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It's been a while since I have posted much of anything.  Family is obviously the priority and that's what I have been very busy with.  But, I have tied up all my loose ends and I finally have time to do some things that I have been wanting to do.  I want to work on the Buick. But I need to make the new garage more functional.  So, that's what I will be starting on really soon.  Hopefully in the next week or two.  Looking forward to continuing the journey with you all.

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Looking forward to seeing the garage updates.  You did a great job on the attached garage with storage and the laundry area.  Don't forget the big flat-screen TV and kegerator!  ;)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Here is what I plan to accomplish on the big garage.  We'll call it phase 1.  As you all know, the garage is limited with space.  So,building smart is paramount to make this work.  This is the explanation for a homeade elevator in this list.  It is the most practical.  

 

• add power receptacles to attic and main floor

• replace current lighting on main floor and add lighting to attic

• run electrical hook up for future climate control system

• add a small window to attic area

• build a homeade elevator with wireless remote (main floor to attic)

• build a couple of hanging shelves for main floor

• install wireless remote system for exterior lights

• expand floor space in attic

• insulate attic and main floor

• drywall attic and main floor

• attic shelving

 

I do plan on other things, but that would be taken care of at a later phase, like a big screen tv (I see you @EmTee), portable car lift, paint, climate control, etc.

 

 

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Anyone have an opinion about 6" LED recess lighting?  I want a well lit garage. I was either going with 3 rows of 4 lights or 3 rows of 5.  I want to keep the usable height in the garage.  Any light that is offset or hanging would compromise that.

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I think LED is the way to go, but depending upon the ceiling height, you might be better-off with a fixture such as Nick pictured above that spreads light across the ceiling.  Recessed lights require sufficient height to project and spread the beam downward.

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Work has begun in the main garage.  I figured the best place to start is the garage elevator.  The elevator will be placed in the middle of the back wall.  I had to rip out the existing attic decking around the attic opening.20230506_155722.jpg.0ecd80d43780e62c1dc958e09599a574.jpg20230506_193904.jpg.fc4966a46ae09a8844a9cfe790605acd.jpgI will need to frame out a new attic opening for the new elevator, but I will do so after building the track and elevator.  Here is a picture of the attic wall that will need to be reinforced to withstand a load.20230507_185801.jpg.883556d40257e690b7c023d4ae261148.jpgAnd the lower wall that will need to do likewise.20230507_185749.jpg.6ef9d36b5ab041269f8af9f258b35e4f.jpgI made a sketch so that I can plan for what the walls will need.20230508_193439.jpg.0ce5e1ccc6d22accc5a2003512237af5.jpgI also made a sketch for the elevator platform.20230508_193420.jpg.554ac12b7e8108b7427f8d148e8816c9.jpgSo, my younger Son and I picked up some wood and superstrut, brought it home and started to build the elevator platform.  We managed to get the bottom framing done today.20230508_182327.jpg.7a30e5be32cb6ea4be3be96c946e3bb7.jpgMore to come later.

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Last weekend, my Son and I get about 90% of the elevator platform assembly complete.  20230513_151612.jpg.be4a53bf979b059a710e0bffd068a477.jpg20230513_153226.jpg.4ad7a7909df713d6ab5dc97fa2e40cdc.jpg20230513_153235.jpg.d3d24fecd8628a0e7797775b402ac108.jpg20230513_153624.jpg.fe29e0f7e5c1413db5a8dbb267a28baf.jpg20230513_164928.jpg.18bf6c6cb2a78a6cce94c086b0f1f3a8.jpg20230513_164936.jpg.1d0e4ea5e6692540a1b9f681ce1f548d.jpg20230513_174055.jpg.f30debf3555622c0221943cbd1abc749.jpg20230513_180005.jpg.0d5f6be818451858a5ebdc85c9fe1db7.jpg20230513_180403.jpg.3d6c81cea450e8ce83b0e3fdf001a883.jpgI am very proud of my Son.  He has done a good job helping me out.  All we need to do now is mount the floor board and mount the backing board.  Until then, I will continue with the reinforcement of the wall and rail installation.

