Adding "privacy" to half of a 2-car garage

Honey Badger

Honey Badger

...iz a girl
I'm trying to come up with some ideas on ways to "privatize" half of a 2-car (one door) garage. I want half open for the truck, but the other half reserved for the bikes, but would like to have a vision block on that half of the garage that accomplishes a few things:

  • Block view of bikes from the street
  • Looks "nice" and pleasant appearance to neighbors across the way
  • High enough that someone isn't just looking over it
  • Still relatively easy to move bike(s) out from behind it
  • Not going to just blow over if it's windy outside
  • Solid/solid looking (ie, no curtains/sheets/etc)

I've considered things like peg board (cheap) attached to the back of shelves, which would work, but doesn't look the greatest. Something along that line is what I'm leaning towards.

Cost is a consideration, cheaper is better.

Ideas and suggestions, and if you've got photos, all the better!
 
KooLaid

KooLaid

Hippocritapotamus
accordion style temporary wall partitions. I see them occasionally on craigslist from companies that remodel office spaces. I also see cubical wall partitions occasionally. They're about 5'6" to 6' tall.
 
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berth

berth

Well-known member
You should look in to canvas flats typically used for theater work (sets), mounted on wheels.

My first thought was something like a medical curtain that you might see in a emergency room.

But, simply, canvas flats are wood frames with canvas stretched over them. You then can paint the flat. Put windows in them, put doors in them, glue moulding/trim to them, etc. They're light weight, easy to move (even without wheels). Just use whatever paint you get at the home store to paint it.

Mind, it's been a gazillion years since I did theater, so I really have no memory how we built ours. But, some 1x2s and a stapler will take you a long way.

It'll look like you built a room in your garage, until you move the walls out of the way.
 
Honey Badger

Honey Badger

...iz a girl
KooLaid said:
accordion style temporary wall partitions. I see them occasionally on craigslist from companies that remodel office spaces. I also see cubical wall partitions occasionally. They're about 5'6" to 6' tall.
Click to expand...

Good idea if I can find some cheap.

berth said:
You should look in to canvas flats typically used for theater work (sets), mounted on wheels.

But, some 1x2s and a stapler will take you a long way.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea if I'm feeling a bit crafty and/or can maybe watch for some being unloaded somewhere.
 
Whammy

Whammy

Veteran of Road Racing
Lots of options here.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=partitions


I'm sure you can find something that fits in the budget.
Put some casters on the :door" side of the hideaway and you have moveable bike security.

That, and maybe a German Shepard attach dog. Grrrrrrr
Cant hurt to put a few wifi cameras looking at the garage door or inside for added piece of mind.:teeth:thumbup
 
onto1wheel

onto1wheel

Riding All The Time
I saw some nice roll-down sun shades in costco the other day, About 6 ft long by maybe 6 foot tall. might make a good room divider, too?
What about roll down?
 
RVFRick

RVFRick

Well-known member
Costco has some nice chrome wire racks on casters. $90 for 48 x 72 x 18. They have several other sizes.

Bonus is you can use it to organize and they are movable. and cover backside with peg board. Or a Harbor Freight tarp mounted taught across the back.

Used dry erase boards on casters can also be found cheap sometimes but youd hsve to shop around and they are a PITA to transposrt. Also, they dont reach to the ground. Nevermind, get the wire rolling racks.

Last idea, used hollow interior doors hinged together. I may have a few in my garage you can have.
 
moto-rama

moto-rama

Well-known member
KooLaid said:
accordion style temporary wall partitions. I see them occasionally on craigslist from companies that remodel office spaces. I also see cubical wall partitions occasionally. They're about 5'6" to 6' tall.
Click to expand...

Make a photo-realistic mural and attach to the above-mentioned partitions.

Use a photo of something really uninteresting, or mildly repulsive; something that does not say 'I have something you should steal."

As long as it looks realistic from a passing car or pedestrian...

I lived on an edgy street in Oakland, and had a recording of a couple of vicious Dobermans that repeated all day at random intervals. Not loud enough to annoy my neighbors, but enough to create doubt if you came up the stairs.

I did have to inform my mail carrier, since she stopped delivering when she heard the recording.
 
sf250gto

sf250gto

Zen
You could build a couple privacy planters, like this:
Privacy-Planter-1.jpg
 
Climber

Climber

Well-known member
Get several of these, put material on the side facing the street.

Then you have shelf space that is easily moveable for getting a bike straight out of the door.

5A356BC-270x270.jpg
 
thedub

thedub

Octane Socks
ScottRNelson said:
At a minimum it has to be open to get the truck in and out, and that's when the bikes would be visible.
Click to expand...

My assumption wasn't that she is worried about needing a 'vision blocker' for the 30-45 seconds that the garage door is open for the entry and egress of the truck. But rather, she wants to work in the garage with the door open for hours at a time and doesn't want everyone who walks/drives by to scope out what she's got in there. That's why my suggestion is just to keep the door closed, as it accomplishes all the things required and is already built into the garage. But it's very possible I don't understand the situation, which is why I asked why the door needs to be open, beyond the obvious.

Climber said:
Get several of these, put material on the side facing the street.

Then you have shelf space that is easily moveable for getting a bike straight out of the door.

5A356BC-270x270.jpg
Click to expand...

This is a good idea as you also gain storage space.
 
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