Help me finish my garage

**pajeff02** · 09-12-2009, 01:43 PM

It's been 4-5 years since we added a larger garage onto our house. The interior garage walls are concrete block which extend to just over 3 feet in height and are capped with a small ledge. From there, drywall extends to the ceiling, as pictured below:

I am at a loss on how to finish out the block portion of the wall. Initially, I was going to glue foamboard insulation onto the block and then cover it with something that could stand up to some abuse -- what, I do not know. Any suggestions?

**Poppn** · 09-12-2009, 01:45 PM

i don't have any help to offer..but that is a mighty nice garage you have, i hope to have something like that someday

**pajeff02** · 09-12-2009, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Poppn

i don't have any help to offer..but that is a mighty nice garage you have, i hope to have something like that someday

Thank you. It is my never ending project.

**cammed goat** · 09-12-2009, 03:10 PM

How bout a checkered flag pattern? Would look nice IMO.

**jsmith564`** · 09-12-2009, 05:47 PM

man... i like it as is..

i cant wait when i have enough saved up for a down payment on a house. importance in order 1. size of land 2. size of house 3. build my own shop

**Hi-Po** · 09-12-2009, 05:57 PM

I hav no suggestions.

But, how about some more pictures and the dimensions? Looks great

**pajeff02** · 09-12-2009, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Hi-Po

I hav no suggestions.

But, how about some more pictures and the dimensions? Looks great

The garage has three bays -- the first two bays are deep enough for two cars and the third bay is where I do all my service work. If I remember right, it is 36' across and almost 40' deep, including a walkway entrance at the very back.

Since we live in the northeast, I need to insulate the concrete block with something. I have not yet been able to come up with an idea that I really like though. There is radiant heat in the floor, but the garage is on the west end of the house so it gets blasted pretty good in the winter.

**Murder after Midnight** · 09-12-2009, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

The garage has three bays -- the first two bays are deep enough for two cars and the third bay is where I do all my service work. If I remember right, it is 36' across and almost 40' deep, including a walkway entrance at the very back.

Since we live in the northeast, I need to insulate the concrete block with something. I have not yet been able to come up with an idea that I really like though. There is radiant heat in the floor, but the garage is on the west end of the house so it gets blasted pretty good in the winter.

Wow that looks great man...........nice garage

**cammed goat** · 09-12-2009, 06:52 PM

That is one gorgeous house. If my house had a garage like that, I dunno if I'd leave it, haha.

**pajeff02** · 09-12-2009, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by cammed goat

That is one gorgeous house. If my house had a garage like that, I dunno if I'd leave it, haha.

I'd rather be there than most anywhere else.

**TransAm11973** · 09-12-2009, 06:58 PM

why not do it in stone like the outside of the house is, that would look pretty cool. Or you could to stucco. Or you could just build a regular wall there , cap the top with some nice wood and then you would have a small ledge going around to set stuff on. Personally I would do the stone, I think that would look great.

**Z28Thunder** · 09-12-2009, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by TransAm11973

why not do it in stone like the outside of the house is, that would look pretty cool. Or you could to stucco. Or you could just build a regular wall there , cap the top with some nice wood and then you would have a small ledge going around to set stuff on. Personally I would do the stone, I think that would look great.

I agree and then paint or tile the floor. Maybe paint the walls a different color. Look for old gas station memorabilia hang it on the wall. If your a race fan put up stuff of the racing you like. Old Coke vending machine that despenses beer?

**pajeff02** · 09-12-2009, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by TransAm11973

why not do it in stone like the outside of the house is, that would look pretty cool. Or you could to stucco. Or you could just build a regular wall there , cap the top with some nice wood and then you would have a small ledge going around to set stuff on. Personally I would do the stone, I think that would look great.

I hope to have some sort of insulation between the block and whatever facing I end up using. I agree that stone would look really cool, but it does not lend itself to future work if I need to alter something, add wiring, etc..

Originally Posted by Z28Thunder

I agree and then paint or tile the floor. Maybe paint the walls a different color. Look for old gas station memorabilia hang it on the wall. If your a race fan put up stuff of the racing you like. Old Coke vending machine that despenses beer?

