Gary Thomas · publisher

Projects that fit one bay and a small yard.

Bay One is a home and DIY library for a one-car garage and about a quarter acre — layout, storage, mowers, grills, and when to stop and hire a licensed trade. No fake product labs. No contractor license on the masthead that is not real.

Browse the library When to call a pro

What this site will not do

Invent a general contractor credential for Gary Thomas.
Publish wiring diagrams or unlicensed electrical how-to.
Rank tools from tests we did not run.
Make Lowe's the only buy button (24-hour CJ cookie).

Affiliate links are disclosed in the header and at the top of every guide. Read the FTC page.

Project library

Nine guides, one small property

Filter by garage, yard, buying, season, or safety. Empty results are unlikely — every category has at least one guide.

Garage12 min

One-car garage workshop layout and a honest budget

How a 12×20 bay can hold a car, a folding bench, and a walkway — with planning ranges, not a contractor bid.

Updated 2026-08-01

Garage11 min

Garage flooring, wall storage, and lighting that fit one bay

Tiles vs paint vs epoxy, track storage vs cabinets, and shop lights on the circuit you already have.

Updated 2026-08-01

Garage9 min

Workbench kits for a bay that still parks a car

Folding vs fixed, depth vs door swing, and how to read a weight rating without pretending we load-tested it.

Updated 2026-07-20

Yard10 min

What size mower for a quarter acre

A 21-inch walk-behind is the usual class. Riders are the exception, not the default.

Updated 2026-07-12

Yard10 min

Gas vs pellet grill on a small patio

Weeknight speed vs set-and-hold. Power, clearance, and smoke — not a taste-test trophy.

Updated 2026-06-28

Buying8 min

Overstock vs Lowe's vs Amazon for garage and yard gear

Pickup, returns, shipping, and cookie windows — including Lowe's 24-hour CJ cookie.

Updated 2026-08-10

Buying9 min

Store pickup vs delivery for garage appliances

When a dolly is enough, when freight is the grown-up choice, and what to measure in a one-car bay.

Updated 2026-07-02

Seasonal8 min

Spring and fall checklist for a small yard and one bay

A quarter-acre calendar: mower, hose, grill cover, mice, and the garage floor — not a 2-acre estate plan.

Updated 2026-03-15

Safety8 min

When to stop DIY and call a licensed pro

No unlicensed electrical how-to. Panel work, gas, springs, and wet-location wiring are stop lines.

Updated 2026-08-12