Garage revamp

[BellyBuilder]

Hi all,

I'm not doing the usual revamp here, as I'm turning a double garage into my warehouse/storage/dispatch unit, but I'm looking to get a retro moped for tinkering with so it will have some garage use still

It's 4.4m wide x 4.8m deep.

There's no electricity unfortunately and will be too expensive to add it (plus no space for an outside box), so I'm looking at big battery packs like the Anker 767 for my power.

It's the floor that I'm looking to get right though, and I'm looking to do all the work myself.

There's a good concrete slab and it is level/flat, and no visible damp getting through. However its really cold to stand on, so I'm looking at insulating it the best I can. The garage was built in the 60's/70's so it will just be the slab laid on to whatever it was laid on....

There's a concrete lip at the entrance to the garage that's 7-8cm high, so I'm looking at doing all my insulation to keep under that height.

First thought is to get a Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) sheet laid down, something like an anti-Radon 1600 sheet like they sell in Wickes for c.£50ish.

Then the plan is to get 2x layers of OSB/Stirling board down, one layer run one way (side to side), the other run front-to-back. 8x 8ftx4ft 18mm thick on each layer will hopefully provide some insulation! Not sure realistically what I can put on/in there as well to beef up insulation as there will be no heating option other than a small portable heater. I need boards down to create a flat surface as will be rolling trolleys around, hence no 'gym' type interlocking rubberised flooring unfortunately.

I'm seriously considering lining the walls as well with some Celotex in between battens with Stirling board/OSB fronts.

I'll be putting some conversion pics up here when I get started, but just wanted to start the project correctly, or as best as I can anyway.

Any thoughts gratefully received :-)

[sLowered]

Jan 17, 2024 9:18:21 GMT BellyBuilder said:

I'm not doing the usual revamp here, as I'm turning a double garage into my warehouse/storage/dispatch unit, but I'm looking to get a retro moped for tinkering with so it will have some garage use still

It's 4.4m wide x 4.8m deep.

There's no electricity unfortunately and will be too expensive to add it (plus no space for an outside box), so I'm looking at big battery packs like the Anker 767 for my power.

Assuming there isn't a neighbour or 200m extension lead answer to your lack of electricity I feel keep transporting a 30+kg battery to charge will get old quick. The Ankers 2048wh is roughly equivalent to 170aH at 12v. I would loose the portability and spend the money on as much solar with a "static" batteries. Probably researching into what boat owners / "van lifers" do and possibly keeping everything 12v.

It's the floor that I'm looking to get right though, and I'm looking to do all the work myself.

There's a good concrete slab and it is level/flat, and no visible damp getting through. However its really cold to stand on, so I'm looking at insulating it the best I can. The garage was built in the 60's/70's so it will just be the slab laid on to whatever it was laid on....

First thought is to get a Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) sheet laid down, something like an anti-Radon 1600 sheet like they sell in Wickes for c.£50ish.

Then the plan is to get 2x layers of OSB/Stirling board down, one layer run one way (side to side), the other run front-to-back. 8x 8ftx4ft 18mm thick on each layer will hopefully provide some insulation! Not sure realistically what I can put on/in there as well to beef up insulation as there will be no heating option other than a small portable heater. I need boards down to create a flat surface as will be rolling trolleys around, hence no 'gym' type interlocking rubberised flooring unfortunately.

If you have a solid, level and flat floor I cant see what putting down a plastic sheet and adding two layers of OSB is going to achieve, unless you really like Weetabix. I would prioritise the roof then walls for insulation whilst allowing for ventilation and just put down a mat where you stand/work the most.

For the small portable heater, Ive heard many good things about the cheap chinese diesel ones but haven't got one myself.


Hopefully some of that helps, but I'm not a expert.
Nick

[redratbike]

for the floor i’m sure there are better budget option than osb,

is a generator an option rather than batteries , installed in a soundproofed small box outside ?

any room for some foam under a layer of osb? the lay rubber flirting on that

like this ?
Clean and Repair tGarage Floor. Inspect the concrete floor, thoroughly clean it, and repair any problems ...
Lay Vapour Barrier. ...
Lay Rigid Foam. ...
Lay Plywood
Install rubber Flooring.


you can buy used stable mats cheaply might be an idea ?

