Building a Garage ---- What do you regret not doing?

[adamchandler]

I don't remember. What's the length and width of the garage not counting the raised section where the tool chest goes.

My wife just told me it’s 32x11.5. The stepped up area is 4’ deep so 36’ total.

The Audi is 13.5’ by 6’ wide.

 

[98lee]

I assume you are going to remove the wall between the kitchen and the view?

 

[adamchandler]

I assume you are going to remove the wall between the kitchen and the view?

View attachment 115491

Yep! They put that up to hold in the heat during construction. I think that comes down really soon.

 

[adamchandler]

Big day! 3500 pounds of tool boxes arrived. I'll do a more meaningful update at some point over the weekend. Crews have been there 4 days straight now:

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

That's going to be a tight squeeze Adam. Looks like a working weekend for you!

 

[omega man]

Toolboxes to match your car?
OM

 

[adamchandler]

Toolboxes to match your car?
OM

This was not the intention at all but they are a perfect match as if I'm one of those jerks who would waste money on something so vain. that's not sarcasm, I didn't even think about it until like 2 weeks after both the car & boxes were ordered. The other color choices were Blue, Red and Black for the tool box and my wife vetoed blue (everything we have is blue) and black (it'll make the space look smaller) and Red felt too Snap on to me so I went with green.

sigh

I'm sure it'll be fine. I'll have these boxes far longer than I'll have the car.

That's going to be a tight squeeze Adam. Looks like a working weekend for you!

Well maybe. I think I'm going to wait until I move in. We'll see. This weekend, I'm staying away so my wife can tile and paint the house. Someone has to entertain the 2 year old. I literally cannot do it alone though. the manual recommends a group of 4 to set it up. Electricians still have to come back and there's trim & paint to do still in the garage so until those are done, I'll probably just keep them boxed up. I wish the garage was completely done.

Here are the weights of each of these parts:

• ICON 73" Roll Cab: 1,086.88 lbs
• ICON 73" Work Center Hutch: 282.20 lbs
• ICON 73" Overhead Cabinet: 255.80 lbs
• ICON 28" End Locker: 465.00 lbs
• ICON 19" End Cabinet: 259 lbs
• ICON 73" Stainless Steel Top: 95 lbs

 

[omega man]

This was not the intention at all but they are a perfect match as if I'm one of those jerks who would waste money on something so vain. that's not sarcasm, I didn't even think about it until like 2 weeks after both the car & boxes were ordered. The other color choices were Blue, Red and Black for the tool box and my wife vetoed blue (everything we have is blue) and black (it'll make the space look smaller) and Red felt too Snap on to me so I went with green.

Just wanted the prize for noticing foist!
OM

 

[adamchandler]

Just wanted the prize for noticing foist!
OM

Everyone that comes over to my house is literally going to walk in the garage and go "really? Matching tool boxes to your car?"

I'm so embarrassed

 

[omega man]

Everyone that comes over to my house is literally going to walk in the garage and go "really? Matching tool boxes to your car?"

I'm so embarrassed

Meh. In your case, the brighter everything is, the better off you will be.
I hope it will be personally satisfying to fill the boxes with tools.
I can suggest that if the liners seem to move in the least bit, spray adhesive in the liner installation will help. I have liners that slide and roll up in the back of the box- still.
OM

 

[r0ckrat]

A little over a ton of toolboxes! Impressive!

 

[scott9999]

Hmm, that garage suddenly became a whole lot smaller!

 

[adamchandler]

A little over a ton of toolboxes! Impressive!

and lifetime (as long as harbor freight is in business) warranty. I wanted boxes that I could move to the next house without them bending so much that they don't open or close right. and modular so you can just keep adding on if I ever get a real garage. The US General is all I needed but they're more flimsy and sort of like IKEA furniture, I was afraid they'd be good as long as I never moved them but I wanted these boxes to last my lifetime. I'm 39 so we'll see. Then again, Sears and Craftsman's warranty doesn't mean jack these days.

My wife is a bad financial partner. "You're not going to miss the $5K you spent on these toolboxes when you're in your 60s"

She's right but that's what made me spend $2200 more than the equivalent US General box (that only has a 90 day warranty)

 

[scott9999]

Everyone that comes over to my house is literally going to walk in the garage and go "really? Matching tool boxes to your car?"

I'm so embarrassed

Just park one of your motorcycles next to it, to break up the color match.

 

[omega man]

My wife is a bad financial partner. "You're not going to miss the $5K you spent on these toolboxes when you're in your 60s"

Does she have a sister? with a fascination for geezers?

O M

 

[adamchandler]

Just park one of your motorcycles next to it, to break up the color match.

Unless I suddenly get an itch to buy a Kawasaki

 

[scott9999]

and lifetime (as long as harbor freight is in business) warranty. I wanted boxes that I could move to the next house without them bending so much that they don't open or close right. and modular so you can just keep adding on if I ever get a real garage. The US General is all I needed but they're more flimsy and sort of like IKEA furniture, I was afraid they'd be good as long as I never moved them but I wanted these boxes to last my lifetime. I'm 39 so we'll see. Then again, Sears and Craftsman's warranty doesn't mean jack these days.

My wife is a bad financial partner. "You're not going to miss the $5K you spent on these toolboxes when you're in your 60s"

She's right but that's what made me spend $2200 more than the equivalent US General box (that only has a 90 day warranty)

In 5 or 10 years, you may look back on the purchase of these tool boxes as the best investment you ever made. Prices on this kind of stuff is going out of sight. You might not even be able to buy a soundly made tool chest in future years, i.e. these new ones may become expensive antiques.

When I moved into our current house, I picked up a large, rolling tool box from Lowes (whatever their brand is), for about the same reason as you. I wasn't sure how long we'd be living in this "temporary" lake house (it's been 10 years now ), and I wasn't going to build a formal work bench (still haven't, and that's a real pain - everyone needs a real iron vise at some point in time!). Cleaning out the garage and workbench of my last house, i.e. all the tools in all the drawers and cabinets, was a last minute pain. We were literally tossing tools randomly in boxes as the new owners were moving their furniture into the house. I wasn't going to do that again, so my entire garage in the new house is designed "portable". Tools are either in that rolling 5' long cabinet or organized in those 27 gallon black and yellow plastic boxes Costco sells, all stacked on a commercial rack. I could move out of the garage in a couple of hours. Theoretically. In a perfect world. (Actually, we finally broke down an rented a storage space last year almost as large as my garage. It has all the miscellaneous garage "junk" in it (i.e. stuff we can't throw out, but never use?!). THAT would probably take a week to clear out, but my current garage is agile and mobile.

Anyhow, you're on the right track, and FAR ahead of me in your garage, after only about a year of planning and work.

 

[scott9999]

Unless I suddenly get an itch to buy a Kawasaki

First world problems, eh?

 

[adamchandler]

In 5 or 10 years, you may look back on the purchase of these tool boxes as the best investment you ever made. Prices on this kind of stuff is going out of sight. You might not even be able to buy a soundly made tool chest in future years, i.e. these new ones may become expensive antiques.

When I moved into our current house, I picked up a large, rolling tool box from Lowes (whatever their brand is), for about the same reason as you. I wasn't sure how long we'd be living in this "temporary" lake house (it's been 10 years now ), and I wasn't going to build a formal work bench (still haven't, and that's a real pain - everyone needs a real iron vise at some point in time!). Cleaning out the garage and workbench of my last house, i.e. all the tools in all the drawers and cabinets, was a last minute pain. We were literally tossing tools randomly in boxes as the new owners were moving their furniture into the house. I wasn't going to do that again, so my entire garage in the new house is designed "portable". Tools are either in that rolling 5' long cabinet or organized in those 27 gallon black and yellow plastic boxes Costco sells, all stacked on a commercial rack. I could move out of the garage in a couple of hours. Theoretically. In a perfect world. (Actually, we finally broke down an rented a storage space last year almost as large as my garage. It has all the miscellaneous garage "junk" in it (i.e. stuff we can't throw out, but never use?!). THAT would probably take a week to clear out, but my current garage is agile and mobile.

Anyhow, you're on the right track, and FAR ahead of me in your garage, after only about a year of planning and work.

I appreciate the insight, Scott. I just wish we could buy more handmade wooden furniture. Lots of craftsmen up here in Vermont selling $5,000 hardwood bed frames and cabinetry. We just can't afford it yet so we're still buying some things that I know won't last 10 years. But I'm never going to stop wrenching on our things and even with these expenses, the cost of paying someone to change my brakes or shocks...it's insane.

Just did my RAM 1500's Wheel Hub Assembly. $250 part. 2 shops wanted $750 & $900 to do it. I did it in my friend's dirt driveway with a few hand tools:

So I'm looking forward to getting a garage again. Did 4 oil changes so far at his place in the last 2 weeks. It is what it is but my tiny garage tools will pay for themselves within 5 years.

 

[omega man]

Just did my RAM 1500's Wheel Hub Assembly. $250 part. 2 shops wanted $750 & $900 to do it. I did it in my friend's dirt driveway with a few hand tools:

That's a lot harder than it looks. Nice job!
OM