What's your garage setup?

[bluelifer]

What do you do in there? Is it basically another room of your house where you can watch sports, play cards and smoke plants, or do you actually do work there? Maybe you even use it to store your vehicles?

Specs: Basic 2 car, power doors, about 600 sq ft. Concrete slab floor and unfinished drywall

Upgrades:
-Lighting from 2 single bulb light fixtures to six 4' fluorescents.
-18' stationary work bench/miter station with cabinets above and below, along with 2 other mobile work benches.
-Still lots of storage projects to complete, as we've only been there for about a year.
-Also plan to redo/relocate most of the power outlets this winter.

Uses:
-Mainly woodworking. Everything is currently covered in sawdust, and it will likely never house a vehicle while I live there.

 

[VT/UK Rondo]

Part mancave with sofa, recliner, tv, playstation, fridge, card table and fishing tackle lining the wall like a sporting goods store and part workshop with some power tools, deep freeze, stack of boards and shelving for storage. Had to put the wifes tanning bed out there too (too damn heavy to carry upstairs).

 

[TheTruCatsFan]

Like the rest of my life, I get half of the garage to do with as I please. Just this year I've bought a Kobalt work bench, Kobalt cabinet systems and tool chests, all from Lowes. I finally have all of my tools and hardware organized for the first time in my life and I love it.

 

[cawoodsct]

Wife's car, my mountain bike, terrible towel, and a bunch of etc...

 

[jtrue28]

2 car garage....2 cars.

 

[bluelifer]

Like the rest of my life, I get half of the garage to do with as I please. Just this year I've bought a Kobalt work bench, Kobalt cabinet systems and tool chests, all from Lowes. I finally have all of my tools and hardware organized for the first time in my life and I love it.

It's a good feeling when every tool you have is accounted for and easily accessible.

I've given my wife free reign over everything inside the house except my recliner, in exchange for freedom to do what I wish with every square inch of the garage.

 

[KyCatFan_rivals45723]

Wish I had a garage. Cars are stuck outside in the weather and tools are scattered all over the place making it virtually impossible to find what I need. Was going to at least build a nice shed/workshop but ran into issues with my back and had to hold off for now.

 

[bluelifer]

Part mancave with sofa, recliner, tv, playstation, fridge, card table and fishing tackle lining the wall like a sporting goods store and part workshop with some power tools, deep freeze, stack of boards and shelving for storage. Had to put the wifes tanning bed out there too (too damn heavy to carry upstairs).

Buddy of mine has a similar setup. Minus the tanning bed and plus a Triton. It's a nice combo of sports bar/Cabela's.

 

[BBdK]

1100 sq ft detached + bathroom & attic.

2 cars, a boat, and enough junk to fill our 1600 sq foot house several times with room for about 400% more.

...basically the biggest obstacle of moving. A big garage = most overrated thing ever.

Awful.

Next house = give me a garage that's big enough for 2 cars and absolutely nothing else unless it's on a hook.

 

[jwheat]

Nice gb with all the required workings

 

[Bodvar Bjarki]

The proper finished basement mancave winners look down on the garage pseudo mancave wannabes.

 

[akers65]

Truck, boat, 3 four wheelers, three riding mowers, motorcycle and two bicycles. Plus air compressor and tools, furnace and more tools. Also a ton of junk
Yes it's full

 

[warrior-cat]

Garage has wife's car, extra frig, deep freezer x 2 tornado shelter, a few more shelves, hot water heater and water softener. Extra shop (40 X 36) has more than can be listed here including Dojo and work out equipment with enough room to park truck.

 

[Tinker Dan]

GIGGITY!!!!

Just sold my house and garage/workshop. Not to brag tooooo much but my "garage" is/was legendary in Augusta and surrounding areas.

I spent a lot of time designing and creating this baby.

24x32 with x 6/12 pitch and 2 x 6 rafters and floored out. That way you could walk in the attic and store stuff. Fully lighted attic

200 amp service and 20 amp plugs throughout. Augusta is in the flood zone so all of the plugs just above the 4 foot level. flood comes unscrew the bottom plywood (laid sideways) and replace.

14 foot 2 x 12 workbench across the back.
Metal shelving
Fridge
Heat
Fans throughout
High intensity lighting everywhere
8 foot built in mitre box and table
table saw
lathe
drill press
too many damned power tools
tool box
Air compressor system
Pingpong table
etc...

oh yeah

I rebuilt a HD projector from work and added a 102 in screen. I forgot to mention I owned a small sound company at one time. The Sound system in that thing would blow the windows out if I got froggy (to old for that stuff) but watching UK basketball with up to 40 friends at tourney time was awesome. Movies.....

oh yeah, the way I built it and the storage I could still get two cars in if need be.