[BellyBuilder]

Thanks for your thoughts Nick.
>>>
Assuming there isn't a neighbour or 200m extension lead answer to your lack of electricity I feel keep transporting a 30+kg battery to charge will get old quick. The Ankers 2048wh is roughly equivalent to 170aH at 12v. I would loose the portability and spend the money on as much solar with a "static" batteries. Probably researching into what boat owners / "van lifers" do and possibly keeping everything 12v.
>>>

Unfortunately the neighbours aren't too friendly (they're annoyed they don't own the garage apparently!), and the garage isn't at my house but 1 mile away.

I was going to charge the battery via another battery as like you say, lugging those big batteries around isn't an option.

No chance of any solar unfortunately as the council own some huge trees behind the garage which blocks out the sun

I'll have to look into the diesel heater but am worried about potential for fumes.

Will definitely look into the wall insulation but not sure much can be done with the roof as tin roof and really don't want to get it sprayed underneath, or lose any height inside with a sub roof. I know it's not perfect but its never going to be a livable place, and just want to tackle the areas I can tackle easily ie. the floor and the walls.

[BellyBuilder]

Jan 18, 2024 6:40:05 GMT redratbike said:

for the floor i’m sure there are better budget option than osb,

is a generator an option rather than batteries , installed in a soundproofed small box outside ?

Unfortunately I don't own the driveway outside and there's no place to mount a box which is a shame.

Thanks for your thoughts though :-)

[was8v]

Absolutely get a chinese diesel van heater. You'll need a 12v battery to run it off.

They are amazing VFM, just have a hole in the wall for the exhaust. I run mine on domestic heating oil for cheaps in my garage. There are no fumes, they are every efficient, can smoke a little on startup. Just run the exhaust outside.

For electricity, just use a generator?

sounds like you aren't jacking cars up. Get some XPS sheets (ebay sellers) down and 18mm chipboard, then glue some cheap thin carpet down.

Expanding foam any gaps or holes around windows

Whats the roof? Hopefully not metal. Insulate it and the walls, obvs kingspan stuff is the best but pricey, there is a website that sells damaged boards by the pallet soemwhere

[BellyBuilder]

Thanks for your thoughts!

I was thinking about not getting the roof insulated but after this cold snap there's no point insulating elsewhere and not doing that. Roof is a mixture of corrugated sheets - mostly later than asbestos versions + 1x row of unfortunately steel corrugated which did have a small amount of condensation on when I went yesterday.

Due to the size of the project and limited time I can handle the floor side of things but insulating the walls and under the roof I would look to get some spray-foam/inside wall insulation sprayed on by a company (been looking through Checkatrade). I realise I'd need to completely clear out the garage to do this, which will mean moving it to a storage unit then back again....

Still not convinced by the Chinese diesel heater as I had some bad petrol fume poisoning a few years ago and it's put me off non-clean (to me) heating now.

The XPS sheets are a good call, hadn't see those before, so thanks for that :-)

[MiataMark]

Commercial grade floor carpet tiles are a good for making the floor more comfortable.

[BellyBuilder]

I'll be rolling trolleys around so not sure how well the carpet tiles would stand up to that? :-)

[sLowered]

If your trolleys have decent castors, commercial carpet tiles wont be a problem. Ive moved 100kg+ across carpet tiles on a skate before and in reality I don't think its much different to someone on there wheeled office chair.

Carpet tiles are also normally patterned which should help hide any paths/walkways.

[BellyBuilder]

Good idea actually about carpet tiles, as they're very low pile, and be laid/lifted easily if necessary.

I will look into that, as I see sometimes on ebay there's job lots of used tiles.


I've worked out I'd need about 90, like these ones perhaps:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305244581533

I think they'd definitely make the floor warmer :-)

Cheers guys

[MiataMark]

If you get commercial carpet tiles they have a thick (relatively) rubber base compared to domestic. The ones I got were from an office refit.

[BellyBuilder]

Thanks, yes, the rubber base will definitely help out! Cheers