Designing your
own garage
Sounds
like a dream, doesn’t it? Just think of how nice it would be to build a dream
garage, just the way you want it. There are a lot of starting points for
building a “dream garage.”
You
may not have any garage at this time. Or you may have an existing attached (or
detached) garage, either too small or utilized in a wasted manner, such as
storage or shelter for your spouse’s car, leaving no room to
restore your old LaSalle or Caddy. After all, what do you think garages were invented
for? Depending on the size of your property, zoning codes, etc., you may have
to expand your old garage or build a new one.
You
may even win the lotto and be able to move to a nice acreage where you can
build a garage or two just like you want. (After all, we are talking about a
“dream” garage.)
If
you are building, adding to or just remodeling, you should talk to other
“old-car” people for suggestions and ideas. I guarantee you that you will get
lots of advice and you would be surprised at how good most of it will be. None
of us have ever talked to anyone who has already built a garage that did not
say, “If I had it to do over again, I would have done this or that.” Or, they
say, “I wish I would have done that instead of this.”
Starting
with a few basics about your plans for a new garage, the first thing to take
into consideration is size. This will only be governed by zoning restrictions,
the size of your property and the size of your bank account. Build
as big as you can afford, (usually a little more). One complaint you
will never hear is “I made my garage too big.” After all, the larger you build
it, the less it costs (per square foot, that is).
Once
you have come up with the size you are going to build, make a sketch in pencil
and plan as far into the future as far as you can, even though you know you are
going to go only a step at a time as your wallet dictates. Anything that you
even think you might want at a later date, plan for it now. After all, that is
why they put an eraser on the other end of the pencil.
Figure
out right away if this garage is going to be parking and/or storage, or a place
for you to be restoring and tinkering with your old car(s), or possibly a
combination of all of the above. You might as well figure from the onset that
you will be working in it, because once you get the room, you will want to
start a project. (Helpful hint: Wait until the garage is finished before
looking for a car to buy.)
Figure
in a ceiling high enough to install a lift sometime when you can afford it in
at least one bay. Any excess attic area thus created can be utilized for a
great storage place. After all, storage space is as important as workspace, and
lack of storage space automatically causes less workspace. Down the line, when
you realize how great it would be to have a lift and you decide to put one in,
you will find that it is far too expensive to modify any existing structure to
accommodate it. Of course, that leaves you with the only option of setting it
up outdoors. (No fun).
When
the shell is up, put in all the electrical service you get can get, or are
allowed. Plan for a lot of lighting on multiple circuits and
switches. Put in as many electric outlets (both 110- and 220-volt) on
separate circuits as you can. You will be surprised at how many you will be
able to use and how few turn out to be not needed at one time or another.
Good
insulation is a must, even if you don’t put in heat. But why wouldn’t you put
in some kind of heating system? On that subject, remember that the difference
between overadequate heating versus not enough is only about 20 percent
costwise. You can always turn down too much heat, but what do you do with not
enough? (Helpful hint: Make plans for a swamp cooler at some future time.)
Plan
ahead for a good-sized air compressor and permanent plumbing for air lines with
shutoff valves at each outlet, with plans to use air tools and maybe even a
sandblast cabinet. Don’t forget an air outlet outside that can be used in the
driveway—little cost and big benefits. Along that line, a couple of outside
electrical outlets can be real handy.
You
can make your inside walls very versatile if covered with pegboard and it still
won’t interfere with installation of cabinets or shelving, and will give lots
of ways to hang tools, etc. One complete wall should be reserved for a
workbench at least 24 inches wide, with a row of drawers right under the work
surface and shelf space under that. You may even want to hang some small
cabinets over the workbench.
The
height of the workbench should be comfortable to work at standing up or sitting
on a barstool. Shelving and cabinets around the other walls are always useful.
Don’t forget a file cabinet or two for paperwork, catalogs, manuals, parts
books, records, etc.
A
refrigerator is nice and a small TV will help if you are in the doghouse for
extended periods of time, or you may want to watch the Bronco game while
working on your car. An extra chair or two should be around for the inevitable
visitors once they find out you keep beer in the refrigerator and a coffee pot
on the bench. We will talk later about tools and equipment.
I
am sure a lot of you can let me know your own experiences and suggestions on
building your own “dream garage.” A lot of mistakes were made on mine and it
would have been nice to have luxury of profiting by other people’s misteaks as
well as my own, because my Dad always told me I wouldn’t live long enough to
make them all myself.
Let
me hear from you and we’ll see ya all next month.
—Walt