Author Topic: Garage makeover (Read 5302 times)

Flyin6 · « **on:** January 16, 2023, 06:26:11 PM »

It is time to reorganize, clean and generally change up most things about my bigger garage (I have two on the primary house)

The one I use for most of the projects you read about here if they are automotive in nature happens in that garage. I have a dedicated 25X25 wood shop where some projects get built, and a smaller 24X24 where she used to park her car but now fills with ~~junk~~ err, stuff.

I started yesterday on this project, hoping to close out all of that well before I get consumed with the spring cleanup and working at the farm.

Generally, it is just a disorganized mess. I want work to flow, and things put up instead of out, gathering dust.

I started with a plan to do this in areas/stages. The recent snowfall caused something strange to happen. Because I have a continuous ridge vent, the powdery snow blown around by 50 mph winds actually piled the snow up in the ceiling space above the garage. When it warmed that snow melted and water started coming out of the ceiling at one point a ceiling 8-foot old-school fluorescent fixture ripped free from the drywall and is more or less dangling up there. The ceiling is quite high, 16 feet in there.

So, I knew I needed to fix that, and I quickly decided to swap out the fluorescent for high bay LED. I guess that started it. I figure that if I am going to get in there and start tearing things apart, I might as well just change everything I don't like.

With that thought serving as the spark, I started with the plan.

I would have already climbed up and changed out the light fixtures, but nothing is just that simple. You see my super tall 15-foot step ladder is down in my barn. And that farm is one muddy mess. So I decided while I'm waiting out a few dry days in a row to be able to get down there and not sink in some mud hole, I'd just get started on the next project, and that would be this ugly wash basin corner:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2023, 06:27:29 PM »

I'll repaint the walls after I repair them from all manner of dents and holes. Here's the rest of that wall and work space:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2023, 06:35:50 PM »

My plan for that corner is simple. I purchased some Gladiator garage metal cabinets which I will arrange so as to look as if it is built in.

I ordered a 36 X 72 free-standing closet cabinet, and two 30 X 31 X18 base cabinets. I'll cut in a piece of 3/4" plywood which I will waterproof and place a tub into, in the same approximate position. I'll create some sort of a black splash, perhaps out of aluminum diamond plate, and add a couple of metal wall cabinets.

I placed those on order with Lowes and I was out the door with my military discount for just under $1,500 including the tub/wash basin and fixtures.

I also picked up a gallon of Sherwin Williams interior lates in a color pretty close to what's in there already. The gallon and supplies rang up for $74

That puts the total so far at $1570.

Here is the progress of tearing out the old and cleaning the walls. I went Winchester on puddy so I suspect one of my daughters has been shopping in my garage recently!

Atkinsmatt · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2023, 07:11:35 PM »

Good start.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2023, 08:06:40 PM »

I’ve used the galvanized roofing for my walls around my wash sink. It cleans up easy shed water just as easy and never gonna rust out in my life. That makes a good sturdy back splash if you ask me.

Good luck with organizing the wife’s stuffs lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2023, 08:29:57 PM »

I highly recommend a poly aspartic coating. Just got mine done and now I need to finish painting the last wall

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2023, 08:33:46 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on January 16, 2023, 08:06:40 PM

I’ve used the galvanized roofing for my walls around my wash sink. It cleans up easy shed water just as easy and never gonna rust out in my life. That makes a good sturdy back splash if you ask me.

Good luck with organizing the wife’s stuffs lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is a great idea!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2023, 08:35:13 PM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on January 16, 2023, 08:29:57 PM

I highly recommend a poly aspartic coating. Just got mine done and now I need to finish painting the last wall

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
[/quo
Quote from: TexasRedNeck on January 16, 2023, 08:29:57 PM

I highly recommend a poly aspartic coating. Just got mine done and now I need to finish painting the last wall

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
That looks terrific.!

Bob Smith · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2023, 09:12:41 PM »

Don, you are looking at a lot of work. Then all the work changing the new Jeep to your wants and needs.
Am very interested to follow the lift install. Although I am still looking at a four post rather than the two post. My neighbor thinks we can do the installation ourselves, me not so much.

Atkinsmatt · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2023, 09:16:40 PM »

Tex, What product did you use? I am wanting to do mine also.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2023, 10:02:34 PM »

Welding and fab work and any epoxy floor is a bad idea. It will burn or leave hot makers even from grinding.
Just fyi. I don’t picture Charles doin much of that on the fancy house garage

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

stlaser · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2023, 10:19:18 PM »

Quote from: Bob Smith on January 16, 2023, 09:12:41 PM

Don, you are looking at a lot of work. Then all the work changing the new Jeep to your wants and needs.
Am very interested to follow the lift install. Although I am still looking at a four post rather than the two post. My neighbor thinks we can do the installation ourselves, me not so much.

I installed both of mine, it’s not hard.