Hated to sell it. But the next one will be better.

Looking at a Hammer European Multi Machine and a separate section of workshop for Utilities, dust collection, compressor, lawn gear, deer cleaning setup....


My soon to be ex wife thought I would NEVER leave that place.

But for the 2700 in flood insurance every year I can by a nice piece of property and put a one to two acre pond, a little house built for an old fat guy and a damned nice workshop on it.

Sorry. Outside of my awesome ex wife (yes she is the best person I ever met) and the worlds best daughter. My shop was the one damn thing I got right.

 

[KentuckyStout]

Right now my garage is mostly full of orange Nike boxes, I kid you not.
Let's see, I got Nike Hypervenom, Air Monarchs, Downshifter, Revolution, Air Max 90 Essential.
A bunch of Sperry Top-Siders in echo blue, some weird looking Asics running shoes...etc.

Anybody wanna buy some shoes, cause I sure would like to park in my garage again.

 

[akers65]

Right now my garage is mostly full of orange Nike boxes, I kid you not.
Let's see, I got Nike Hypervenom, Air Monarchs, Downshifter, Revolution, Air Max 90 Essential.
A bunch of Sperry Top-Siders in echo blue, some weird looking Asics running shoes...etc.

Anybody wanna buy some shoes, cause I sure would like to park in my garage again.

Al Bundy? is that you

 

[UKGrad93]

2 cars, 2 tool chests, Lawn mower, snow blower, 3 bikes, deep freeze, shelving with paint, car cleaning supplies, bug spray, rakes, shovels, air compressor, pressure washer, etc...

Neighborhood covenants do not allow a shed in the yard.

 

[KentuckyStout]

Al Bundy? is that you

I served my country, I played high school football!

 

[DaBossIsBack]

Boxes and stuff I need to get rid of every where. If i doesn't have a place it goes in the garage.

 

[bluelifer]

GIGGITY!!!!

Just sold my house and garage/workshop. Not to brag tooooo much but my "garage" is/was legendary in Augusta and surrounding areas.

I spent a lot of time designing and creating this baby.

24x32 with x 6/12 pitch and 2 x 6 rafters and floored out. That way you could walk in the attic and store stuff. Fully lighted attic

200 amp service and 20 amp plugs throughout. Augusta is in the flood zone so all of the plugs just above the 4 foot level. flood comes unscrew the bottom plywood (laid sideways) and replace.

14 foot 2 x 12 workbench across the back.
Metal shelving
Fridge
Heat
Fans throughout
High intensity lighting everywhere
8 foot built in mitre box and table
table saw
lathe
drill press
too many damned power tools
tool box
Air compressor system
Pingpong table
etc...

oh yeah

I rebuilt a HD projector from work and added a 102 in screen. I forgot to mention I owned a small sound company at one time. The Sound system in that thing would blow the windows out if I got froggy (to old for that stuff) but watching UK basketball with up to 40 friends at tourney time was awesome. Movies.....

oh yeah, the way I built it and the storage I could still get two cars in if need be.

Hated to sell it. But the next one will be better.

Looking at a Hammer European Multi Machine and a separate section of workshop for Utilities, dust collection, compressor, lawn gear, deer cleaning setup....


My soon to be ex wife thought I would NEVER leave that place.

But for the 2700 in flood insurance every year I can by a nice piece of property and put a one to two acre pond, a little house built for an old fat guy and a damned nice workshop on it.

Sorry. Outside of my awesome ex wife (yes she is the best person I ever met) and the worlds best daughter. My shop was the one damn thing I got right.

Nice.

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a good used lathe and joiner. Dust collection would be nice as well, but that likely won't happen until I build my own shop. Speaking of which, I'm thinking a main work room, a seperate lounge/man cave room, and possibly a wood storage room. I'm also thinking a few hundred square feet of covered outdoor area as well.

 

[bluelifer]

1100 sq ft detached + bathroom & attic.

2 cars, a boat, and enough junk to fill our 1600 sq foot house several times with room for about 400% more.

...basically the biggest obstacle of moving. A big garage = most overrated thing ever.

Awful.

Next house = give me a garage that's big enough for 2 cars and absolutely nothing else unless it's on a hook.

I'm the opposite. Next house will be smaller and likely have a detached shop that's twice the size of the house. I'm also a backwoods hillbilly though, so there's that.

