New Garage soon!

I'm getting close to start designing my "dream car garage" as well. I own 6 Corvettes, of which 2 are at my house and 4 are in storage. I don't care if my Tahoe sits outside. Check out www.motorbooks.com for some good books on the ultimate garages.



Eric
 
Multiple floor drains as mentioned above. The pitch and finish of floor is critical as well.

I tend to like the long thin cast iron/brass trough like drain covers that run the length of a wall or door. I have seen them placed just outside the garage door as the entire floor is pitched/graded to the front of the garage. It is a mild pitch but enough so water will evacutate correctly with no puddles.

In our commercial service garage we have drains indoors along the side exterior walls with the floors pitched so snow/rain/water drains to the shortest route.

Consider the exterior grading as well as any water that escapes the garage doors and past the drains in front of the garage door will become ice and a bit dangerous :).

Interior wall finish if you plan to wash indoors as well. We have a cinder block walls which are insulated and sheathed externally. I believe the walls have some type of epoxy paint over the block which seals them up pretty well.

The block is a great sound barrier as well.



Focusing on water and a wood framed garage would highlight a few items as well. A few course block above the concrete floor would be enough to protect the framing from moisture and if the external front of the garage if the drain point this lets you squeege ? right next to the wall to the front door. I have seen drywalled garages with the dry-rot at the floor/wall intersection.



I would heat the space with a combo of underfloor radiant heat and forced air commercial units placed overhead throughout the shop. The forced air units warm the air quickly then as the thermal mass of the floor takes over the overheads shut off. Say you walk into the garage on a cold morning for a days work you would turn up the floor heat but it will take some time for the garage to be heated so the space heaters will kick in unless cost is no concern and the radiant floor is left on a working setting 24/7 :).

The space heaters also help recover when the garage door is opened to move cars in and out.

I have to say that it is a pleasure to experience the radiant floor systems as a worker, it has no equal in my book.



For Summer cooling consider one or two eave or attic type house fans. We have a large single speed one now and it just moves two much air and is noisey as hell. I would look for smaller variable speed units to cover the cooling needs unless A/C is added. :)



Easy thread to respond to.
 
Dean said:
7 cars, but my current home has only 1900 sq feet and a 2 car garage. Yes, my priorities are screwy. :(



Currently, I have 3 cars garaged in a local "self-storage" facility near my home. It's not the same as having them close to the heart!



Dean



MCoupeandSupra.jpg
Click to expand...



So can you post a pic of all 7 cars together :bounce???
 
I have a question for Dean, regarding the proposed garage layout. The house looks nice from the outside, and doesn't look like a "garage with house attached." But I'm wondering if you wouldn't be more happy with a large combined room. If you put the square footage together, you might have enough space for the holy grail--the ability to actually drive your cars around inside, with a single entry door. I've heard from some people that this is optimum, rather than going with 4 bay design as you show here.



Just a thought...
 
bet993 said:




5. High mounted garage door ramps (don’t hang down as far). This allows you to maximize the ceiling height.
Click to expand...



What are high mounted garage door ramps? Are you talk about the rails or tracks the door wheels ride in? :nixweiss
 
Lost Pup said:




Interior wall finish if you plan to wash indoors as well. We have a cinder block walls which are insulated and sheathed externally. I believe the walls have some type of epoxy paint over the block which seals them up pretty well.

The block is a great sound barrier as well.



Click to expand...



At a car dealer I saw a heavy curtain, plastic or canvas at least, that surrounded the wash bay. You just pulled it around the car when you wanted to wash. It was strung on steel wire running though grommets at the top. If I had water in an my existing garage, this is what I would use.
 
Sounds like everyone has said almost everything, Just make sure that you like what you are doing, a few thousand dollars is nothing in the long run. take the steps and the little cash now to make that garage wht you want for years to come, You do not want to look back in 2-3 years and say " Man I wish I would have...... Bla bla bla....





Just my .02$ and I have done it ;)





1046gar17.jpg
 
Boxstercharlie,



Thanks for the comments and suggestions.



I thought about a single, large garage space to fit >4 cars, but I couldn't concieve a design that didn't look like a warehouse with living quarters attached to it. The 0.9 acre residential lot that we just purchased is in a golf course community. There is an "architectural committee" that must approve the house plan. I really need to have a "stealthy" design that blends the garage space into the neighborhood.



The "jumbo" 4 car section of my plan will be home for my garage queens (M Coupe, Supra, 911 and 350Z). I plan on having the "jumbo" garage have a professional floor epoxy paint, custom cabinets, etc. The 2 car section will fit my daily drivers (wife's 330i and my WRX). The 2 car garage will have a more ordinary residential garage look.



That leaves me with an Acura Type R to remain in rented storage unit.



I hope that the 4 post lift will boost the total garage capacity to 7. As it is, I'm constantly terrified of hurricaine and hail damage here in North Carolina. A garage will go a long way to achieving the collector's nirvana.



Dean
 
PAW said:
What are high mounted garage door ramps? Are you talk about the rails or tracks the door wheels ride in? :nixweiss
Click to expand...



Yes, the tracks or rails. The standard way to do install a normal sized garage door is to have the tracks/rails hang a 2-3 feet off the ceiling just above the height of the top of the door. This is fine for normal use, however if anytype of lift is going to be installed in the future this intrusion into the space above the bay can be a problem. The door rails/tracks can be installed so that the door goes straigh up the inside and then tracks along the ceiling with the tracks/rails basicaly installed on the ceiling instead of being suspended from the ceiling. This really nets a lot more space.



