How to Make the Garage Into a Carpenter's Workshop

Learn the local zoning laws. Some municipalities will allow a home carpentry shop but not a commercial enterprise. Some will allow both. Some will want guarantees that the noise, fumes or sawdust and wood cuttings will not disturb the neighborhood. Visit the local zoning board to discover your options and find out if any laws or regulations pertain to renovating a garage into a carpentry shop. If the house is in a co-op or a subdivision, consult with the local board.

Consult with others who have carpentry shops in their garage. People with home carpentry shops often converse with each other online in carpentry forums. Ask advice on these forums about how to set up a carpentry shop in a garage.

Arrange the converted garage space to accommodate the tools. If you plan to utilize large, stationary, standing tools in the shop, such as a table saw, planer and/or sander, set up the space to facilitate their use.

Position a good solid work table in the center of the shop area. Build storage space and hang hooks to hang and store hand tools. Set up shelves for lubricants, solvents, adhesives and finishes. The more you organize the area, the more successful the carpentry shop will be, whether it is a commercial venture or simply a shop for home projects.

Get estimates for the electrical work from at least three licensed electricians. You will need three-phase electricity if the shop will have stationary, standing tools, but not if you will only use hand tools in the shop. If the shop might upgrade to stationary, standing tools in the future, have the electrician install three-phase electricity while he installs the infrastructure.
Make sure the electricians' estimates spell out all of the work you expect. Everything should be carefully written down to avoid misunderstandings.