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2023, 11:23:14 PM »

Quote from: Atkinsmatt on January 16, 2023, 09:16:40 PM

Tex, What product did you use? I am wanting to do mine also.

Dave’s right. That garage is for the purdy vehicles.

I used that best of all products…the strokeacheck coating system.

Platinum floor coatings in Houston did the grinding and 3 part system. Lifetime warranty against hot tire pick up. About 5.25/sq ft

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Atkinsmatt · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2023, 05:48:10 AM »

Thanks. I will probably be applying it the same way. I don't see the wife allowing those activities to happen in the attached garage on the new house.

dave945 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2023, 07:26:12 AM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on January 16, 2023, 11:23:14 PM

Quote from: Atkinsmatt on January 16, 2023, 09:16:40 PM
Tex, What product did you use? I am wanting to do mine also.
Dave’s right. That garage is for the purdy vehicles.

I used that best of all products…the strokeacheck coating system.

Platinum floor coatings in Houston did the grinding and 3 part system. Lifetime warranty against hot tire pick up. About 5.25/sq ft

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I guess I won’t be doing that in the entire 6000 sqft garage. Maybe over near the house entrance to make cleanup easier.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2023, 10:38:10 AM »

I dearly want to do a coating, but Dave is correct. I do a bunch of welding and fab stuff
Now, when I had the garage built, I had them color impregnate the crete with black color. The scheme of maneuver then was to someday have it polished up. Perhaps that is what I will do, not sure yet.

And yes, Bob, a lot of work, so I'm biting it off in chunks.

The plan is to get this whole wall done and the corner built-in. Then next up is the suspension install w/o the lift. (Wife is not good with $5K on that). After getting the lift installed, then I will get back on the garage and knock out another project. All in all, I should be able to knock it out by springtime.

Off to patch holes in the wall for now. Maybe some paint today!!!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 17, 2023, 10:40:33 AM »

Our local sunbelt rentals will rent you the polishing equipment to do your self if that peaks your interest any

Polished is the most superior way to finish a shop floor. I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nate · « **Reply #17 on:** January 17, 2023, 11:10:59 AM »

What is the matter with all of you!!!

does nobody realize the miracle we all just looked at?!

there is an actual metal table in the welding area!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2023, 02:47:52 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on January 17, 2023, 10:40:33 AM

Our local sunbelt rentals will rent you the polishing equipment to do your self if that peaks your interest any

Polished is the most superior way to finish a shop floor. I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Who wants to fight him?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 17, 2023, 02:49:45 PM »

Quote from: Nate on January 17, 2023, 11:10:59 AM

What is the matter with all of you!!!

does nobody realize the miracle we all just looked at?!

there is an actual metal table in the welding area!

That thing is not a welding table! That's a storage table. My best welding table burned up! The welding table I use is currently getting a fresh piece of Masonite attached to it! ;-)
Come on!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 17, 2023, 04:20:33 PM »

Quote from: Nate on January 17, 2023, 11:10:59 AM

What is the matter with all of you!!!

does nobody realize the miracle we all just looked at?!

there is an actual metal table in the welding area!

Obviously it’s photo shopped. Not real

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 17, 2023, 06:59:30 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on January 17, 2023, 04:20:33 PM

Quote from: Nate on January 17, 2023, 11:10:59 AM
What is the matter with all of you!!!

does nobody realize the miracle we all just looked at?!

there is an actual metal table in the welding area!
Obviously it’s photo shopped. Not real

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

New app? You just right-click on wood and select steel from the drop-down menu, and Voila'

A steel ~~welding~~storage table ;-)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 17, 2023, 07:02:42 PM »

Pretty busy today on this project

I started this morning with patching more holes, dents, divots, gouges, nail-pops, and tow missile hits. One of those is not true!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 17, 2023, 07:03:52 PM »

While that set up, I drove over to Lowes and picked up four of the five Gladiator cabinets I ordered and some framing lumber.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 17, 2023, 07:05:55 PM »

After coming home I made pretty quick work of the numerous patches with an orbital sander. I used some aggressive 60-grit paper. I'd say it took me about an hour to do the entire wall and the staircase which had some old epoxy paint on it. It gets painted all new and pretty

Flyin6 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 17, 2023, 07:07:50 PM »

Next up I rolled out a single coat of some good quality Sherwin-Williams interior paint using a 1/2" nap Purdy paint roll. The paint I used has primer in it so it is supposed to be a one-and-done application.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 17, 2023, 07:10:36 PM »

The paint in the prior pictures was still either wet or tacky and that's why it looks a bit blotchy. It dried to a decent satin sheen.

I had enough time remaining to start to trim out the door and staircase. I got about 90% of the black done, but none of the gray. THe silver parts will be painted with the same wall paint and the wood will finally get some garage floor gray paint.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 17, 2023, 07:22:51 PM »

Spent $44 on the frame material.

Cost now: $1614

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 17, 2023, 08:05:44 PM »

Frame material ?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 18, 2023, 06:50:51 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on January 17, 2023, 08:05:44 PM

Frame material ?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, since you asked...

