Long term garage 'modification' - Recent update...

[camerashy]

You aren't half cracking on with this. A few thoughts on security. Have you thought of some large lexan sheets on the inside of the lower (non-opening) portion of the windows, screwed in to the frame? May be a fair deterrent if anyone was to try a quick smash and grab??

Secondly, is the eventual plan to parge over the breeze blocks? Get some nice veggie boxes growing next to it, great build!

[marksparks999]

seems we are due an update?

[skinnylew]

I'd forgotten about this thread!! Update needed indeedy, now I've got my own house I might have to save up and do something like this ;D

[Mr S]

I'd like an update too... lol I'm currently spending too much time in it (trying to make some extra cash!) to finish it.

I'm also exploring every avenue to try and acquire the bits and bobs that I need (wiring and lighting mostly!) either cheaply or for free.

[iant]

I'm a latecomer to this thread but have caught up over the last couple of days and have really enjoyed seeing this whole thing come together. Thanks for sharing all your hard work, I have learned a good few construction pointers here!
Look forward to seeing the finishing touches go in!

[woodenspatulas]

Just read the whole thing cover to cover

that is an amazing garage! Top work and cap duly dofted.

I know the pain of moving the concrete during the pouring stage, we had a fair amount poured and moved when we built the base for our workshop. I nearly died shoveling that lot!

[Mr S]

Man it's been a while since I've updated this. But I'm stuck bored at work at the minute, so I'll give a textual update and then add some pics later.. When I've actually taken some!

Well, thanks to mrabody off this very forum, I've now got some lights! 9 twin tube fluorescent lights to be precise. Currently 7 are up (2 to go but I've got a bit of stuff in the way on the floor....) and 5 are wired in. I then ran out of wire... doh! However, I can't even begin to explain how good it is to have an operating lightswitch right by my door (even if the lightswitch is plugged in to an extension cable....!)! Previously I've had to go in with a torch, walk halfway down the garage and find the sockets that my 2 tubes were plugged into, then turn them on.

Having never used T8 58w tubes before, I was terribly disapointed when I turned them on initially, blissfully unaware that they take a little while to warm up. I went back in home, sulked a bit and then went back out. I had to squint it was that bright in there. That made me happy again ;D

Aside from that, I've put a 3.4m workbench in (acquired for free, happy days!) and am ready to put some more shelves up (again, acquired for free!).

Also thanks to mrabody, I have a few electrical double sockets that I will be using around the garage. I'll need someone to come and certify my work when it's all done, but I can't see that there will be any problems there. Hope not anyway!

Next major job is to fit a proper electrical feed from the house, using 2 runs of 6mm SWA cable (I'd rather overspec than underspec ;D ) - one for the ring main and lighting, and one for my twin 3hp motor, 270l compressor.

I'm waiting for the weather to get better before I put my ridge tiles up.... lol

I'm actually getting my act back in gear now, so I'll hopefully be updating this thread on at least a monthly basis from now on.

Not-very-exciting pics of some lights and a workbench later today or tomorrow!

EDIT: I'm thinking of wood-cladding the breezeblocked upper part now. I'm thinking that will be easier for me to do than rendering (and hopefully cheaper than getting someone in to render it for me!). Whaddya think?

2nd EDIT: Just realised there are no pics of the completed (bar glass) front doors, I'll rectify that too!

[staylor688]

just read this whole thing through as the rugby was cancelled fair play to you! Makes me want to have finished uni, got a house and got a garage! looks great and very functional!

[PhilA]

Very nice. Makes me wish I have a garage!

Had the space for it at our old place, but here I'm parking the truck and the car in the front yard and there's not much space for anything else.

On a side note with the doors, as mentioned before- supporting the middle when they are shut is always a good idea. Had seen before a slightly different approach, that won't completely match what you're doing, but a reasonably sized metal runner wheel like you find on the bottom of big roll-around toolboxes that finds a small ramp and a divot to sit in is good if you are in and out a lot, also gives a good point for the door to stay put.

Makes it a little harder to open but pushing it out of the divot serves two purposes, it brings the door up slightly and lifts the seal off the ground making it easier to open and shut past that point.

