GunMoto's 20x20 [GARAGE UPGRADE] (56k Go Grab a Snack)

GunMoto · Oct 24, 2007

Hi everyone - We just moved into our first home, so please bare with our humble 20x20x9.5' two-car garage space. This is one big upgrade for us, because our previous residence only had one (1) carport! :lol_hitti

The garage was practically bare when we initially moved-in. The previous owner generously left two shelving units and a small section of foam floor mat. One (1) wall mounted 60 watt incandescent light fixture and only one wall receptacle was installed during the original build.

I have no BEFORE shots, so up to the point as shown in the pics below, we've done the following:

Purge junk from move
Run EMT from wall mounted light fixture and install three (3) 48" dual T8 fluorescent light fixtures and an occupancy sensor
Purge junk from move
Mount a retractable shoplight with an integrated receptacle next to the GDO.
Purge junk from move
Set up garage layout with storage shelves, Rubbermaid Fasttrack, tool cart and everything bulky, on one side of the wall
Purge junk from move
Install snowboard rack, white eraser board, paper towel dispenser and towel rack
Drool over other GarageJournal members' garage threads
Transport racebike from mom & pop's garage 124 miles away
Purge junk from move
Paint the walls dark gray with a red stripe
Continue drooling over other GarageJournal members' garage threads

So this is where I'm at so far...still looks messy, I know.

Next course of action:

FLOORING
FLOORING
FLOORING
Oh, and...a small workbench (likely to be placed to the right of the interior door)

The most abuse our garage will undertake is general maintenance and R&R of wear & tear parts and components of our cars and the racebike.

I've spent many hours just this past week over flooring and was decided on VCT, until I realized it's not likely the best idea for resale of our home. So now, I'm totally on the epoxy v. modular tile debate.

Opinions are welcome...both positive and negative. :beer:

CRAZYASTRO · Oct 24, 2007

GunMoto said:
I'm totally on the epoxy v. modular tile debate.

QUOTE]

exactly how i feal since i found this forum....

GTJeff · Oct 25, 2007

Looking good.

I wouldn't hang up the Ocean Picture.
You could paint the electrical conduit white to blend in with the walls.

Keep up the good work... :thumbup:

jason9696 · Oct 25, 2007

I like the dealership feel of the grey with red stripe color scheme. I'm with ^Jeff though, I wouldn't hang up the ocean pic, doesn't match your scheme.

GunMoto · Oct 25, 2007

Thanks for the comments everyone!

GTJeff said:
You could paint the electrical conduit white to blend in with the walls.

Thanks for the suggestion!! That's another task to add to my list. :thumbup:

jason9696 said:
I like the dealership feel of the grey with red stripe color scheme.

Thanks, I really didn't know how it would come out...but the darker gray actually creates a nice contrast with the items in our garage. In retrospect, I see Toyota dealer, HAHA... :lol_hitti

GTJeff said:
I wouldn't hang up the Ocean Picture.

jason9696 said:
I'm with ^Jeff though, I wouldn't hang up the ocean pic, doesn't match your scheme.

Don't worry guys, the painting is just sitting there for temporary storage...there's also another one behind it. Unfortunately, there's practically no room in our home to store them!

We are in a humble town home (thanks to the astronomical housings costs in California), but eventually, every unused, non-useful item will end up getting "purged," contributing to the minimalist movement. :beer:

[Excuse my overuse of smileys...

]

GTJeff · Oct 25, 2007

What do you use the white eraser board for?

Maybe a to do list for the next garage project ...

bmwpower · Oct 25, 2007

Epoxy. I just don't think tile has the same appeal for a working garage.

GunMoto · Oct 27, 2007

GTJeff said:
What do you use the white eraser board for?

White board is for writing out complex Math problems...haha, just kiddin'.

Notes, such as listing torque values before starting a project or yes, making a list of upcoming garage upgrade projects. :beer:

bmwpower said:
Epoxy. I just don't think tile has the same appeal for a working garage.

