Nonsense Thread

[roguetoaster]

I cant imagine building a garage and not having a lift inside it... how much more space would you really need to squeeze a lift in? Remember that it also x2 your vehicle parking space

Eh, a lift isn't exactly a convenient item for many garages. For instance, my garage has ~13' ceilings, around 6" of who knows what concrete, and absolutely no sensible way to add a lift. If I add one I can either not open a car door easily, park one vehicle backwards every time, lose convenient access to a person door, block stairs, or install the lift at 90 degrees to the parking bays and lose motorcycle parking in the process. None of those options are good, and coupled with having to reconfigure my garage door means I'm never installing one even though my garage is "perfect" for one. As such I am perfectly happy to borrow a lift when I need one in exchange for cleaning their shop or buying beer.

As to doubling parking space, maybe if the vehicle on top is completely devoid of leaks, and since it's the less frequently used one I'm going to guess that it normally leaks something.

[2mAn]

I cant imagine building a garage and not having a lift inside it... how much more space would you really need to squeeze a lift in? Remember that it also x2 your vehicle parking space

[DEV0 E30]

Decent opinion post found on Epoxy/Poly:

There are many products available to choose from but if you only want to do it once, I suggest something other than those in the big box stores. Why? 1. You will usually end up buying twice as much material as they say is needed, they are counting on you spreading that stuff pretty thin to make it an "affordable alternative". 2. Most kits do not come with a clear top coat to seal everything in and definitely not enough chips for much coverage. My material of choice is Polyurea over Epoxy, 100% chip coverage, and top coat with a gloss Polyaspartic clear to lock everything in and add UV protection. Many local equipment rental stores also carry material and chips, search for a resinous coating retailer. You are looking for material that is 80-100% solids to give you the thickness and buildup for years of wear and tear.
PREP - While acid etching sounds like the easy way to prep, unless you thoroughly clean and neutralize the acid it can continue to eat away at the concrete underneath your coating. How do you tell if its al been neutralized? I have no idea, thats the point. Do yourself a favor and rent a surface grinder and HEPA vacuum combo, again most equipment rental locations have these. Garage concrete is finished differently than the rest of your slab, they will spend extra time, usually, to float out the surface and give you a nice sealed surface, its awesome, but doesn't really allow coatings to stick to it. Thats why you will need to grind just the surface off to expose those little pores, giving the material something to soak into and grip.
The steps for a good coating install go something like this:

1. Grind prep (stem walls can normally be cleaned with wire brush)
2. Vacuum up all remaining dust, opening the pores up so the coating can get in and grip
3. Mix and apply base coat Polyurea, mix in smaller batches, it can kick off and set up in the bucket if you mix too much
4. Toss chips, your color of choice, to 100% coverage while the base is wet, you don't have much time, the clock is ticking. Chips help with creating texture to aid in traction. They are available in 1/2", 1/4", 1/8", and 1/16" sizes 1/4" being the standard used.
5. Allow base to cure, usually a couple hours or wait till the next day.
6. Scrap the chips. What? I just through all these things down and now you want me to scrap them off? Yes, you need to level out the surface to knock down any that are sticking up on their edges, those things can be sharp on bare feet! Scrape in two directions, if its completely cured you can scrape in 18 directions without fear of removing too much, they are embedded in the base coat, don't worry.
7. Vacuum again. Pull up all those loose chips you want the floor free from any loose debris and chips before the next step.
8. Mix and apply your clear top coat. Polyaspartic, 80% solids or higher to build up that thickness layer. Again mix in smaller batches and to a section at a time, overlapping sections.
9. Allow to cure 24 hours and enjoy

Of course this is the simplified list of steps and mostly applies to Poly coatings but basically the same steps if you decide to go epoxy. Epoxy is less expensive but it will continue to cure over time and become brittle, this is why you have seen small chips out of epoxy floors, it cracks and lets go in small sections. Poly coatings on the other hand will remain flexible which is good because your floor actually shrinks and swells with seasonal temp swings. Poly will move with it. Poly also forms a crosslinked membrane kinda like a woven carpet. It will peel up in large sheets if its not prepped correctly but won't chip in small sections.
Its not rocket science but does take some planning ahead and really at least two people once you start mixing material.
Hopefully this gives you enough info to think about the DIY project or maybe you now know it would be best to hire an installer, either way enjoy your garage spaces and keep posting!

