New garage checklist: What would you include?

[lendaddy]

Second on the running hot/cold water, but don't forget a small sink...not just spigots.

[89911]

What kind of lights did you choose. I'm not a big fan of fluorescent, but they give the most light for the money. They also they tend to flicker in colder weather. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

[JeremyD]

They are fluorescent - four big 8 ft - skinny bulb

[fxeditor]

Congrats on your new project! I built my new garage last year and couldn't be happier. Here are a few suggestions that I'd make.

1. Put an electrical outlet in the ceiling. You can then hang a retractable extension cord or work light. Very handy!

2. Don't forget to put conduit in your walls. You never know what the newest must-have cable is (fiber anyone?) and running it down a pre-existing pipe in the wall is the easiest way to be future proof.

3. Others have mentioned the benefits of a lift and I must concur. In my case I made my ceiling height 13 feet in anticipation of a 4 post lift. That way I could park 3 cars in my 2 1/2 car garage! Also it has proven oh so valuable when changing the o2 sensors on my Audi, Doing the clutch on the Miata, putting sway bars on the Scion, etc.

4 Cabinets. I thing someone mentioned the Gladiator line. They are very nice and I have them in my garage. Putting them together is a bit of a pain however so plan on a couple of evenings devoted to construction ( have plenty of beer handy!).

5. I almost forgot, 220v power. Even if you don't think you'll need it put it in. If you want big-boy compressors, welders, or other toys it's a good thing to have.

6. I didn't do this but in lieu of a lift perhaps a hoist mounted to an I-beam in the ceiling? Changing motor mounts or lifting out an engine would be a snap with one of these!.

Anyway I've blabbered on enough. Here are a few pics of my garage. Please keep us informed on your project. Good luck!
Michael

[911boost]

Nice lift Michael, just for grins, can you pm me what you paid for it or a ball park? It looks identical to mine, except for the color....

Bill

[einreb]

Originally Posted by 89911

What kind of lights did you choose. I'm not a big fan of fluorescent, but they give the most light for the money. They also they tend to flicker in colder weather. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

specify 'cold start' for the balasts. i just had a bunch of switched plugs installed on the ceiling. I then put in a bunch of plug in 48"x2 bulb flourescent fixtures.

i have exposed bulbs at 9' ceilings. i've come close to wacking them and in hindsight may have been better with something protected.

[fxeditor]

Originally Posted by BSiple

Nice lift Michael, just for grins, can you pm me what you paid for it or a ball park? It looks identical to mine, except for the color....

Bill

Hey Bill,
I'm going to have to give a ballpark figure as I'm not at home to look up my receipt but it was around $3400 for the lift, drip trays, and jack stand ledge drop shipped to the company who installed it for me. That company charged around $600 to install & bolt it into the ground. What did yours run?

Michael

[911boost]

Mine was right at $2k, but I didn't have it insalled or anything. I didn't mount mine to the floor because I wanted to be able to move it. Looking closely there are a couple of subtle differences between them. I mainly got mine to get my Mustang up off the ground so I could park the turbo under it.

You definitley have a sweet looking garage.

[fxeditor]

Originally Posted by 89911

What kind of lights did you choose. I'm not a big fan of fluorescent, but they give the most light for the money. They also they tend to flicker in colder weather. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

I used these guys from Lowes http://tinyurl.com/2o6ve4 . I put 6 up in my garage and it's now brighter then the sun if I need it! The T8 florescent tubes are amazing! I haven't experienced any flicker and the color temperature isn't as cold as the older types of tubes.

Michael

[fxeditor]

Originally Posted by BSiple

Mine was right at $2k, but I didn't have it insalled or anything. I didn't mount mine to the floor because I wanted to be able to move it. Looking closely there are a couple of subtle differences between them. I mainly got mine to get my Mustang up off the ground so I could park the turbo under it.

You definitley have a sweet looking garage.

Thanks! I waited about 3 months before bolting it down to make sure it was EXACTLY where I wanted it! I just feel safer having it secured to the ground. I also don't have to worry about the posts becoming un-plumb or getting out of alignment.


Michael.

[SLO-BOB]

The garage is a work in progress but FYI, I used an enclosed 8ft light with winter ballast. It is a bit dim at first on very cold days, but it brightens up quickly. The cover is gasketed so bugs don't find their way in and it protects the bulbs from errant thrown tools It's very bright. I'll add a supplemental 4 footer towards the entrance but I don't need it. A cord reel will mount dead center of the ceiling.



To appreciate the above pic, look at a before pic- very dark, but the paneling gave me the warm fuzzies. All of the stuff hanging on the wall is now either in a tractor shed or in a closet.