Epoxy it is! My budget is way limited though, so Rustoleom Pro for about $100 a box that covers 300-400 sq.ft. (based on what is says on the box). :lol_hitti

GunMoto · Oct 27, 2007

Brake maintenance...it gets fairly dirty (haven't started in the pic yet)...hopefully epoxy is up to par with this sort of work in the garage.

bmwpower · Oct 27, 2007

Good choice on the epoxy...you won't regret it. Just make sure to prep/test it right. You will curse while you're prepping, but when you're done, you will be like "holy ****!...looks great".

The only thing I get concerned about is sharp objects (ie, jack stands like the ones you have) under a ton of weight (like your car). In my case, I throw a piece of carpet or a rubber mat under them...or go for broke and get some flat legged AC Hydraulic jacks or similar. It might even take the abuse...don't know...I've never tried it without protection.

Scott Cypher · Oct 27, 2007

And I thought going ******** was the only way!

I close on my workshop (it came with a free house) on Monday, and have to so a make-over on the 30x32 workshop much the same way everyone here is...thanks for the "why" on the grey wall w/red stripe issue; I couldn't figure out why every one was doing that......

I'll have to do my own blog on the makeover.....

SteveL · Oct 27, 2007

Looks like you need a compressor and an impact gun!

You also need to clean and paint those calipers and put on some Mintex dustless pads while you are at it. Here's what they could look like.....

Just giving you a hard time, but I swear by ceramics pads on both my BMW and Mercedes. garage is looking good! :thumbup:

GunMoto · Jan 2, 2008

Update:

1.5 week break from work...does not mean R&R. It means, "Start and (well, at least try to) finish the floor epoxy.

12/23-Sun: Floor was degreased/acid etched/rinsed multiple times
12/25-Tue: Floor rinsed again...that's about it, it's Christmas!
12/26-Wed: First coat of epoxy applied to 3/4 of the floor (storage rack, tool cart, workbench and bike were squeezed into 1/4 of the floor area)
12/28-Fri: Second coat of epoxy was applied to 3/4 of the floor
12/31-Mon: Late afternoon, moved all the garage items back where they belong
1/1-Tue: Rinsed the unfinished 1/4 section of the floor
1/2-Wed: Back to work, sitting here in the office, :lol_hitti

To be continued... :thumbup:

EDIT: Pic from 12/31

GunMoto · Jan 2, 2008

GunMoto · Jan 2, 2008

Unfinished business... :lol_hitti

Jasong · Jan 2, 2008

Hey new guy here (first post on these boards). But I must say, I like the color scheme you've gone with. I think I may do the same. Question. I have almost exactly the same size garage with just a little more head room, but was 2 boxes of the epoxy going to be enough to cover everything nice and thick or are you going to have to kinda stretch it? And you going to do the flecks or no?

Looks great so far..

GunMoto · Jan 2, 2008

Jasong said:
but was 2 boxes of the epoxy going to be enough to cover everything nice and thick or are you going to have to kinda stretch it? And you going to do the flecks or no?

Yeah, each box does 300-400 square feet. I applied two (2) thick coats, the second coat was thicker than the first coat though. Floor area is 438 square feet. A lot of epoxy was used on the concrete risers/sides because it was porous (and I was essentially lazy to use filler) and I only did one coat.

I saved just enough epoxy to finish the last 1/4 of the floor with another 2 coats.

I really contemplated adding a layer of clear coat to finish it off, but just decided to rely on the two (2) coats of color and I decided to use no flakes for a "clean" look.

GunMoto · Jan 6, 2008

Update:

1/2-Wed: First coat of epoxy was applied to final 1/4 portion of the floor
1/4-Fri: Second coat of epoxy was applied to final 1/4 portion of the floor

Pics from 1/5:

russlaferrera · Jan 6, 2008

Looking good. Smart move purging junk. Wish more people would do that. Makes better garage sales.