More:

https://www.garagefloorcoating.com/polyurea-polyaspartic/

https://www.armorthane.com/what-are-the-advantages-of-polyaspartic-coatings/

https://www.garageliving.com/blog/polyaspartic-vs-epoxy-comparison

https://www.southwestexteriors.com/blog/problems-with-polyurea-and-polyaspartic-concrete-floor-coatings-articlevideo

Sadly I can't find the specific wholesaler I'm thinking of. If it comes up, I'll share.

[Panici]

Creating restrictions on where I can place cars/bikes (The 20x28 is a shitty shape, I think I can barely fit 2-wide plus workbench now, but with a lift I lose ~1ft on each side and one post would need to be against the wall)

That's my biggest reason for not having a car lift. I do quite a bit of work for just having a 1.5 car garage, and I'd lose a lot of flexibility with the lift posts in the way.

What I would recommend is a motorcycle lift to free up some space. During the winter I can put it against the wall with a bike on top, then lift it up and store things underneath.

Or scooch the E30 closer to the wall and get to both sides of the bike lift, with room for more bikes between the car and lift.

[DEV0 E30]

.... I'll keep looking at alternatives....

For the heat pump, I'm looking at the Danby 18000 BTU unit they have at Costco here for $1400 CAD. I have a buddy who installs heat pumps so I'll bug him to make sure I don't fuck anything up.
It's rated for 1000sqft which should mean it will do the 540+not-a-loft area.

I've also been hanging onto a 240V space heater forever - I may stick that in the corner/ceiling at the back as a backup, but it's extremely rare for it to get cold enough for the heat pump to not function.

Yeah, although it is all in the prep, and my stuff worked for well enough for most part, it was clear it was a subpar product. I'd step it up to the better products. Professional install is pricey, I just like the warranty's that come with them.

When you don't use the flakes in that HD kit, I think that is what can cause the yellowing, because the undercoat is not UV rated, and the clear topcoat might not be either.



On reddit, I forgot which subreddit (garage and / or mancave) or even the facebook group "Average Middle Class Garage Goals" I know there were some posts showing the better grade stuff that are in kits you can order from a website.

I sadly just don't recall what that website was for ya.

The other option could be the plastic tiles, but while I like those in theory, they are pricey and in garages where a lot of work happens I'm not sure about them.



Nice, that should cool and heat nicely. I miss my lowly window shaker unit at my old house, it worked well and was cheap. Some day, mini split for sure.

Yeah between the minsplit and space heater, I'm sure you'll be fine. This is coming from someone who lives in Phoenix though.

You're going to love the new space when the shell is done! I'm sure you already have sketched and thought about placement for everything.


If you wanted a 2 post but not all the time, I know people love their Max Jaxx's, even though their prices are higher now that I think Bendpak bought them out?

[Northern]

It's not really unless you locate it like toaster says, and then I think it would still stick up in the not-a-loft. I thought about a lift but it came down to:
Extra money for the required slab reinforcement
Loss of upstairs storage(I'd like to finish my basement where all my e30 junk lives now)
Creating restrictions on where I can place cars/bikes (The 20x28 is a shitty shape, I think I can barely fit 2-wide plus workbench now, but with a lift I lose ~1ft on each side and one post would need to be against the wall)

I'll eventually buy a QuickJack and a nice creeper. Better than jackstands at least?

Someday I'd love a bigger garage somewhere else with a real lift

[roguetoaster]

Is that enough for a 2 post lift?

Not normally, but you can rig the posts between joist/truss spacing as long as you either relocate the limit bar and or top plate of the lift. The floor may be the larger impediment.

[varg]

10' ceiling

Is that enough for a 2 post lift?

[Northern]

About the Home Depot Epoxy Kit...

It's funny because I have found something like 10 people who have used the HD kit (Rustoleum Epoxyshield) and the split between "it's great" and "it's awful" is basically 50/50 with nobody even close to the fence.

One extreme is a guy who runs a mechanic side business out of his garage and he loves it. every once in a while he'll have a spot that peels but he cleans/repaints that spot and it isn't any less durable than the rest.

Other extreme hates it, paid $5psf for his new place to have it professionally done, but that's pretty steep for 560sqft when I have a bunch of other stuff to buy.
For 1/10 the price I think the HD stuff has to be at least 1/10 as good, but I'll keep looking at alternatives.

For the heat pump, I'm looking at the Danby 18000 BTU unit they have at Costco here for $1400 CAD. I have a buddy who installs heat pumps so I'll bug him to make sure I don't fuck anything up.
It's rated for 1000sqft which should mean it will do the 540+not-a-loft area.

