Man I have waited YEARS to start a thread like this! Its GARAGE time!

BACKGROUND:
We closed on our 1st house last Friday, a 4 bedroom split-level with a single car attached garage. I would have loved a 2 car, but every half decent place with a 2 car in this area was $300k+...well beyond our budget! And yeah yeah I know, "where I live you could get a 6 car for $100k..." LoL! This is the area we live in and work in and our familys in, we're here, its over, don't waste time going there, lets just focus on the garage buildup LoL! Down the road after a couple of raises then we'll talk about a house with a REAL garage and an 8 car pole barn LoL!

THE SPECS:
It's the largest single car out of all the places we looked at. 23' x 12' and the truck is 19' x 7' (mirror to mirror, around 6' not including mirrors), so I have some room around it. I'm going for more of a "show room" than a wrench pit as most of my big wrenching is done for the most part, and I'm used to working outside anyway. Floors are concrete and actually in really good shape. Walls are bare studs on all but the house side, ceiling is bare trusses. Door is an insulated door which is nice!

THE PLANNED MODS:
-Ripped down to bare studs
-Have electrical panel swapped out to a larger one
-Add several new outlets around walls
-Add enough lights so its the largest tanning booth in NJ lol
-Insulate walls & ceiling
-Sheetrock walls & ceiling
-Finish floor (undecided on epoxy or a rubber sort of tile yet)
-Diamond Plate Storage Cabinets (Purchased from Lowes on sale last weekend)
-Toolchest (Already own)
-Work bench (Need to purchase from Lowes)
-Extra tire racks for my slicks, spare wheels, etc. (need to search online)
-Wall mount shop vac (bought yesterday from Lowes)
-Ceiling hoist for my tonneau cover (need to search online)

THE PROGRESS:
So far I've just cleaned out all the JUNK the previous owners left behind. Ripped down the half wall of sheetrock and crappy bench they left. Still debating on whether or not I should rip down the rock on the full wall between the garage and house and redo that or just try and skim coat it.

Next up is getting Rich's buddy out to do the electrical work, then I can insulate and start rocking the walls! Probably won't have another update for a couple weeks though, as we're also doing the rest of the house all at once to get it done before the lease is up on our current place in 6 more weeks. Top project right now is redoing the main bathroom. Got it 1/2 way gutted last night, should finish tonight! Then need Rich's other buddy to come out to help knock out the plumbing, then I can put it all back together and do a little more on the garage! Hopefully the $8k tax credit doesn't take too long to get back!

THE PICS:

This is after I cleaned out their trash, but before I touched the walls or bench. I'll post a pic of the before with all their junk, I couldn't see the FLOOR at all! lol




Ah, a blank canvas for me to start with! Little dingy, dusty, and dim, but still a blank canvas!




Test fitting Jekyll in Hyde's Harley Haven! I plan on parking the passenger side closer to the wall, so there's like 1.5' on that side, and 4.5' on the drivers side, so I can put the cabinets and work benches and stuff on that side. And backed up 2' from the wall I'll have 2' in front of it, so I can always back up right to the back wall and have 4' in front of it for wrenching on the engine with the door closed. Not too shabby!





THE SUGGESTIONS:

Post 'em up! Idea's, recommendations, links, deals or sales going on right now, lemme know!

Especially any sales or deals! Last weekend Lowes had the diamond plate garage cabinets, buy 1 of the larger ones and get the wall one worth $190 for free!