Since it looks like we're never going to move, I've decided to build an addition onto the back of my house that will be my new shop. I have my son in law working on the design since he's an architect, maybe that will help keep me from making too many mistakes in the construction. Its going to be a simple lean-to or shed design, with a low slope flat roof so I can get an actual 2 post lift in there.
My plan is to have room for a two post and the scissor lift, so I can pull a motor or at least work under the entire car standing up, and have the other one for brake and suspension work. This will also give me room for working on engines and transmissions which is what my main goal has always been.
I decided to just have a 6 ft wide double door into the shop rather than a roll up or garage door, that will be my entrance door too. 6 ft is plenty wide for a classic or even a new MINI to get in. That will free up the garage for parking cars again!
Overall size will be about 25 X 25, and I'll put a small shed on the outside for the compressor and genset to live. Of course I would like it to be bigger, but budget and land constraints will limit what I can do.
Main power will come into the shop on a 200 amp panel, then I'll run a 100 amp feed to the house panel in the basement from there so I don't have to rewire the house panel. I'll do all the electrical and insulation, and I'll hire out the drywall install, mud and tape, then I'll do the painting.
Heat and A/C will be the unit I have in the garage now, with better sealing and insulation it should be more than adequate.
Funding is coming from the sale of my south property, which should close between the 19th and 1st of March. Once I have cash in hand I hope to break ground sometime in March.
I'll post up renderings once I have them in a couple of weeks.
Sounds super. Any thought of a skylight?
Probably not due to budget constraints (cheap ones are $300+ each, plus about $100 for the flashing kit) - but plans include clerestory windows on three sides. The shop will be on the south west side of the house so it will get good light, especially in the afternoons. I do like a lot of natural light.
I'll also have at least 12 4ft dual bulb LEDs on the ceiling, 3 rows of 4. they've gotten so cheap and I like plenty of light.
This sounds like a great project. I need to get going on building a garage in my backyard.
If I had the room and access, one of those garage kits from the lumber yard might be the least expensive way to go.....but I have neither so mine will have to be custom. As long as I can get a Mini up high enough to walk and work under, I'll be happy.
Hi minidave. I am new to this forum. Is your shop for working on your own minis or do you do work for others? I am finally reassembling a '66 S which I took apart back in 1993! Currently working on the front swivel joints and cleaning the fuel tanks.
Welcome to the forum!
I limit my work to doing engines and transmissions for Minis and Sprites/Midgets both for my own cars and for others.
OK, progress.....
A contractor has been found, and his preliminary estimates look like they will be on budget, before we can get any further along we need drawings, which my SIL will be working on. Once I have those we can get the job bid and start moving dirt.
Weather may have something to say about our progress as we're moving into spring and it can be very unpredictable this time of year around here, with tornados, massive amounts of rain, snow and who knows what!
First glance our plans look do-able and within our guestimate budget, the contractor had a good idea about what we can do with the dirt so we don't have the expense of hauling it off.
More as it happens!
When a neighbor down the street built his garage he arranged with a local technical school to come out and do all the wiring. All he had to do was buy the materials. This counted as class time for the students, the teacher was there to instruct and inspect.
Interesting idea, I need to reconnect with the school again anyway.....
Cool project, Dave - good luck with it!
You should have a barn raising weekend... some of us could come up and help build the framework. I have construction expo and quite enjoy it. Sounds like a great mini shop
That sounds like a ton of fun, but I think I'll let the contractor just do his thing.
I'll be doing all the electrical and insulation, but I'll let others do the drywall. Then I'll paint it....so I'll save a bit of dough here and there.
Are you doing spray in foam insulation?
I would. That stuff is amazing. Well worth the extra up front cost.
I'm looking into doing at least a 1" of closed cell foam, then bats on top of that. I don't need it super tight, just enough to keep the wind out! 77.gif
Alrighty then, preliminary drawings......
Exciting 77.gif
Off to a great start.
Be careful with the new roof height in relation to the sill height of the two "existing windows to remain". You'll need to allow room for flashing the new roof into the existing exterior wall below the window sills, and you don't want the window sills to be sitting that close to the roof. I'd suggest allowing at least a very minimum 6" of vertical clearance between the two, even more in a climate where snow might accumulate.
Good points, but as it turns out I think we're going to do it differently anyway, I don't think I have enough vertical height doing it this way.....and this is our third iteration. We started with a shed roof, then went to the gable end but the windows on the house are a limiting factor as the bottom of the sash is 11'11", I need at least 12' to clear the lift. Unless I want to change them to a clerestory or awning style window and gain some more distance between them and the roof, I don't think we can get it high enough. Also, he drew it 24X24, I'm going to go to 24X28 or maybe 24X32, it doesn't sound like much but those extra feet will make a difference.
