Re: Garage Finishing Items (Warning: longish)

Rick,

I built a near 800 sq ft garage (attached to my
existing two car) in 2000 and struggled with the
heating question (along with many other Q's). Anyhow,
I'm in PA so Your Mileage May Vary in Michigan.

1. HEAT: Although I wired 220v into the walls for
baseboard, I ended up going with a single 220v
resistance ceiling unit made by Modine. I wired it
with conduit into my ceiling with enough slack so I
can rotate it (by hand) and it still passes code.

This unit looks just like the Hot Dawg you see in
Hemmings, but electric. Paid $199 shipped from
Northern Tool, does the whole garage just fine.
Figured I'd take a chance and worst case I could
always run natural gas from the house, but haven't
needed to.

Interesting footnote-- I saved the rotating cam and
motor assembly from a very well-used (rusty) Christmas
deer with the moving head you put on the lawn. I will
be fitting that to the top bracket of the Modine so it
can oscillate (after I finish re-assembling the
interior of my 70 GT-350 Conv :-).

2. LIFT: I just bought another car (an 87 Turbo T
Regal, sorry not a Shelby but SCARY fast & pulls like
a freight train on steroids) and I'm reconsidering a
lift now that we have 5 cars (again).

After much research about construction quality, I will
no longer consider anything other than a Backyard
Buddy; the fully sleeved columns and slots for the
locking cams (as opposed to the welded on rests) were
the what sold me.

So then what-- do I get a bunch of burly neighbors,
tools, and a keg and go at it? Not around here. So I
checked the Yellow Pages for a nearby town under
automotive-- found a small company that installs and
services lifts for gas stations.

I called them up-- will you take delivery at your
facility (remember truck shipments to businesses are
considerably cheaper than residence deliveries)? He
says "Sure!" Then will you load it & come out to my
house (at YOUR LEISURE) and put it together with some
of your crew? He says "Sure!" This means I'm not
asking him to bring a crew out wait for a delivery
while his folks are on the clock-- he comes with the
unit when he's ready, perhaps a Saturday when a few
feel like it. How much? About $700-800.

Before you laugh and say "Nah, I'll do it myself,"
remember you'll need a FORKLIFT ready when they
deliver to your house, and that's just for starters!
And this figure is a lot less than the "Assembly
Service" offered (I think exclusive on Rotary brand
lifts) at about $1200.

So I believe my research has yielded a a good
alternative worth sharing here, but I haven't "pulled
the trigger" yet, so I'd appreciate other list
members' experiences on the lift question-- especially
installation issues.

Anyhow, hope this helps.

All the best,
Doug

--- DLen1261@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 8/26/2005 1:17:23 PM Pacific
> Daylight Time,
> rvanderh@med.wayne.edu writes:
>
> > I am finishing my garage and need some advice. I
> am planning on installing
> > a heater (live in Michigan) and a lift (parking
> type lift). Does anyone
> > have advice on type of heater; i.e. I want to
> install natural gas but want to
> > know vented vs. wall mound non-vented, etc.?
>
> Rick,
>
> Have you considered a heat pump? I have one for my
> shop (36x72, 2 double & 2
> single bays) & have been very happy with it. It
> also provides some cooling
> capability in the summer. Of course, I'm in the
> PacNW, so don't have the temp
> extremes you do, to deal with. Come to think of it,
> I don't know if there are
> NG-powered heat pumps, either....
>
> Dave
>



__________________________________________________ __
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

----- Original Message -----
From: "Musclecars001" <musclecars001@yahoo.com>
To: <DLen1261@aol.com>; <rvanderh@med.wayne.edu>;
<ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com>
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 9:43 PM
Subject: Re: Garage Finishing Items (Warning: longish)


