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Let's Design Mickey' Garage

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What was wrong with this one?

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:devilgrin::jester::devilgrin::jester:
 
Lots of good ideas already. When we did ours, I had the electrician install switched electrical outlets in the ceiling for overhead lights - that has worked well.

We also have heat, which might not be a concern where you are but is needed here.

My wife insisted on a sink for her artwork and gardening. We both use it constantly & I wouldn't design a new garage without providing for water.

My only regret is not installing more windows. I know the security issues but there are ways to block the views in when you're gone. In our case the house alarm system is tied to the garage anyway.

Exciting project!
 
Gliderman8 said:
Are those windows in your garage doors?
From a security stand point I might not have them.... OK, I realize that's just me; don't want anyone peering in, but of course they do let light in.....
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Adding the windows was far and away the best thing I've done for my garage. I wouldn't dream of having a garage door without them ever again.

Every door company has the option of privacy glass that lets light in without showing detail. Ours has a simple pebble texture that works OK. If you want something more stylish and your door company doesn't have options you can go with flat glass and apply a film.


pc
 
Several good ideas already said. I'd go with 2x220V plugs (compressor/welder) or have the compressor outside and wired directly into the breaker box. Also, if you are doing serious rebuilds without a lift, consideration for a beam mounted overhead chain hoist for moving engines and other heavy parts. The other piece to consider if you plan on any woodworking; dust collection system.

Don
 
DART said:
Mickey- If we come to the Blount British Car show, do we get a tour of the site??
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Absolutely! I was planning on announcing a BCF get-together there; just have to work out the details about when I'll be there. Will have to leave on Saturday afternoon/evening to get back to Clarksville for Sunday morning stuff.
 
Some great ideas here so far - keep 'em coming!

And Rick - Minnie insisted that the new garage blend in with the house we're building!
 
Regarding water, some dreams I have for an ideal garage:

sink - just because.

full bath with shower - so I can stay in the garage indefinitely, also to get cleaned up after car repairs, yard work, mountain biking, whatever, without tracking grime through the house.

washer and drier hookups - keeps the garage laundry (shop towels, polishing cloths, car covers, drop cloths, etc) separate from household laundry.

Water and drain run to an outside wall - for an outdoor potting bench.

hookups for a water treatment - high capacity multistage RO/DI water filter system to generate spot-free water for car washing. also good for filling radiators and mixing aqueous chemical solutions. (with RO purge flow routed to the garden.)
 
Mine is 36X28 also. Double door and single with side entrance and rear escape. Have had 7 cars inside. One side wall full of toolboxes and manual bookcase. Back wall has a 15 ft workbench and a 6 ft metal cabinet with five above counter metal cabinets and bead blast cabinet. Other side wall has 10 ft tall, 2 ft deep, 28ft long parts shelves. Have multiple outlets on walls and 220 for compressor, etc. Ceiling is 10ft6in and has 12 double 8' flourescents (which help keep garage warm in winter). Doors are insulated steel and walls are fully insulated and electric is exposed conduit for changing circuits and keeping walls full of insulation. Built 1993, now actually need bigger with second story.
 
Something tells me Mickey and Janet will have one of the Great Garages of the World! But this will be all they can afford to live in -

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I always thought if I built a garage that I would put electric heat in the concrete on one bay. Just to not have to lay on the cold concrete. You would only run it when you actualy needed to lay on your back on it.
 
Thanks, George - I'm looking into doing that. Since the garage will be insulated, it should actually have some radiant heat effect as well. Depends on the cost, of course.
 
Mickey Richaud said:
Thanks, George - I'm looking into doing that. Since the garage will be insulated, it should actually have some radiant heat effect as well. Depends on the cost, of course.
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I know a fellow here who has radiant heat - he actually divided it into 2 zones - one under the car and the other in front of the workbench. As an aside, we just put it in a bathroom and love it!
 
It is going in our bathroom, but that's not much in the way of sq. ft. Doing the garage floor may end up costing too much for the amount of time I'll be spending in there in the dead of winter!
 
Mickey - unless you've got friends with the TVA, be sure to consider the operating cost of heating that big space with radiant from concrete that starts off cold. If you'd only need the heat when lying on the floor, maybe a good ol' electric blanket would do the same, for much less cost.
 
It will take a good amount of time and energy to heat a cold slab of concrete. Radiant heat in floors and slabs are more for maintained temp applications like your bathroom. I installed it in my daughter and son in laws bath. They moved and now want it in the house they recently moved into.
 
Did not have the radiant capability when I built mine. Keep heated with space heaters to 50deg in winter. Costly, couldn't tell as this winter was especially cold. But insulated walls and doors helped keep heaters from running 24/7. You can always turn down heat in house to offset the garage:glee:.
 
Hadn't thought of that, but as the garage will be detached, I'd imagine it would need its own heat source. Again, cost effectiveness will be a big factor, and I won't be spending too much time in there in the winter.
 
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