Garage Makeover (Pictures)

I

InTheAir

New member
Well, a few weeks ago I finally started finishing up my three car garage. It originally came from the builder with drywall and mud. The floor was never that "blemish-free", thanks to painters spilling paint during construction, a few oil leaks here and there, spilled fluids, etc.



I investigated getting it professionally epoxied, but at close to $3.00 per square foot it was more than I wanted to spend on a 640 square foot garage. With so many horror stories and personally seeing the results of DIY epoxy systems, I decided to opt out of epoxy's. The Racedeck tiles are great, but are equally expensive.



So, I decided to go with the BLT Garage Flooring Mat System (http://www.bltllc.com/g-floor_main.htm). These mats come in a number of patterns--we decided on the new diamond pattern, which is similar to the metal diamond plate pattern on many tool chests--and are easy to install. Unfortunately, many of the stock sizes require three mats to be used in a three car garage. Thankfully, there are a few resellers that accept custom length orders. We decided to get (2) 10 x 33 ft mats to fit in our 20 x 32 ft garage. It took about 4 weeks to get the mats, which were delivered on a semi-truck in as two 275lb rolls. This arrangement cost a little over $2 per square foot.



After placing the order and waiting on delivery, I rented an airless sprayer from Home Depot and ended up spraying 10 gallons worth of primer and 5 gallons worth of paint on the walls, reorganized the garage, and installed a few shelves and a cabinet.



Once the mats arrived, it didn't take too much time to lay them out, cut them to shape, and bring everything back in the garage.



I also installed flourescent overhead lighting. I used two 4 bulb 4-foot units with cold weather ballasts. The cold weather ballasts ensure that the lights will light even when it gets cold this winter. However, .....



In the coming weeks, I plan on installing a natural gas 30,000 BTU heater (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...Id=6970&productId=1029783&R=1029783&langId=-1) and a couple more pictures on the walls. This should keep the garage at about 50 degrees or more during the winter to allow for some winter detailing and maintenance.



I'm pretty happy with the results. It certainly isn't one of those incredible garages that I've seen on the web, but it is a good compromise and should resist all fluid spills, dirt, and grime.



Here are a few before and afters (IF THE PICTURES BELOW DON'T SHOW UP, THEN VISIT THIS GALLERY http://www.pbase.com/jlsphoto/garage_before_after):



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The garage looks great! I can't believe the guy who built your house left your garage walls like that.
 
Mikeyc said:
The garage looks great! I can't believe the guy who built your house left your garage walls like that.
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Looks absolutely great. Very clean and practical. The sheet rock spackling is "knife grade" which is standard for garages, and much less precise than interior grade.



Dean
 
Dean said:
Looks absolutely great. Very clean and practical. The sheet rock spackling is "knife grade" which is standard for garages, and much less precise than interior grade.



Dean
Click to expand...



I've just never seen a garage left semi-finished like that. Usually I either see it completely unfinished (i.e. open studs) or sheet rocked and painted. I have no idea why the builder did not paint if he put up sheet rock. When I had a garage the walls were sheet rocked and covered with that cottage cheese looking stuff. Yuck!!
 
Thanks guys. I'm glad you like it.



I've been pretty happy with the conversion. I may add a few more lights--you know you can't have enough light. :) But for now, the heater is the next (and pressing) upgrade. ;)
 
Very nice job! Your garage looks great, not a bad choice of cars either. So how is that flooring for rolling jacks, using jack stands, rolling toold carts, etc? Im going to have 1200' of garage to finish and Im looking for ideas on how to (economically) finish it.
 
Chuck -



The flooring holds up well to rolling implements, although as you can imagine there will be some bumping along. However, one of the benefits to this is once you move something into position, it won't roll off (or into your car) on its own. I used to have the shop vac roll into the car when vacuuming, however now it stays put. :)
 
Mikeyc said:
The garage looks great! I can't believe the guy who built your house left your garage walls like that.
Click to expand...



For a garage, that isn't uncommon practice. He should be glad there was even drywall up!!
 
Fskof said:
What kind of bike rack is that? That would work in my garage. Where did you get it and how much?
Click to expand...

Well, I bought it about 15 years ago (when I was in college.....yikes, that's disturbing to say!!) so it may not be available in the exact same form. However, I did a quick search for you at Performance Bike and found pretty much the same thing:



Indoor Storage category: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=6600



The one closest to mine: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=4128&subcategory_ID=6600



There are some that are made of wood and some that simply lean against the wall to remain in position.



Hope this helps.
 
Nice pics.....my garage is the same size as yours but my door is on the end so I pull the cars in LONG WAYS. How easy to clean is the flooring? I was thinking of getting it but I am worried when it snows and I pull the cars in and teh snow melts....I may get a ton of puddling on the floor.
 
I haven't had to clean it yet, other than simply wiping up some brake fluid. However, from what I read online and the directions that came with the flooring, the mats can be pressure washed and/or scrubbed with a floor cleaner and broom. From what I can tell so far, I think it will be very easy to clean.
 
InTheAir said:
Well, a few weeks ago I finally started finishing up my three car garage. It originally came from the builder with drywall and mud. The floor was never that "blemish-free", thanks to painters spilling paint during construction, a few oil leaks here and there, spilled fluids, etc.



I investigated getting it professionally epoxied, but at close to $3.00 per square foot it was more than I wanted to spend on a 640 square foot garage. With so many horror stories and personally seeing the results of DIY epoxy systems, I decided to opt out of epoxy's. The Racedeck tiles are great, but are equally expensive.



So, I decided to go with the BLT Garage Flooring Mat System (http://www.bltllc.com/g-floor_main.htm). These mats come in a number of patterns--we decided on the new diamond pattern, which is similar to the metal diamond plate pattern on many tool chests--and are easy to install. Unfortunately, many of the stock sizes require three mats to be used in a three car garage. Thankfully, there are a few resellers that accept custom length orders. We decided to get (2) 10 x 33 ft mats to fit in our 20 x 32 ft garage. It took about 4 weeks to get the mats, which were delivered on a semi-truck in as two 275lb rolls. This arrangement cost a little over $2 per square foot.



After placing the order and waiting on delivery, I rented an airless sprayer from Home Depot and ended up spraying 10 gallons worth of primer and 5 gallons worth of paint on the walls, reorganized the garage, and installed a few shelves and a cabinet.



Once the mats arrived, it didn't take too much time to lay them out, cut them to shape, and bring everything back in the garage.



I also installed flourescent overhead lighting. I used two 4 bulb 4-foot units with cold weather ballasts. The cold weather ballasts ensure that the lights will light even when it gets cold this winter. However, .....



In the coming weeks, I plan on installing a natural gas 30,000 BTU heater (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...Id=6970&productId=1029783&R=1029783&langId=-1) and a couple more pictures on the walls. This should keep the garage at about 50 degrees or more during the winter to allow for some winter detailing and maintenance.



I'm pretty happy with the results. It certainly isn't one of those incredible garages that I've seen on the web, but it is a good compromise and should resist all fluid spills, dirt, and grime.



Here are a few before and afters (to see the entire gallery http://www.pbase.com/jlsphoto/garage_before_after):



51440796.jpg




51440806.jpg




51440797.jpg




51440811.jpg




51440798.jpg




51440808.jpg




51440799.jpg




51440812.jpg
Click to expand...



:nono I also used the BLT flooring system (the coin pattern in green) which I installed in the spring of 2004 and am not completely satisfied. There are 2 issues that make it less than ideal. The first is the mats will shrink and expand as the temperature changes. I used heavy duty double sided tape for outdoor use on the seams and it still moved --- more noticeably when the temp dropped. Keep in mind that I am in Sacramento, California where the lows get into the low 40's which is not truly cold. Secondly the tires will stain the mat and there is nothing that you can do to remove the stains. BLT on their product literature that accompanies the mats state that some people have had luck in using brake cleaner. I have tried it and have had no success. I also tried laquer thinner and acetone with the same results. It appears that the black from the tires has penetrated the material.



If I had to do it again I wouldn't :down
 
Good to know, Lou.



As far as "shrinkage" goes (reminds me of Seinfeld), I've left about 6 inches on each side to accommodate for this. I guess I'll see how it works out.



When I was searching for a floor, I looked for product reviews by users and didn't find much. Therefore, for others, I'll try to update this in the Spring.
 
InTheAir said:
Good to know, Lou.



As far as "shrinkage" goes (reminds me of Seinfeld), I've left about 6 inches on each side to accommodate for this. I guess I'll see how it works out.



When I was searching for a floor, I looked for product reviews by users and didn't find much. Therefore, for others, I'll try to update this in the Spring.
Click to expand...



Whoa I just noticed your location, where in MI are you at?



The floor looks very nice; I've got one of BLT's mats that just goes in the middle of the floor, not an "interlocking" setup like these are. I love mine, I can just yank it out into the driveway, use some simple green and the pressure washer to clean it once a year; it still looks new (right after cleaning.... it tends to dirty up quick between my parking on it, and my working on customer vehicles atop it.)



One warning I'll issue with the stuff (since I assume this is the same kind of rubber material I have) -- DO NOT under any circumstances allow tire dressing or vinyl/rubber dressing to get on the mat. You'll never see where all it got, and one day you'll happen to step on a coated spot... well lets just say your butt will get up close and personal with the floor rather quickly. It tends not to want to clean back up well, either. It took me MAJOR scrubbing after I discovered the problem.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Whoa I just noticed your location, where in MI are you at?
Click to expand...
I'm in Oakland County just north of Detroit.



The floor looks very nice; I've got one of BLT's mats that just goes in the middle of the floor, not an "interlocking" setup like these are. I love mine, I can just yank it out into the driveway, use some simple green and the pressure washer to clean it once a year; it still looks new (right after cleaning.... it tends to dirty up quick between my parking on it, and my working on customer vehicles atop it.)



One warning I'll issue with the stuff (since I assume this is the same kind of rubber material I have) -- DO NOT under any circumstances allow tire dressing or vinyl/rubber dressing to get on the mat. You'll never see where all it got, and one day you'll happen to step on a coated spot... well lets just say your butt will get up close and personal with the floor rather quickly. It tends not to want to clean back up well, either. It took me MAJOR scrubbing after I discovered the problem.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up on keeping my feet under me. ;)
 
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