[2781]

Well after all the talk about not having a garage, we took the first step.

I just found out today that my mortgage refinancing has been approved. Lowered our interest rate to 4.9%, with a 1.9% for 6 months promo, and we are taking out an extra $60,000 for some pretty major home impovements.

New roof, new siding, new windows, and most of all - A new garage. Not just any garage, my garage. Built my way, to fit my stuff, and my tools, and half a dozen zuks!

I have way too many unfinished projects as it is, so this time everything will be contracted out. I want to have a very active roll in design, but I want absolutely no part of the construction.

 

[Sarge]

Congrats , just what we all need . I think I'm gonna have to get at least 2 winning Lottery tickets to build mine .
Sarge

 

[freebird01]

thats cool man!!! im glad to hear you got a mortgage rate as good as mine!!

so tell me..what size garage are you lookin at?

 

[13337]

If you can swing it , get heated floors ... you will love it especially in the cold winters you have up there . My ex had heated floors in her garage in Pa .... man I miss that garage ! lol

Congrats on building your garage ... I wish I was ready to start mine ...

 

[Scott_CJ8]

Thats great! If you have any $$ left over, send it my way.

I really need a good garage. I have a 1-car shed with gravel floor. We just started remodelling our kitchen.... man, for what I'm spending on that project, I could have a fantastic garage!

Gotta keep the wife happy. (if Momma ain't happy ... ain't nobody happy!)
Oh well, maybe next year....

 

[2781]

In reply to:

so tell me..what size garage are you lookin at?

[/ QUOTE ]

Huge. As big as possible. I really want to set this up right. I have plenty of room on that side of the house, so that won't be an issue. So far my wish list includes...

1. Small bathroom in the corner (drives the wife nuts when I run into the house all covered in grease to take a leak)

2. At least two 220v outlets, for the welder etc

3. Some type of exhaust fan set up, for welding, paint spraying, etc

4. Plenty of shelving and racks for equipment, tools, & parts

5. Large compressor, with airlines run around the garage

6. Extra tall garage doors

7. Heated floors would definately be nice. Only once have I wrenched on a heated floor, and I agree, it's very, very nice!

Anything else I should consider?

Has anyone else built a dream garage, then 6 months down the road though "I wish I would have..."?

 

[1918]

In reply to:

Anything else I should consider?

Has anyone else built a dream garage, then 6 months down the road though "I wish I would have..."?

[/ QUOTE ]
Sounds like you have it all pretty much figured out. The only things I would add is a good floor drain (grid type) to capture all the water and slush during winter months, and if you're installing an exhaust system make sure you allow for a motorized fresh-air intake duct to bring in outside air when it's in use. This is especially important if you will be using gas heat in the shop. You don't want the exhaust fan to create a negative pressure in the shop and have the furnace or boiler fumes coming back down the flue.

And I can't stress enough as the others stated - get radiant floor heat if you can swing it. It's the only way to go.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[2781]

Good call on the drain. That's definately something to add.

With the exhaust fan set up, should I just put a larger intake fan on one side of the shop, then a smaller exhaust fan on the other?

I'm also considering dividing the garage in half, keeping the side closest to the house for the wife to park her vehicle in the winter, then the other side as a shop (filled with "boy dirt", as the wife so affectionally calls it)

Dividing the shop would make it easier to vent for painting, welding etc. It would also keep the "boy dirt" away from the wife's vehicle, and out of the house. Also having an additional wall between the shop and the house would keep the noise down : grinding, banging, occasional profanity (#@$& brake drum!)

 

[593]

depending on your local laws and regulations you could have the garage floor slanted towards the floor drain so you can wash your cars at home in the winter.

this would also be nice if you are planning on painting cars too. shops create a ton of dust and crap which must be removed from the painting area and it would be really simple to just hose it all out.

i have a friend that also has cold A/C in his garage to get him through the huge 3 whole months of summer here. personally i have a natural gas furnace in my garage but can't use it except for emergency repairs in the dead of winter because my garage is not insulated and costs a lot to run.

make sure you get a small fridge, water cooler, and cheap microwave too. you could even buy an old bomber stove and use the oven to do your own powder coating.

 

[2781]

In reply to:

small fridge, water cooler, and cheap microwave

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a mini fridge, and I really like the idea of a water cooler, especially for the summer months. Finding a microwave shouldn't be tough.

I can live without the AC. Heat doesn't bother me at all, cold does. Worst case senario, I could put a window air conditioner in.

Still not sure what to do about heat. I want a completely seperate system, not tied to the house system, but I want something effecient and safe enough to run all winter. It would be nice to keep the temp at 50 degrees all winter, and at 65 when I'm out there wrenching.

 

[1918]

In reply to:

With the exhaust fan set up, should I just put a larger intake fan on one side of the shop, then a smaller exhaust fan on the other?