I've also been hanging onto a 240V space heater forever - I may stick that in the corner/ceiling at the back as a backup, but it's extremely rare for it to get cold enough for the heat pump to not function.

[DEV0 E30]

Garage - I always intended to build one after buying this house. After almost 10 years, I came to terms with the timeline of building it myself and decided that it probably won't happen unless I pay someone.

Specs:
20Wx28L
Slab on grade
10' ceiling
12x8 door (ie. 1' taller than standard - Roysneon recommended this after encountering issues fitting his Disco in his garage)
8/12 storage trusses - should be 6~6'5" on the interior of the centerline, enough for me to walk down the middle but not exceed my zoning height limit of 18.x'
200A dedicated service

I'm just paying for weathertight shell and basic wiring, I'll have to add more electrical/insulate/vapour barrier/drywall after the fact.
Home Depot epoxy kit without colour flake on the floor
Costco pre-charged heat pump for cooling in the summer/heat in the winter.
A few more plans for workbenches/toolboxes/TV/fridge/internet.

Awesome!

Note: About the Home Depot Epoxy Kit... I'd recommend not going that route. I used it at my first house, and it yellows and is not UV stable I did the same thing, no flake.

I even got the HD "Professional" stuff that is ploymer based, not water based. It still was meh, and I did a lot of prep work. If you are set on DIY: For the same price, or barely more get a far better kit from one of the wholesalers/places that you can buy professional grade products. It will actually last, the key is in the prepwork as always, but better quality materials are a must to get a good and long lasting coating. Personally, I've decided the next house is getting a professional coating applied by pros, I've gotten quotes, and with their "50 year" warranty and better product, it will be worth it IMO.

All the other stuff is exciting, I'll vicariously live through you.

I've been eyeing the precharged "Mr Cool" kits and the like too, another thing on the wishlist for the next house.

[Northern]

I can only assume they plan to compact that, and how far above grade is the pad going to be?

Edit: You answered one of those as I was posting. Be sure to have a good drainage solution, consider a perimeter drain system from day one.

Honestly no idea how far above grade, there's ~1/2' height difference back(higher) to front, but I'm 1.5' higher than the lot next to me.
Awkward because the existing slab is at the low end of the property so it likely won't line up, but I can make something after the fact.
Not sure if I can legally drain onto neighbour's lot, but I'll keep an eye out for what they do.

And yeah it's not compacted yet, I assume they will before they do the forms and tie rebar/mesh, but again I'll keep an eye out.

EDIT:
Drawing shows 4" above grade, obviously they're levelling the area to some extent, not sure what height relative to surroundings.
There is a site grading plan, but I don't have a copy (I know it's a prereq for the building permit, which I see in my building portal with the City)


Drawing also shows slab configuration as:
6" crushed stone, Compacted
4" Slab
Footing 1'4" x 8"
6x6 wire mesh
10mm rebar, 2 rows centered about footing.

It also implies the ground around it is built up by 4" as well, but it doesn't specifically call that out anywhere.

[roguetoaster]

I can only assume they plan to compact that, and how far above grade is the pad going to be?

Edit: You answered one of those as I was posting. Be sure to have a good drainage solution, consider a perimeter drain system from day one.

[Northern]

Oooooh, new garage?! Or just parking pad/spot?

Garage - I always intended to build one after buying this house. After almost 10 years, I came to terms with the timeline of building it myself and decided that it probably won't happen unless I pay someone.

Specs:
20Wx28L
Slab on grade
10' ceiling
12x8 door (ie. 1' taller than standard - Roysneon recommended this after encountering issues fitting his Disco in his garage)
8/12 storage trusses - should be 6~6'5" on the interior of the centerline, enough for me to walk down the middle but not exceed my zoning height limit of 18.x'
200A dedicated service

I'm just paying for weathertight shell and basic wiring, I'll have to add more electrical/insulate/vapour barrier/drywall after the fact.
Home Depot epoxy kit without colour flake on the floor
Costco pre-charged heat pump for cooling in the summer/heat in the winter.
A few more plans for workbenches/toolboxes/TV/fridge/internet.

[DEV0 E30]

Oooooh, new garage?! Or just parking pad/spot?

[Northern]

For R3v's critique:


Shitbox fleet deployed... something something Everything the light touches.



Young guy on the excavator. Made short work of the tree stump and random concrete strip around the yard.



Two loads of gravel, I think 6 or 7 trucks of earth/concrete removed.



Wrapped up just shy of 6PM: