Garage Sim Build Advice

[striker]

Looking to build an EMT frame 1' in front of the wall, but don't want permanent side enclosures filling up the space, so I think I'll hang some side curtains that can be pushed back or pulled out. With an 11.5' ceiling I could hang them from the existing 11.5' ceiling or attempt to build a suspended ceiling enclosure about 10' off the ground and hang the curtains from that.

I think I prefer the second option as it will help with light control on the screen in my very bright garage. Curious if anyone's done a suspended ceiling or not and how they attached it. Or if anyone has any other ideas I'm open to them. My initial thought is I'd actually attach the wall side of the suspended ceiling to the wall, and then get something to hang the front corners to the ceiling. I'd probably frame it up with wood and then cover it all with black cloth and attach the curtain rails to the bottom edges.

[mp1972]

What you described in your last paragraph is exactly how I build my garage shelving. As long as the back of the shelf framing (into the back wall) and the top plate (into the ceiling) are drilled into the studs, its rock solid. See attached pictures. I think this is almost exactly what you are looking to do. Bonus is you get a very tall shelf to hide some seldom-used stuff :-)

[nanvinnie]

I have a motorized roller suspended from the ceiling along with side curtains that allow my car to park in the garage when I'm not using my sim. https://www.metechs.com/store/index....ucts_id=416649

[preludesam]

Same, the hitting screen is on a roller and they also have motorized side curtain tracks if you're into the one-button ready-to-hit approach. Metechs is a great source for a ton of simulator DIY stuff.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NejVVaHRfj25dl8IDFxqXOff27njYubo/view?usp=sharing

[Slow-Jean]

I did hinged doors from 1/2 inch EMT attached to the 1 inch EMT frame. Covered the door frames with black polypropylene landscaping ground covering. It provides good side protection and takes no room when folded. I suspended the same tarp for ceiling protection.

[mattvandyk]

Mine isn't going to be anything like this, and I have no need for this, but I just wanted to comment and give you props for the remarkable ingenuity here. Very clever. Very well done.

[magnets]

I went with the wood framing route but did build the side posts.

the joist was in the perfect position 16in from the back wall.

since this video I also bought some tube weights to hang from the bottom that help make the impact a bit shallower.

here is a time lapse of my build

https://youtu.be/LHo65-IisIA

[vonbonds]

I did hinged doors from 1/2 inch EMT attached to the 1 inch EMT frame. Covered the door frames with black polypropylene landscaping ground covering. It provides good side protection and takes no room when folded. I suspended the same tarp for ceiling protection.

Hi, great build! I just purchased a Mevo+ to use in various places but one is my garage. Like you I have a functioning garage where we park our cars. Do you park directly on top of your turf or do you move it when you bring the car back inside?

[Slow-Jean]

The winters up here are pretty bad and when I move the cars inside, they are full of frozen sand/dirt/salt. When it thaws, it makes a mess so, I put away the stance and hitting mats and I roll the putting turf against the screen. It takes less than a minute.

[Brettster]

Looks great Slow-Jean, so which hitting mat is this? And where did you buy it?

[OC_Mike]

I love the folding sides! I was thinking of doing retractable curtains but I really like what you did. How did you connect the hinges?

[Slow-Jean]

I used a standard fence door hinge bracket to attach to the 1 inch EMT screen frame. The door frame is made from regular 1/2 inch EMT hardware. I inserted a threaded rod inside the vertical tubing and through the corner 90 degree fitting and secured with nuts and washers above and below the hinge bracket. The picture will show you except for the threaded rod that is inside the vertical tube.

[Slow-Jean]

On the other side, the door is just supported by a caster that has a threaded stud through the horizontal pipe. Again, the picture is self explainatory.

[OC_Mike]

OK, got it! So the EMT basically swivels on the threaded rod & everything else is stationary. I'm assuming you did the same with the rod pointing downwards on the top? Any reason you didn't stick with 1 inch EMT for the doors?

[Slow-Jean]

Yes you are right. Same thing for the upper side. The only reason I went with 1/2 EMT was that I could not find hinges that met the dimensions for 3/4 or 1 inch EMT. It would have been more robust, but honestly, it is doing the job.

[nuclearn8]

I have a motorized roller suspended from the ceiling along with side curtains that allow my car to park in the garage when I'm not using my sim. https://www.metechs.com/store/index....ucts_id=416649

Which motor did you buy from this site? love this idea to have everything motorized as I'm developing the plans for my own garage simulator build

[preludesam]

Another thread that has the setup.

https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/build-your-own/enclosures/341988-retractable-par2pro-stealth-screen?pp=349969#post350027

[mgent]

That's really slick with the hinged side protection... What do you use for flooring? I do something similar, I slide my hitting mat out of the way and then roll the rest of teh turf up to the wall, but then when I unroll, it takes a while for all the turf to sit flush, and usually the turf against the hitting mat will stay curled 'up', which just doesn't look great... I've been trying to think through some osrt of turf backing that can be easily stored flat and out of the way, or a thicker turf that won't retain the rolled-up shape?

[Slow-Jean]

Hi. I have no special flooring. I just pinch the turf under the stance mats overlapping by about 1/2 inch. It keeps the turf flat and makes no perceivable difference when you stand on your stance mat.