,000-2,000 cleaning crew.

Finally home, showered... Sanitizing phone now (was wearing blue mechanical surgery style gloves picking **** up, yes, dog ****, texting/answering business calls)

 

[TomcoPDR]

Getting back on track. Professional junk removal, professional cleaners. Listed the property for as-is sale. Offered and accepted within 24 hours of listing.

Alright, next post back to home garage.

 

[Hostyle]

That cleaned up well, congrats on the sale!

 

[dubber]

Calgary renters. Ouch.

And the Calgary AirBnB peeps.

Congrats on flipping the property so quick. Thats awesome!

 

[TomcoPDR]

That cleaned up well, congrats on the sale!

And the Calgary AirBnB peeps.

Congrats on flipping the property so quick. Thats awesome!

Thanks. Naw, been in the family for a while. So it was (IMO) in my opinion priced aggressively being an as-is sale. (one could look at it that it wasn't priced enough, for it to sell so quick) Time for the 2nd gen to re-spin that money, buy modern age condo rental unit.

Ok, back to garage. (project# 3, current house)

Insulation.

Always wanted one of these pull down ladder that you see in the movies, there isn't much attic space, but I just wanted one. $160 from Home Depot, shipped to front door.

Acoustic sealant, vapor barrier. Make sure you inspect these tubes for damages before use, they are not fun to clean up.