[Steve91T]

Hey guys. We're planning on moving to Charlotte, NC soon. The houses in our price range have small garages (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

The one we are really interested in is a 2 car, 18ft wide, by about 21ft long. The gas water heater is the corner, and a built in gas heater is nearby, which is nice. The garage is finished, and has pretty high ceilings, looks like 10ft or so. There's two built in over head storage shelves that are made out of wood, and hanging from the ceilings.

So, if we get this house or not, it doesn't matter. All the garages are about the same size. So, how do you guys make the most out of a small space? If there is enough ceiling height, I'd love to build a loft, to give me room for some of my larger, bulkier things, like the compressor and tires and stuff like that.

This house is going to be a stepping stone for us. We'll be in it for roughly 2 years, then we'll move to a larger house, where hopefully I can build myself a huge detached garage.


Anyway, I just wanted to get some opinions/pictures.

Thanks guys!
Steve

[CrashTestDummy]

Yeah, if you have stuff in cardboard boxes, plastic tubs will definitely help. Not sure about where you live, but cardboard boxes are one of the three major food groups for cockroaches and silverfish. Cardboard is great for protecting the floor from spills under the car, and scratching parts when sliding them under the car to install/remove, but keep those pieces cycling out of the garage.

The only bad thing about plastic bins is that you have to pull the whole thing down and open it to get anything out. But it's a ton nicer than pulling a box down off the shelf, having the bottom open up as it clears the shelf, or get a surprise with a herd of garage buddies when you open the top.

Do those under-door lights have metal housings? Not that I've spent a lot of time looking for such lights, but the only ones I have seen have plastic housings, and connectors. The plastic gets brittle with age (and heat from the light), and when the bulb burns out, you're having to replace the whole thing because retainer clips and plugs just crumble as you try to remove the bulb. It's just something to remember when the time comes so you don't end up buying a bulb then having the whole light crumble on you when you try to replace it.

This post has been edited by CrashTestDummy: Mar 5 2012, 02:19 PM