How To Build Your Dream Garage (Motorbooks Workshop) [Paperback]

Lee Klancher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2008 | Series: Motorbooks Workshop

If you want to rebuild a beloved ride, house a prized collector car, or spend some quality time with a motorcycle, here is the book for you. An essential tool for building your dream garage, this book takes readers from inspiration to reality in engaging and easy-to-follow steps.

With plenty of clear illustrations and examples, the author explains all the issues a homeowner must confront when planning and building a new garage or adapting an old one to accommodate new vehicles and new ideas. Beginning with the design, Klancher walks the prospective owner through the entire process, from preliminary issues like zoning and building permits, to dimensions and materials, to finishing a space with workbenches, lighting, flooring, and wall coverings.

Filled with practical advice and instructions for the handy homeowner and weekend mechanic, the book also guides readers through the complexities (and wisdom) of contracting specific tasks. Detailed photographs showcase finished garages and highlight special features. Step-by-step sidebars cover the how-tos for garage owners with even the most elementary carpentry skills. Read this book before you begin and save yourself money and effort.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

An essential tool for building a dream garage, this book takes readers from inspiration to reality in engaging and easy-to-follow steps. With plenty of clear illustrations and examples, author Lee Klancher explains all the issues a homeowner must confront when planning and building a new garage--or adapting an old one to accommodate new vehicles and new ideas. Beginning with zoning, permits, and the design, Klancher walks prospective owners through the entire process, from dimensions and materials to finishing a space with workbenches, lighting, flooring, and wall coverings. He also offers plenty of practical do-it-yourself advice and guidance for contracting certain tasks.

About the Author

Author Lee Klancher, a freelance writer and photographer since 1992, has authored six illustrated books and written for dozens of magazines, including Minneapolis-St. Paul, Motorcycle Escape, and Minnesota Calls. In 2004, he built a 1,000-square-foot heated garage/office that’s larger than his St. Paul, Minnesota, home.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (July 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760331731
• ISBN-13: 978-0760331736
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Home Design > House Plans
  • #72 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Electrical
  • #75 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Carpentry

More About the Author

Lee Klancher is a writer and photographer specializing in testosterone-fueled topics. His writing and photography has appeared in thirteen books, a dozen large-format calendars, and hundreds of feature magazine articles. Favorite subjects include dream garages, motorcycle racers, old farm tractors, and breweries. Assignments have taken him piranha fishing in the Bolivian Amazon, soaking up truck driver wisdom in Alaskan dive bars, and climbing Slovenia's Mount Triglav.

His work can be seen in Men's Journal, Draft, Motorcyclist, Motorcycle Product News, Garage Style, and more. You can also read Lee's work in his Twitter feed and blog.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great ideas, easy to do yourself, for any skill level, August 28, 2008

By 

T. Leary (Spring, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How To Build Your Dream Garage (Motorbooks Workshop) (Paperback)

This book is great for anyone looking to do a total build out or just add cool new stuff to his garage. I bought it because it had projects for all of the things I wanted to have in my shop, plus it had a bunch more that were easy to add and put my shop into a whole different league. Everything is really well explained and the photos really help, showing all of the important steps. This book was key in turning my crusty detatched garage into a cool shop that all of my buddies want to hang out in.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read, January 19, 2009

By 

Robert Wilson "Robert Wilson" (St Paul MN) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How To Build Your Dream Garage (Motorbooks Workshop) (Paperback)

I really liked this book. Part "how-to", part inspirational photos and handy suppliers index make this a no-brainer.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book for anyone wanting the ultimate garage, October 29, 2008

By 

Rider Boy (Regina, Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How To Build Your Dream Garage (Motorbooks Workshop) (Paperback)

I recently bought a house with a nice, big garage and this book couldn't have been published at a better time for me. But it was more than just helpful; it was life-changing. I laughed, I cried, I soiled myself.

Seriously, I did manage to control my bodily functions, but the book was very well written, much more so than your average "how-to" book. The improvements to my garage that resulted from my purchase of this book may not have been life-changing, exactly, but they did lead to a definite improvement in my standard of living. With the help of this book I've created the ultimate three-car man cave. The only down side is that my wife complains that I spend too much time out there. Good work, Mr. Klancher.