[/ QUOTE ]
No need for two fans JerseyZuks. Just get one for welding and such, and have it interlocked with the motorized damper on the fresh-air intake duct. When the fan turns on the it will interact with the damper and allow fresh air into your shop. This is important for building pressure, especially if the fan is going to move a lot of air.

Think of it this way: Suck on a paper bag and it collapses because there is too much negative pressure. Now punch a hole on the other side of the bag and it stays stable. Not that the shop will collapse, but the fan will starve for air and will try to draw it from wherever it can. It won't work as efficiently as it should, and if you have gas heat it will draw the air down from the furnace or boiler flue since this is likely the path of least resistance between your shop and the outdoors, unless of course you have a door or window open.

The fresh-air intake is not manditory as long as you remember to always open a door or window. But if you want to do it right..........

 

[2332]

Additions:
1. High enough ceilings so you can put a lift in. After finishing a friends, we found a used one for $600 but had to pass because the ceiling was to low.

2. Commercial roll-up doors or barn door style. Standard overhead doors get in the way.

3. A LARGE wife's only storage area. No matter what is said, once it's finished there will be a ton of stuff that "should be out in the garage".

4. A "down draft" type vent system. Pretty easy and cheap to do before the floor is poured, forget it afterward. Can't beat it for keeping the work area fume free.

5. Figure out how many 110 volt outlets and circuits you need and then double it.

6. Large stainless steel sink(s), and a stackable washer/dryer for shop clothes and rags.

 

[855]

I dunno if this feasible but what about a seperate hot water tank and sink in the garage. It sucks washing grease off your hands with cold water. Also I had a friend who ran alot of his hot water pipes right near the surface of his floors. They actually kept the floors fairly warm, even when it was snowing out.

Either way I envy you. I am just about ready to throw all my inlaws crap out onto the lawn, get the dog a kennel, and reclaim my garage. Dude and a lift would be so sweet!

 

[2781]

Ok, so far we have

1. Small bathroom

2. At least two 220v outlets, for the welder etc, and plenty of 110v outlets

3. Some type of exhaust fan set up, for welding, paint spraying, etc (need to really research this one...)

4. Plenty of shelving and racks for equipment, tools, & parts

5. Large compressor, with airlines run around the garage

6. Extra tall garage doors (need something large, that won't be in the way, but must look nice since it will be on the front of the house)

7. Heated floors

8. Tall ceilings

9. "His" and "hers" areas. Obviously I've given quite a bit of though to the "his" side, but time to start thinking about the "hers" side as well.

10. Washer and Dryer in the garage for rags and shop clothes.

11. Shop refreshments (water cooler, mini fridge, microwave)

 

[2781]

In reply to:

I dunno if this feasible but what about a seperate hot water tank and sink in the garage. It sucks washing grease off your hands with cold water.

[/ QUOTE ]

Luckily, the garage will share a wall with an existing bathroom, and the hot water will be easily accessable.

 

[855]

What about a cold keg set-up, tsp coming out of the wall and all!

 

[2781]

In reply to:

What about a cold keg set-up, tsp coming out of the wall and all!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sure I would get a lot more volunteers that way!

 

[1618]

room for a bender, ( long pieces of tubing need room to swing when being bent) and in front of one bay door a few holes in the floor to mount a plates to winch vehicles in from....

mebbe an overhead hoist from the main beam, beats an engine hoist and makes 5 ton axle movin easy

 

[Sarge]

Uh, lighting ? Do yourself a favor and recess them into the ceiling so they don't get in the way or full of dust . 200 amp electrical service . Good heavy wire and 20 amp outlets only instead of cheap 15 amp units . Chop saws and similar tools draw 15 amps ,some even more . 12 guage wire on the 110 stuff to support the 20 amp circuits . Make sure one outside wall is reinforced enough to support a heavy bench and vise . A few pipe tabs with stabilizer plates in the concrete floor would be a good idea , helpful for straightening stuff and tie downs for other tools/benches . Make them out of good heavy 1/4" wall galvanized tube welded to a plate on the bottom so they don't pull out . Caps can be added later with a heavy chain welded to both peices . If you do a floor drain it would be a very good idea to have an oil trap in it , just a large square tank similar to a septic system to keep oil from going into the municpal system or enviroment . Use as much insulation and wall thickness as you can afford , much cheaper to pay for it now than heating bills later . If you are going to put any piping in the concrete use larger runs of pvc in case a pipe freezes or needs to be upgraded later . An extra pipe or two is nice for pulling wires, ect later . Conduit isn't a bad idea either , but is an added cost . Also, the biggest concern I see with your plan is to attach this thing to the house . I'd be making a call to your insurance agent to see what they will do with your home policy on this first .
Sarge

 

[4320]

It really looked wierd. A guy I dnoe some work for had 110 outlets about every 10 feet around the shop. BUT, it was nice no tto have to chase an extension cord just to use an electrical hand tool