You just have to plan carfully with the lighting that will be above this area. Flush mounted lighting works best in this case.
 
Dean,



I applaud another collector, but I'm having trouble with your numbers... 7 is a lot of wheels for one guy! :)



Did the numbers just grow, do you have a large family, or did you have an aquisition plan in mind? I'm curious because we're in the same position - in a roundabout way.



Here's how ours grew, and how I try to justify our own collection of 4 cars between just my wife and I:

- The Mercedes SL500 is the ultimate dream car. Garage queen. Nuff said.

- Because the SL is only a 2-seater and we often need to take other folks out and about, I bought the Daimler (Jaguar/Vanden Plas) as a four seater luxury runabout.

- However, since both these cars are in immaculate condition, they're too good to carry supplies or even take out in the rain, so...

- The Honda US station wagon was bought to use for hauling stuff, getting out in inclement weather and such.

- But my wife didn't really like the Honda - it was black with a roof rack and it reminded her of a hearse - so she continued using her 2-seat Mazda/Miata MX5, but mainly because she likes the roof down in the summer.



Each car therefore has its own use and justification, and we're sticking by it!



The top cars get to stay in our 2-car garage. A 4 car garage would be so much better. A 6-car space would let us open all the car doors fully instead of squeezing past the wall or other car. A 9-car... :)





Ken Silver

--------------

1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas), 1992 Miata MX5 ... Finish detailing them, then start all over again...
 
Ominous C5 said:
...Check out www.motorbooks.com for some good books on the ultimate garages.



Eric
Click to expand...



Thanks for this link. I've just ordered "Ultimate Garages" by Phil Berg, a 224-page book on the top 24 garages in the USA which is going to inspire me - I'm certain of that!





Ken Silver

--------------

1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas), 1992 Miata MX5 ... Finish detailing them, then start all over again...
 
Ken,



I am aware of the absurdity of owning 7 cars. It's a long story, but it seemed to begin innocently enough. As an another car-guy, you surely understand.



I'm married (at least until I buy another car) and have a 2 year old boy.



My collection of "must have" cars began 6 years ago. I guess I justify owning them as a healthy vice. The availability of the internet didn't help matters. Right now, I'm itching to get a 2004 WRX STi as a new daily driver.





Dean
 
Dean said:
Ken,



I am aware of the absurdity of owning 7 cars... As an another car-guy, you surely understand.

Dean
Click to expand...



I do, I do completely. Most guys do... it seems to be the fairer sex who have problems with it.



My wife often complains that she's embarrassed by our numbers. But then we don't know any other couples with a small fleet, so it's all relative I guess.



I was just interested in the logic of your acquisitions, but then - with cars especially - it's not much fun to follow the logic.



I'm plumbing for an classic Aston Martin for my next baby. And an older Mercedes cabriolet along with some others. With careful selection these desirable cars never drop in value, and my intention is to build a retirement fund with them. When I need extra cash I'll just sell one off and we'll live on the proceeds for a couple of years.



We'll get enjoyment while we use them, and extra cash when we sell - that's having our cake and eating it too!



The WRX STi is a nice looker. But when will you get the chance to press the intercooler water spray button on your way to work! :)





Ken Silver

--------------

1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas), 1992 Miata MX5 ... Finish detailing them, then start all over again...
 
I certainly understand the small fleet thing , as with any hobby when you like something you see it usally finds it's way home with you. I'm at my current lowest with cars, 5 two of which are projects , but I've had up to 12 at one time. Here in lies the problem no room for them , but when I move I'll have more room for the toys. BTW I picked up Ultimate Garages by Phil Berg yesterday good book but the garages are not all great.



Dean good choice with the WRX Sti , I too was looking into one for my daily driver , but am currently at a stand still , I went to test drive one at three different dealers and they refused to let me test drive it. Their reason was that it was a "dangerous car" and they would only allow a test drive after I had completed the purchase, which is absurd because then it's mine no need to test drive it. So now I'm stuck I refuse to buy a car without first test driving it , no matter what kind of car it is. I test drove an EVO and it was really nice, but I know the STi is better. ah dealers suck :mad:
 
detailbarn,



You may want to check out the book "Garage: Reinventing the Place We Park," by Kira Obolensky (2001). It's not a how-to book, but shows a wide variety of unique garage ideas.



Good luck with your plans.

Dean
 
Dean , got that one the day it came out too! I actually like that one better then the ultimate garages , both are good book to own.
 
Ray,



I can neither sing, dance, act or excel in any sport. :wavey



I'm a physician (ophthalmologist), so I spent a substantial portion of my youth as a professional geek.
 
Dean said:
detailbarn,



You may want to check out the book "Garage: Reinventing the Place We Park," by Kira Obolensky (2001). It's not a how-to book, but shows a wide variety of unique garage ideas.

Dean
Click to expand...



From the reviews it seems to be a book on turning your garage into something else. Would this be correct?





Ken Silver

--------------

1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas), 1992 Miata MX5 ... Finish detailing them, then start all over again...
 
I'd consider installling a washer and dryer in the garage. It keeps the little lady happy that you're not trashing her setup in the main house.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top