Garage build - what to include

Garage build - what to include

Author
Discussion

taylormj4

Original Poster:

1,563 posts

266 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
So I just got planning permission to build a double garage.
What kit should I be looking to include in the build ?
Don't want to build it and then think, ahhh if only....

A 2 or 4 post lift ?
A pit is out unfortunately due to complex foundations
A hoist ?
Presume I will need to have a special roof support design to allow space for a car to be lifted ?
Water and electrics of course
Anything else ? What do you find most useful or wish you had built in ?

Thanks.

scotty_d

6,795 posts

194 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
I have a scissor lift ramp that takes up next to no space but in the ideal world get a 2 poster in, best ramps you can get as you can lift the car and let the suspension hang down to work at it.

If you can fit an over head beam do it as well for body lifts or engine lift.

Look here for inspiration smile

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

RFC1

1,107 posts

197 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Defo make sure to have an area high enough for a proper car lift to be used. I didnt consider it and now regret it.!
Sockets everywhere.!
Electric doors, the ones that go straight up on a track, not the ones that fold out then up! These are the best thing i put in my new garage .

If you arent having windows on the walls, make sure and stick at least 4 roof windows in. assuming you are having a pitched roof of course!

Sandy

swallet

453 posts

143 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Plumbed in compressed air?
Central heating.
Good lighting
electric doors
alarm.

skys the limit!

neal1980

2,574 posts

239 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Good selection of smutty calendars :-)
Beer Fridge

taylormj4

Original Poster:

1,563 posts

266 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Great reference Scotty and thanks for the advice everyone.

It's a pyramid type roof so I expect the roof trusses will be mental and leave next to no room for access / storage. So I'm wondering if I could get something fabricated out of steel to leave it free for lifting.

What's the scissor lift like for accessing the car to work on Scotty. They look well compact and useful but can you get in around it or does all that steelwork get in the way ? Great access to the suspension though.

The cars I'd be wanting to lift are an old Range Rover (2 ton and tall) and the Chimaera (1 ton and not very tall at all). TVR lift would (more than likely) be to get at the chassis to paint it all so scissor lift probably not that useful. Whereas the Range Rover would be for bodywork (welding) and general underbody maintenance.

Edited by taylormj4 on Monday 17th September 18:16

taylormj4

Original Poster:

1,563 posts

266 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
swallet said:
Plumbed in compressed air?
Central heating.
Good lighting
electric doors
alarm.

skys the limit!
Plumbed in compressed air and central heating - now that's why I came on here. Would never have thought of those.
Garage is separate from house so central heating may be a problem.

How's the compressed air plumbed system work then ? Central compressor with take offs around the garage or something ?

MrChips

3,264 posts

210 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Heating and insulation is the thing that I miss most from mine, however if it's a wish list then:
Drive on lift
Lighting
Roof lights/windows
Lots of sockets
Plumbed in compressed air
Decent flooring (I can recommend ecotile)
Tool wall
Chair on wheels
Extractor fan?

330p4

668 posts

230 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Matthew you will need a good height to fit a lift if you go for a 2 post the TVR is quite low if you can find one so that the arms will go underneath without having to drive on wooden ramps to raise car first it will be a bonus
Ian

S6 Devil

3,556 posts

233 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
neal1980 said:
Good selection of smutty calendars :-)
Beer Fridge
I like your thinking! biglaughrofl

swanny71

2,853 posts

209 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
MrChips said:
Heating and insulation is the thing that I miss most from mine, however if it's a wish list then:
Drive on lift
Lighting
Roof lights/windows
Lots of sockets
Plumbed in compressed air
Decent flooring (I can recommend ecotile)
Tool wall
Chair on wheels
Extractor fan?
+
Shelving/storage/cupboards
Sink with hot n cold water
Tea making facilities
Old settee to sit and drink tea on whilst admiring your work/Chim

nightflight

812 posts

217 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Definitely a four post ramp plus all the above.

mattrosersv

579 posts

230 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
+1 for 4 poster also add jacking beam (can be had for cica £2K if the search ever works there is a post on posts somehwere).. Means you can easily stack an additional TVR of your choice. Lift also makes a great workbench when not in use.