 

[Tinker Dan]

Nice.

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a good used lathe and joiner. Dust collection would be nice as well, but that likely won't happen until I build my own shop. Speaking of which, I'm thinking a main work room, a seperate lounge/man cave room, and possibly a wood storage room. I'm also thinking a few hundred square feet of covered outdoor area as well.

Mine is actually a mid size Jet. I got in to pen crafting years ago and really liked it.

I pretty much suck at wood working. Have made several things. But could not make a living, very few actually can in the Walmart world we live in.

But I truly enjoy working in my shop.

Your mention of the smaller house, bigger shop is exactly where I am headed

 

[bluelifer]

I don't know that I could ever make a living at it, but I feel like it could be decent supplemental income. I'm actually in the furniture business already, so that helps. Would love nothing more than if my only interaction with the general public was dropping a custom table off at their door and collecting a check. Not sure that's feasable though.

 

[Kaizer Sosay]

Main Floor: Two car garage w/ walkout door and 6' walkway...two vehicles, 4 bicycles, one fridge, shelves, and a walkout door.

Basement: One car garage that is 28' deep...JD tractor, work benches, tools, fridge, boxes and stuff. This garage has a door that leads to the mancave...which is in the living space of the finished basement...where it belongs.

 

[ukalum01]

Kind of a weirdo about keeping my garage clean. Clean the floor and make sure there's no excess stuff in there about once each month.

Right now there are 2 cars, a bike and a Shop-Vac in the garage.

 

[akers65]

My garage is 30% larger than my house, unattached but close enough to run hot water from house to the shop. Less than a gallon draw off before it's hot. Insulated pipes stop heat loss in cold ground. Best thing in the shop, I'll never have another without hot water.

 

[Chuckinden]

Just bought another house that has 3 1/2 bay garage and is 42x24. Haven't moved in yet, but will get it set up this winter. I'm thinking of getting a car lift for one bay.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

Girlfriend's car, extra refrigerator, lawn tractor, snow blower, 6 bicycles, 8 kayaks, and lots of assorted hand tools, lawn maintenance equipment and miscellany.

 

[crazyqx83_rivals88013]

No garage.

Just 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1 living room, 1 kitchen, 1 dining room. Nowhere to escape the estrogen.

 

[Ron Mehico]

2 car garage with enough room for 2 cars and a push mower, weed wacker, some tools, and a box we put our shoes in. Just bought the place 6 months ago, first time I've had a garage - what an amazing blessing with the winter approaching. One of my favorite features of being a homeowner. Didn't realize how amazingly inconvenient it is living in an apartment and having to walk outside and scrape ice off the car, worry about carrying groceries when its raining, forgetting something in your car and having to get dressed and run out and get it right before you're about to go to bed, etc. etc.

 

[backbeatcat_rivals376595]

The proper finished basement mancave winners look down on the garage pseudo mancave wannabes.

This. A finished basement should simply double the price of a house.

500 Sq ft (?) Garage with two cars...keeping my street and driveway clear. Room for bikes on the wall and power tools mounted on hooks. A big rolling tool chest for mechanical tools and a rack for yard tools. A shelf unit for oil cans, chargers and car wash products (junk and stuff too).

Man-cave is underground and the most perfect room in life.

 

[AustinTXCat]

2 carports and a 240 sq/ft detached garage.

 

[Bodvar Bjarki]

GIGGITY!!!!

Just sold my house and garage/workshop. Not to brag tooooo much but my "garage" is/was legendary in Augusta and surrounding areas.

I spent a lot of time designing and creating this baby.

24x32 with x 6/12 pitch and 2 x 6 rafters and floored out. That way you could walk in the attic and store stuff. Fully lighted attic

200 amp service and 20 amp plugs throughout. Augusta is in the flood zone so all of the plugs just above the 4 foot level. flood comes unscrew the bottom plywood (laid sideways) and replace.

14 foot 2 x 12 workbench across the back.
Metal shelving
Fridge
Heat
Fans throughout
High intensity lighting everywhere
8 foot built in mitre box and table
table saw
lathe
drill press
too many damned power tools
tool box
Air compressor system
Pingpong table
etc...

oh yeah

I rebuilt a HD projector from work and added a 102 in screen. I forgot to mention I owned a small sound company at one time. The Sound system in that thing would blow the windows out if I got froggy (to old for that stuff) but watching UK basketball with up to 40 friends at tourney time was awesome. Movies.....

oh yeah, the way I built it and the storage I could still get two cars in if need be.