That is actually another question I was going to post later. Right now I have one thing hanging on the walls -- a '50s Buick hubcap made into a clock that a friend gave me. I have no wall decorations at all. I am hesitant to paint or epoxy the floor as it does get used -- things get dragged, tools get dropped, and my bad aim causes me to miss my oil drain on occasion.

**TransAm11973** · 09-12-2009, 07:42 PM

if you bring the wall out a bit you could still put stone on that and then have space for insulation in between, then you could cap the top with wood. This way if you ever have to run wire etc, all you have to do is remove the wood cap on top and run you stuff. I do see what you mean though about future work. If you are totally straying from stone then I am thinking extending and using drywall would be the way to go. not as cool though haha.

**Daniel P.** · 09-12-2009, 09:22 PM

I'm remodeling an apartment right now that has walls like that only without the ledge. I am using blue cement screws to fasten 2x2's to the wals then I gonn put some of that pink styrofoam insulation in between the studs and sheetrock it. It had that gross 1/8th inch thick wood paneling glued on before. why couldn't you do something like that and put a shelf or something on top?

**pajeff02** · 09-13-2009, 04:40 AM

Since it is a working garage I am looking for something a little more durable than sheet rock. I already have marks on the existing sheet rock installed above the block. Therefore, a wall covering that can either stand up to contact and abrasions, or be easily repairable without lots of painting, is probably the ticket.

**Zapper2003** · 09-13-2009, 05:45 AM

I would stud it out, either the full 3-1/2" for insulation, or lay the 2x's on their side for 1-1/2" of blueboard. Then I'd look into some 1/4" or 3/8" marine grade plywood and then some white beadboard. Then just cap the top with something that will hold up to the conditions (Perhaps synthetic decking?). Itd be expensive as hell though for the materials. As for coating the floor, should've been done a long time ago before you put anything on it. I don't know if there's anything out there that can help you out now or not. We used the rustoleum epoxy garage floor coating (grey) in our new half of the garage. We never touched the floor before we put it on. We used the included cleaner and did every step of the instructions to a T and its still lifting. Granted, it held up well until now (about 5-6 years) and it still looks good, but it still comes up. Now that you've got oil/grease/dirt on top, I don't know if you'll get the bond this stuff requires. Mind you, our 'new' addition on the garage is 20x32, its nothing more than parts storage, tractor storage in winter, and a dog house. We've never done any wrenching in there.

**Smkn_TA** · 09-13-2009, 07:05 AM

Take 2x4's, build a frame, a mini wall if you will the same height as the blocks. In between the studs either fill it with rolled out insulation, that expanding foam insulation, or w/e you want really. Put plywood over that and paint it. Then put a nice piece of wood on top to cover the stone caps and overhang the new mini wall you built. You could even put some nice molding on if you wanted...

Radiant heat is the one thing my dad regrets not doing when he built his garage. I can say one thing, as high as your ceiling looks in there, it would take quite a bit to heat that much area in a cold pennsylvania winter.

The only real tip I can say is lose that baby boombox you got and get a real system in out there!

**Zboner** · 09-13-2009, 07:30 AM

so many options to go with on the walls. personally i would not use the foam insulation it does not have the same R value per sq inch and celloulse you would get more out of dense packing the walls if your worried about heat loss when you decide to finish it out

**Zboner** · 09-13-2009, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by Zapper2003

I would stud it out, either the full 3-1/2" for insulation, or lay the 2x's on their side for 1-1/2" of blueboard. Then I'd look into some 1/4" or 3/8" marine grade plywood and then some white beadboard. Then just cap the top with something that will hold up to the conditions (Perhaps synthetic decking?). Itd be expensive as hell though for the materials. As for coating the floor, should've been done a long time ago before you put anything on it. I don't know if there's anything out there that can help you out now or not. We used the rustoleum epoxy garage floor coating (grey) in our new half of the garage. We never touched the floor before we put it on. We used the included cleaner and did every step of the instructions to a T and its still lifting. Granted, it held up well until now (about 5-6 years) and it still looks good, but it still comes up. Now that you've got oil/grease/dirt on top, I don't know if you'll get the bond this stuff requires. Mind you, our 'new' addition on the garage is 20x32, its nothing more than parts storage, tractor storage in winter, and a dog house. We've never done any wrenching in there.

yea i was going to say blue board for strength as well or just 2X6 it out and be done with it