Congrats to Sherry on her retirement!  I Don't know your shop, but think recessed floor lighting under the lift would be nice.

Last edited by rpm (5/07/2017 10:25 PM)

Congrats to you both!!  Make sure your ceiling is high enough!!!

Is that Canyon Lake down by Wimberly???

Canyon Lake BASH 2018.
BASH and boating.....LOL

My dream garage is two story.  A loft over a good portion of the floor space.  The upper area is mainly for storage, but some space is reserved for a rec area "man cave".  There are stairs, but more importantly a lift to haul up those parts.  Nothing fancy, just a dual gated caged platform that goes from A to B.  I think I remember someone on here making one.   IF its going to be independent of the house, then a bathroom/shower and possibly even one of those efficiency kitchenettes.   I have actually seen something similiar to what I am describing.  A garage someone built about two miles away from me.  He used it as a home based business.  Other goodies.  Air line set up.  Overhead winding extension cord set up.  (I have these in my 24 x 24 and it makes a hec of a difference from being in your way.)  Congrats on Sherry's retirement!

Greg B wrote:

My dream garage is two story.  A loft over a good portion of the floor space.  The upper area is mainly for storage, but some space is reserved for a rec area "man cave".  There are stairs, but more importantly a lift to haul up those parts.  Nothing fancy, just a dual gated caged platform that goes from A to B.  I think I remember someone on here making one.   IF its going to be independent of the house, then a bathroom/shower and possibly even one of those efficiency kitchenettes.   I have actually seen something similiar to what I am describing.  A garage someone built about two miles away from me.  He used it as a home based business.  Other goodies.  Air line set up.  Overhead winding extension cord set up.  (I have these in my 24 x 24 and it makes a hec of a difference from being in your way.)  Congrats on Sherry's retirement!

That's the description for what a man looks for when house shopping: "six car garage with someplace to sleep, functioning bathroom, and a den."
 

I have given some thought to a floor drain for washing the car. There are some pretty good reasons NOT to do that in a garage.  Most places will not let you do it. And pretty much all municipalities prohibit a drain going to the storm sewer.
In rural areas such as ours where we have an aerobic sewer system, I would not want a gasoline or oil residue spill contaminating the system that I have to maintain. That could be a very expensive spill. So, I decided the floor in one bay would have a slight slope towards the overhead door.   Sure would be nice to have a floor drain, but I think the benefit would be wiped out if I ever spilled something.

We live not too far from where Steve will be moving.  In slab heating is almost never seen here, as it rarely gets below freezing for more than a week or so a year. His biggest problem is cooling as it gets blasted hot here.  Several years ago, we had close to 90 days over 100, with 6 of them over 110.  AC is a must as is good insulation.

Prof wrote:

A/C
a urinal
220 wiring

In this order and don't COMBINE together the last two.  

Install twice as many lights as you think you will need. As you get older, you need more light. If you zone them, you can have general and detail lighting circuits. The earlier suggestion for in-floor lights under the lift is a good one. You might also consider sinking pull pots in the slab so you can winch dead vehicles into the shop.

Porcelain tile in the shop is worth every penny. Porcelain is harder than concrete and if it is properly installed with full bedding and no back voids, it is nearly impossible to break. Easy cleanup.

Trolley hoist in the ceiling and a fridge with a lock.

I'm on my 4th shop, two I've built, one that was built with the last house, and one converted garage.  Below is a listing of the things I will would like in my future shops.

Foundation:  Here in TX, I prefer post tension slabs, but ask your concrete guy to add poly fibers to the mix for strength and make sure he waters it after the pour so it doesn't crack.  Pay extra to ensure he levels the slab as well as he can, and doesn't slope it to the door, as is typically done - just ensure the slab is well above grade.  5" to 6" thick with generous interior beams.
Size: as large as possible. I've filled up every shop I've owned including a 30'X 40' shop with a second floor.
10' ceilings.
A floored attic with a separate outside staircase.
Plenty of cabinets with adjustable shelves.  Cabinet height should be at least a foot taller than the typical cabinet since the space above is wasted.
All electrical outlets just above bench/counter height.
30 amp 120 volt circuits - similar for 240 volt circuits.  Dedicated circuit for 240 volt welder.  120 volt and 240 volt outlets every 8' around the shop.  Separate circuits for each wall.
Well insulated including the ceiling.
I prefer window A/C units for the ease of DIY installation, cost, and maintenance.  Nothing like a wood burning stove in the winter and space heaters have always sufficed me.
A separate room for the stuff that makes messes (lathe, grinder, shaper, mill, etc.). A separate room with an exhaust fan for painting small stuff.
I know you have a lift and don't know if you're taking it, but a pit is another old time alternative and/or supplement and  it's fairly cheap to have integrated in the foundation.  Doubles as an emergency hidey-hole.
Small windows high up in the walls scattered around the ceiling.  Solatubes are also great.
Very generous ceiling lighting.
A central dust collector.  The last one I had I build from a salvaged HVAC blower.
A wash-up sink with a septic lateral line for the drain (code allowing).

 

Congrats Steve!  I have an acre in Canyon Lake I've been wanting to sell for a couple of years now.  Mustang Mania parts also relocated to that area a few years back.