Hated to sell it. But the next one will be better.

Looking at a Hammer European Multi Machine and a separate section of workshop for Utilities, dust collection, compressor, lawn gear, deer cleaning setup....


My soon to be ex wife thought I would NEVER leave that place.

But for the 2700 in flood insurance every year I can by a nice piece of property and put a one to two acre pond, a little house built for an old fat guy and a damned nice workshop on it.

Sorry. Outside of my awesome ex wife (yes she is the best person I ever met) and the worlds best daughter. My shop was the one damn thing I got right.

The "fans throughout" part pretty much seals the deal. You just can't find that anymore. Fans. Who would have thought?

 

[Boydcat]

I have a 30 by 40 unattached garage that is full .I keep my landscaping equipment in it in the summer so I can keep up maintenance on it.I usually have two zero turns,a tractor and various other things in it.When winter comes I put my 71 chevelle and 63 nova in it.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

2+ car garage. We (wife & I) actually both park in it. It has steps up into the house, and enough room for my lawnmower if I wanted to park it in there.
But the best part is it has a 16' ceiling. So I detached the stairs, built a landing at the top of them, reattached the stairs, and then added 2 steps up from the side of the landing where I then built a loft. Loft has 2 parts, 1) a 22'x11' section for my (wood) workshop with a 7'6 ceiling, and a 22'x11' section for storage with a 6'2 ceiling (this part is raised to put the floor over the garage door tracks).

 

[backbeatcat_rivals376595]

2+ car garage. We (wife & I) actually both park in it. It has steps up into the house, and enough room for my lawnmower if I wanted to park it in there.
But the best part is it has a 16' ceiling. So I detached the stairs, built a landing at the top of them, reattached the stairs, and then added 2 steps up from the side of the landing where I then built a loft. Loft has 2 parts, 1) a 22'x11' section for my (wood) workshop with a 7'6 ceiling, and a 22'x11' section for storage with a 6'2 ceiling (this part is raised to put the floor over the garage door tracks).

Umm...that's cool. My garage is almost identical in that it is high ceiling with the steps into the house etc... I could sure use the storage. Do you have a diagram of what you did? I might want to take a swing at something like that.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

Umm...that's cool. My garage is almost identical in that it is high ceiling with the steps into the house etc... I could sure use the storage. Do you have a diagram of what you did? I might want to take a swing at something like that.

I have the actual plans at home. I drew out detailed plans, then sent to an engineer (friend of a friend), he made a couple of minor tweaks and told me how big the main beam needed to be. Not sure how to paste files on here though, so maybe I can describe it.
It's basically a rectangle taking up the right 80% of the garage floor. I cut a hole in the concrete floor and put an anchored 6x6 post in halfway between the front & back walls where the left edge of the loft is. I then have an 18" tall 6" wide 22' long laminated beam (actually three 2" thick ones nailed together) sitting on that post going to the right wall (with a bunch of 2x4's are holding that end up. That makes the joist spans only 11'. So I then screwed a ledger board into the house frame along the back wall and put joists every 16" from the ledger board to the side of the laminanted beam (joist hangers). I basically did the same going from the other side of the laminated beam to the front wall, except those joists sit atop the laminated beam to get over the garage door tracks & opener. The engineer had me do a few extra doubled-joists to avoid having additonal load bearing weight above the garage doors (hard to describe).

Post your email address & I can send you the actual plans. But I understand if you don't want that posted on here.

 

[Tinker Dan]

The "fans throughout" part pretty much seals the deal. You just can't find that anymore. Fans. Who would have thought?

Adoring fans are hard to come by

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Just bought another house that has 3 1/2 bay garage and is 42x24. Haven't moved in yet, but will get it set up this winter. I'm thinking of getting a car lift for one bay.

I like the cut of your jib.

Have the same situation, 3 car garage. Built new construction couple years ago, kinda wish I had thought about the dimensions being a bit bigger but oh well.

Plan on having a lift in one bay in a few years or so. Right now have 2 cars inside and my truck outside, would like to be able to have 4 inside to satisfy the car hunger.

 

[Chuckinden]

I like the cut of your jib.

Have the same situation, 3 car garage. Built new construction couple years ago, kinda wish I had thought about the dimensions being a bit bigger but oh well.

Plan on having a lift in one bay in a few years or so. Right now have 2 cars inside and my truck outside, would like to be able to have 4 inside to satisfy the car hunger.

If you get a lift, you can put one on top of the lift and one underneath.