> Rick,
>
> I built a near 800 sq ft garage (attached to my
> existing two car) in 2000 and struggled with the
> heating question (along with many other Q's). Anyhow,
> I'm in PA so Your Mileage May Vary in Michigan.
>
> 1. HEAT: Although I wired 220v into the walls for
> baseboard, I ended up going with a single 220v
> resistance ceiling unit made by Modine. I wired it
> with conduit into my ceiling with enough slack so I
> can rotate it (by hand) and it still passes code.
>
> This unit looks just like the Hot Dawg you see in
> Hemmings, but electric. Paid $199 shipped from
> Northern Tool, does the whole garage just fine.
> Figured I'd take a chance and worst case I could
> always run natural gas from the house, but haven't
> needed to.
>
> Interesting footnote-- I saved the rotating cam and
> motor assembly from a very well-used (rusty) Christmas
> deer with the moving head you put on the lawn. I will
> be fitting that to the top bracket of the Modine so it
> can oscillate (after I finish re-assembling the
> interior of my 70 GT-350 Conv :-).
>
> 2. LIFT: I just bought another car (an 87 Turbo T
> Regal, sorry not a Shelby but SCARY fast & pulls like
> a freight train on steroids) and I'm reconsidering a
> lift now that we have 5 cars (again).
>
> After much research about construction quality, I will
> no longer consider anything other than a Backyard
> Buddy; the fully sleeved columns and slots for the
> locking cams (as opposed to the welded on rests) were
> the what sold me.
>
> So then what-- do I get a bunch of burly neighbors,
> tools, and a keg and go at it? Not around here. So I
> checked the Yellow Pages for a nearby town under
> automotive-- found a small company that installs and
> services lifts for gas stations.
>
> I called them up-- will you take delivery at your
> facility (remember truck shipments to businesses are
> considerably cheaper than residence deliveries)? He
> says "Sure!" Then will you load it & come out to my
> house (at YOUR LEISURE) and put it together with some
> of your crew? He says "Sure!" This means I'm not
> asking him to bring a crew out wait for a delivery
> while his folks are on the clock-- he comes with the
> unit when he's ready, perhaps a Saturday when a few
> feel like it. How much? About $700-800.
>
> Before you laugh and say "Nah, I'll do it myself,"
> remember you'll need a FORKLIFT ready when they
> deliver to your house, and that's just for starters!
> And this figure is a lot less than the "Assembly
> Service" offered (I think exclusive on Rotary brand
> lifts) at about $1200.
>
> So I believe my research has yielded a a good
> alternative worth sharing here, but I haven't "pulled
> the trigger" yet, so I'd appreciate other list
> members' experiences on the lift question-- especially
> installation issues.
>
> Anyhow, hope this helps.
>
> All the best,
> Doug
>
> --- DLen1261@aol.com wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 8/26/2005 1:17:23 PM Pacific
>> Daylight Time,
>> rvanderh@med.wayne.edu writes:
>>
>> > I am finishing my garage and need some advice. I
>> am planning on installing
>> > a heater (live in Michigan) and a lift (parking
>> type lift). Does anyone
>> > have advice on type of heater; i.e. I want to
>> install natural gas but want to
>> > know vented vs. wall mound non-vented, etc.?
>>
>> Rick,
>>
>> Have you considered a heat pump? I have one for my
>> shop (36x72, 2 double & 2
>> single bays) & have been very happy with it. It
>> also provides some cooling
>> capability in the summer. Of course, I'm in the
>> PacNW, so don't have the temp
>> extremes you do, to deal with. Come to think of it,
>> I don't know if there are
>> NG-powered heat pumps, either....
>>
>> Dave
>>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________ __
> Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>
>

sorry for the empty message a minute ago....

I have a question for you when it comes to storage racks / lifts for
cars.....

how much ceiling height / clearance do you need to have?