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Got some more done with the elevator.  Unfortunately, I had to tell my Son that he wouldn't be helping me on this part.  All work involves being on a ladder for a little while.  Reinforced the main wall and the attic wall.20230518_163345.jpg.82f5500872447e3273bfbfbf5c1484ef.jpg20230518_163335.jpg.029d3b1b8c5447c5ef7b7358942cd95d.jpgInstalled the superstrut.20230521_180917.jpg.c33135f71c5bd890fbb46845cbadf55c.jpgInstalled the foundational beam and electrical winch.20230518_163517.jpg.b1e0c0c4a49d6f716e3334b949aa6f93.jpg20230521_180906.jpg.55d26d8339cdd4fc0632242ad8e3e266.jpg20230521_181016.jpg.d3ee476a52da4b3b3a9352880a07aff4.jpgNext thing will be to run a dedicated outlet for the winch, mount the platform to the trolleys and then frame out an attic opening to the platform.  Shooting to have this done by next weekend.

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12 hours ago, EmTee said:

Looks good!  Did you buy this as a kit, or did you design it yourself?  I can't wait to see the finished elevator!  ;)

Thank you @EmTee!  This is not a kit and was something that I designed.  I can't take full credit for the design however.  When the idea arose to do an elevator, I assumed that I wasn't the first person to come up with this idea.  So, I searched for "garage elevators" on youtube and behold...there were a few hits.  I looked over a few videos, and grabbed some of the ideas that looked structurally sound and applied it to what I am doing.  I am very excited too.  I will post a video of the finished product.

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Very happy with the progress so far.  I was able to test about 2/3's of the track.  The wall had very minimal flex, even with me standing and bouncing on the very edge of the platform.  Here's a short video of the elevator in partial action.

I still need to add a floor and backing board to the platform.  I also need to open and frame out the attic opening.

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Looks good.  Not that I doubt your design, but I suggest testing with blocks, sandbags, etc. rather than jumping straight to human trials.  Also, you should think about adding some sort of emergency brake and/or locking pawl that will activate automatically in the event of a cable or winch failure.  There should also be a locking pin in the track to hold the platform in the loft while you're unloading or loading the payload.  Something like the spring-loaded locking pawl on my 4-post lift would work.  The spring loaded pawl would allow raising by slipping past detents in the track or a separate rail.  Failure of the lift mechanism would only allow the platform to drop to the next lower detent.  Lowering the platform would require the operator to hold the release lever against the spring.

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5 hours ago, EmTee said:

Looks good.  Not that I doubt your design, but I suggest testing with blocks, sandbags, etc. rather than jumping straight to human trials...

Yes, you are right @EmTee.  I had planned on doing some final and more rigorous testing after I am totally finished with the project.  However, I did want to do a couple of smaller tests before I move forward.  I wanted to be sure that I did a more than adequate reinforcement of the wall by checking for flex...hence me bouncing on the edge of the platform.  I also wanted to check for any binding.  My small test are only preliminary and are not a finality.  Also, I do plan on installing a fall arrestor on the platform at the end of this project.  That should suffice on the safety side just in terms of a possible falling platform.  I do appreciate the suggestions.  Please keep them coming.  

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  • 2 weeks later...

Framed out the ceiling for the elevator.20230524_182103.jpg.145cac770c2ed674073f3c1b2c8de0f8.jpg20230524_183243.jpg.c60740f937fe346e716f63cdef8bdbf8.jpg20230527_183455.jpg.fcc6ba19563ba86c3284c93bacf6d48e.jpgShowing the elevator in its stored position.20230527_183436.jpg.e2a4b92702a5539e653662a8dc4c623d.jpgI left more of a gap on the front side to account for the drywall installation that will come later.  Also, added a dedicated outlet for the winch.20230529_172609.jpg.b1a895555c77ae8edc2b3ae683107a2c.jpgI am at a bit of a standstill because 5/8 OSB is not in stock.  I need it to finish off the platform.  So until then, I will have to move onto something else.  I am thinking it will be the addition of an attic window.

Edited by Kosage Chavis (see edit history)
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It's finally done!  My youngest Son and I finished the elevator and he would drive the last screw in.  20230612_180207.jpg.34b77c86b98f244a374ce22d7a6c4422.jpg

 

Additionally, I also finished the floor area expansion in the attic.  From end to end, the width of the floor was 8 feet even and is now 10 feet even.  Next thing will be the framing and attic window installation.  Hope you enjoy the video.

