Garage redo

I'm not happy with the layout in my garage.

I hung the cabinets on one side, but have found this mean I can't work on a car without moving one out.

So its time for a new layout. I'm going to try and put all my cabinets on the back wall and keep the sides clear.

I will back the GT6 in and this should leave space down the centre of the garage.

I still might have to move a car out when doing work, but should grant me access to both sides of the car when doing so.

Never enough space.

Similar problem with my new place. I'm pretty tall so I'm installing higher-than-normal shelves to get stuff off the floor and out of the way. That should help. I'm also considering installing a bigger attic door (my garage ceiling is sheet rocked), so I can put stuff up there that I use less often. Not sure if you have space about your garage.

I also just bought a 12' X 16' garden shed and put all my "non-car stuff" (lawn mower, etc) in that.

I have space above, but its the living room ;)

Ditto on the shed. 8x9 for the non car stuff. Plus I kept the old 4x6 and use that for the old wheels and what not.

Testing and evaluation underway.

I'd remove that annoying wall at the front of the garage. That should give you a lot more space.

Or I should have gotten into Mini's.

A.

I see a lot of things on the floor that shouldn't be there.

I also see a lot of stationary things that would help the situation were they mobile - mainly the shelving units.

Old photo.

Things are slowly improving, but lots of work to be done.

A.

Well, in many ways - like a hobby car - your garage will never be "done".

My personal opinion when working in a small space is to keep as many things as possible mobile to allow you the maximum amount of layout flexibility for potential situations. Those with a lot of space can afford to have 'work stations' for various pieces of equipment. However, those of us who are "spacially challenged" don't have that luxury and must remain flexible.

André Rousseau wrote: Or I should have gotten into Mini's. A.

Haha, yeah. Only 10 feet required so you can part two end-to-end in a typical bay.

It doesn't matter the size of the garage, you'll fill it regardless. Mine has an extra deep bay with a work area at the end. I can stuff my car trailer (with the car on it) in there but it makes accessing the 'annex' an Olympic sport. I'm guilty also of not getting enough stuff up off the floor. My biggest challenge is tires/wheels. They take up a ton of space and are heavy. I'm not comfortable making wall racks myself. Probably need to get some of those Tire Rack ones.

Yeah I will have to deal with my race tires and tires for the Mazda. Specially the race tires should not go into the shed.

The goal is the garage seems sound.

I'm loosing side space because of the locker and floor cabinets. I need to leave room to be able access them.

Moving the forward of the parking like should help.

We shall see.

Ok, looking at it again... quick fix for what you have shown in the picture:

Move the bench assembly on the left to the back wall of the garage (facing the cars). That bump-out in the wall is unfortunate, so you'll need some creativity to work around it.

Decide which bay will be primarily 'service' and which will be 'parking'. Move the two shelving units to the front of the garage on the 'parking' side.

Build a rack for tire storage above the shelving units (if permitted by the door tracks).

Remember, just because it's auto-related, doesn't mean it has to live in the garage. For example, I have OTC Strut tamer and Hub-tamer tools that are huge but used infrequently. They live in my attic. Yes, hauling the 70 lb tools down to the garage when I need them is annoying, but not anywhere near as annoying as tripping over them in the garage.

Yeah parking vs working.

This winter I think the GT6 will park outside if I'm working on the racer. I may put it on casters just to move it around easier.

We shall see.

Far from my dream car garage, but I'll get it there yet.

Talk to a neighbour. That nice old lady down the street has extra garage space and will rent you a bay cheap if you blow out her driveway.

Cheers Ron

I concur with Ron - or maybe a temporary garage if one will fit beside the house (or in the drive way). Neighbours might take exception though...

Guys you miss the point of the exercise.

I want make it all fit.

Really if I needed space I could simply sell the GT6. (Sorry Love racing too much)

I mean you all remember my humble 10x20 right.

So organization is key. I may also do the unthinkable and toss some old stuff. (Say it an't so)

Wow!

The GT-6 really looks small next to the Fiat!

Leo

André Rousseau wrote: I may put it on casters just to move it around easier.

I've discovered this only works if you can tuck it against a wall and don't have to move it again until spring. If you move it against something you'll need to get to, it becomes anoying real quick. BTDT.

Organization is important with a small space. Keeping things neat even more so. As well as removing anything from the garage that doesn't need to be there to work on the car. I even have a plan to install an air compressor in my basement, and then run lines into the garage.

Well the GT6 can be tucked away for sure, but I will be working on the FIAT.

I'm going to pull the place apart very soon and move the cabinets to the back wall.

From there I can consider all the electrical and finer points.

So much to do. So little time :)

you should go check out some of what the garagejournal.com guys have done, some nice looking spaces, most are bigger then yours, but some are even smaller. Look around, lots of excellent ideas.

First being, if you have extra space above, use it. Your race tires will live nicely up against the ceiling on racks, and you won't really think about them until you need them. Also if you haven't already, move all your lawn equipment to another area(shed), including lawn mower, weed eater, shovels, get all of it out of the garage.

If you have a basement, its a nice place for the compressor to live, just pipe the air in and add a switch to turn it on and off, 20amps atleast. If no basement, also raise it up to the ceiling, or enclose someplace else to quiet it down.

Andrew

Yeah I've check out the gj site. Its not bad, but updated slowly.

No attic above the garage. Just living space and compressor is far too loud to housed in the basement.

Already done the shed thing x2. One for parts storage and one for all the other stuff.

I did swap the car's parking positions and that has helped.

Next job will be to move the lower cabinets and lockers to the front of the garage. This will allow me to park the cars very wide apart.

Could always sell the GT6 and cut my parts collection in 1/2.

A.

I would get cue up to buy your GT-6!

Leo

I have actually decided to stop restoring cars at the end of the year and restore the garage. We have now been working 14 years straight in our shop and have jammed some 20-25 projects through in that time. It is time for a makeover, and we are going to strip the place to the bare walls and start over. Of course we will write a series on the topic.

I wish I could do the same... But I have to deal with snow.

I really wish I could have done the floor before we moved in, but it was not possible.

Next yr.