GunMoto · Jan 21, 2008

Update:

Some pics to share before my Monday morning commute...

EDIT: Currently shopping for a Halon fire extinguisher for the garage...any suggestions?

jonny01blaze · Jan 21, 2008

Wow! Great make-over man, love the way the floors came out with the color scheme.

RenegadeEngr · Jan 21, 2008

Awesome. Organized, clean, and methodical. Although a shop should look like you're getting work done I also feel like it needs to look like a museum as well. Keep up the good work!

Stig · Jan 22, 2008

Awesome transformation, thanks for the pics

Woffski · Jan 26, 2008

Very nice change! :thumbup:

Scottz5 · Jan 27, 2008

Nice job and nice e46

GunMoto · Mar 1, 2008

Update...random pics...

GunMoto · Mar 1, 2008

Mayor · Mar 1, 2008

The floor came out great. Want to do mine?

bmwpower · Mar 1, 2008

Nice! I guess temperature was not a factor in CA...

jxxxoxxxe · Mar 1, 2008

GunMoto said:
I've spent many hours just this past week over flooring and was decided on VCT, until I realized it's not likely the best idea for resale of our home.

What factors made you think vct was a bad idea for the resale of the house? I'm just wondering, as I am planning on using VCT, and thought that maybe you have thought about something that I havent???

GunMoto · Jul 31, 2008

I have a (small) workbench!

GunMoto · Jul 31, 2008

Pic updates...

gt3 racer · Jul 31, 2008

Nice job, unfortunately you will find that the Rustoleum product will not hold up. I did everything the instructions said to do and it is lifting off 4 years later

XR80David · Jul 31, 2008

gt3 racer said:
Nice job, unfortunately you will find that the Rustoleum product will not hold up. I did everything the instructions said to do and it is lifting off 4 years later

Can't complain. 4 years isn't bad for Rustoleum DIY.

SnyperBob · Aug 15, 2008

Nice garage man. Very nice use of the little room you have. Well done!

GunMoto · Jan 20, 2009

Bringing this thread back from the dead with some recent shots.

The only addition was using more of the wall space for a length of Rubbermaid FastTrack in the first pic. Bike has fresh paint as well.

Kevin54 · Jan 20, 2009

For the thread being started over a year ago, have you had to do any touchup at all on the floor, or what is your opinion of it? BTW...the bike looks great in white :thumbup:

GunMoto · Jan 20, 2009

Kevin54 said:
For the thread being started over a year ago, have you had to do any touchup at all on the floor, or what is your opinion of it? BTW...the bike looks great in white

The floor certainly gets some abuse, but has held up well in my opinion. I do take care trying not to drop tools, but the floor so far has been resilient in those cases where I've dropped various things (including tools).

When I first started working in the garage, I used jack stands designed with the sharp foot (as shown in the first pic) and got some scrapes from it sliding slightly when lowering the car with a jack from the opposing side. Now I place cardboard under the jack stands without any issues. I'm too cheap to buy those nice flat-bottomed jack stands (one day I will though, haha).

I have not touched-up any areas of the floor and have not needed to, so I'm very happy with how it's held up! Although there may be superior products (for more money), I was happy to minimize my budget with this DIY product, which suits my particular needs just fine. So yeah, this is pretty much my 1-year check-in.

AKS_Racing · Jan 20, 2009

I too used the Rustoleum product as sold by HD. My experience is on par with others. It is fine for most, but if you have sticky tires (i.e. drag radials or full on slicks, or sticky MC tires), and come in "hot" it will pull the epoxy right off the floor when you later move the vehicle.

I have learned that when I come home "hot", I leave the vehicle in the driveway until the tire temps cool. I will then pull it into the garage when all is cool. The Rustoleum product holds up well to chemical solvents, no issues there.

My next application will be of a better (read as more cost with more durability) epoxy surface coat.

Kornnut · Jan 21, 2009

I have the same stuff for my floor. Did it need two coats or would one be enough?

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