Who has the best Garage on Pistonheads?

[southerndriver]

Shnozz said:

Genuinely interested if there’s any downside to just switching the battery off over an accumate. I used the latter for years when I had access to electricity where the cars are stored but have reverted to isolators now out of necessity. Other than the alarm, is there any issue with switching the whole car off?

Need to check. Some modern cars get very upset if the battery is just disconnected. Modern cars are like computers and have a shutdown procedure which can get complicated. I’ve heard of owners of even 20-year old cars – in this example a Peugeot 406 with multiplexed electrics – getting corruption of the software in the BSI (Body-System-Interface) when the battery was just disconnected. You basically have to wait until the BSI has gone to sleep.

[Earthdweller]

tuffer said:

Thanks for the comments, it's been a busy couple of years renovating the place (I really should do a build thread), I think we have the House to Garage/Workshop size just about right for a Pistonhead house.

Fabulous setting, congratulations on a magnificent house, setting and garage, not forgetting the garage!

[Sf_Manta]

All finished besides setting up and getting stuff stored away now
Had to have a new ring main installed after the electrican shorted out the circuit twice due to some seriously dodgey wiring blew out in a socket and tripped 2 circuit breakers New door also fitted to the front so it's now just roof and boiler to sort out.



Video of the door - https://imgur.com/HVpyTJT

[Leins]

Merry Christmas folks!

Not quite a nativity scene this, but we’ve moved family home and just managed to get the keys before Christmas, leaving Dublin and heading for the ever so slightly more rural and rugged West Cork. Some great roads around here as a bonus, but the real Christmas present for me?…

Yes, my first ever garage! I’ve been very jealous having followed this thread for a long time and, while not in the same league as some of the magnificent ones on here, I am quite excited about this now



It’s a long but narrow-ish double (8.8m x 5.6m), but with roller doors at each end (front one electric), and that pic above is the back of the garage, with a separate drive behind it where I might eventually put a car port

There is also a sizeable storage facility behind it too which could potentially hold another car, but as I’ve currently got my MINI GP1 and something else incoming in the new year I might need to wait a while before I mention the possibility of a third weekend car to Mrs Leins. Her beloved Nissan Leaf will be living outside regardless! I’ll use the storage instead to keep anything non car-related like bikes and golf clubs, freeing up the garage just for “my” stuff, and the lawn mower will go in the garden shed





Inside is a small office cubicle and a toilet, along with a sink and counter top that I plan to keep in place. There’s a water heater too, and the whole thing is pretty well insulated. There’s no heating, but I plan to add a couple of smart heaters to sort that through the winter

The previous owner had a two-post lift, as he used it as a functioning workshop, but I think I’ll be able to squeeze two cars in on the ground, leaving enough space down the sides

Next steps in the new year are to paint it all internally, and do the flooring. It’s already sealed, but I plan to put down Tuff Tiles to keep it neater and protect the floor. Units I’ll organise once I can be sure what room I have around the cars when they’re in situ, which won’t be arriving for another couple of months

Will post up some better pics once I get it sorted a little more, but for now I’m more than happy with grabbing a beer and just spending a bit of time finally in my own car space

[Earthdweller]

Leins said:

Merry Christmas folks!

Not quite a nativity scene this, but we’ve moved family home and just managed to get the keys before Christmas, leaving Dublin and heading for the ever so slightly more rural and rugged West Cork. Some great roads around here as a bonus, but the real Christmas present for me?…

Yes, my first ever garage! I’ve been very jealous having followed this thread for a long time and, while not in the same league as some of the magnificent ones on here, I am quite excited about this now



It’s a long but narrow-ish double (8.8m x 5.6m), but with roller doors at each end (front one electric), and that pic above is the back of the garage, with a separate drive behind it where I might eventually put a car port

There is also a sizeable storage facility behind it too which could potentially hold another car, but as I’ve currently got my MINI GP1 and something else incoming in the new year I might need to wait a while before I mention the possibility of a third weekend car to Mrs Leins. Her beloved Nissan Leaf will be living outside regardless! I’ll use the storage instead to keep anything non car-related like bikes and golf clubs, freeing up the garage just for “my” stuff, and the lawn mower will go in the garden shed





Inside is a small office cubicle and a toilet, along with a sink and counter top that I plan to keep in place. There’s a water heater too, and the whole thing is pretty well insulated. There’s no heating, but I plan to add a couple of smart heaters to sort that through the winter

The previous owner had a two-post lift, as he used it as a functioning workshop, but I think I’ll be able to squeeze two cars in on the ground, leaving enough space down the sides

Next steps in the new year are to paint it all internally, and do the flooring. It’s already sealed, but I plan to put down Tuff Tiles to keep it neater and protect the floor. Units I’ll organise once I can be sure what room I have around the cars when they’re in situ, which won’t be arriving for another couple of months

Will post up some better pics once I get it sorted a little more, but for now I’m more than happy with grabbing a beer and just spending a bit of time finally in my own car space

Congrats on getting a free house with your new garage, looks great

Enjoy the weeeshst

[Leins]

Earthdweller said:

Congrats on getting a free house with your new garage, looks great

Enjoy the weeeshst

Thanks ED, much appreciated! Yes, it was the garage that sold it to me anyway

Different pace of life for the kids is the big plus, was time to get out of Dublin for a number of reasons, and enjoy a more rural setting. Although the weather coming in off the Atlantic might not be one of them at the moment

Edited by Leins on Sunday 24th December 21:24

[Earthdweller]

Leins said:

Thanks ED, much appreciated! Yes, it was the garage that sold it to me anyway

Different pace of life for the kids is the big plus, was time to get out of Dublin for a number of reasons, and enjoy a more rural setting. Although the weather coming in off the Atlantic might not be one of them at the moment

Edited by Leins on Sunday 24th December 21:24

Ah yes, the weather is the downside feels like it hasn’t stopped lashing down and hooling a gale here in Galway for at least a month

Enjoy Xmas in your new home

[Leins]

Earthdweller said:

Ah yes, the weather is the downside feels like it hasn’t stopped lashing down and hooling a gale here in Galway for at least a month

Enjoy Xmas in your new home

Thanks ED, merry Christmas too! If you’re ever planning to be down this direction then drop us a line

[asfault]

Sf_Manta said:

And largely finished, electric and lightting is coming end of the month.

looks good. did you do it yourself?

