Using hindsight... what/how would you do things differently from the beginning?

[goalieman24]

Moving soon and will have the first real "blank slate" garage I've ever had... nothing but walls (unfinished), a roof, and a floor.

Just curious to hear from those who have done more extensive builds about what you'd do differently if you had to do it all over again.

It's a large 2-car primarily used for automotive toys and some typical storage. Won't be temperature controlled.

I think priority #1 is electrical/lighting as it's currently terrible. Also need to make a decision on flooring before anything gets moved in. Love how easily flooring can provide an aesthetic boost but the concrete is in great shape as it is.

 

[mike93lx]

Lighting, flooring, adding outlets and paint are all way easier before you move anything in.

If you want air distribution, same as above

Will you never have climate control? Adding insulation would be a lot easier to do now than later

 

[PFSard]

I can't put my finger on them right now. But there have other threads that discuss the "Shoulda's". Good luck with your "blank slate".

 

[Natty Bumppo]

All my "wish I had's" are with the cement floor, roof, and walls. After that it's all pretty flexible. Sounds like a great blank slate.

Not sure where you are, but unless you're in the South I'd reconsider the temp. control thing. You might end up "wishing you had" down the road.

 

[FMB4]

We never had a 'temp controlled' garage until our current 3 car. And I must now say that we will never go back to a non temp controlled garage if we can help it. Sealing the concrete floors, upgraded lighting, built-in shelving, etc, were great on this and our previous garages. But having a temp controlled G is an absolute must regardless of where you're located imo. Bottom line is that 'having a temp controlled' G and not needing it all that much is far better than not having it when you realize that you need it.

Meanwhile, have fun with your new blank slate!

 

[gtae07]

but unless you're in the South I'd reconsider the temp. control thing.

Even if. Air conditioning is a wonderful thing if you plan to do any significant work out there

 

[tool_scrounge]

Insulate The walls, ceiling and garage doors.

 

[rburke65]

i should have installed my electric boiler closer the the breaker panel! I screwed up.

 

[msharley]

Bigger? (I need a 50'x100'....at least three floors...........)

 

[rayra]

No information about location, might be some weather / climate related stuff like insulation or ventilation that would best be done before stuff is moved into the garage.
Likewise additional outlets, air plumbing etc.
Shelving and bench(es),
Lighting.

 

[quickfarms]

Bigger, taller

I should have built the biggest building the county would have allowed 25 years ago

 

[Mikeske]

The thing is I live in a temperate climate north of Seattle so about the only thing I would have done different is instead of two ten foot vehicle doors I would have done a double door not a big issue just a little annoyance that I have. Now it makes no big difference as I lived with the decision for the last 22 years. I can live with no heat or air conditioning in the shop and I don’t want much as it works great for me.

 

[vavet]

Temp and humidity control is huge.
I moved into my garage three times. My should’ve list was the floor coating and insulation/drywall/mini split,
ive addressed it all now and so happy I did.

 

[nvrenufrm]

Bathroom..my current shop has one, and now I'm spoiled.

 

[f121]

Sort your stuff on the way in, rather than just dumping it in the moving panic. Took me a couple of years to get to moving everything out of the garage onto the drive and sorting it so I could move and find stuff in the garage

 

[Natty Bumppo]

Even if. Air conditioning is a wonderful thing if you plan to do any significant work out there

I always forget about AC as temp. control in warmer areas. In my neck of the woods AC is unheard of in homes or garages.

So yes...insulate and add temp. control no matter where the OP is.

 

[slow]

I would do the floors now, if you ever plan on doing that. My neighbor just did his floor before he moved in, and it looks great.

If I was going to move in again, I would buy good shelving and storage containers, vs just using the stuff I have salvaged. Think about how you want to use wall storage and if you want to finish the walls. I would add several receptacles, and lighting. I would also do a switched set of outlets so I can plug in my powertools to charge but turn off the whole set of outlets easily. Determine if you want a pressure washer setup for washing cars and plumb if you do. (not very common, but it is a cool idea for some) If I was going to re-do my garage now, I would put in 1 airline so my compressor can be in the back right corner, but I want air at the front left near the workbench.

