Finishing Garage

[jam92102]

Hi Everybody!  I searched but I couldn't find any threads on this.  I'm finishing my garage so I'll eventually have somewhere to build my cabinet!   I'm insulating,drywalling,running electrical, building workbench's etc.  Any body ever do this?  If so any suggestions on things I might want to put up that you thought about after it was too late.  Any pics of your project garages?  Any suggestions would be helpful.  Thanks!

[Thenasty]

just a suggestion after your done.....How about a BBQ at your place and Video Games set for FREE Credits ? I hope your close by. Oh! dont' forget the garage door remote control.
 

[Shape D.]

electrical outlets on the ceiling.

[DrewKaree]

Dude, since you are putting in electrical, put up WAY more outlets than you find to be reasonable.  You'll thank yourself later when you have access to electrical that you thought to run.

Have an outlet about every 2 feet....and like shape sez, add some to the ceiling.  Three or four of 'em.

SKIP THE DRYWALLING ON ONE WALL OR ALL OF 'EM!

Check out "The Family Handyman" magazine, December/January 2005 issue on wall covering/setup suggestions.  My scanner doesn't work, or else I'd scan and e-mail the article to you.....find it at your local library, perhaps, or I linked the mag name for you.

*edit*
http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/article.do?siteId=1111&categoryId=6002&contentId=585

There's the article.

[Crazy Cooter]

Run them on 20 amp circuits too.  I'd have one circuit for the ceiling, one for the workbench area, and a third for the walls.

Make your benches modular.  It'll be easier to move them.  Build them to fit rubbermaid bins underneatch and cheap wheeled carts.  I have a "metric" cart, "american" cart and an empty cart.  I can stack two bins high underneath and slide them 2 stacks deep.  I made it deep enough to put those "stacks of drawers" things against the peg board and still have room to work.  Then I raided the garbage of a store that was closing and scored a bunch of shelving pieces that fit in the pegboard.  A pair of heavy sidecutters and some JB Weld(tm) will get you any hanger you need.  Make yourself a paper towel rack for sure.

If it gets cold (even if you're heating the place) use the cold start lights.  Don't forget an internet connection and a cable TV line.

[DrewKaree]

A heater, depending on where you're at.  When you fire up your in-wall heater when you're working out there one cold winter night, you'll appreciate it.

[Paul Olson]

I'm starting one of these progects too.  My garage is only a 1 car, and my car has to be parked in there when I'm not using the shop.  I agree with the suggestions about many electrical outlets.  I am going to go every 3 feet, plus 6 in the ceiling.  I am going to put all the lights on seperate switches, no need to pay to run all of them if I only need one.  If you don't absolutely need the insulation, I would leave out the drywall.  If your shop is on the small side, the extra square footage inside the studs could help.  I saw an article in a magazine (I think shopnotes), about shelves that fit between the studs.  At least in my cramped shop, the 4-6 inch space savings should make a difference.  A heater would definately be nice, the cold is keeping me in the house instead of out in the garage right now. 

Don't skimp on the shop vac.  It will probably be used more than anything else in your shop.

Paul

[jam92102]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.  Excellent ideas.  I am going to drywall and insulate because I want a nice finished look and a heater is a must with indiana winters    Also gonna have speakers in the ceiling as an added touch!    Thanks again and feel free to offer more suggestions.

[TOK]

I also have a one car garage, putting space at a premium.
I wanted to have a large workbench but still be able to quickly move it. I took an old birch door, filled the knob hole and mounted the hinges to a 2x6. I got a Craftsman roll-away toolbox and mounted the door so the bottom was at the same height as the box. This gave me a huge, solid workbench that pivots on the hinges and drops flat against the wall if I remove the toolbox.

[Goz]

I've been converting my garage to a game room for the last year or so. I have three separate circuits wired for various sections. Plus on the cieling is an excellent suggestion. I ran a couple extra in the ceiling for cieling mounted TV's (still need to hang them). Remember you might also have NEON, Rope light, signs, etc so the more power you can supply the better. GFI plugs are not necessary, but are nice to have.

My garage / game room is a 3 car. I sheet rocked all the walls and built a couple of enclosures for Laundry / Furnace and now building a hidden shelving unit. After sheetrocking I looked at the place and figured I had two options for painting. Option one was to apply two coats of primer to seal it and one to two coats of conventional paint for appearance. Option two was to skip priming and move directly to paint. Normally this wouldn't be recommended, but I found a "texture paint" at Home Depot that you basical slop it on and spread it arround. It sealed rock solid within 24hrs and is easily cleanable by water and sponge, etc.

You can see a picture of what the texture paint job looks like here It should be a hi res enough picture to make out the texture. The fridge and freezer that are seen in the pic are now hidden in another enclosure with oak doors and the remaining section of that same wall will be a storage unit when I am done.

 The game room is currently a mess... Hopefully this weekend I will get it organized enough to snap some pictures (after the new cab arrives).

-Goz

[DrewKaree]

he he hehehe!  You said

filled the knob hole

[jam92102]

Nice work gozur!  That looks sweet!  That's a cool idea about a workbench that can be folded up.  I may try that.