Garage Conversion Project (from bare Garage to Wokshop/Gym/Shed)

[Hudson1984]

Hi all,

I've slowly been plugging away on my garage.

When we moved in, it had old kitchen cabinets taking up an odd part of the space and just generally not a nice area.

So, I stripped it all out, painted the walls white, with a 2ft band of damp-proof paint along the bottom (the white went yellow at first but this stuff has definitely held the damp back)

Being as the garage is 9m x 3m I wanted to split the space. So I put the partition in and put the Dart board on, on the other side I have no mounted a TV in the corner which swings out, so gives me one position for Zwift (think exercise bike) and one position for Insanity.....or in reality one position to sit on the exercise bench and watch TV and drink beer.

Before:

After:

As you may have spotted, I've got downlights in there. I love them! don't take any head room away and give a good beam - plus I got them all for £20. I've got a few more to put up and the sparky is coming in December to double check my wiring and plumb them in properly (currently running off a normal 13A plug - I don't do mains wiring!) Plus he'll sort me plugs around the workbench etc.

So the Bench is slowly progressing - I used kitchen cabinets, just made the job easy. Then used 1" thick mdf on top, and framed it with pine to save the edges. Next step will be to make the fence for the mitre saw

I will be making doors at a later stage and do plan to sort the flooring - as much as it'll be a bit of a pain to clean i'm intending to use hard wearing carpet tiles. I've painted floors in the past but i'm wanting to keep it a little warmer and nicer to work in.

I intend to remove the upper shelves and cabinets. It's just a pain to use, I've ordered more floor cabinets and will be making an assembly table of sorts. More storage and a decent size worktop to put things together.

That's the plan, this then leaves the middle free as a gym/Darts/cycling area.

Lumber storage will mainly be on shelves which will be mounted later.

As you can see, I'm currently planning my extract system.

Adjacent to the garage is a "sun room" we use as a dumping ground. SO I was thinking of placing the vacuum in there, and drilling the pipework through the wall, running rigid plastic pipe along the blue line. (recommendations for extract system would be FANTASTIC!!)

So that's where I am with things at the moment.
Jobs to do are:
Finish Bench
Mount Mitre Saw
Build Mitre Fence and raised bench sections
Build and install assembly bench
Carpet the area
Install VAC system
Cabling etc. (3rd part)
Plaster board the ceiling
Finish Floor Tiles in Motorbike area.
Remove Strip light from partition wall and complete

fair few jobs to do but it's been fun so far.

 

[Hudson1984]

Few more bits completed, made a start on the carpet - makes for a much nicer working environment! made a chunk of a start on my assembly bench too which has added loads of storage.

I have 3 lights left to mount on the ceiling and have just had my mitre fence setup arrive so need to make some bits and get that sorted out.

Sadly, the garden jobs need doing (two gates) so garage on the back burner for a little while but slowly slowly

 

[martin hill]

Looking good. Is it single brick on the outer walls. If so i'd stop and insulate them first before continuing.

 

[Hudson1984]

one is, one isn't. It's connected to the house, so one side wall is single skin the other is insulated. Ceiling isn't insulated either.

I was considering insulating the wall but didn't want to lose too much width - but i'll more than likely regret that choice later down the line.

 

[martin hill]

Oooh well why not hang fire and see how cold it gets this winter first. Or the shorter option is a multi foil. Y.B.S do some. as for the extractor. Unless you going to start making money from projects in the workshop i'd invest in a portable one you can move from each machine. Got my sliding mitre set up in loft just attached to vac. When using my plane etc just connect to them.

 

[martin hill]

check this thread out. https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/home-bar-in-garage.528061/

 

[Hudson1984]

Oooh well why not hang fire and see how cold it gets this winter first. Or the shorter option is a multi foil. Y.B.S do some. as for the extractor. Unless you going to start making money from projects in the workshop i'd invest in a portable one you can move from each machine. Got my sliding mitre set up in loft just attached to vac. When using my plane etc just connect to them.

sooooo......when you're right, you're right.....it's CHUFFING FREEZING IN THERE!!!!

largely down to the shoddy garage door but yes, it needs insulating.

Sparky comes next week, so once he's done his thing i'll be starting with the ceiling I think, won't go nuts there though, just loft insulation between the rafters and cover in normal plasterboard (9mm as that's what the lights are on and don't want to have uneven) i'll then fill gaps etc and paint with a textured paint.

The external walls (2 are external, the other 2 are connected to the house) i'm just going to dot and dab some insulated board. This will be a bit of an arse as i'm having sockets and switches on most of those walls.. rats.. unless I get those two walls done this weekend that it.. possible.

 

[scaffers]

Could you not insulate it externally and brickslip or render it



Scaff

 

[Hudson1984]

so things are slowly progressing.

I've insulated most of the walls. and mainly - replaced the door with a roller!

in 6 weeks i'm swapping the side door with a double glazed one and the plasterer is coming to finish up the walls etc.

getting there.

 

[vegasgo]

Looking good there, job well done. I have a similar project in mind for my external double garage but wondered about planning regs. I only want to convert half of it, so building a stud wall (fireproofed garage side) and then painting the brickwork (it is single breeze blocks but with outside render). Insulate the ceiling rafters then clad with upvc slats. Doors and windows (old single glazed) already in place, as are electrics (fully earthed with new fuse box). The space will mainly be used occasionally, more like a summer house than something used every day. Cheap and cheerful but hoping it will still adhere to all planning regs.