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Three Car Detached Garage Improvement

H

hector

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
47
Location
USA
Hello and thanks for visiting my journal.

I bought a house that came with a 1.5 story detached three car garage. The garage is some distance from the main house and for the most part, the space is all mine :)

The building is approximately 44x24 and about 1500 sq. ft. It is unfinished, with insulated walls and peg-board on the lower level, and exposed flooring and trusses on the upper level. Currently the upstairs is used for seasonal storage.

I spent the first year after moving in cleaning up the property and performing exterior improvements. My plan for this fall through next summer is to improve the downstairs area. After that, I'll work on the upper level with the aim of making an office/multi-purpose area.
 
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H

hector

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
47
Location
USA
1. Exterior Improvements

This is how the garage looked when I bought the house. While the house was well looked after the back half of the property was not as important to the previous owners. The real estate listing did not even mention the garage.

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The first thing I did is have it soft washed, cedar shakes re-stained, and the trim freshly painted.

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Had the driveway done over the winter:

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In the spring added stone to the foundation for a more finished look. The stone came from a quarry about 30 miles away. They do a decent volume but everything is still cut by hand, cool operation and nice to support a local business.

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Stone is done, looking better.

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Had the concrete pad replaced with pavers

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All done

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Next spring I plan to spruce up the landscaping.
 
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H

hector

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
47
Location
USA
2. Lower Level, Project Start Photos

Here is how the lower level looks, a few photos taken over the last week (10/24/20).

Lower level is approx. 44x24 with a workshop area on the south side and three bays. Two of the garage doors are 9' ft. wide and the last was marked for a tractor per the architect with an 8 ft. wide door but a car is easily fit there.

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Looking forward to proper tire and wheel storage

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The convertible is moved to the main house (two car attached garage) for the fall season so the SUV takes the spot now. The kayak is 18' and takes up a lot of space. Will plan for a ceiling/pully mount.

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Workshop area, the short wall is about 9'3". 2-3 tools per FastTrack hook, looking forward to getting this sorted out

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Long wall is about 16' to the door

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Despite frequent attempts at keeping everything organized, it's been clear I need a better solution.

The work bench is built-in, the back of it mounts directly to the studs. It is 108" by 36" and well constructed. I wish I could find a space for it, but think I will have to get rid of it.

One day I hope to build another garage/barn to hold all the garden/lawn care stuff plus a small UTV or a tractor, but for now I need to better organize and fit everything in the same space.
 
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H

hector

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
47
Location
USA
3. Project First Phase

The lower level will be completely painted white next Friday (10/30) all walls/ceiling/etc. I went this route as opposed to drywalling as I plan to add HVAC in the next couple of years. I have six days to move everything from the lower level to the upper and the cars into storage units. I think I will be OK if I work on it every evening after hours.

After the painting is done, the garage floor will be ground and then finished with an epoxy/poly coating.

I will install 8' Cree LED strip lights to replace the existing fluorescent lighting fixtures.

I'll move the existing water line and add a spigot on the opposite side of the current location. Currently it's on the rear of the garage which is less than useful for washing cars.

After that, I plan to replace the pegboard in multiple areas with slatwall, and then order (hopefully, if in stock) a set of NewAge Pro 3.0 lockers, base cabinets, wall cabinets, and countertops to install in the workshop area. The goal will be to get everything visible now organized and put away neatly.
 
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M

MPOWERD

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 7, 2011
Messages
578
hector said:
2. Lower Level, Project Start Photos

Here is how the lower level looks, a few photos taken over the last week (10/24/20).

Lower level is approx. 44x24 with a workshop area on the south side and three bays. Two of the garage doors are 9' ft. wide and the last was marked for a tractor per the architect with an 8 ft. wide door but a car is easily fit there.

View media item 107574
View media item 107576
View media item 107575
The convertible is moved to the main house (two car garage shared with the wife) for the fall season so the SUV takes the spot now. The kayak is 18' and takes up a lot of space. Will plan for a ceiling/pully mount.

