Im planning to build a triple garage, with a house attached for the rest of the family! 
 
Given its a new build I figured I might as well do it once and do it right. Surprisingly there is very little useful information on the web giving ideas on how to fit it out. Here is what I have come up with so far, anybody else got any ideas? Not interested in posts about storage ideas etc, there is loads of information available about that.
 
General
Decent sized bench
Epoxy coated floor
5hp air compressor located outside garage in housing
Air line distribution system – air lines connections every 4 metres and one near bench.
Tyre/wheel rack
Hydraulic lift
I-beam for engines/bodies
TV screen – handy for ‘how to’ youtube videos
Exhaust fan(s)
Plenty of peg board
No windows, security is better and will use lights anyways.
Security bollards installed just inside roller door
 
Plumbing
Floor drain,
Decent sized stainless sink
Toilet
 
Electrical
Separate sub-switchboard so garage does not trip out rest of house. Separate circuit for lights, separate light switches for each bay
Internet/phone cables
3 phase power, 60 amp minimum
4 socket power points every 4 metres, additional power points in ceiling and floor
2.4m length x 2m spacing fluorescent light per car space, mobile lighting or drop lighting from ceiling. Lighting over benches and to side of car is important. Work specific task light in strategic locations, such as working on wheel wells.

you might be best to become a member of 'garagejournal.com' and scout what those crazy guys are up to. I've seen some awesome garage setups on there. (Keep in mind its mostly US).


My best attempt thus far was my 60X30ft shed at my old house (we rent it out now so someone else enjoys my man cave). But I never got it finished the way I originally wanted and after I had the Aussie Fever strippers put a show on for me and some mates it just seemed to turn into a full time bar!... guess you could say I lost my way!. 
 
One thing I do not regret having in it - 8.2kw inverter split system AC... my old house is in Cobar, so temps get really hot, then in winter we get really cold thanks to the desert conditions. so the AC was easily best investment. 

some other little trinkets we put in there:
- Compressor with retractable hose reel (was planning to plumb in an air line but never got round to doing it)
- 240V power outlets at every truss (had plans for 3 phase as I had a used 3 phase hoist. these days i'll just stick with    
  240v on the next one as it's not really needed for me)
- Concrete Sealant - used a light blue. kept shed tidy and less dusty - easy to maintain and hard wearing
- 9ft slate pool table
- 2 X 120L fridges
- lounge suite
- TV, DVD player
- home made timber workbench with vice and power board
 

I'm soon to build a kind of pitbox at my current house which will house my SP Tools ute box and act as a work bench I can pull around the shed or even around the yard if I'm working elsewhere. keen to make a functional workspace that isn't tied into the one location of the shed.

be sure to post up pics when you start getting your garage sorted, and congrats on the new shed... I mean house....

Hi Stuka,
My 2 cents worth concerning your Compressed air distribution system is to install it with suitable arrangements to minimise condensed water from reaching your tools.
Probably info available on internet.

If you plan to install a car hoist, think about having enough roof height.
A 2 poster will need special footings, but a 4 poster should be fine on a stock 100 mm reo concrete floor.
 
Some 4 posters can be easily moved around with detachable casters.
 

 
Thanks for the comments fellas, keep it up....
 
With the compressed air, its common to use an air drier in industry where air is used to control valves for example. I have also seen low points with condensate drains designed in to the system. There might be easier ways so I will need to research this. 
 
Im am planning a split level house design where 2 bays of the garage will have 3.3m head clearance. Im planning on a 2 post hoist as I spend a lot of time working on suspension which needs to be unsupported. I can provide deeper concrete pads where the hoist will be erected.

Have one bay with a plumbed level floor (no drainage) for wheel alignment, corner weighting and drinking.
You realise 3.3 is a bit minimal head height.  OK for MR2 but Porsche Turbo, Maserati, Mercedes, Jaguar etc.
Go a bit higher and you can store one of the afore mentioned up on the hoist and another under it.
Drinking at altitude ?
Solid, well braced hardwood decked work bench. Vice and grinder away somewhere you can keep swept clean.
No seats anywhere. (No work happens while seated).  Drink standing !
Can I have first dibs to spill oil all over the place ?

stuka
Im planning to build a triple garage, with a house attached for the rest of the family! 
 
General
 
Exhaust fan(s)
 
No windows, security is better and will use lights anyways.
 
 

 
1. Consult with fairer half in regard to the attachment to the garage. Works out better for your retractable extension in the long run.
 
2. Exhaust fans are good, but having hoses attached to the source of exhaust is better. You need to get that business sucked out of your airspace before your lungs filter it. Or you drift off in to whatever it is when you get intoxicated by unfriendly gases. Carbon monoxide poisoning? Apparently sickening at first, but euphoric as you fade. Yeah - exhaust hoses +10. They say you 'just put up with that damn smoke' until you don't realise it's too late. That way you get to keep your heated garage in chilly Tas, but eject the nasties. 
 
3. A window to the outside world is a good thing, you will have half an idea of what time it may be or what is happening with the weather. Keep it narrower than a junkie (hmm, not much bigger than a letterbox slot) but it's a good thing. We don't need to live in vault 111 just yet.
 
4. White walls and polystyrene sheets on stands. It could sound a bit clinical, but white bounces light. Having a problem seeing somewhere thats shadowed in your bright garage? A sheet of polystyrene reflects a nice even gentle light that helps out like you wouldn't believe. 
 
5. 'Anyways' WTF? I thought you were from Canadia ~ just like a yank but without the ignorance or totally silly accent! Dude, it's 'Anyway' FFS. 
 
(apologies in advance to the offended %)
 

Hi Again,
+1 for Dudeman's attention to ventilation.
As I expected there is lots of stuff on internet about compressed air reticulation.
One of the pics attached shows the main basic principles. Another important basic is tube/pipe size.
The other pic is a basic condenser made from tubing, to install between Compressor & Receiver.
Probably cheaper & less maintenance than an air drier, & probably good enough for air tools. Not for spray painting but.

With an epoxy floor I wont be too worried about oil spills, so go for your life Falcon (just not a champagne bottle full of the stuff)!
 
With this garage kitted out Im thinking I will end of doing spray painting so the air system needs to be right. Im glad I mentioned it on this thread as it may be more complicated than I thought. I dont like to complicate things however so will update this thread with more details when the time comes.
 
So what part of NZ are you from Dudeman, I cant reacall???

I agree, put a window in....albeit small but enough to see the outside world. It also means you get daylight in there if you just trying to grab tools etc for jobs outside of the shed without having to go near a light switch.
 
I'm a little on the fence regarding expoying the floors. Its a great product, but have heard to you need to redo it every 5-10 years? Its a hell of a job to do. I just used the garage paint on the concrete floor myself and its worked a treat. Best part is, you can always just whack another coat on as required which is easy to do.
 
As Dudeman mentioned, keep walls/ceiling white to give the best light in all situations. 
 
If your going to all the effort of putting in air attachments, maybe put on on the outside of the shed. Could come in useful for painting/grinding or the like outside? (Depends on how decked out the inside is)
 
my 2c :)