Building New House - Garage Features???

Prolly nobody here really cares, but house is a go. Going to sign papers Sat morning.

Thing I am most excited about is I got the architect to add 2' to the garage - making it a 2 car garage + almost 9'. Cost more, but prolly worth it.
 
Congrats, now comes the hard part making sure they do there job right and on budget. Remember it will be worth it in the end, most builds/remodels go, design (enthusiastic), build (frustrated), finished(relieved and happy).
 
Here's a thought that may be good for you. Most contractors pay to have someone clean the site on a regular basis. If you live close to the building site, have that person be you and your family. They knocked a $1000 off the price of my last house when I did this. You end up with a cleaner work site (no sawdust down the heater vents, no scraps burried in the front yard, ask me about this some time and I'll tell you stories you wouldn't believe) but most importantly you'll find yourself being almost intimate with the home as it goes up. You'll see everything including those mistakes you may not otherwise catch. The contractor knows you'll be there so he watches his subs a little more closely. Changes are made before it's burried behind a wall or a floor. As long as you're not driving an hour to get there you can go several times a week and see how things are progressing. For me it was a win, win situation. We've done this on several homes and at least in my mind got a better finished product because of it.
 
Thanks for al the advice peeps.

It's just kind of scary writing such a big check and signing papers for what is now only an acre of weeds.
 
So, I signed everything yesterday for what I'm now calling "my acre of weeds"

As for the garage, I got the size I wanted (2 bay w/ double wide door + 17' X 9' bump out). The "bump out" should house all my detailing stuff and tools...

The builder asked if I wanted the garage insulated - and I passed $$$. Dollars were adding up fast for other things. Dunno if it means much - but garage doors will be insulated.

One thing I really need advice on is garage lighting. The builder is a custom builder - and can pretty much do most reasonable things it seems. They even gave me hand drawn blue prints (not CAD).

I'm pretty sure LED lights are the way to go. I'm thinking something like this:

a878dc7e95473c1385008714c72b36e5.jpg


But, I have no clue how many??? I'm not detailing for a living - so I don't need Richard Linn's light setup. Something prosumer style would be nice.

I have T8 halogens now. They are adequate. I'm guessing they are outdated and that wouldn't be a good way to go?
 
Can't tell you how to spend your money. That said, I think you'll be sorry if you opt not to insulate your garage if they're putting rock up. Blown in insulation can be pricey but pink rolled isn't all that bad and can be done by a guy in the afternoon. Have the ceiling taken care of while they're there. Leave the rock off if code allows until you can afford the insulation in the walls and then do both.
 
My old house had a garage added by a previous owner. I've been here 18 years.
No rock or insulation. Take Gear Heads advise.
I have plans on insulating one day then rocking. I light a propane tank heater and it barely goes above 50 in there. Open ceiling. If we get temperatures like last winter you'll freeze in there . (Ask me how I know)
Maybe have the builder insulate the rafters and just rock the ceiling for now.
 
Are you guys recommending insulation to keep it cool in the summer or warm in the winter? I've never been cold in the winter in a garage.
 
Swanicyouth said:
Are you guys recommending insulation to keep it cool in the summer or warm in the winter? I've never been cold in the winter in a garage.
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Both!! My garage is unheated and uncooled and just the insulation keeps it reasonable all year. As far as winter I guess it depends on where you live--in SW PA we get some cold weather and I've never had my garage go below 42 even during the worst of it most of the winter it stays at 50-55, but neighbors without insulation see well below 32.
 
Rock..yes is sheetrock.
It's was hard to understand what insulating really does until you go from not having much to having it.
My house had about 6" of insulation in the attic since it was built in 62.
Last fall I had R-49 blown in.
Huge difference. ..cooler in summer. ..rooms are nice and warm in winter.
Also had my crawl space walls insulated . ... much more comfortable.
Maybe you were never cold in a rocked garage but once you have it installed you'll realize what you were missing.
You might be able to open a door into the house while working in there without losing the heat or cool from the living area too.
 
Swanicyouth said:
One thing I really need advice on is garage lighting. The builder is a custom builder - and can pretty much do most reasonable things it seems. They even gave me hand drawn blue prints (not CAD).

I'm pretty sure LED lights are the way to go. I'm thinking something like this:

a878dc7e95473c1385008714c72b36e5.jpg


But, I have no clue how many??? I'm not detailing for a living - so I don't need Richard Linn's light setup. Something prosumer style would be nice.

I have T8 halogens now. They are adequate. I'm guessing they are outdated and that wouldn't be a good way to go?
Click to expand...



Congrats on the new house.

Can you just have the builder put in electrical outlets in the ceilings and walls where you think you may want light fixtures? That would allow you to mount them where they are needed, and to be changed as lighting technology advances.

My advice would be to put in about 2x as many outlets as you think you need.
 
Those lay in fixtures are for drop ceilings...I mounted four of them on my unrocked garage ceiling. Perfectly spaced within an inch.
They came from a health place we were doing.
I wasn't into detailing at the time so they only each have 2 T8 32w lamp ballasts. My plan is to eventually retrofit four lamps in each. I just need to add tombstones and put another ballast or change it to a four lamp.

You'll also might want lights near any planned workbench. Not necessary but better when working on things.

How about posting the floor-plan of the garage so we can take a look.
A few weeks ago I started typing how to lay out lights perfectly spaced.
I think you said you didn't want anything fancy right? I'm not a lumen engineer but have installed so many fixtures its easy once someone takes two minutes to show you the trick on getting the measurements. You can decide how many lights you want.
For a 24x24 garage my four fixtures aren't enough but once I double the lamps it should work. T

Just have a junction box with a cover for your feed waiting for you and run MC cable or romex light to light.
Hopefully you get a 3-way or four way switch located at each door.

The biggest mistake in my layout is with the garage door up, two fixtures are completely covered by the door. I should have laid it out for 3 rows of lights to prevent that.
 
My garage ceiling is a regular ceiling - if I recall. There is attic space above it.

I went to look at lights today, and I think the best value for my lighting buck is T8 fluorescent strips. I'm thinking of a bunch of them flush mounted to the ceiling.

I'm thinking maybe a total of 18 T8 bulbs. I kinda like the 2 X 2 (long wise) T8 flush mounted fixtures. Maybe 3 of those and 3 or 4 dual T8 fixtures.

This would all be hard-wired in. To turn on with a few switches. Hopefully, this doesn't require any crazy electrical panels or what not. I am completely new (and overwhelmed) by all this.

I am having several meeting with the builder over the next few weeks about everything. We will see what happens.
 
Swanicyouth said:
..
I'm thinking maybe a total of 18 T8 bulbs. I kinda like the 2 X 2 (long wise) T8 flush mounted fixtures. Maybe 3 of those and 3 or 4 dual T8 fixtures...
Click to expand...

I'd take whatever you think is sufficient and add a few to that. Seriously...you'll be surprised over time.

This would all be hard-wired in. To turn on with a few switches.
Click to expand...

The more switches the better as it gives you options. And I'd have one small light setup that has its own switch in case you want "just a little light" on, like for security purposes or getting in/out late at night.


Hopefully, this doesn't require any crazy electrical panels or what not..
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound like it should to me. And this is *the* time to do it right :D
 
Wow cinder block walls, never see that here anymore all poured concrete walls. I am not sure why maybe the cold or snow load from roof or just over regulation building codes. Keep up with the updates love to watch the progress even the little things.
 
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