----- Original Message -----
From: "Musclecars001" <musclecars001@yahoo.com>
To: <DLen1261@aol.com>; <rvanderh@med.wayne.edu>;
<ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com>
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 9:43 PM
Subject: Re: Garage Finishing Items (Warning: longish)


> Rick,
>
> I built a near 800 sq ft garage (attached to my
> existing two car) in 2000 and struggled with the
> heating question (along with many other Q's). Anyhow,
> I'm in PA so Your Mileage May Vary in Michigan.
>
> 1. HEAT: Although I wired 220v into the walls for
> baseboard, I ended up going with a single 220v
> resistance ceiling unit made by Modine. I wired it
> with conduit into my ceiling with enough slack so I
> can rotate it (by hand) and it still passes code.
>
> This unit looks just like the Hot Dawg you see in
> Hemmings, but electric. Paid $199 shipped from
> Northern Tool, does the whole garage just fine.
> Figured I'd take a chance and worst case I could
> always run natural gas from the house, but haven't
> needed to.
>
> Interesting footnote-- I saved the rotating cam and
> motor assembly from a very well-used (rusty) Christmas
> deer with the moving head you put on the lawn. I will
> be fitting that to the top bracket of the Modine so it
> can oscillate (after I finish re-assembling the
> interior of my 70 GT-350 Conv :-).
>
> 2. LIFT: I just bought another car (an 87 Turbo T
> Regal, sorry not a Shelby but SCARY fast & pulls like
> a freight train on steroids) and I'm reconsidering a
> lift now that we have 5 cars (again).
>
> After much research about construction quality, I will
> no longer consider anything other than a Backyard
> Buddy; the fully sleeved columns and slots for the
> locking cams (as opposed to the welded on rests) were
> the what sold me.
>
> So then what-- do I get a bunch of burly neighbors,
> tools, and a keg and go at it? Not around here. So I
> checked the Yellow Pages for a nearby town under
> automotive-- found a small company that installs and
> services lifts for gas stations.
>
> I called them up-- will you take delivery at your
> facility (remember truck shipments to businesses are
> considerably cheaper than residence deliveries)? He
> says "Sure!" Then will you load it & come out to my
> house (at YOUR LEISURE) and put it together with some
> of your crew? He says "Sure!" This means I'm not
> asking him to bring a crew out wait for a delivery
> while his folks are on the clock-- he comes with the
> unit when he's ready, perhaps a Saturday when a few
> feel like it. How much? About $700-800.
>
> Before you laugh and say "Nah, I'll do it myself,"
> remember you'll need a FORKLIFT ready when they
> deliver to your house, and that's just for starters!
> And this figure is a lot less than the "Assembly
> Service" offered (I think exclusive on Rotary brand
> lifts) at about $1200.
>
> So I believe my research has yielded a a good
> alternative worth sharing here, but I haven't "pulled
> the trigger" yet, so I'd appreciate other list
> members' experiences on the lift question-- especially
> installation issues.
>
> Anyhow, hope this helps.
>
> All the best,
> Doug
>
> --- DLen1261@aol.com wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 8/26/2005 1:17:23 PM Pacific
>> Daylight Time,
>> rvanderh@med.wayne.edu writes:
>>
>> > I am finishing my garage and need some advice. I
>> am planning on installing
>> > a heater (live in Michigan) and a lift (parking
>> type lift). Does anyone
>> > have advice on type of heater; i.e. I want to
>> install natural gas but want to
>> > know vented vs. wall mound non-vented, etc.?
>>
>> Rick,
>>
>> Have you considered a heat pump? I have one for my
>> shop (36x72, 2 double & 2
>> single bays) & have been very happy with it. It
>> also provides some cooling
>> capability in the summer. Of course, I'm in the
>> PacNW, so don't have the temp
>> extremes you do, to deal with. Come to think of it,
>> I don't know if there are
>> NG-powered heat pumps, either....
>>
>> Dave
>>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________ __
> Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>
>

sorry for the empty message a minute ago....

I have a question for you when it comes to storage racks / lifts for
cars.....

how much ceiling height / clearance do you need to have?