Epoxy resin really is the only way to go, Mines been down 5 years and the best decesion i ever made.
Same colour too

[Jules Sunley]

Congrats Lein's. We've been in our new place 2 years last week, and bought it because I fell in love with the 'outbuildings' (and have built another one since) and the Mrs fell in love with the house so I get where you are coming from. Enjoy your first Christmas there.

Edited by Jules Sunley on Monday 25th December 20:04

[G-996]

So here is mine - I’m fortunate enough to have a double garage, I like the “clean” look but have tried to avoid spending mega money. I painted the walls using masonry paint and a roller, took 3 coats but looks good as new after 10+ years. I sealed the floor and used a DIY floor paint, but it does need touching up every few years. I used strategically placed PVC tiles to keep car and bike tyres off the floor as that eliminates the paint lifting. Plastic shelving units were from Argos I think, but perfectly functional and the tool chest was a surprisingly high quality item from Halfords.

[Leins]

Thanks Jules

All a very different aspect for us now from the previous suburban life, and not necessarily for the worse. The nearest Starbucks or Nando’s is at least an hour away, but we’ll put up with that I think in exchange for the scenery around these parts



It also means I have these roads not too far away, and quite a bit of rallying going on around here too which I’ll try get the kids to see

[Bobupndown]

Leins said:

Thanks Jules

All a very different aspect for us now from the previous suburban life, and not necessarily for the worse. The nearest Starbucks or Nando’s is at least an hour away, but we’ll put up with that I think in exchange for the scenery around these parts



It also means I have these roads not too far away, and quite a bit of rallying going on around here too which I’ll try get the kids to see

Absolutely beautiful.

[Jules Sunley]

Leins said:

Thanks Jules

All a very different aspect for us now from the previous suburban life, and not necessarily for the worse. The nearest Starbucks or Nando’s is at least an hour away, but we’ll put up with that I think in exchange for the scenery around these parts



It also means I have these roads not too far away, and quite a bit of rallying going on around here too which I’ll try get the kids to see

Stunning, love it

[RichB]

RichB said:

I posted a few pictures in the garage flooring thread because, as opposed to paint or tiles, I went out on a limb and put down cheap wood effect flooring, really pleased with it so far and it seems impervious to oil dripped on it. Over the winter I have been panelling the ceiling with white faced panel board. Mainly to reflect light, and because it's a lot nicer then the exposed black roof felt that sucked all the light out of the place! I have made a small storage area on the left but mostly I wanted to retain the open look vaulted of the exposed timber. Yes I know it's only softwood timber trusses, not oak but I think it looks ok. It's a bit of a labour of love because I have to clamber up into the rafter with the nail gun to attach it but as I'm retired I do it a few bits at a time. Once finished I can add a few (repro) enamel signs as wall decorations/space fillers. After my recent efforts I'm over half way there so I thought I'd post a few pics.

Just saw this post of mine from March last year. I was in the garage today, 10 months on, still trying to finish paneling the ceiling. I am getting there... honestly! When done I can press ahead with the rewire, new ring main and extra lighting etc.

[Baggie austin]

G-996 said:

So here is mine - I’m fortunate enough to have a double garage, I like the “clean” look but have tried to avoid spending mega money. I painted the walls using masonry paint and a roller, took 3 coats but looks good as new after 10+ years. I sealed the floor and used a DIY floor paint, but it does need touching up every few years. I used strategically placed PVC tiles to keep car and bike tyres off the floor as that eliminates the paint lifting. Plastic shelving units were from Argos I think, but perfectly functional and the tool chest was a surprisingly high quality item from Halfords.

Love this garage
Also see you have good taste in car cleaning products (think I can see some bilt hamber)

[tuffer]

A joyous few days sanding down old floorboards to clad the gable end of the garage (no I couldn't use a planer, they were full of old nails and staples).

[RichB]

tuffer said:

A joyous few days sanding down old floorboards to clad the gable end of the garage (no I couldn't use a planer, they were full of old nails and staples).

That's impressive. what do you plan to keep in there?

[tuffer]

RichB said:

tuffer said:

A joyous few days sanding down old floorboards to clad the gable end of the garage (no I couldn't use a planer, they were full of old nails and staples).

That's impressive. what do you plan to keep in there?

This...... Truck

[ingenieur]

Steve H said:

Neil1323bolts said:

We had the roller shutter doors fitted this year , they are excellent if you can afford it a no brainier, any recommendations on garage floor paint ? It seems to just crumble away whatever I do even after a concrete sealer. Probably needs a professional on it !

DIY is fine but 2 pack epoxy is the kiddie, ordinary floor paints don’t come close.

Important to let all floor paint dry for a long time though. I've done it before a few times when the floor paint seemed dry after a few days... but a vehicle on it and it leaves tyre prints in the paint and destroys the surface in those 4 patches permanently for the life of the covering. Having seen it 2 or 3 times now I'd probably leave it a couple of weeks without cars on it if/when I do it again.