[CMC#5]

Now that things are starting to settle down here in our new home, we broke ground on the GarageMahal.

Any suggestions/tips from those that know much more than I ever will about electricity and other shop essentials? Keep it simple, essential and wonderland arent the same (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Specifically I'm looking for advice on # of circuits and size, as well as floor and wall paint/coating/covering options.

(IMG:http://www.camaromustangchallenge.com/images/Other/GarageDay1.jpg)

[Powerslide91]

Random thoughts:
My experience from building my shop echoes alot of what has been said. You cannot have too many lights and outlets. Include 220 outlets. I put 1 heavy 220 line into my shop but should have placed several in different locations instead. Now I have a super heavy 220 extension cord I need to drag around for the welders. It works but could have been better. Living in Texas I did AC and heat the garage. To me this is a hobby and it needs to be fun. Working all day at the real job then trying to go home and get stuff done in a shop that is 90+ degrees is not fun. The AC / heat is worth every penny to me. Good insulation, including the garage door is important. Lots of heavy duty shelving is a great thing. Look at oversize garage doors, especially if you are going to put a trailer and or tow vehicles inside. I oversized the doors on my garage in both height and width and it cost less than I thought it would. Epoxy the floor after you build the shop and before you move anything into it. I used the easy Rustoelum kits from Lowes. It has held up well for the last 2 years and I have no complaints but next time I will probably try a more professional grade covering. If you have plumbing to the shop, include a hose bib for things like washing down the race car outside. Outlets in the ceilings are a good thing for drop lights and extension cords. I admit I was a pimp and included a TV hook up. I put the outlet and a 110 outlet in the ceiling in one corner to hook the TV and stearo up to. Back to the keep if fun thing.... Stainless steel workbenches are worth every penny to me, it is great to be able to do a messy job, then just wipe it down with a rag when done. Layout areas for clean and dirty work. Grinders, drill press, parts washer, that kind of stuff in one area with a bench, and then a clean working bench in another area. Personally, I got talked out of putting windows in the shop but now I wish I had. I guess it does come down to the security and who can see what inside your shop. But my thought now is if a thief really wants into your shop bad enough, it will happen if you have windows or not. I just try to be smart about not advertising what I have inside.

Jeff