Tiny garage solutions

[Cone Eater]

First off: HI! This is my first post on the forum, though I've lurked in the past. As a car nut I always appreciate a well-put together garage space, and it's fun to see what some of you have done; I'm always impressed.

The reason I've now gone from lurker to posting is I just put in an offer on my first home . It has a garage, and I am really excited about that fact. On the downside, I didn't know they made garages this small. It's 9'4" x 19'3". I'm an avid autocrosser, track day driver, car-fiddle-wither, and am starting to get into kayaking (just as a reference for what I need in my garage space). I drive a Subaru STI which is 176" long and 68.5" wide (according to wikipedia, haha). So, with the car in the garage ( I tested this when touring the house), I can open the door just enough to get out, but am terrified of hitting the brick wall on that side - and I'm a skinny, flexible guy. With the car pulled in enough to close the door there is a bit of room up front for storage, but not much depth. I'm thinking about mounting some cabinets on the front wall which I could obviously park under (and pray they hold up). That would give me some storage space at least for some junk, tools, fluids, etc. I don't really know what else to do. I'd love to put a real tool box in there but it would have to be really narrow. I already contacted the builder and the front garage wall is load bearing, so I can't even punch it out a few feet (which was my first thought). I'm also planning on a U-Coatit flooring too.

Any one have a similarly itty bitty garage have any suggestions? THANKS!

 

[steam_mill]

Small, come on...

I've got a 10' x 20' garage so essentially the same size as yours....

I work on my cars and even keep two cars in there!

I'm also a subaru guy. Well a Forester.

Here's the link:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99061

 

[Cone Eater]

Small, come on...

I've got a 10' x 20' garage so essentially the same size as yours....

I work on my cars and even keep two cars in there!

I'm also a subaru guy. Well a Forester.

Here's the link:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99061

Nice space! Thanks for sharing. If I put a lift in, the top car would go into my living room. Wait a min.....naaahhh.

I wish I had those extra 8" of lateral space that you have in the 10' vs my 9'4". That would make a huge difference actually - I could open my door further, and place my floor jack, jack stands, maybe some upright tires on one side. And your extra 11" up front would make a work bench possible where now it's pushing it. Inches count (insert inappropriate joke here).

Is there a 1-car garage thread somewhere I'm missing? If not we should start one..

 

[jmlcolorado]

i work on my cars and even keep two cars in there!

cheater!
:d:d

 

[KrisM]

To your door/brick concern, just put lightly glue some owens corning foam board onto the brick. The color should match nicely to your STi.

also...check this video out. All of sudden, 9'4" x 19'3 is nothing to complain about
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rweXCSU4VE

 

[steam_mill]

I actually bought some noodles, those things you swim with, cut them in half and glued and screwed to the wall.

Did both sides, upper and lower for different cars. Cost be about $4.

 

[DIYKiah]

Thats a really good idea with the swimming pool noodles!

 

[Cone Eater]

eh, for the door protection I'll probably just pick up one of these for $10:

http://www.autoanything.com/garage-accessories/65A1398A0A0.aspx

 

[Cone Eater]

I've done some thinking and I'm leaning towards a DIY fold up work bench with sheet stainless steel top and some wall mounted cabinets overhead, then probably one of these guys on the wall for fluids:

(https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=2748)

Tool box/storage is the last piece of the puzzle, but I probably need some real measurements with the car in the garage for that.

 

[evildky]

why did you put in an offer? it's a buyers market, there are far more homes than buyers and I see no need to figt wiht such a small garage when there are so many choices for a qualified buyer

 

[evildky]

and kudo's on the sti, they are easy to drive on an autocross, not as fast as the evo but a lot easier to control

 

[Zeke]

Fold down bench, fold down bench.

 

[Cone Eater]

why did you put in an offer? it's a buyers market, there are far more homes than buyers and I see no need to figt wiht such a small garage when there are so many choices for a qualified buyer

Wow. Bold statement for someone who has 0 information on my situation. First off, I put an offer on a house, not a garage with a house attached. This home fit my needs and wants better than several others which had larger garages. I weighed pros and cons and this was better for me. Second, if you must know mu personal situation, I just finished medical school and was searching for a first home I can afford on only a residents salary and with 0 down since I have no money and massive debt. Third, in Charlottesville, VA, housing is very costly and very few homes have garages, so I only had a few options in my price range that even had garages. Like I said I'm thrilled to have one at all.

I came for advice on how best to use the space. I'll continue to rely on my family and friends for life advice, thanks.

 

[ckadams00]

Wow. Bold statement for someone who has 0 information on my situation. First off, I put an offer on a house, not a garage with a house attached. QUOTE]

^LOL
Dude, I'm happy you have a garage - lots of people don't! Sure it's tiny, but it will keep snow off your car in the winter, and give you a place to keep your tools and do some work. You will get a lot of great space saving ideas on here. +1 on the fold down bench. I would also think some kind of tool cart that you can roll around would be helpful so you can partially back your car out of the garage (or all the way if you have the driveway space) and move your tools to your car when the light/weather allow.

I've never used one of those spray can holders but I'd bet you could make one out of wood or angle iron for a lot less than $160!

