The Dallas Hwy Garage Renovation

Grey Colson

Administrator
Staff member
My plan to renovate the garage is moving slow but sure. I have only one day a week to devote to it, but it's just as well since I'm buying a little material here and there instead buying it on credit. I've built porches and have done room by room renovations before, but it's been a few years since I've tried a pretty large project and I've gotten a little "sticker shock" at the price of building materials. :eek:

Instead of sheet rock that tends to get dinged up over the years, I decided to use 4 x 8 sheets of exterior siding. They are real proud of it at $28.00 + each. :BH But I suppose since I don't have a load of time each week to work on it, it's just as well that I pick up one or two, here and there.

I've also determined that staining the conrete is going to be the way to go. I don't trust the paint that much and it's more expensive. I also believe I would experience "tire lift" down the road. The high quality snap together tiles look great, but they are the absolute most expensive way to go.

At least the furnace room is about done...

Furnaceroom.jpg
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

I know it will look extra nice when you are finished Lil Bro. And to know it is debt free is the icing. :thumbsup
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Kattie E said:
I know it will look extra nice when you are finished Lil Bro. And to know it is debt free is the icing. :thumbsup

Thanks, Sis. I can see the finished product in my mind, but everyone else in the just goes...Ummm. Hmmm
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Whar's th' swangin' saloon doors?

I like the idea of the snap-together flooring, but in practicality, I just see all manner of dirt and crap getting up under it somehow and just irritating me. I like the staining idea best as well.

Did you say before you're going to do some sort of drop-ceiling? A friend of mine has a drive-under thing like us, and the dude who renovated her house did a nice spray-paint of a darkish brown of everything above the walls so you don't notice it. I rather like that idea, although I'm not sure how I could make it practical as a DIY thing.
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Another thought - what about fumes when you stain the concrete? Will that be a problem with the water heater/furnace (assuming you have gas...er...assuming that your water heater and furnace are powered by natural gas, that is)?
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

mei lan said:
Another thought - what about fumes when you stain the concrete? Will that be a problem with the water heater/furnace (assuming you have gas...er...assuming that your water heater and furnace are powered by natural gas, that is)?

I'll be sure to check on that. The stuff I've been looking at on line is some type of acid stain that doesn't change the color automatically, but over a few hours. Since you mention it, I'll be sure to read up on it more. I imagine the stain kit would have a warning if it is that strong. Everything gets complicated doesn't it? :BH
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Jack Reacher said:
mei lan said:
Another thought - what about fumes when you stain the concrete? Will that be a problem with the water heater/furnace (assuming you have gas...er...assuming that your water heater and furnace are powered by natural gas, that is)?

I'll be sure to check on that. The stuff I've been looking at on line is some type of acid stain that doesn't change the color automatically, but over a few hours. Since you mention it, I'll be sure to read up on it more. I imagine the stain kit would have a warning if it is that strong. Everything gets complicated doesn't it? :BH

YES, DANG IT!!! :rant :BH :rant :BH
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Have you thought about the peel back sticky tiles? We did that a million and ten years ago in our first house because the floor was terrible and they didn't even have that specialty garage floor paint, anyway it is still down and has never come up. (still know the people that purchased our first home) Easy to clean and if for some reason it did get damaged you could get a piece back up and replace it. I am not sure what the cost is now, but we did it back in our barely could afford diapers stage. :))
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

ShoeDiva said:
Have you thought about the peel back sticky tiles? We did that a million and ten years ago in our first house because the floor was terrible and they didn't even have that specialty garage floor paint, anyway it is still down and has never come up. (still know the people that purchased our first home) Easy to clean and if for some reason it did get damaged you could get a piece back up and replace it. I am not sure what the cost is now, but we did it back in our barely could afford diapers stage. :))

Not bad...not bad at all. I'll have to surf around and see what's out there. Thanks!
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

I say, Jasper*, that sounds like a good idea. I might have to look into that myself.

* Three Stooges line
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Definitely don't paint the floor. The guy I bought my shop from used epoxy on the warehouse floor, and several years later it's still coming up. Staining should be OK. And yes, make sure the fumes aren't flammable or you'll need to shut down the furnace and water heater (including water heater pilot) until dry.

I like the outdoor siding. We actually did our family room in the version with the grooves closer together, and put a light stain on it. It gives the impression of individual boards on the wall and looks pretty cool. And it's really tough!

Something I did...I used ceder boards for the corner trim, base and crown molding. Using the same stain, it came out a little darker than the siding and was a nice effect.
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Guard Dad said:
Definitely don't paint the floor. The guy I bought my shop from used epoxy on the warehouse floor, and several years later it's still coming up. Staining should be OK. And yes, make sure the fumes aren't flammable or you'll need to shut down the furnace and water heater (including water heater pilot) until dry.

I like the outdoor siding. We actually did our family room in the version with the grooves closer together, and put a light stain on it. It gives the impression of individual boards on the wall and looks pretty cool. And it's really tough!

Something I did...I used ceder boards for the corner trim, base and crown molding. Using the same stain, it came out a little darker than the siding and was a nice effect.

Yep, the more I studied on it, paint is out. I'd have to do it myself and would be afraid it wouldn't be done exactly right. I'd drive the car in on a HOT day and I just know it would come right up.

Those wall board are pretty tough and I'm still trying to decide what to do with them. Thanks for the cedar trim idea :thumbsup This is just a garage, but I still want it to look decent.
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

I keep telling JR to finish all his messing around at his house, so he can come fix up mine! I'm just happy when I put up shelves or blinds that don't take half of the wall out! I'm not what you'd call 'handy' by any stretch.
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Hubby did one of the half walls in "our" garage with pegboard so he could add hooks and hang stuff up - that has worked out great!
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

i love to build out basements... Sadly my hubby can not hammer a nail to save his life and I am the Handy Woman around the house

I have helped my daddy at 3 different houses he lived in to finish the basement but yet mine is still nakkkkkid
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

MikeW said:
I keep telling JR to finish all his messing around at his house, so he can come fix up mine! I'm just happy when I put up shelves or blinds that don't take half of the wall out! I'm not what you'd call 'handy' by any stretch.

Good to see you MikeW, but alas that may not happen. By the time we think we are done, it's time to start all over where we started :BH
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

There's no need to rush this JR. You're making it your space, with your own personality mixed in. I say, take your time, as you go along new ideas will come to mind that you might not have had if you'd done it fast. :)
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

deewee said:
There's no need to rush this JR. You're making it your space, with your own personality mixed in. I say, take your time, as you go along new ideas will come to mind that you might not have had if you'd done it fast. :)

That's true. I've already changed my mind about a few things. One other thing about moving slow is that I don't get too tired and make as many mistakes. I've done projects before when I had all the material stacked up. I'd work until I was worn out, only to find I had to re-do things because I was sloppy and in a hurry. Good advice :thumbsup
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Here are the diamond plate covers I'm using for the outlets. I know they go on after the wall board, but I wanted to see how they looked.

Socket.jpg


This is the wall board again. When I paint, two sections will be either dark gray or black, to look like a Hwy. There will also be yellow and white lines on the edges and middle. ;D

Wall.jpg
 
Re: Slow going, but at least it\'s going

Yo! I dig the diamond plate covers.

Home Depot has diamond plate shop lights. Yes, I have one.
 
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