 

[tez929rr]

Our home has a two car semi-detached garage (I think that’s what you call it - only a breezeway between the garage and house). Proper lighting, as you said, was critical and I had built in shelving for a while. Now everything is on wheels and moveable and I’m a lot happier with it. We also have a 40 by 60 steel building; more of the things in there are stationary but for the most part I’ve found that making stuff moveable was the right thing for me.

 

[Jackfre]

As I did not have a firm lay-out of my equipment, benches, etc and wanted to not be limited on where I could plug in I ran outlets at the standard, what is that 16” off the floor, and at 52”. I alternated hi/lo all the way around. it has worked out well. I have 3 doors and a 50 amp plug for the welder or in future electric car at each door. In my 30x30x10 I used four of the Costco led fixtures set four to a quadrant with each quadrant being switched. I also used, was forced to use by code here, the auto shut-off switches. Have to say I like them a lot.

 

[stingry]

I built my 3600 sq ft shop 7 years ago. What would I do differently? Nothing! This is because I planned for 2 years. My point being, plan, plan and then plan some more. Consider everything, car storage, work flow, current and future equipment, personal needs, tool storage, heat and cooling etc.

 

[CoogarXR]

I wish I would have painted. The walls were half-painted by the previous owner (literally, it looks like he ran out of paint mid-roll). I hurriedly moved in, stacking **** everywhere. It's been over 11 years and I have never had the gumption to move everything to paint it, but it bothers me to look at it half-painted. Just an OCD thing.

 

[Masheen365]

I closed in a carport, so had an existing slab and roof. I should have poured an extra slab about 6x6 for a dust collector and air compressor room. Just have a simple shed roof on top of it. Also, since my roof was already supported at the corners with steel posts I decided on 24” OC stud spacing for cost (May 2021). I should have just put in 16” OC walls. It would just make me feel better now. My interior walls are 5/8” plywood so I’m not worried about most stuff, but I like to tie into studs whenever I can. One thing I did do that I would do again, I marked my studs and cripples on my mud sill where I can see it for future reference.

 

[Glemon]

I guess the walls are already up, but I would think about windows and natural light. Opening windows is even better, especially if not fully climate controlled.

 

[niget2002]

Floors, lights, electric, paint

After that... I wish I had done the built-ins that I want to do. Silly me threw up 'temporary' shelves thinking that I'd replace them with real built-ins. That was over 2 years ago. The plan was to throw up the temporary shelves to get everything off the floor to make room for the larger tools so that I could build the new storage.

 

[jetnow1]

I put 2 outlets every 4 feet, using two different circuits, may seem to be overkill but I have used them all, and it means
that I have power available even of something is in front of one. I also put outlets on the lolly columns supporting the second floor., probably the most used outlets I have. I put several led shop lights in each bay, good lighting
is important. Sealed the floor also.

The only regret is not building something to hold the compressor, it gets loud., and not putting in a way to shut off the
attic lights from the house as I have had to go out to the garage to turn them off several times.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Insulation, heated floor, AC.

 

[CJDave]

My garage is 500 sf attached. I had the foresight to have a few extra outlets installed when we built the house. 38 years later we insulated the 2 outside walls and drywalled them. Insulated the garage ceiling. Painted the whole place and installed flooring and cabinets. My regret is not running a circuit for a mini-split system but in 1976 who had heard of such equipment? I never dreamed that I would spend as much time in the garage as I do. Think ahead as the time to do these upgrades is now. CJDave.

 

[Copymutt]

One word BIGGER!

 

[goalieman24]

Thanks for all of the replies!
Location is in the mid-atlantic so we don't really have too many extreme temperatures in either direction. I don't mind the cold and a fan in the summer is usually enough to keep me satisfied. Temperature-controlled sure would be great... it's juts probably a little overkill for my needs/usage and there are many other things I'd rather put that expense towards.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Also need to make a decision on flooring before anything gets moved in.

The best flooring if you want to use it as a "shop" is something that insulates your feet from the concrete, like DriCore. I would not park a car on top of it l

Insulating the walls and installing sheetrock or plywood and a couple of coats of paint will make a big difference. If you are not planning n using the area above the ceiling joists for light storage, install a ceiling and at least 12" of insulation.

 

[markzrt1]