Creating a functional workshop space in your garage

Organizational planning tips

• Visualize the space.
• Write down what items need to be stored and accessible for use.
• Gather the size requirements of specific tools and materials.
• Decide whether the new space needs to be larger, more efficient, or stay the same but with newer materials.
• Storage options include:
  

  • Cabinetry
  • Drawers
  • Pegboards
  • Black board
  • Marker board
  • Storage under a worktable or counter
  • Room for one or multiple chairs
  • Bins
  • Toolboxes
  • Portable tool supply units
  • Special purpose shelving for bulky items such as lumber
• If the workshop plan exceeds your budget, the implementation can be stepped to make it more affordable at the outset. Once the different areas and systems are set in place, tools, equipment, and facilities to support the overall design can be added at a later date.

• Sealed-combustion space heaters (sometimes called direct-vent units) that are fuelled with either natural gas or propane. Install the units next to an exterior wall. Calculate the number of Btus needed for the space in order to select the right-sized heater.
• Electric radiant ceiling panels that can be mounted directly to a ceiling structure, the wall, or inserted into a ceiling grid. They are commonly 1" thick and 2' x 8' in size. These units heat up quickly.
• Sealed-combustion space heaters may be combined with electric radiant ceiling panels so that the heaters provide ambient heat while the radiant panels provide spot heating.
  
  

• Do not extend ductwork from the house into the garage; as it could bring in noxious fumes.
• Portable heaters are not powerful enough and could also be hazardous around wood shavings or dangerous liquids.
• Avoid wood and pellet stoves, as well as kerosene, oil, and propane heaters.