wish I would have....

[BTC]

I had a house built within the last couple of years. I actually moved in on 10/01/2011. Had I thought about it, I might have asked for more electrical outlets and more lighting. I have a three car garage and I have one outlet on the left and right side of the garage, and two outlets in the ceiling, for a total of four. It's not a shop, so it may not be a big deal.

I've also got three 8 foot T8 strips, with four 4 foot bulbs in each fixture. It lights it up pretty good, but I don't know if you can ever have too much light.

Is it difficult, or expensive, to add lighting and outlets.

 

[12valve]

I wish I had...
MORE TIME to spend in the garage
MORE MONEY to spend in the garage
Built my garage when I was younger.

I bought a used steel building off of craigslist. It had 12 ' eves. I put it up on a 2 foot stem wall to make it 14' at the eves and re framed the door openings so I could get a 14' door to get my semi in there. I had about 75 percent of the metal sheeting on when the I wish I had bug bit me. I love the stem wall, but to do it again I would have split the building down the center and widened it. I would have ordered a metal building frame that was taller. Then put it in the middle. turning the old building halves into leanto's. The new frame would have had the 14' door openings framed in it and I could have saved the cost of the stem walls and had more square footage.

For those of you who wanted more outlets. Milspec has some awesome industrial grade extension cords that are 30' long and have an outlet every 5ft. I love these cords because I only have temporary power out to my building right now. Just zip tied these cords to the wall for now.

My belief is go as big as you can. Make them tall for car lifts and put a loft in there for storage or a place to hide away from everyone else. Plumb through the slab for a bathroom. Wire it for the internet. Insulate it. Interior sheeting to protect the insulation.

I also plan to add a 220 plug for the welder right on the post for my carlift. Why not while you are wiring the lift. I also agree to add 220 outlets near the doors or on the outside if you need to weld on something outside.

Fill with tools and cool projects......then enjoy

 

[Randy in Maine]

I wish I had 12' 6" ceilings (instead of just 12') and put in a couple of those "pull pots" for winching cars into the shop.

I am happy with everything else.

 

[Squeeker]

I wish I had given more thought to the layout outside my shop.
Specifically, the drive way and parking area in front of it. My gravel drive to the shop is too narrow which forces me to turn into the grass if I need to maneuver. I should have made it wider. I still can, but wish I had done it then.

 

[drps10]

Great ideas! !!!

Why is everyone wanting/wishing they did knee wall??? I just don't see it.

Anyone have pictures??

 

[Mustangmike66]

One thing I did and really like is FRP the first 4' all the way around. It looks sweet and will keep the walls from getting dinged up. Easy to clean as well. In my 30x40 it was just a little over $400. Good investment.