Workshop Layout
Turbo Mini Forums

We got the keys to our first house on Friday! the feling of 'this is actually all ours' is still sinking in. it's a 3 story semi with a garage and utility room on the ground floor. we have just about got all out stuff in and organised. I have booked a trailer for next weekend to get the minis in.

My attention is now moving towards the layout of the garage/workshop the room is 730CM*370CM the front half is about 30CM narrower. (I will get some pics up) and there is a stud work wall 260CM from the back going across most of the wall.

The previous owners had a kitchen down there they made jams and presserves. so there is a run of kitchen units (280CM Long) at the front along the side wall.

I was thinking of moving the units to the back wall to have a kind of separate workshop area at the back then just the front half nice and clear to work on the car.

Just wondering what layout you guys have if there's anything to avoid/make sure off. power and lighting wise it's pretty good I may stick in a few more sockets at some point.

Try to keep as much width as possible for working around the car, and you can't have too much storage. Try a full width worktop across the back with the cupboards above and space below.

Maybe worth removing the stud wall to free and more space and save walking through a door each time you go from the car to the workbench?

I go through fazes of wanting to pull it down then back to leave it up ect... defo full width where will the car will be is needed. the gap it pretty big from front to back as the wall dose not go all the way across. the bikes will be going in the stair well/hallway hopefully. (all 10 of them between us!)

I'd personally keep it as open plan as possible. Bench at the back to keep as much width as you can. High level shelving could go down the sides but keep as much off the floor as you can. Paint the walls white and plenty of good lighting

If your dimensions allow you to have plenty of room for the Mini and keep the partition, I would keep it.

The reason being, that if it's open plan and you are sanding or grinding, everything ends up getting covered, but if you have a separate partition, at least you can keep a 'clean area' for doing things like engine building etc.

Also if you are working on smaller items behind the partition on colder nights, it's easier to keep warm with a small heater, otherwise you end up trying to heat a large space

In my old garage, I had room for a couch and all my friends used to come round to see the Mini and then we'd sit down with a cuppa and have a chat

Edited by ntm1275 on 30th Mar, 2014.