[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

[roostmeyer]

Been meaning to post on this thread for a while. My garage is pretty small, looking at garage journal has given me some good ideas, but I think I've got a decent start as long as I don't over do it like in the latest thrash. I don't really have room for two motors, much less all the other crap associated with it. This was Saturday:

(IMG:http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp135/roostmeyer/other/th_photobucket-3736-1331097510361.jpg)

This was tonight, after throwing a bunch of stuff away, condensing storage bins in the basement, and taking a bunch more stuff to the basement. Once I deliver the lt1 to the new owner I should be in good shape.
(IMG:http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp135/roostmeyer/other/th_photobucket-3785-1331097476707.jpg)

(IMG:http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp135/roostmeyer/other/th_photobucket-1934-1331095225692.jpg)

The workbenches are 2x4's held together with decking screws, very solid, even with 8+ tires and wheels on the top. I can't remember the thicknesses of OSB I used, but I want to say 3/8" on the shelves and 7/16 on the workbench surface. VCT tiles on the surface to make it pretty, black and white checkers. I have some different tile adhesive I need to try on the front tiles.

I ended up adding an extra circuit for the overhead lights(8x 4" strips) and fans, a circuit for the periphery walls, one for the main workbench, one for the lathe (overkill), and a 220 for the TIG. The ceiling fans are nice in the summer, but really I put them in to help spread the heat out from the 30k btu blue flame heater by the door into the house.

This summer I'm planning on building a shed under my deck. It should be about 10;x11'. That way I can get all the lawn care stuff out as well as give me a place to keep my four wheeler so it won't be 2 hours away. Hopefully its water tight enough I'll be able to use it for car parts as well. Once I'm done with that my wife's car should actually fit with a little room to spare.