Garage Lighting

[Terry M.]

I am nearing the completion of my garage addition. I would like to receive input from those with any suggestions on the type of ceiling mounted lighting for the best area lighting.

[Joe C.]

Re: Garage Lighting

I like my double 8' fluorescent fixtures. Surface mounted, WITHOUT DIFFUSERS, which rob a LOT of light. My garage is about 20' x 20' x 8', and I have 4 fixtures wired to 2 seperate switches. I can light 2, for that romantic ambience, when I am seducing the fair maiden, or all four, when I don't mind her seeing the grease under my fingernails.

Joe

BTW: Don't use the "energy savers" sold at Home Depot---get the skin frying, hair singeing (sic) regular type (unless she's homely, in which case, have another beer or three).

[Jack H.]

Re: Garage Lighting

Overhead is great, but if you've got a lift or intend to do work on jack stands & creeper, having banks of lights at floor level pointing slight upward is a GREAT addition to consider!

[Kent K.]

Re: Garage Lighting

I agree with Joe unless you want that HOT showroom appearance with sparkles dancing on your cars finish as you walk around them. I just priced 4' and 8' fluorescent fixtures at Lowes for my garage addition. I was considering 4' type double tube ($17.30) until seeing the price of 8' double tube fixtures at about $25. My theory is "the older we get, the harder it is to find those small parts dropped on the floor." You might consider using cool white fluorescent tubes instead of warm white ... they seem to provide more light. Diffusers (plastic lenses) are a good thing for protecting the tubes but they tend to reduce the usable light.

My garage will be split between a "standard" garage and a shop with a 9' wide connecting door. The garage will have 2 eight foot fluorescent fixtures with space for 2 more. there will probably be smaller fixtures for task lighting. The shop will be configured for many uses, hence lighting will not be skimpy.

Good luck on your garage.
Kent #6201

[Mike Yager]

Re: Garage Lighting

I agree with Joe. The shop/garage where I keep my Vette is 30' by 40'. I have 8 8' double flourescent fixtres uncovered. I also have a reel type drop light. I have never had a problem seeing with this combination.

[Jerry Clark]

Re: Garage Lighting

My little shop, (20 x 60) has fifteen 8' double tube fixtures, looks a lot like Madison Square at night
jer

[Steve Westphal]

Re: Garage Lighting

Don't forget that flourescent lights have a proven negative effect on productivity!!! Maybe that's my problem.

[Craig S.]

Re: Garage Lighting

Jer - ain't it grand! My 2 car garage (which I am now expanding to 4 car) has 10 dual tube 8 foot open lights (5 per car) plus 8 dual tube 4 foot lights on the perimeter, and 2 more 4 foot dual tubes in the workbench room in the front. Now, let me see, did I remeber to allocate enough circuit breakers for for my new addition....

[Mike M.]

Re: Garage Lighting

i prefer 283 spermaceti wax candles hung on two foot centers from the trusses and 327 kerosine lanterns spaced thruout the concrete slab but don't use ether to help fire your 396 or 427.seriously, florescent works for me, pair of 8 footers on 4 to 6 foot centers. multiple trouble lites on reels surround the lift as i'm too damn old to be on a creeper in an unheated garage in december( as used to be the case 30 years ago) . mike

[Bob Simard]

Garage Lighting

Now that fluorescent lighting has been established, you have to get a trouble light. I highly recommend a fluorescent trouble light because it is a linear source, not a point source (less shadows) and they are cool. You can lay them on carpet and then rest your head on them without needing surgery. And get a 4 x 8 sheet of extruded polystyrene foam board (not bead board) for laying on when the car is on jackstands and the concrete floor is cold, hard, or both.

[Jerry Clark]

Mike *NM*