----- Original Message -----
From: "Musclecars001" <musclecars001@yahoo.com>
To: <DLen1261@aol.com>; <rvanderh@med.wayne.edu>;
<ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com>
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 9:43 PM
Subject: Re: Garage Finishing Items (Warning: longish)


> Rick,
>
> I built a near 800 sq ft garage (attached to my
> existing two car) in 2000 and struggled with the
> heating question (along with many other Q's). Anyhow,
> I'm in PA so Your Mileage May Vary in Michigan.
>
> 1. HEAT: Although I wired 220v into the walls for
> baseboard, I ended up going with a single 220v
> resistance ceiling unit made by Modine. I wired it
> with conduit into my ceiling with enough slack so I
> can rotate it (by hand) and it still passes code.
>
> This unit looks just like the Hot Dawg you see in
> Hemmings, but electric. Paid $199 shipped from
> Northern Tool, does the whole garage just fine.
> Figured I'd take a chance and worst case I could
> always run natural gas from the house, but haven't
> needed to.
>
> Interesting footnote-- I saved the rotating cam and
> motor assembly from a very well-used (rusty) Christmas
> deer with the moving head you put on the lawn. I will
> be fitting that to the top bracket of the Modine so it
> can oscillate (after I finish re-assembling the
> interior of my 70 GT-350 Conv :-).
>
> 2. LIFT: I just bought another car (an 87 Turbo T
> Regal, sorry not a Shelby but SCARY fast & pulls like
> a freight train on steroids) and I'm reconsidering a
> lift now that we have 5 cars (again).
>
> After much research about construction quality, I will
> no longer consider anything other than a Backyard
> Buddy; the fully sleeved columns and slots for the
> locking cams (as opposed to the welded on rests) were
> the what sold me.
>
> So then what-- do I get a bunch of burly neighbors,
> tools, and a keg and go at it? Not around here. So I
> checked the Yellow Pages for a nearby town under
> automotive-- found a small company that installs and
> services lifts for gas stations.
>
> I called them up-- will you take delivery at your
> facility (remember truck shipments to businesses are
> considerably cheaper than residence deliveries)? He
> says "Sure!" Then will you load it & come out to my
> house (at YOUR LEISURE) and put it together with some
> of your crew? He says "Sure!" This means I'm not
> asking him to bring a crew out wait for a delivery
> while his folks are on the clock-- he comes with the
> unit when he's ready, perhaps a Saturday when a few
> feel like it. How much? About $700-800.
>
> Before you laugh and say "Nah, I'll do it myself,"
> remember you'll need a FORKLIFT ready when they
> deliver to your house, and that's just for starters!
> And this figure is a lot less than the "Assembly
> Service" offered (I think exclusive on Rotary brand
> lifts) at about $1200.
>
> So I believe my research has yielded a a good
> alternative worth sharing here, but I haven't "pulled
> the trigger" yet, so I'd appreciate other list
> members' experiences on the lift question-- especially
> installation issues.
>
> Anyhow, hope this helps.
>
> All the best,
> Doug
>
> --- DLen1261@aol.com wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 8/26/2005 1:17:23 PM Pacific
>> Daylight Time,
>> rvanderh@med.wayne.edu writes:
>>
>> > I am finishing my garage and need some advice. I
>> am planning on installing
>> > a heater (live in Michigan) and a lift (parking
>> type lift). Does anyone
>> > have advice on type of heater; i.e. I want to
>> install natural gas but want to
>> > know vented vs. wall mound non-vented, etc.?
>>
>> Rick,
>>
>> Have you considered a heat pump? I have one for my
>> shop (36x72, 2 double & 2
>> single bays) & have been very happy with it. It
>> also provides some cooling
>> capability in the summer. Of course, I'm in the
>> PacNW, so don't have the temp
>> extremes you do, to deal with. Come to think of it,
>> I don't know if there are
>> NG-powered heat pumps, either....
>>
>> Dave
>>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________ __
> Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>
>

What Lifts do List members have experience with?

Space Requirements?

Height requirements?

Cost?

Dealers to recommend?


....Then was it worth it?

I have been seeing that there are as many lifts out there as brands of cars.
Pretty wide variety. Which ones to AVOID as well and why.

Thanks, Jim