efficient shop/garage help

[MikeA]

I am just finishing a two-car garage (22' x 22')and I should have built a higher ceiling, enough for a lift.

[djunod]

Depends on what you want to do in it.

Just storing toys?

Minor amount of work?

Lots of work?

Body work?

No matter what, a lift is always useful for at least detailing underneath the car, or for double-decker storage. Room for a couple of sofas or old car seats and a refrigerator is always good for a bench racing session with your friends.

[SamLBInj]

[ QUOTE ]
I am just finishing a two-car garage (22' x 22')and I should have built a higher ceiling, enough for a lift.

[/ QUOTE ]
22' is a little tight..no work bench?

[MikeA]

I wanted to build a larger garage but lot size, setback requirements and anything over 500 SF required a grading permit from the town. That permit would have required delineating wetlands and a stream encroachment line. I was not going to do that extra work so I scaled the project down to 484 SF. I plan on having a workbench. All stationary equipment will be along the wall that has the man door. The door opens in creating a three-foot wide "dead" area that could not be used for anything except workbench, compresor, etc.

[camarojoe]

[ QUOTE ]
I wanted to build a larger garage but lot size, setback requirements and anything over 500 SF required a grading permit from the town. That permit would have required delineating wetlands and a stream encroachment line. I was not going to do that extra work so I scaled the project down to 484 SF. I plan on having a workbench. All stationary equipment will be along the wall that has the man door. The door opens in creating a three-foot wide "dead" area that could not be used for anything except workbench, compresor, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am in the middle of an almost identical project... and was limited to size for many of the same reasons you noted... Mine's slightly bigger, at 24x24, but its still smaller than I'd like. It IS nice to not have to worry about inspectors, etc. coming around all the time watching me smack my thumb with a hammer. I also plan to have a workbench on the man door side, which in my case is the back of the garage, opposite of the overhead doors. I put 3/4" plywood inside the trusses and drop down stairs so I can utilize every square inch above me for storing all sorts of junk, wheels, tires, etc. up and out of the way... I hope to have it finished before the snow flies...

[indyjps]

build as big as your lot will allow. it may seem like too much $ now but you'll always wished you added a few more feet. go as high as possible. if you cant do a two story try using a rat wall for height or get creative with the trusses to open up the ceiling area. i currently have a high ceiling that allowed me to build a loft for storage.
garagejunkies.net is a good site to check out.
sketch up your set up prior to wiring for welder, air compressor, parts washer, bench etc. add outlets in the ceiling for pulldown retractable cord reels ( saves tripping on extension cords) think about running air lines around walls or across ceiling for pulldown air lines.
good luck

[budnate]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I wanted to build a larger garage but lot size, setback requirements and anything over 500 SF required a grading permit from the town. That permit would have required delineating wetlands and a stream encroachment line. I was not going to do that extra work so I scaled the project down to 484 SF. I plan on having a workbench. All stationary equipment will be along the wall that has the man door. The door opens in creating a three-foot wide "dead" area that could not be used for anything except workbench, compresor, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am in the middle of an almost identical project... and was limited to size for many of the same reasons you noted... Mine's slightly bigger, at 24x24, but its still smaller than I'd like. It IS nice to not have to worry about inspectors, etc. coming around all the time watching me smack my thumb with a hammer. I also plan to have a workbench on the man door side, which in my case is the back of the garage, opposite of the overhead doors. I put 3/4" plywood inside the trusses and drop down stairs so I can utilize every square inch above me for storing all sorts of junk, wheels, tires, etc. up and out of the way... I hope to have it finished before the snow flies...

[/ QUOTE ]


Joe, dont forget to install a decent electric fan in the attic, this last garage we built I did special trusses to store stuff just like your doing and did not do the fans from the get go, well the first summer I had to pull wire and install them...if you dont want to warp any stuff you need to pull the heat out of there I think I set my stats at 80, keeps things toasty dry but not flaming hot. you will know what I am talking about the first time you have to go up there and root through the boxes looking for something during the summer,PHEW!!



Bud.

[Canucklehead]

When i was building my garage a local shopping mall was being renovated and a buddy of mine was doing the steel work. He phoned me up and asked to bring my trailer down there and he will show me why when i get there. Well i got there and he had scored to wooden support beams the were 22"X10"X22'. Perfect bench tops for our garages. I built some 4x4 supports for them, left room for a 2x4 shelf underneath, covered half the top in sheetmetal and walla!, perefect bench for anything i could throw at it.

[budnate]

another source for benches, old commercial office spaces used solid oak doors or solid doors with a oak veneer on top, they are usually 8 footers, by yea wide trim off about 6 inches long ways and instant HD bench, I have them in my old shop and this one and you can toss stuff around on them and beat things until there broke and hardly a ding on the bench, the crazy part is most buildings have some stored and they just toss them, they say there more work to re install a used door system then a new one, anyway call a few building management places or stop into a highrise by you and you will probably be given all you can haul for free.

stop by home depot on the way home and drop 10 bucks on 2 by 4r's and you have a super strong cheap bench

Bud.

[MikeA]

I am planning an attic fan and a natural gas heater.