2x4 pressure treated for the floor contact part, then 2x4 fir for the rest

Flyin6 · « **Reply #30 on:** January 18, 2023, 06:53:15 PM »

To get an idea of how this was all going to fit together, I built one floor cabinet. This is the Gladiator series from Lowes. I'd say they are OK, but not spectacular. Takes a lot of time to build one up.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #31 on:** January 18, 2023, 06:54:43 PM »

If you look closely at the various rectangles in the floor framing, you can see the arrangement of the base cabinets.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #32 on:** January 18, 2023, 06:57:49 PM »

Then I screwed in the purlins for the galvanized barn roof steel. I just ripped down some old 2x6 fir into strips about 7/8" thick and secured them to the wall studs.
I noticed that when I screwed down the strips I had nail pops galore. I guess I compressed that old wall board which seems to have something else in there because it is taking a 3" screw to get good purchase into the studs.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #33 on:** January 18, 2023, 07:00:50 PM »

I purchased a box of screws for the roof tin, but while loading, left them right there on the cart! GRRRRR!!!

So being all dressed up and nowhere to go, I went back to painting.

I now have the staircase mostly done. Part of it has a single coat and part has two. I'll finish that up tomorrow and get everything hung back on it.

That old sign was a Christmas gift from a long time ago. I washed it up and it looks like it survived.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #34 on:** January 18, 2023, 08:31:18 PM »

What would actual cabinets from Lowe’s cost?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

JR · « **Reply #35 on:** January 19, 2023, 05:29:23 PM »

God, mine is terrible. I need a redo too (well the garage does, leave ME out) Nice tactical move Don, get the lift faster and only a few grand for the battle.

My youngest has been collecting road signs, walls are covered in his room. I use this one I got from a base closing in the "bay area" for my backspalsh.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #36 on:** January 19, 2023, 07:04:19 PM »

^^^ I call dibs on the sign if you ever toss it or clean up that place and de-clutter!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #37 on:** January 19, 2023, 07:06:30 PM »

Day 4 and I am SORE! There is a lot of work, Bob was right on that point!

I started the day by building the second-floor cabinet and at least one wall cabinet. I needed to see how the latter mounted so I could place blocking in the wall prior to throwing up the metal.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #38 on:** January 19, 2023, 07:07:48 PM »

I finished painting the staircase (Except for the treads and decking) and put all that back together.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #39 on:** January 19, 2023, 07:09:16 PM »

Next I placed blocking on the wall behind the metal to have a solid anchor point for the cabinets to hang from.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #40 on:** January 19, 2023, 07:10:32 PM »

After the first couple of metal panels, everything else was cut to fit.

I saw the guys who built my barn using this nibbler tool, so I picked one up.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #41 on:** January 19, 2023, 07:13:05 PM »

There is a learning curve with this thing. I quickly discovered you have to move right along and do not idle or it will start to warp the tin. I made the first cutout on an obscure section of the panel to access the plumbing for the sink.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #42 on:** January 19, 2023, 07:14:27 PM »

I continued to this point and tossed in the towel. I'll get back after it in two days. Have an RV show to look at tomorrow with a pretty girl ;-)

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #43 on:** January 19, 2023, 11:04:27 PM »

Sounds like an expensive RV show

Check out the road warrior 2023 4275.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #44 on:** January 21, 2023, 04:14:59 PM »

Building the big boy cabinet

Flyin6 · « **Reply #45 on:** January 21, 2023, 04:16:13 PM »

Now it's starting to look like something.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #46 on:** January 21, 2023, 04:17:37 PM »

This is the Gladiator wall mounting system. This extrusion is PVC. It's lightweight, strong, and inexpensive.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #47 on:** January 21, 2023, 04:19:41 PM »

Filling in some more space. It will soon be time to measure for the countertop, then frame, or maybe I have those two reversed...

Anyway, I'll need to build that countertop fitted with a sink, then fill in the gaps and trim it all out before I call that corner done.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #48 on:** January 21, 2023, 04:19:43 PM »

Gonna run any under cabinet lights so you have lumens on the counter top?

What ya gonna do for a top in the corner with a sink?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #49 on:** January 21, 2023, 04:52:37 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on January 21, 2023, 04:19:43 PM

Gonna run any under cabinet lights so you have lumens on the counter top?

What ya gonna do for a top in the corner with a sink?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good question.

I plan on cutting down 3/4" birch ACX to fit, then trace out the opening for the sink. It will be angled to capture a bit more room. Once it is fitted and have a backsplash fitted, my plan is to coat the thing in epoxy garage floor paint/stuff on all sides, two coats. I want to use that theme throughout the garage. Simple, easy, cost-effective, and I think it will look pretty good.

No lighting planned at the moment.

The whole garage is getting new lighting in a coming installment. The 700-watt equivalent high bays. They scatter out enough light that I shouldn't need any additional lighting.