New garage checklist: What would you include?
 

I am in the process of building a 2 story addition which includes a 24 x 25 2 car garage. I have tackled the heating issue by adding radiant floor heating under the concrete. Other then adding extra outlets, cable TV, a sink, what else have I forgot? I have wireless telephone and internet connections which shouldn't be a problem. The ceiling height is 9 foot. A lift is a thought, but I have found my "wrenching" time to be less and less rewarding and I don't desire the obstruction when not in use. Suggestions welcome!

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Do you ever have a desire to weld or use compressed air? You might find it easier to run air lines and a 220V socket now while you are under construction.

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Heres a before is anyone is into additions;)

Good idea. I have a compressor in the other garage (integral 2 car). The wall are cinder block in the new one unless I decide to finish them, so they are going to have to run along the blocks. The 220v line is a good idea! Just what I'm needing.

We ran air lines along the ceiling and in the middle of the garage in my house, and added electrical outlets ever 4 feet. As well put a electrical service panel in the garage and 220 volt feed out of it for the compressor, welder, plasma cutter etc.

As well you cannot have too many lights.

Refrig for beer!

You have no Keg-arator? Just what kind of garage are you building?

Looks nice!

Pool Table

Beer Keg

Dart Board

Stripper Pole

So he's building my room? Good choice!

That radiant heat flooring...does that just make the floor warm or does it make the whole place warm? If it only warms the floor, then room heating is a definite must. A nice, warm garage is the best.

Most of the adds I will do have been mentioned: Lift, air jacks, 220, compressor, keg, kegerator, refrigerator, cable, internet, etc.

What I would add is places to sit...comfortable places to sit. Also, more bench space that you'll think need, squared. Enjoy.

Side mount garage door opener, or jack shaft opener (they are called one or the other depending on who you talk to). I have one, replaced a decent traditional type opener. My new LiftMaster is awesome. Much quieter, doesn't take up any space, did i mention quiter. I would definitley get one.

Bill

It keeps it about 60-65 in the winter. I've been to a friends garage that had it and I was impressed. The floor is like laying on your living room and most of the heat is concentrated where you need it. I've talked my wife into it since the tile floor above the garage will have a chill if we don't heat it some way.;)

your tile floor will have a chill unless you put radiant heat under it as well....all of my tile floors are chilly in winter:rolleyes:

Even if you don't plan on working on your car as much, a lift would be very handy even for mundane things like tire rotation and oil changes. That's why I would factor in a recessed section in which to place a scissors lift. Once instaled, the lift won't be in the way because it will be flush to the floor. Have the conduit and box run to the area so cables aren't laying on the floor while you're at it. You will have to watch out because of a trip hazard when the car is not in it's spot, however.

I just redid my garage. I built closets because I didn't want clutter. Now everything is behind closed doors. I also built a cabinet at the front with a large pegboard. I want to have the basic tools at my disposal, but I don't like roll-away tool chests.

This link is good for a few ideas.........

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/

Hot & cold running water, a toilet and an air mattress (or car with really comfortable reclining seat). Assuming you're married.

Having lights in the floors would be neat.
Cut a channel which connects to a drain, suspend the electrics, brace and flush-mount those disgusting clear blocks(or other) from the 70's and seal. Gets rid of that f'n shoplight wire which is always somehow under the creeper.

CAT5e 8-wire cabling to a central point in the house, either for network (100mb or gigabit LAN) or telephone or both....

Compressed air is nice to have. I doubled on my lighting - the electrician tried to talk me out of it - said it will be bright in there - - it is and makes it much easier to see.

I just went through this - you can;t have too many sockets - think about workbench placment - I have two big ones now. Refridgerator.

Lowes just started selling gladiator - about $100 less than everyother place I could find.

I think If I was redoing a garage - the least I would do is a recess for a sicissor lift. they are not that expensive - even for just trading out track wheels.....

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

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.

They are fluorescent - four big 8 ft - skinny bulb

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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

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1192467526.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1192467590.jpg

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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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4851/garage1sg7.jpg

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.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/7329/garage2yv5.jpg