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bryce86

Original Poster:

379 posts

148 months

Sunday 24th February 2013
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Started mine with good intentions last year but run out of spare time due to work load. So far I've had it completely plasterboarded and painted.

Still got to do:

Skirtings
Floor paint - concrete with the odd chip so looking for advice on this
Shelving / wall storage - again suggestion please
Lighting - something that's natural to the paint and doesn't cast too many shadows
Other decor..

What have you lads done?

rigga

8,748 posts

207 months

Sunday 24th February 2013
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Mercky

642 posts

141 months

Sunday 24th February 2013
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bryce86 said:
Started mine with good intentions last year but run out of spare time due to work load. So far I've had it completely plasterboarded and painted.

Still got to do:

Skirtings
Floor paint - concrete with the odd chip so looking for advice on this
Shelving / wall storage - again suggestion please
Lighting - something that's natural to the paint and doesn't cast too many shadows
Other decor..

What have you lads done?
You could install some coving and maybe a nice dado rail to match the skirting, but for something really useful I would dig a Pit.

kambites

68,309 posts

227 months

Sunday 24th February 2013
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I'm going to be doing something similar soon and have done a fair bit of research. My conclusions:

Skirtings: Doesn't really matter as long as there is something there to protect the bottom of the plasterboard. I think I'll probably go for simple, cheap wooden skirting boards painted in out-door paint and sealed to the floor with something waterproof.

The best solution for the floor seems to be to polish it but that's expensive and time-tanking; clip-together tiles are warm and pleasant to work on, but I'm not sure how well they'd deal with chemical spills; epoxy paint type stuff is cheap(ish) and seems reasonably hard wearing. I'll probably go for an epoxy solution.

Storage: I'm going to build something from scratch. My garage is about 2m longer than any of our cars, so I think I'm going to set some cupboard doors about 1.5m from the back wall, then build some wheeled racks sized to take those plastic storage boxes that can be slid forwards for access.

Lighting: I've gone for four 2x70 watt strip light units. Combined with white ceiling and walls, I think they'll give quite a nice diffuse light for working in.

Other decor:... probably nothing. Anything that isn't white will inevitably darken the place to an extent and I want the whole thing to be hose-downable so they'd have to be waterproof anyway.




Other things...

I'm going to install a double sink, with one side draining to the foul sewer, the other into a jerry can for hazardous chemicals that need to go to the tip.

I'm going for about 10 double sockets around the walls, each on their own fuse and ring, so I can draw 13 amps from any combination of sockets without risk over overloading a circuit.

I'm also going to install about 10 air-line points scattered around the walls. The compressor will be mounted OUTSIDE of the garage (in a lean-to shed on the back), so I can use it for externally fed air for spray painting.

Decent dehumidifying is, IMO, essential.

I'm probably going to install a flush fitting scissor lift into the floor for picking cars up. Haven't worked out how I'm going to keep the voids in the floor dry yet.

bryce86

Original Poster:

379 posts

148 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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Brilliant thread above, thank you.

Has anyone carpeted their garage?

Muncher

12,219 posts

255 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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bryce86 said:
Brilliant thread above, thank you.

Has anyone carpeted their garage?
Pretty bad idea, it will trap all the dust and will mark with every spill or bit of oil.

bryce86

Original Poster:

379 posts

148 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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Wouldn't it hoover? and touch wood they dont leak at the moment. Im more concerned about trailing dirty water in.

GuinnessMK

1,608 posts

228 months

Monday 25th February 2013
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I have interlocking gym mats in mine.

It's pretty good to work on, warm and easily cleaned (take it up, take it outside and jet wash it).

It's also brilliant for dropped tools / nuts / parts. On concrete you drop something, hear it hit the floor and it bounces into the next dimension. On foam it drops, hits the floor and stays exactly where it landed. Saves me hours!