I also had an RSJ put in for lifting with a block and tackle, but my garage is only 4m ish wide.. I had half my garage vaulted for the lift and the rest normal height with substantial beams to give me storage. Lift can then be used to access loft space and stick heavy items up there.

Best thing I ever did.

scotty_d

6,795 posts

194 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
taylormj4 said:
Great reference Scotty and thanks for the advice everyone.

It's a pyramid type roof so I expect the roof trusses will be mental and leave next to no room for access / storage. So I'm wondering if I could get something fabricated out of steel to leave it free for lifting.

What's the scissor lift like for accessing the car to work on Scotty. They look well compact and useful but can you get in around it or does all that steelwork get in the way ? Great access to the suspension though.

The cars I'd be wanting to lift are an old Range Rover (2 ton and tall) and the Chimaera (1 ton and not very tall at all). TVR lift would (more than likely) be to get at the chassis to paint it all so scissor lift probably not that useful. Whereas the Range Rover would be for bodywork (welding) and general underbody maintenance.

Edited by taylormj4 on Monday 17th September 18:16
The Lift is great you can see some pictures of it in use here half way down the page is my post with pictures. : http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

My lift will do 3 ton and 1 meter lift and will lift my 2.8 ton of Range rover no problem and lift the Cerb with ease and allow me to strip the diff and any other component out. You can lift the TVR up and buy high axle stands so you can drop the car back down and work at out riggers but you can get to the rest of the car with ease. If you have the height and space to work round them i would go 2 post lift for a few reasons one being cost you can get a 2 poster for much cheaper than my scissor lift.

Few pictures from my winter work of the lift in action if this helps you out what you can and can't do with one of this kind.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by scotty_d on Monday 17th September 23:06

scotty_d

6,795 posts

194 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Oh and good lighting is key i need more i have 3 large double florescent tubes in my 12x19ft garage and i need much more for next year. smile

Barreti

6,680 posts

237 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Good lighting shouldn't be underestimated. I've got 6 single 6ft tubes and a 3ft tube over my bench and it's still not enough some times.
I've thought of having a lighting rig like they have in F1 garages on sliding rails which can be pulled over the side of the garage you are working in.
Oh, and put some lighting circuit sockets on it too. So you can plug in your inspection lamp.
And if you want to go mad, put some normal sockets there too, so you can plug in your grinder or drill right above where you're working.

Edited by Barreti on Monday 17th September 22:21

geoffphead

637 posts

201 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
You can use electric oil filled radiators if no gas etc. I am an electrical wholesaler so i can advise on which ones.Carpet or tiles is a must to save cold aching legs.Lighting should be white and use LED if you can, some at low level and a rechargable led task light with magnet. Plenty of shelves and space for spare wheels.Paint walls white and run a carpet strip along wall to prevent doors chipping.
A real bonus is a portable dehumidifier, it makes a real difference in the cold and damp .

Griffithy

929 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
I can very much recommend the Eurolift Z 41 2-post.
It is inexpensive and fits to the TVRs and others, like the Defender 130,
are no problem either.
Height of the room is very important to have the possibility to work upright
underneath the cars, especially the TVRs are very low and the Rangie is very high.
May I also recommend to fit a sofa and maybe fireplace.
This would bring you your family closer and so more opportunities to work on the cars.
If it is possible to build your garage bigger - do it.
You will need space space and space.

Naybr

209 posts

166 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
On my double garage I've always wished that I'd specified a full width double door. The brick pier between the two single doors means that it's very hard to position a car so that I have good working space all around it.

Colin RedGriff

2,527 posts

257 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
I fitted an electric roller shutter door. It's a slimline one so when raised the actual roll doesn't intrude into the roof space by more than about 50cm. Means I can have the car raised on the lift and still be able to open the door.