New build garage ideas

[scottRS4]

Hi, I'm having a new garage built in the near future and need to think of things to have done whilst its being built, as in the little things that you'd think Doh, should have had this or that done.

So far ive got, water supply, facility to pull comm's cable through from the house, decent electrical supply for running a welder & associated gear for working on cars etc.

What can you suggest is done before it's built & useable, so that it doesnt cause a headache later on?

[AstonZagato]

Slightly depends on what you want. An inspection pit is potentially useful but is also a danger.

Simple things are good - PIR activated lights, so you can walk/drive in and see what you are doing without fumbling for a switch. Hand washing facilities. Somewhere to fill a bucket for car washing (hot water?). Lots of sockets - front, back, anywhere.

I rather wish I'd put in some underfloor heating and a dehumidifier.

[Engineer1]

the following suggestions are based on the assumption that tinkering will be done in the garage. Intercom or phone if your garage is a distance from the house, Toilet unless you have one you can get to in dirty overalls.

[Martin Keene]

Proper insulation. It won't add much cost to the built, but it will make keeper then finished result warmer a lot cheaper. It will also keep it drier.

As others said: water supply, toilet, comms, etc. Inspection pits are generally dangerous, if the money is avaliable consider building it with a slightly higher ceiling height and putting a lift in it.

[gtidriver]

You could put a separate fuse box in there and run a piece of conduit to outside in case you ever want a shed or hot tub or lighting..

[jeebus]

When you get a door fit an insulated roller shutter, i got one off ebay for 450 and its the best thing i have done to my garage. Also you can get any size door and have the brickie make the hole to suit.

[PaulHogan]

You'll never regret building it bigger. And make sure you can extend the house alarm system to it.

[scottRS4]

Thanks for the replies.

What is a good make of garage door then? Been having a look around the net and there seems to be loads.

I cant make the garage any bigger than the size I have permission for, its about 80 sqm floor space which is about the same size as my house lol.

[Spudler]

http://www.hormann.co.uk/
http://www.garador.co.uk/

[netherfield]

If it's a concrete floor,consider sealing and painting.

Surprising how much dust it gets rid of.

[ndg]

I put a Novaferm door with a novoport track mounted operator in my recent garage build. Speced the roof with high mount ties to give me loads of jacking height.

Sectional doors certainly seemed more secure than roller or up and over doors when I was looking.

HTH

N.

[It's fixable...]

If you're planning a lot of engine work or fabrication, run a Steel PFC down either side of the garage at the top of the wall so you can have a rolling overhead crane beam. Might be seldom used but worth its weight in fivers when you do need it.

[ribenavrs]

depends how much you want to spend on a door

silvelox

very good but expensive, I got ours as the garage was heated and did'nt want to lose all the heat by opening the whole door all the time.

A cheap wood burner in the corner ? burn all your rubbish easily, run a rad off it too

sockets every where, high and low also lighting, I have IP rated fluorescent tubes at low level

[E31Shrew]

Built a double garage a few years ago. Wish we had put one large door on the front as opposed to two narrower ones. Did however make it double height and now have a bedsit with kitchen and bathroom above

[Matt..]

Have a look on here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.ph...

[cptsideways]

Tyre rack built in

Though I do have an exceptional amount of wheels & tyres

[aberdeeneuan]

We ran hot and cold water into ours, makes handwashing the cars much easier.

And good socket placement. We have three and none of them are in the right place for what I want to use them for, and that's after I'd thought about...Doh!

[Not Ideal]

Matt.. said:

Have a look on here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.ph...

Some pretty awesome garages on that site!

[AstonZagato]

netherfield said:

If it's a concrete floor,consider sealing and painting.

Surprising how much dust it gets rid of.

Agreed but I'd look at tiling. My painted floor now looks awful.

[Meeja]

gtidriver said:

You could put a separate fuse box in there and run a piece of conduit to outside in case you ever want a shed or hot tub or lighting..

I think that a consumer unit would need to be installed anyway to meet regs. (Although I am not a 17th ed spark!)

Make sure that the cable you sink into the ground to feed the garage is fit for purpose - Armoured(?) and big enough to feed all the circuits you would want (probably a 10mm2)