finishing the garage this spring - what order should I do these renovations in?

Cartouche

New member
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
679
Reaction score
3
Location
Southington, Connecticut
finishing the garage this spring - what order should I do these renovations in?

Since my collection has outgrown the basement bar, I began renovating our unfinished garage as an additional arcade. It's about a 22' x 12' space, your typical New England cape cod style garage (with a ladder to storage area up top). My plan is a heated, insulated combo arcade/home gym.

Done in 2009:
wired three 15 amp and one 20 amp circuits to the area, along with outlets
3 Harvey replacement windows
insulated walls
installed and painted particle board paneling
epoxied floor

What I think is left:
wire for overhead lighting
insulate and panel ceiling
install new, insulated garage doors
heating system (leaning towards a Dimplex-type electric system)
I'm thinking of taking out this door in back and putting in a sliding glass door (not the open door, the 2 closed doors to the left)

IMG_1586.jpg


What order should I do this in? Do I need access to the ceiling joists when installing a garage door? Or can I just panel the ceiling completely, then bolt the track to the joists thru the panels?

I was thinking this order:
Wire for lights and heater(s)
insulation of ceiling
remove existing tracks for garage doors
completely panel ceiling
install garage doors
install heating system

I'd sure appreciate any advice and input from guys or gals that have done this sort of thing, esp. in colder climes.
 
I'm no expert, but I believe you need to do ALL electrical first as well as HVAC and insulation. Drywall and paneling should be close to last, then hanging light fixtures from wiring.

As a side note, I would recommend doing nice french doors there instead of a slider. It would not only look better, but would allow you another great entry and unloading point to the 'cade.

Use Google Sketchup to layout your proposed machine locations. This will help you decide on placement of certain fixtures, doors, etc, etc, etc.

Pics of the interior?
 
I'm no expert, but I believe you need to do ALL electrical first as well as HVAC and insulation. Drywall and paneling should be close to last, then hanging light fixtures from wiring.

As a side note, I would recommend doing nice french doors there instead of a slider. It would not only look better, but would allow you another great entry and unloading point to the 'cade.

Use Google Sketchup to layout your proposed machine locations. This will help you decide on placement of certain fixtures, doors, etc, etc, etc.

Pics of the interior?

Do you plan on living there for an extended period? If so, just close in the garage and put large double doors in place of the garage door. I did mine in this fashion. If when I go to sell and the new person would prefer to have a garage back, the wall can always be tore out and a garage door be put back in.
 
Do you plan on living there for an extended period? If so, just close in the garage and put large double doors in place of the garage door. I did mine in this fashion. If when I go to sell and the new person would prefer to have a garage back, the wall can always be tore out and a garage door be put back in.

Yes, it's my business as well as my home, so we'll be here for quite some time. Would you mind putting up a photo of your two-door set-up?
 
+1 on the recommendation for French Doors. You can get them with one fixed door or two swinging doors, go for the two swinging doors for game access.

Sliding doors aren't in style anymore :)
 
Back
Top Bottom