Post your progress!

 

[Krash Kadillak]

If you need more storage space, a 'loft' area built above where the hood of your vehicle would be could work for you. Span the width of the garage with 2x8's or 2x10's, then build a support framework, skin with 3/4 ply. Construct a portable, fold-up workbench that stores ahead of the front of the car.

 

[evildky]

Wow. Bold statement for someone who has 0 information on my situation. First off, I put an offer on a house, not a garage with a house attached. This home fit my needs and wants better than several others which had larger garages. I weighed pros and cons and this was better for me. Second, if you must know mu personal situation, I just finished medical school and was searching for a first home I can afford on only a residents salary and with 0 down since I have no money and massive debt. Third, in Charlottesville, VA, housing is very costly and very few homes have garages, so I only had a few options in my price range that even had garages. Like I said I'm thrilled to have one at all.

I came for advice on how best to use the space. I'll continue to rely on my family and friends for life advice, thanks.

wow, sensitive much?

My younger sister is finnishing her first year of residency at Loma Linda (the only one in her class to be accepted into a plastics program anywhere int he country). I know they work you like dogs and you get no sleep so I understand the thin skin. I'm amazed to hear you have time to autocross, and again the sti is wikcked fun to drive at the limit.

...and so you know my situation. I've been in real estate for the past 20 years, and in this market, buyers can be and are very particular. On my side fo the equation it's seems impossible to find a buyer willing to complomise on any of their wants. No one wants to bother painting or replacing carpet they expect the home to be what they want move in ready.

Being a zero down buyer and working on a resident's salary with a mountain of student debt on your shoulders does limit your options. The upside is the house isn't likely to go down in value any further (I hope we have found the bottom). Best of luck.

The "Hy Loft" is a cheap and easy way to store tires if you have the space vertically.

 

[crewchief888]

best advise i can offer is get everything off the floor, create verticle storage, shelves, cabinets.
if you have any "attic" space in the garage, no matter how small, use it.

if you accumulate stuff like i do (when i start planning an upgrade or working on my off road truck), clean the garage at least a couple times a year, what you havent used since the last cleanout, get rid of it.

everything in my garage, with the exception of my tools, tool boxes, and air compressor is all salvaged. dumpster dives, yard sales, flea mkt, habitat for humanity restore, and leftovers from other home projects.

unfortunately my garage (19x22) is mismatched, dusty, dirty and dark, but i can get the wifes car, my s-10 blazer, my harley, tools, boxes, yard tools, snowblower in if i need to.

take a look at jack olsens 12 guage garage for some inspiration.

 

[Outlawmws]

Pics if you can manage that, would help with suggestions. (Not sure you have moved in)

 

[Lippyp]

Sounds pretty much like a UK size single garage, so we know a bit about fitting stuff in them, storage up high, depending on the length of you car you may be able to get a row of cupboards/bench across the end, used kitchen cabinets are a good alternative on a budget, can often be picked up free when someone has redone their kitchen. Just repaint them to make em yours.

My old garage during a sort out, note the 1965 kitchen cabinets that came out of our house. This only ever had one car in, my dismantled Triumph Spitfire, my 67 Chevy C10 just didn't fit. Thankfully I now have a bigger garage but due to the height of the eaves/doors I still can't get my truck in it. One piece of advice I would give you is don't be a hoarder (unlike me!) when you only have this much space.

 

[MBfreak]

Evildky.

Thanks for letting us know the origins of Sid from the cartoon Ernie.
If you have a male relative, he has got to be the lawyer, Habermayer.

Cone Eater.
Good luck, and since you are fresh out of medical school, you must be a pretty smart guy! Congratulations and keep it up. The idea with storage above the hood of the car is a winner.

Best regards

Ola

 

[evildky]

MBfreak,

Thanks for showing us the definition of internet troll.

 

[Cone Eater]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. As an update, the deal fell through on that house anyway, haha. The seller wanted way more than market value for her home, and wasn't willing to budge, so I walked away.

It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, bcs I ended up getting in on a new construction townhome (still being built), in the same great neighborhood, but with a TWO CAR GARAGE! It was a bit more expensive, but I'm getting it at market value rather than paying over market like I would have on the other place. I'll even get to pick finishes for the interior at this stage. Papers are signed on this one, so barring disaster before closing, this one is definitely mine.

On a personal note, evildky, sorry if I was a bit touchy. I'm a first time home buyer and it was an incredibly stressful process - more so than anticipated. At any rate, no hard feelings I hope.


When I get started working on garage setup I'm gonna start a new thread, since this title is now misleading
Here's a pic of [what will be] my driveway and garage:

 

[BigRed390]

Awesome! Glad to hear things turned out this way. Keep us updated as you make progress, and if you get a chance, how bout a pic or two of the STI?

 

[Cone Eater]

Awesome! Glad to hear things turned out this way. Keep us updated as you make progress, and if you get a chance, how bout a pic or two of the STI?

Of course! I love pic-whoring the STI. There are a ton more, as well as info on the car and my racing activities on my IWSTI forum journal here:

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gd-memb...s-06-sti-cone-eater-its-autocross-season.html

lifting 2 wheels in the rain:

And the glamor shot: