Garage Refurbishment

I didn’t go modular for my garage, there’s a wide choice but not all manufacturers quote the gauge of steel they use. 24 gauge, which appeared most common when I was looking, makes for an inadequate storage system IMO. I have a selection of the Halfords professional range which has lasted well and all my tools have fancy modular storage trays to keep them neat and tidy I had for many years, the Clarkes bike lift bought from Machine Mart. If you have a half decent compressor, the pneumatic version makes sense but the manual pedal works fine. Andy

 

Hi Adam, I’ve also been looking at the SGS & the Sealey Super line modular - I might pop up to Sealey in Bury St Edmunds as I’m local to get a look in the flesh as my garage walls are being skimmed mid Feb & I need to make a decision I have a roll cab but definitely want the dream garage look with modular & also stand a better chance of hiding new purchases/parts from the wife

 

Following with interest as I have almost finished my new build house and plan to start building the garage soon, just waiting on plans from the structural engineer.
I’d love it to look like Topolino’s his looks amazing

 

Halfords do the occasional deep discounts on buying multi-sets of roll cabinets so worth a look.

I have some cheap (edited) US Pro brand, eBay I think, work well enough with ball bearing rollers etc. made my own workbench, easy enough to do for a few lumps of wood and some casters and, if you don’t want to use shelving under you could build it to take the tool cabinets.

don’t forget flooring, especially if you use a bike lift. Get one with castors so you can move even when loaded, makes storage a lot simpler. I have the lock together vinyl floor tiles, work great, easy install, super tough and can make patterns if you like or even have them do logo tiles (like Porsche or Ducati logos)

 

Not the best picture but got these from sgs, decent quality and all lockable, communication was good, one had a small dent in the top so they gave me a choice of collection or money off.the ramp was about 500 quid but for the life of me can’t seem to find the email

 

If getting a lift make sure you can get full front and back stands on it. Maybe aren’t quite long enough.

 

and make sure it’s a scissor lift, they’re sturdier and more secure than the non- scissor type.

 

Don't forget lighting.

Plan it well, and have an LED strip light either side of where your lift will be.

 

I’ve been very pleased with my garage cupboards from SGS, i already had a kitchen worktop and I set it higher than the drawer units. I didn’t get castors or handles either. I have a 1930s green metal vertical cupboard which I’ve kept mainly for sentimental reasons.
My bike lift came from KD Benches in Scotland who are sadly no longer trading but it’s a great piece of kit.
Lighting is a mixture of LEDs and one strip. My garage is not insulated, I’m not sure whether to or not.
I also have interlocking plastic flooring which was professionally installed.

 

Screwfix sell a good range of good value for money LED strip lights.

At the bare minimum you need one over your workbench, close enough to the wall so you are not working in your own shadow, and as mentioned above one either side of your lift bench so that both sides of the bike are lit.

I've really gone over the top with them because I also have them in positions to light under the open bonnet of a car either way round in one half of the garage, and to light the centre when I'm building sets for school plays or doing other woodwork. But they use very little power.

It's worth doing some research on what light you like to work in as LED Strips can give out very different colours.
Personally I like very White light, but others prefer it a little more Yellow(Warmer).

Be aware though that some cheaper LED lights can produce static interference if you also have a DAB radio to listen to.

The other thing to plan is Power sockets.
Again I've gone over the top because I need additional power in two possible places that will cope with my welding gear.

It's also worth putting a couple of twin sockets on the ceiling or rafters.
Cables from Corded power tools get in the way far less if they are dangling from the ceiling, and I use mine to plug in battery charger/conditioners as if you also hang the charger from the ceiling the cables don't get in the way.

 

I'd say like lighting is one of the most important parts of the workshop...it makes such a difference in the work comfort.

 

What is the hex LED lighting like? Been looking at putting some in my garage as presently have fluorescent tubes which are crap.

 

Costco usually list Hilka professional garage modular storage, 24 gauge, as available on line, quite often on offer. If not a member easy to look at what's available on line but you would need to be a member to buy. Problem is they typically sell in 'sets', so you can't pick and choose a specific combination, but most of the stuff they sell is good quality so might be worth considering.
It seems to me most bike lifts from China come in different colours and price points for the same thing depending on where you buy it. The Machine Mart ones are pretty good for home use I think, and they have started their VAT free offers again, so worth getting on their mailing list for the next one.

 

Just those two hex light the whole garage pretty well, I’m looking to add another one either side as a bit dull low down.

 

The one part of mine that I think I got wrong is lighting. All strips. Creates lots of shadows when working on stuff even if the room looks light. Think mutil spots would have been better idea

 

Hmmm... you've got me daydreaming.... Costco, they do a slightly smaller one too.

For lights, I used general tube lights (a bit meh tbh) but then put two massive led arrays on each side of the bike lift (one sitting at each corner of the rectangle if you like) so you can never create a shadow when leaning in.

 

I went for several cheep directional spotlight units from Ikea. It seemed to do the trick.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/krusnate-ceiling-spotlight-with-4-spots-white-70564190/

Something else to consider is strengthening the garage door to improve security.