[Closed] New garage - what do you wish you had done to yours?

For floor tiles to support a crane they would probably have to be the heavy rubber ones rated for vehicles and stuck down. We used to have them in our turbine hall loading bay where fork lifts and low loaders drove over them. But they are heavy as, probably expensive too.

If you want instant heat I'd look at infra red heaters, again we have them at work and considering some of them run 24/7 they have been reliable.

I'd forget a sink and have a parts washer instead.

Degrease the floor properly before you do anything.

If you want instant heat I’d look at infra red heaters, again we have them at work and considering some of them run 24/7 they have been reliable.

That's certainly what I'm leaning towards, do you know what manufacturer the ones you have at work are?

I painted the inside of my old garage white, made a massive difference to light and airyness

Absolutely. It also seals up the walls, if brick, to make it feel less dusty and musty. Floor paint as well, although not white...

What did you paint the walls with? Saw loads of things saying if you dont get it right the masonry just soaks up all the paint.

If you have a side door make sure it is properly secure and robustly constructed. My garage was broken into twice through the side door. Both times the door was destroyed.

If you have a side door make sure it is properly secure and robustly constructed. My garage was broken into twice through the side door. Both times the door was destroyed.

Thanks. The garage is under the first floor and on the 'inside' of the semi detached properties so 3 walls are internal and the front is the up and over door. I'd like to improve security on the garage door itself though.

What did you paint the walls with

Cheap brilliant white emulsion after 2 coats of diluted PVA

I used to have a stereo but replaced it with an Alexa which I put in a sandwich bag so it doesn't get covered in dust etc. Best thing I did as you don't have to touch it which is a huge advantage when you have oily hands

First thing if to is get rid of the up and over, if you're never gonna put the car in there. Weak point right there. And its a big heat sink.

I’d like to improve security on the garage door

Any door can be defeated but I'd go for an insulated Hormann sectional garage door - security and warmth (assuming you want to keep a garage door)

If you don't want to keep the garage door, build a block wall and add a normal door of your choice.

What did you paint the walls with? Saw loads of things saying if you dont get it right the masonry just soaks up all the paint.

Cheap white emulsion

No less likely to have issues with water than putting PVA on the walls.

Obviously actual masonry paint would be better if it's going to see moisture at all.

But no issues with the blockwork soaking up the emulsion

Planned ours out when it was been built to accommodate car, bikes and windsurfers. Only done a couple of additions since then which includes a padded floor in the bike area, extra security after a break in and a fold away bike stand.

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Yup, as above white emulsion for the blockwork walls. I didn't realize until after the first wall what a massive difference a specific blockwork roller makes. Get the widest one you can find.

In my old (ex-wifes) house we had a hot water tap outside by a soakway. Probably the best thing I'd ever done, transformed the end of a winter's ride or run.

I really want to tile the floor of my garage with quarry tiles. But the cost puts me off!

Currently it's rough dusty concrete. I had foam interlocking tiles for a while and they were pretty good but rubbish if you want to roll anything over them (tool cab, sack barrow, trolley jack) and they ended up getting recycled into campervan flooring insulation. I've had a temporary loan of top notch horse rubber stable matts until the horse wanted them back, they were brilliant.

I don't want to paint it as I think it will just start chipping off at a later date.

Paint on our floor has been down 10 years and has a car on it every day. Apart from a bit of discolouring where the tyres are it looks as good as the day it was painted.

Paint is good, as long as the concrete is clean, of its had oil leaked o to it then,in my experience, the paint won't stick properly (but perhaps my preparation was just rubbish). It also chips if you drop something heavy and metal on it.

Having said that it's cheap and quick (half a day plus a day drying when it warm!). I re did the dodgy bits of mine every couple years (30 min job) and it's the approach I'd take again, assuming I couldn't afford epoxy (which I know nothing about...)

One thing about single part paint (I used ronseal's floor paint) is that it's never as tough as epoxy, but, it's also super easy to repair. I've put a few decent chips and marks in mine just through dropping stuff, or dragging an autobox across it at one point, things that'd mark any floor. But I can just slap on some repairs and tomorrow you can only tell because there's a clean spot. You can do that with epoxy too but it's not so quick and easy which I really like.

I'd like a new bigger garage on the near future. I'd like to put a basic shower in one corner, then when I get back from a ride/run/beach I don't have to drag any dirt into the house.

https://www.duragarages.com/

These people exchange will money and dirty looks from your wife for a perfect garage. They'll come and measure, suggest cabinets and flooring, and even come and do it all for you...If you need to ask how much etc etc. But..they used to (dunno if they still do) sell unused tiles from other garage builds, which is a pretty cheap way of getting very good quality tiles for a lot less than list price as long as you don't mind a bit of mis-matching

has anyone made a workshop partition in their garage using big curtains? I've got a 6x6m double garage with a pitched roof, draughty doors and vents so no chance of heating in an environmentally/economically conscious fashion! I was thinking though if I could partition off a quarter I'd have a good size work area I'd be able to heat more easily. Obviously I could do this with a stud wall but that would lose me the flexibility of a bigger garage, hence wondering if a thick curtain (heavy fabric or vinyl or something) would provide a decent alternative?

(apologies for the sidetrack OP!)

We completely renovated our house a couple of years ago. I'd always wanted to spec the 'perfect' garage. Pictures are below. I did use Dura Garages for the units. They are undeniably expensive but it's nice to get the exact units to fit the available space. I had the floor tiled with porcelain tiles (Dura Garage tiles were way too expensive) - I found some for about £1.20 each. First mistake was to use light grouting rather than dark. It looks good initially but soon looks messy. I wanted a window as it's good to have useable light without needing lights - should have got an opening window and placed it higher up. Hormann roller door is pretty good. Am using Steadyrack mounts for bike storage. The LED light panels are really cheap and way better than fluorescents in my opinion. Garage has about 20 electrical sockets and is networked and has wi-fi coverage. Has a sink with hot/cold water which I use all the time.

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was;

Now;

And to answer the OPs question - I wish I had better wifi.

That’s certainly what I’m leaning towards, do you know what manufacturer the ones you have at work are?

No but I can find out next week, I'm next in on Tuesday.

@howarthp wow that really shows how much bikes intrude into the space! Would it not take up less space haing three end to end with another three stacked on top? (and the last two double stacked) Looks great otherwise BTW but you've certainly made my mind up for me on that.

I’ve got a 6x6m double garage with a pitched roof

*measures ground floor of house*

*cries*

^^ true, the bikes intrude but it is effectively ‘just’ a bike room and ease of access was my primary focus. Will soon be housing a motorbike too. I’ve got too many bikes and really should sell some as there are probably 5 I use a lot

[i]wow that really shows how much bikes intrude into the space![/i]

Yep I've tried them hanging from the wall a couple of times. It not only takes up a huge amount of space, it also leaves lots of pointy bike parts sticking out at hip/rib/eye level.

They only take up slightly more floor area rolled into wheel racks (or a pallet rack) along the wall with the front wheels at 45 degrees, but this leaves space for wall units or a massive timber shelf above the saddles for all your riding gear and spare parts, and clear line of sight over the top so they are less intrusive.

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Some good inspiration here. I'm doing my garage soon.

I was wondering about hinged double doors instead of up+over / roller doors - the thinking being you can open it without showing everything to the world. Has anyone done this?

I'm considering using those hinged bike hangers so you can food the bikes in and they protrude less.

I'd like to replace the standard up & over door with one that has a pedestrian door in it as only access is via the up & over.
Only thing that puts me off is security of the pedestrian door - the up & over has extra bolts on the bottom corners.
Anyone got one and what extra security did you put on?

the up & over has extra bolts on the bottom corners.

My mate had those, a bottle jack popped them, £10k of bikes gone.

Suddenly I want to fit ceramic tiles to my floor......

Knowing full well they will be a liability in my garage it'll be epoxy in the end.

What should we be replacing our up and overs* with that won't be popped with a bottle jack. Enough force and most things will be broken into.

*I don't have an up and over but I do have pacribolts - I'm.far more concerned about the uPVC access door than I am my front door.

But equally If they want in they will come in locks only stop an honest man.

What should we be replacing our up and overs* with that won’t be popped with a bottle jack. Enough force and most things will be broken into.

Absolutely, multiple layers of security is always the best option, with a good insurance policy. Up n over doors are pointless for the vast majority of garage owners though.

After 12 months of failed attempts at making it water tight, frankly knocking the thing down and replacing it with some kind of wooden 'cabin' thing. Half workshop, half home office.

french doors.

This is what I did with the garage I use as an office. Much better than garage doors

majority of (dont look awful) alternatives need more driveway than most have once theirs car is on the drive though.

Double side hinged doors would be my preferance - cant have it as my drive slopes up slightly after the drain

Anything that involves bricking/boarding up the front(on an integral garage) and putting a single pedestrian door in just looks awful its even dificult to get them looking not nasty when folks do a garage conversion but usually involves a large window or french doors before they look half decent. non integral garages have alot more options as making them look like a shed can look ok

but the up and over you get on the majority of houses might as well just not be there- could just be a curtain for all the good they are.

@trail_rat did you fit the French doors yourself? If so where did you source them

i did - gumtree , someone dismantling a conservatiory had to take a window to the tip as well but freebie. far better than the old door.

Ronseal diamond floor paint is a fairly cheap and effective way of doing the floor, even if you are going to put tiles down. That ceramic floor looks amazing, although I can almost hear the tears the first time you drop a heavy tool on it.
One thing I find invaluable is long wall hooks, about 8 inches. Bit of pipe lagging on them and they’re great for hanging spare wheels and tyres. Mounted above where the bikes sit, so use wasted space and one for each wheel size makes tyre selection much easier.
Make sure any shelving unit is weight rated much higher than you think you need, it’s amazing how much much a fully loaded tool chest weighs.

Lots of food for thought here - thanks everyone.

@trail_rat

I replaced my garage side door with one of these

https://www.lathamssteeldoors.co.uk/panelled-security-doors/panelled-security-steel-door/

very good quality, doesn't look like a steel security door and was easy enough to fit, did need a couple of helpers to lift in to place and secure though, not light.

For flooring, I used old event tiles. Were 5 quid a square meter, solid plastic and work a treat.

My garage only has a front up and over so I was thinking of fitting a side door, instead I just shut the garage door when not in use and try to keep it down when I am in and out.

Like most others I painted the walls white and the floor grey, do I get points for painting the first two courses of bricks with floor paint to look stylish?

Everything I pick up for DIY is from the Screwfix nearby, think it was own brand masonary paint but Leyland for the floor maybe.

I fitted an L shape of kitchen cupboards with worktops and this has worked for me so far, I did plan in and have a rack next to it where helmet, goggles and pads go to dry with some other things which I think would ruin a cupboards inside like bike and car wash stuff which can be wet.

I did look at purchasing coach bolts, security cameras and other stuff to protect the bikes, would have cost £300ish, after reading some other threads if you've been targeted they'll still more than likely get in and get them so pay the extra £40 per year on the house insurance for cover, only specification was a ground anchor to lock the bike too.

To save floor space, my MTB sits on the floor in an crank axle stand with my other bikes hung above it from the ceiling on hooks, two for the bars and one for the seat, they are slightly offset so they stay closer to the walls, works really well I find.

Frankly knocked it down and started again, ideally replacing it with one of those log cabin things.

It's currently sodden, I thought I'd beaten the element in Spring making it water tight, but no, it's a horrible mess. The old rug I put down is full of rot and it stinks. The shelves I put in a bowing will likely collapse soon. Which is a shame as they the only way of keeping anything remotely dry.

Anyone know of a non-porous expanding foam? I know it's the tool of the muppet, but I'm getting desperate.

If I had a garage within or connected to the main house, I'd portion some of it off and make a wet room for cleaning bikes and a heated space with a shower and changing facilities for people.

Won't be cheap but if starting from a blank empty garage I bet a lot of it can be done DIY if you have a mediocre knowledge level.

All the other options so far in this thread have me thinking about our garage, which sadly isn't attached to the house and is currently full to overflowing with all sorts of crap.

I have the foam tiles on my floor, I would have painted it as well but as most have mentioned if you don't do it before you move in you never will.

I painted all the walls with masonry paint from screwfix with a masonry roller, took two coats for a solid finish.

I would better plan the bench and power arrangements, I have now installed a 4m bench but I need to add more power both above and below. It seems the garage is going to be slightly domesticated with a freezer and tumble dryer, and now will provide winter storage for the aircon unit too.

I would love an outdoor tap and sink/drain.

I would thoroughly recommend installing 600x600 LED panels 4300 colour tone they are amazing, I have 4 above my bench and will be replacing the rest of the LED batons with them too, no shadows and a nice easy on the eye light.

Defo board the loft if you have one, a hatch will suffice for storing christmas decs etc. that will cut down how much you have to heat should you need to.

Seals around the up and over, I have installed a motor on mine I got it for £15 on ebay, a faff to install by myself but love it as does the wife when she is popping in and out with washing etc.

https://www.lathamssteeldoors.co.uk/panelled-security-doors/panelled-security-steel-door/
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Thanks for the link. I have a door I need to improve and this could be a good starting point.