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Started on the attic window.  Began with a blank slate.  Attic wall needed to be framed and reinforced for a window.20230613_175313.jpg.ea011e6f4df89cb15fd410379c8f4793.jpg20230614_162613.jpg.95d0bdc7c026cb80bac4b247558a85f8.jpg20230615_182833.jpg.4ab3cbd2167d3da30985e85c669804c9.jpg20230616_184041.jpg.f0b24a52fe3a02cb5ccbab790f176955.jpg20230617_180515.jpg.1de95514a10273e54beb754b04957ed5.jpgWorking in a hot attic, it felt so good when I finally cut out the opening and felt that fresh air rush in.20230617_180413.jpg.61af99e901be043a646720438812137f.jpg20230619_175132.jpg.f9cabfda14b5edf985f0c1820f6b8d1b.jpg20230619_201129.jpg.e28b23465411d0d1999fc886520c09d1.jpg20230619_200452.jpg.25b8dedff90216046a5722a4652af4d6.jpg20230620_184700.jpg.29e08311550603b3dbbb39d8a4501dfb.jpgAll done.  Onto the next thing on the list.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Had to stop work briefly to fix the front end on the family van.  Finished that all up and was able to get something done on the garage today.  Ran wire for the attic receptacle boxes.  20230705_184158.jpg.576c20c24f72e879fbe2b69f438fa29f.jpg20230705_184222.jpg.a359e8621a7ba1397483fab7ec5c6309.jpgJust need to install the receptacles and make the final connection to the utility box.

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  • 1 month later...

I might as well be a rain cloud with all the sweating I was doing working in this hot weather.  But I finally got all of the baffles installed. 20230811_170436.jpg.b42dca2ac52bd16dd00cd9ee7be7882f.jpg20230814_165249.jpg.d323b866ed05391a334cbf04a9c96215.jpgStuds were also installed on the gable walls of the attic for later drywall install.  Probably will start running electrical for the attic lights next.  We'll see.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Finished installing attic lights today with a two-way switch system.  One for the main floor...20230822_165141.jpg.f6d048cfa8d0396966583186685257fa.jpg20230825_180447.jpg.6ab68a103b9e93b12ca0a103f505f416.jpgand one for the attic.20230825_180428.jpg.aa4876316df2cb44516875c413342ccb.jpg20230825_180502.jpg.62dd448df2624bf62246ec90f1673326.jpg20230825_180348.jpg.3fd1ed25b96d5a921a5c6cc62c5d9bf0.jpgThe lights light up the attic area well, even without the help of drywall (which comes later).

 

I also upgraded the switch panel that houses the outside light switches and main floor switch.20230822_165128.jpg.bccf6e0fc9df8a31eec60c9e758d4bd9.jpgI hated the idea of having to walk back and forth just to turn off the exterior lights when not needed.  At first, I wanted to install a remote switch.  That way, I could operate the switch from my house.  However, I knew that I would still need to remember to still turn off the light.  If it's out of sight, then it would probably be out of mind which would then defeat the purpose of an upgrade in the first place.  I would stumble across this programmable switch.  20230822_172755.jpg.e5b8d3c3214d082e4e9a45ebdfbf240c.jpgThe switch is not bulky and once installed, I can schedule the on and off times of each set of exterior lights.  20230823_152216.jpg.f8ca5635e56223268bf364072b4973ed.jpg20230823_182231.jpg.de1764ac5db08ee0c390c4cd3ac3cb2a.jpgProgramming was very simple and they work perfectly well.  

 

I think I will start insulating the attic area next.  We will see.

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Nice work!  Having the attic lights on a 3-way circuit is a good idea.  I installed exterior lights with photosensors on my pole barn.  They come on at dusk and off at dawn (more or less) and can be turned off by a regular switch.  The programmable control does give more control and flexibility though.

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  • 2 weeks later...

A few more items scratched off of the list.  Added a receptacle by the front door and also added an exterior receptacle.20230906_173432.jpg.31900f6985033a164b9b09a69ef859d5.jpg20230908_180124.jpg.d19c2e7703ab90cfef7bbb1e9b84b5c9.jpg20230907_172758.jpg.3ee369cf48b9b4a32279a761c5fa3941.jpgI plan on adding an entire new set of lights for the main floor.  I decided to make use of the old lights by installing them in the unfinished outer attic spaces.  20230910_180020.jpg.43f66b0ab1fbf24a67ab29293a11d812.jpgRan some electric, a plug and a switch to get it set up.20230910_180049.jpg.67e1f29dd842d1c6a3c9ac200d17eea0.jpg20230910_180053.jpg.1382563df002db94769d753ab9078f17.jpg20230910_180120.jpg.022eed14662679387b4b32835a298314.jpgI don't plan on making use of the outer attic spaces, but if I ever need a little bit more storage for anything, it will be ready for use.  Just trying to think smart.  I think the next thing will be to drywall the attic.

Edited by Kosage Chavis (see edit history)
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