Tiny Motorcycle Garage Build

[Mini Moto Garage]

Gents...I just finished the exterior build of my tiny motorcycle garage, so I thought I would post a few pictures to thank you for inspiration and to ask for advice.

The back story: I recently got transferred to Washington DC and decided to take the plunge and buy a place of my own. Well...it's all about compromises...I got a tiny town house at an expensive price,I felt lucky because you can usually only get one of those. But there was a tiny little corner of the patch of grass called a yard where I could envision a small workshop. Then the zoning board stepped in and said I could only have a 50 square foot shed, which is more like an outdoor closet. I argued my case and we settled on 100 square feet, an 8' by 12'. Here are a few pictures of the build:

 

[Mini Moto Garage]

Continued...here is finishing the exterior. Siding is all fiber cement board that I bought second had from a supply store who ordered too much. $100 for all the lap siding and I have extra...sweet deal.


Interior shots...that beautiful machine is the excited tenant.



And this it the begining of my work bench and storage.




I obviously have a long way to go on the interior, but am looking for advice. The big shelf opposite the workbench will be for my drill press, welder, planer and bench sander. Underneath that big shelf is a locker I picked up off of Craigslist...I will put my motorcycle jacket, helmets and gloves in it.

Underneath the workbeck I will put my air compressor and table saw. Finally, behind the door will be shelving for more gear.

Questions:
1) What do I do with the space under the window? Shelving between the studs?
2) What should I do above the work bench peg board?
3) How do I use more of the rafter space?

Please let me know if you have any ideas. Pictures of ideas are highly encouraged. My overall goal is to have a space for my motorcycle and tools, and to do small work on the bench.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Nice job on a usually hard situation putting a shed on a townhouse property.

Do you live IN DC, or VA/MD?

Nice Ducati too!

Jim

 

[AZ Pete]

Nice job. If it were mine, I would insulate it. That with a very small space heater and you have a good work space all year long.

 

[Mini Moto Garage]

I was thinking about insulating but then I lose 3.5 inches of usable space all around. Maybe I should use the styrofoam or bubble wrap insulation because it's thinner? I'm trying to use every nook and cranny for some sort of storage...cheapest option would be to just get rid of some of my tools/stuff.

If I do insulate...what do you think for the wall material? I think sheet rock would get beat up pretty quick in a small space. I was thinking about using pine boards or even some of that DIY flooring or even recycled pallet wood would be cool. Thoughts?

Jim: I'm in Alexandria...I checked out your thread...do any Ducati Tech Days?

 

[AZ Pete]

Foam sheet would be good. If you forgo the wall insulation to get the most space, at least insulate the roof...that will get you the best bang for your insulation buck.

If you do insulate the walls, I would consider masonite (hard board) for the inside walls. It's thin, takes paint well and the tempered masonite is pretty resilient. You could even use some peg board for parts of the interior walls.

I agree that you have a challenge in making the best use for a very small space. You might also make some storage by having a garden bench outside the shed with storage in the seat.

 

[Big Rick]

I built my shop 40 years ago the BIGEST mistake I have made ever was not insulating right away now there is shelving, cabinets, tool boxes and workbenches all nailed to the walls. I have a lot of things hanging in the rafters, steel racks, wheel racks and lights. Think about IT

 

[Ray916MN]

Neat build and nice bike.

I would not insulate the building and I would not store my riding gear in it unless it is in something that is rodent proof. I've got an outbuilding of similar construction, and it is pretty much impossible to keep mice out of it. The building will naturally be an attractant to them in the colder months, so you want to avoid providing them bedding in the form of cloth, paper or card board and of course keep your riding gear safe from rodent damage.

You don't want to see and find this stuff when you go to service a bike.

I would build a shelf above the peg board for temporary storage of parts when you work on things. For example to store body work or gas tank of the bike while servicing it. This will keep these parts out of harm's way and allow you to keep the top of your workbench clear for work.

The space under the window looks perfect for a set of narrow bookcase shelves to for fluids like chain lube, WD40, brake fluid, contact cleaner, etc.

To save on floor space, assuming the compressor will only be used in the shop, I would consider putting it up in the rafters. Setting up the rafters for plastic bin storage would also make sense.

 

[JimVonBaden]

I was thinking about insulating but then I lose 3.5 inches of usable space all around. Maybe I should use the styrofoam or bubble wrap insulation because it's thinner? I'm trying to use every nook and cranny for some sort of storage...cheapest option would be to just get rid of some of my tools/stuff.

If I do insulate...what do you think for the wall material? I think sheet rock would get beat up pretty quick in a small space. I was thinking about using pine boards or even some of that DIY flooring or even recycled pallet wood would be cool. Thoughts?

Jim: I'm in Alexandria...I checked out your thread...do any Ducati Tech Days?

I agree with the others, insulate, use fiberglass because rodents are not as attracted to it. Masonite is a good choice, or you could use bathroom type wall covering that comes sealed and painted. You won't seal out bugs, but it is possible to keep rodents out. I have none in my garage or shed.

As for tech days, I do one in April that is open to all bikes, and you are very welcome to join us. I am also open to locals for tire changes and hanging out.

Jim

 

[dos zetas]

This is nice...my Triumph Bonneville shed is 8 x 16, with workbench and storage shelves above the 6 foot level, and a little attic on one end for fuel tanks etc.
Any place I could put a shelf, I built one...all high
It's kind of nice to sit on my folding chair and look at my bike...
Welder and air compressor under one of the shelves, it's cramped but suits me fine.
I keep a set of folding steel sawhorse and a piece of plywood, to work outside the door when I have a bigger project.
Nice to see what you've built.

 

[STANIMAL]

I do like the bike.

 

[Mini Moto Garage]

Question on insulation...when insulating with fiberglass, do you insulate the the roof between the trusses on the roof sheathing? If so how do you insulate around the soffit without blocking the vents?

Also this is a picture of the back corner, I got this locker of craigslist to put my motorcycle gear in...think the mice will be a problem if I use this?

Let me know if you have a good motorcycle gear storage solution.

 

[coma13]

Very neat. I love the hypermotard! Someday I will have one of those myself.

 

[roofster]

For mice I use D-Con and dryer sheets. No mice but the D-con does disappear after a while

 

[Mini Moto Garage]

Progress Report: I decided to put down some flooring, I would have loved a slab but the city ordinance didn't allow it, so I settled on wood flooring. I looked at the tongue and groove flooring and even checked some salvage shops but it was too expensive for me. Also if I jacked up one plank you would have to replace the whole floor. So I ended up using pressure treated decking...it was $6 a 12 foot length and one plank could be replaced vice the whole floor.

 

[Mini Moto Garage]

Continued

That red thing in the corner is my little work bench...an IKEA desktop a picked up at the salvage shop. My table saw and compressor will go under it, tool box will go beside it.

 

[Ray916MN]

...

Also this is a picture of the back corner, I got this locker of craigslist to put my motorcycle gear in...think the mice will be a problem if I use this?
...

Rule of thumb for mice proof is nothing with a hole that a pinky fits through.

 

[Bib Overalls]

To insulate the roof I would use strips of closed cell foam board ripped to pressure fit between the rafters. 2" thick should be fine. If you have a ridge vent leave a 1.5" air gap above the foam. If you do not have a ridge vent press the foam up tight against the roof decking and close up any eave or soffit vents. The foam can be held in place with 1"x 2" strapping under the rafters or, if you tight press the foam to the decking, nailed along the sides. In a similar manner, 1" foam board covered with 1/4" Masonite can be used between the wall studs. You have a relatively small volume to heat and cool so comfort, rather than energy efficiency, is the goal. In the winter a 15 amp electric heater should suffice. In the summer you are going to want a small A/C. I've been in Virginia in the dead of winter and the height of summer. Trust me on that.

 

[Mini Moto Garage]

Put up some salvaged cabinets, which got clutter off the floor. Now I can get two duc's in the coop.



I still need to rework my ramp, I'm thinking steel box tubing with deck boards.

 

[AZ Pete]

You might consider Trex for the deck boards. They are not structural, so will require closer spacing of the steel tubing supporting them, but they are weather and rot resistant, far beyond lumber. They do swell some with moisture, so leave a gap between boards if you use this product. The nice thing about Trex is that it does not warp, split, splinter or rot.

 

[xtremek]

For mice "proofing", I'm putting wire mesh behind the drywall/wood paneling so they won't eat their way through into the insulation