Bike Garage Build

Our garage isn't very big, definitely not big enough for all my tools and the family bikes, scooters, skate boards, inline skates, soccer balls .... you get the picture. I find that when everything is piled in there, I'll grab the tool I need for a task but I won't put it away because I hate tripping over stuff. As a result, the bikes were often being left on the front porch or next to the driveway. In our rainy weather, that's a quick way to turn a great bike into a rusty pile of useless metal. I'd been planning to build a bike garage for at least a year but just hadn't gotten around to it until this past week. Last Monday, our sweet neighbor kindly asked me if I'd move the pile of recycled fence boards that I had acquired because they were leaning on the fence between our properties and were a bit of an eyesore. I felt terrible for putting her in the position of having to ask us to clean up our space so I got right to dealing with the lumber. A week later, we have a bike garage:

I'm so excited about this build but I can't really give you any sort of blueprint or plans for how I did it. I followed the same steps I usually do with a scrap/recycled materials build:

1) I use pinterest to gather ideas and inspiration on a board.
2) I stare at the piles of materials I have to chose from.

This is just one of several wood piles

3) I jump into the project with both feet.
4) I start cutting stuff up and attaching it to other cut up stuff.
5) I change my mind a lot. With each new decision comes the process of deciding if my new idea is good enough to bother undoing what work I've done to that point.
6) I take a break and let the progress to that point sink in and I consciously and subconsciously think through the next stages of the project.
7) I cut more stuff and attach more stuff to other stuff.
8) At some point I declare the project complete.
9) I enjoy the feeling of creating something out of recycled materials.

So, let's get started with the pictures I took along the way.

The size of the structure was based on the 8' garage door window panel I had found on the side of the road last summer as well and the shortest length of fence board I had to use.

My 5 year old decided to test out how well the bike garage would contain his wheels. 

Once I realized I could use the red cedar decking for the floor, I replaced the header beam with an unpainted 2x6 from my scrap pile. If I remember correctly, that was part of our old carport that we removed to put in the garden.

I knew I was getting to the point where I'd be needing a roof before too long but I was struggling with the materials I had on hand. I didn't have enough plywood to make a proper base for a shingled roof, nor did I even have tar paper and shingles. I messaged a friend who tends to have some pretty great building materials in her garage and asked if they had anything I could use to make a roof. Boy did they ever come through for me!!

They gave me 4 aluminum panels for the roof. The best part is since the panels have a 1 inch edge all around, they are super sturdy so I didn't have to build a frame for them to sit on. I merely notched out the horizontal supports of the existing structure and slid them into place.

I did reinforce with a few screws across the top but they were really easy to install and look great. I also caulked along the seams to keep rain from pouring down between the 4 panels.

I took some time to test out the waterproofing job I had done. It was nice to sit in the shed while it rained on the aluminum panels above me.

I wasn't sure what kind of a door I wanted to put on the structure but after the 5 year old struggled to get his bike from the driveway, across the gravel space, and up into the shed, I knew it needed a ramp. Mr. BSR and I talked over lots of different ideas and in the end, I opted for one of my favorite looks - the dutch door but instead of both sections opening to the side, I attached the bottom section to the floor with a piano hinge and it became a fold out ramp.

I had an old fence gate in my pile of scraps (pictured above) so I opted to disassemble that and use it for the door. Knowing this, I put the front walls on leaving enough space on the left for shelves and then made the door opening as wide as the gate I had.

Taking apart the gate wasn't easy but I took it one galvanized nail at a time and pulled them all out.

First I built the bottom part of the door and got it installed. Then I built the top part. Working with reclaimed wood isn't easy because it's often warped, missing chunks, or presents other challenges along the way. Despite lots of measuring twice, checking plumb and level, and trying to remain consistent with measurements, the doorway was not actually perfectly rectangular. Apparently the original gate wasn't either. I adapted though, and created just the right door for the job.

The ramp portion is lightweight enough that the 5 year old can open it himself. The top portion holds the bottom portion in place too so when it's all closed up, even a hefty wind won't blow it back open. I need to find a latch to put on the top part so we can also lock the shed when we aren't around. Late last night, long after I'd taken all the pictures, I remembered where I might find just the lock I need (hint: it's stuck to a post in my remaining scrap pile).

This is what the shed looks like as you round the corner of our private road and approach our driveway. I think it's nice enough looking to be a front yard shed. The neighbors' bushes should continue to grow up behind it too which will provide a nice backdrop. I'm also considering mulching around it to give it a homier look. The other neighbor has a pile of mulch she wants off her driveway so I think I can procure the materials for free yet again. Woo hoo!

It features shelves for helmets, balls, and other small equipment (boy oh boy I'm so excited to dig stuff out of the back of the garage and load it in).

And it looks like it's been there for years despite being a fully custom build that just happened over the past week.

Now the kids can easily get to their equipment and I can reclaim the garage for my tools. I think I'll make a cool sign for the build. At the suggestion of one of my most favorite friends, this will be called "The Wheelhouse." I think a pyrography project is in order!

Thank you for reading,
Julie