Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Jun 26, 2017 11:00 am Hey folks, Over the next few months, I'll be finalizing house plans for a new place (the build is over 12 months away still). As I won't have much backyard, I'll be ditching my current sheds and making the garage my one and only workshop / storage place. I was wondering if I could get some advice about the things that concern me: sound-reduction, lighting and power. First up the basics, it's a 7m wide x 6m deep garage (23' x 20'). It will have a double sectional garage in the middle of the 7m frontage. Presumably the internal height will be 9" (2.7m). It will need space to store one car only. Unfortunately, the builder is going to be plastering/drywalling all walls and roof. Sketch below: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ For me it will function as a combined filming studio (I review tools), woodwork workshop and storage. So I'm looking for very good lighting, heaps of power points, good sound-proofing and general workshop utility. WALLS: I thought I might ask the builder to put sound-insulating batts into the house-adjoining wall cavities. Also make the internal access a solid (external) door. Then might attach 3/4" plywood (lime washed) to all the walls for general utility, further sound-insulation and appearance. Problem is, will the sound just go straight through the ceiling then, which will only have regular insulation? Might ask builder to locate switchboard in garage. CEILING: Need lots of lighting, and will put the manhole in here. Would like to make use of the space in the ceiling for storing timber etc, but not sure how I'd achieve this neatly. Happy to cut up the drywall, but I'll have lots of lights/wiring to worry about. I'm considering partitioning the roof cavity to stop noise entering the house (as above). POWER: I don't know my internal layout yet, so I'm planning to put power points everywhere. But then again, if I put a second cladding on the walls (ply), I should wait until this is done to make it easier. Ultimately I'd like double GPOs at 1.5m spacing around the shed (just above bench height), with a couple of 15A points also. I'm thinking of wiring these 15A GPOs ready for electric car charging (32A). It may sound like I've got it all sorted, but I really don't. I'm second guessing myself constantly, and would love the communities thoughts and ideas! Cheers!!! Dwain Re: Converting garage to workshop / studio 3Jul 05, 2017 10:33 am Hey Dwain One thing to consider maybe the tilt panel door, you mentioned that you may remove the ceiling for storage at a later date. Might consider a standard roller door to make that removal a little easier for you in the future. In regards to removing the ceiling I'd give it some extra thought though as it will make it harder to contain dust from tools and testing. With a standard timber trussed roof there will be a lot of timber exposed for dust to collect on, verses a contained plasterboard area. Personally I'd look at a good racking system along one wall for any longer lengths of timber, or even some compact external racks on a side wall maybe behind the smaller rear roller door access. Also lighting for the studio would also be better in a fully sheeted / painted room. If you can get recessed fluros installed even better. Re insulation, yes installing another layer over the plasterboard when the builder is finished will certainly help. If you can batten the walls out slightly and use a product called "Air Cell" underneath, then even better! I'd also check with the builder on what an upgrade to 'Sound Check' gyprock will cost you as that could be worth the investment! Good luck with any road you go down mate, and remember you have years to perfect the ultimate man cave, so don't stress Regards James Mason www.renovationjunkies.com.au Re: Converting garage to workshop / studio 4Jul 05, 2017 10:49 am Thanks heaps James. I reckon you're right, and I've pretty much given up on using the ceiling cavity space, it just seems too difficult. I'm actually not allowed to use a roller door in my estate, has to be panel type. I've not seen recessed fluros, I'll look into that. Is Air Cell only a thermal insulator? I didn't see anything in their site about acoustics. I was planning to ask the builder about SoundChek plaster for sure. Cheers! Re: Converting garage to workshop / studio 5Jul 05, 2017 10:59 am dwain Thanks heaps James. I reckon you're right, and I've pretty much given up on using the ceiling cavity space, it just seems too difficult. I'm actually not allowed to use a roller door in my estate, has to be panel type. I've not seen recessed fluros, I'll look into that. Is Air Cell only a thermal insulator? I didn't see anything in their site about acoustics. I was planning to ask the builder about SoundChek plaster for sure. Cheers! No probs Dwain Come to think of it your right, it is thermal not accoustic. In that case see if they can use a dense acoustic insulation in the walls, a good one used to be Rockwool, but I'm not 100% if they still make it. Try Bradford - https://www.bradfordinsulation.com.au/ And chat with a rep on what would best suit in your frames 90mm or 70mm. You could also request a price on sound check to both sides of the walls that lead into the garage as that will also assist. Regards James Mason www.renovationjunkies.com.au I would suggest you simply go and talk to council about your proposal, most councils are getting onboard with ancillary dwellings. 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