Some people prefer a shoulder against the door but I don't think that's a particularly glamorous way to shut a big door

Looking good, by the way. Don't forget to pull network cable, phone and antenna through at the same time

--Phil

[Mr S]

Apologies for the crappy phone pics (actually, I'm not sorry, I just don't have a decent camera!). But you get the idea - all photos are taken with the same phone, with no flash.

Here's how the lighting has been for some time:



Here's how it is now - with 2 more lighting units to put up, and another one to get a tube for.



And here's the workbench in-place:

[PhilA]

Nice. When we put the lights up at my old work it was more like a spray booth- paint the inside walls white and stick the lights along the top corners of the roof. The light distribution can be a bit odd but there's a lot less risk of lifting something up into one of the tubes and getting a shower of glass and powder everywhere.

Also gives a little bit more clearance in the centre of the space.

Either way, it's looking nice now, despite the gargantuan size being brought to nil by random scatterings of stuff

[skinnylew]

Ah ha an update! Lighting looks good, I think I might have to re jig the lighting in my garage so might try to find something similar......

[bazzateer]

At work so can't see the pics at the moment but wanted to update myself on your progress Martin - sounds like it's all coming to gether nicely. I'm hoping Drew still has some of those light fittings left but as I'm nowhere near needing them yet I'll just have to wait!

I'll check out the last few pages of photos when I get home.

[marksparks999]

one day i reckon this might get finished?

[Mr S]

Mar 23, 2012 19:39:22 GMT marksparks999 said:

one day I reckon this might get finished?

That's the dream! I barely have time/money to do the basics of life at the minute tho, so it may be some time yet - don't hold your breath, you'll go purple!

I know that this is not much of an update, but I put some more shelves in the other day... Shelf brackets acquired from a disused building at work destined for demolition at some point in the future and shelves made from old pallets

[Mr S]

Well, again it's not much of an update, but it's progress. I've started painting the floor. The 5 litres of paint I bought didn't go too far though.... Still, it's a start and I'll be ordering another 20 litres this evening!

On a seperate note, as soon as I get some time and good weather at the same time, I should be able to finish glazing the windows.

And with a further flourish, the glass for the main front doors will be ordered soon, along with the last row of roof tiles and maybe even some wood to board out the far wall behind the workbench. Might book a day off so I can visit all these places, Saturday mornings (the only time I can usually get to these places with a suitable vehicle!!) seem to go by too quickly!

Anyway, enough waffle, a couple of pics...

Painting the middle, then leaving it to dry....



Then move the stuff inwards and paint round the edges. Sadly running out of paint before I did the edges.... Doh!

[MiataMark]

Just painted my (much smaller) garage floor, did you prime the floor with diluted PVA makes a huge difference to paint usage. Still managed 2 (1 litre) cans, (and a smidgen from a 3rd ) for a single garage though.

Mark

[mudpud]

HI Bladerunner I am a lurker from Germany and have been following this with great interest,
Nice work with your doors, Just a small point .Turn over the top hinges pins or our light fingered friends will just put a crow bar under the bottom edge of the door and Bingo! they are in! Believe me, as it happened to me once.

[simes]

This paint is cheap - I've done a few floors with it and it's lasted ok.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Industrial-floor-paint-garage-showroom-20-litres-Grey-/380253059377?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Paint_Varnish_MJ&hash=item5888d93931#ht_1181wt_1187

[Mr S]

I didn't prime the floor - the paint supposedly doesn't need to, and I guess it will stick like sh1te to an unprimed floor. I intend giving it two coats, maybe 3 if I have any paint left in the high traffic areas.

Mudpud, thanks for the advice, but unless the door is open, there is no way it can be lifted clear as it is directly underneath a massive steel RSJ!

On to other news:- Look what arrived today! Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend...!



I also finally managed to get some tyres fitted to my 15x10 rims on the Chevy - 255s have a little bit of stretch Not for 'keeps' though, just so I can roll it back far enough to give me enough room to get the kitchen cupboards I've got to fit under my bench! It may not yet be its final resting place, but it'll do for a quick 10 minute fiddle from earlier this evening!





More soon, hope to have the last few roof tiles bought this week so I can put the ridge tiles up soon.....