View media item 107577
Workshop area, the short wall is about 9'3"

View media item 107578
Long wall is about 16' to the door

View media item 107579
Despite various attempts at keeping everything organized, it's been clear I need a real solution.

The work bench is built-in, the back of it mounts directly to the studs. It is 108" by 36" and well constructed. I wish I could find a space for it, but think I will have to get rid of it.

One day I hope to build another garage/barn to hold all the garden/lawn care stuff plus a small UTV or a tractor, but for now I need to better organize and fit everything in the same space.
Click to expand...

Nice e46 M3 Vert... I have the same but with black interior... :rocker:
 
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H

hector

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
47
Location
USA
MPOWERD said:
Nice e46 M3 Vert... I have the same but with black interior... :rocker:
Click to expand...

Nice! This car is the "survivor" of the group. Every year for the last, oh, six or seven years I've planned to replace it. This year almost bought a low-mileage coupe to replace, but the owner decided at the last minute he wanted to keep it. So, another year for the 'vert. 2006 and just ticking over 50K miles.. :)
 
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Cypress

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Joined
May 2, 2020
Messages
141
Location
Colorado
Subscribed!

Looking forward to the interior work. Great job on the exterior btw, it looks amazing.
 
I

isonic

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Joined
Aug 1, 2018
Messages
213
Location
Ham Lake, MN
I really like the exterior updates done so far. Looking forward to the interior updates. So are you painting the peg board or putting up something else that is being painted? Maybe more outlets now that you have the walls open?
 
J

Jayman17

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Joined
Feb 6, 2017
Messages
3,800
Location
Seattle, Wa
The exterior of your shop is really nice and the inside is very nice too. Looking forward to seeing what you do to the interior. Thanks for posting!

Jay
 
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H

hector

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
47
Location
USA
Thanks all!

isonic said:
I really like the exterior updates done so far. Looking forward to the interior updates. So are you painting the peg board or putting up something else that is being painted? Maybe more outlets now that you have the walls open?
Click to expand...

I had planned to paint the pegboard but once I got everything cleaned up I realized how bowed and warped a lot of it was and decided I just wanted to start fresh. At this point I've had all the pegboard removed and will haul it to the dump.

Great idea about adding more outlets.

I plan to have a decent area of the walls covered with slatwall and cabinets. For the remainder I am debating between plywood and drywall.
 
A

andyvh1959

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Joined
Feb 15, 2020
Messages
2,598
Location
Green Bay WI
REALLY nice garage and Porsche collection. Great updates to make that garage even more appealing. Is there an apartment upstairs or just storage? Looks like a great space for a guys hangout.
 
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loganb

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
5,528
Location
Omaha, NE
Awesome exterior work...and the cars aren't bad either! Looking forward to following along and seeing what you do to the inside

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Z

Zmann

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2019
Messages
302
Location
Arizona
what a great space
and I agree , crazy to not have it in the listing ,, the only time I see realtors ignore
items like that is if it was not permitted

that looks well-built and you're taking it to the next level
 
R

Ronin22

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
478
Location
BA
Can't wait to see what you do with this space, it's huge! Love the cars btw ;)
 
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H

hector

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2020
Messages
47
Location
USA
Due to other commitments I haven't been able to make as much progress over the winter as I hoped.

I did get the ceiling painted white, the floor coated, and bought a new to me truck.

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In the next couple weeks hope to finish ripping out the existing insulation. I then have a bunch of electrical and some limited plumbing work to do while I have access. Then Rockwool, vapor barrier & drywall.

NewAge cabinets were supposed to arrive this week but I haven't gotten so much as a single e-mail from them.. but not too upset about having the extra time :beer:
 
L

loganb

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Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
5,528
Location
Omaha, NE
You've made some nice progress for sure...congrats!

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