But..............................I have an idea...................... ;D
Watch for version 2 (3? 4?) by the weekend.
I'm 30 feet deep for reference.
It doesn't reflect it in the illustrations but the plan is to set the two lifts 90* to each other, to leave a square of open space between them as an engine build/assembly area.
The two post will be parallel to the back wall of the house, and the scissor lift will be in the corner straight back from the drive thru door.
Have you thought about building the scissor jack into the floor? Then you won't need the drive up boards to clear it.
Yes, and it's possible, but then it's fixed, as it is now I can roll it around if I need to. I only need the boards for lowered cars, regular height Minis and MINIs clear without the boards.
What room (or rooms) do the two existing windows serve?
Two upstairs bedrooms, those back bedrooms and the front master are all above the current garage.
That's exactly what I was thinking they were.
Since they are in second floor bedrooms; unless there are other operable windows in those two rooms, you will not be able to (and should not) change them into clerestory or awning style windows. You need at least one full size operable window of certain clear opening dimensions in any bedroom to provide a secondary means of egress in the case of fire.
Given that, and if you feel the need to increase the roof height of the shop, you might want to consider relocating each of those two windows to the outside corners ... OR ... around the corner onto the adjacent walls, depending of course on what else is going on in those two rooms.
The missus having fun with paint....
Is that a vending machine out back?
Or a porta-John....
The middle one represents a door, the end one is supposed to be the little shed I'll build for the compressor and genset.
I thought the greenery, little bird on the roof and the UFO were interesting touches..... 77.gif
Quote from: MiniDave on February 28, 2020, 08:26:08 PM
I'm looking into doing at least a 1" of closed cell foam, then bats on top of that. I don't need it super tight, just enough to keep the wind out! 77.gif
I did half my last shop with spray in foam. It was great. The only thing i didn't like about it was that the outside steel panels tended to get green with algae after a few years (5ish). Half the ceiling was spray foam and the steel roof panels tended to accumulate condensate (or sweated) early morning and would run off whereas the non insulated half would stay dry. Never had a problem with it doing that though. Haven't looked at your plans so if it's not a metal building or metal roof then it shouldn't have these quirks.
Quote from: MiniDave on March 03, 2020, 12:32:16 PM
The middle one represents a door, the end one is supposed to be the little shed I'll build for the compressor and genset.
I thought the greenery, little bird on the roof and the UFO were interesting touches..... 77.gif
The UFO could be a spini for a space mini.
Mine will be standard stick construction with a standard shingled roof.
Quote from: MiniDave on March 05, 2020, 07:39:25 AM
Mine will be standard stick construction with a standard shingled roof.
[/quote
Yeah saw that later. FWIW for anmyone looking at steel building in humid places. Also epoxied floors also sweat. unless dehumidfied.
I imagine a sweaty epoxy floor would be slick! ::)
My plan is nicely burnished and sealed concrete, no epoxy or tile or anything. And no Racedeck! I hate that stuff - it might look cool with the different patterns and such that you can do but I hate the creaking when you walk or drive on it, and if you spill anything it does work it's way down to the concrete. I'd rather have just smooth sealed concrete.....I find it's easier to find that odd nut or small part that you drop on concrete too. It does have to be sealed tho, or the dust will drive you crazy.....
Won't a sealer sweat also? My attached gargae doesn't sweat. I guess the house keeps the humidity down. Th detached garage floor sweats like a pig.
My guess is they didn't put a vapor barrier under the concrete.......I'm doing 2" of insulation under the floor too.
Yeah no vapor barrier, in fact saw some water come up thru a crack after a heavy ran. With insulation in the floor in floor heating would be good next step.
An alternative idea....Rose is against this one as it means the view from the upstairs windows would be nothing but roof. But that means the one window wouldn't have to be moved too, and the interior height can be anything we want it to be.
Well, this is not going to happen, bids are coming in at a ridiculous $100 a sq ft.....or about $70K.....for what is basically an empty shell - no heat or A/C, no plumbing. It's absurd.
Can't just build a separate garage back there like Bruce is planning as there is no access and I'd run afoul of setback regs.
So, back to the drawing boards.....
Quote from: MiniDave on April 14, 2020, 04:31:13 PM
Well, this is not going to happen, bids are coming in at a ridiculous $100 a sq ft.....or about $70K.....for what is basically an empty shell - no heat or A/C, no plumbing. It's absurd.
Can't just build a separate garage back there like Bruce is planning as there is no access and I'd run afoul of setback regs.
So, back to the drawing boards.....
Sorry to hear that. My own backyard garage/shop project is on hold indefinitely until I feel a lot more comfortable about the economy. I am fortunate to have some cash reserves that I had earmarked for the project, but I'd really like to move cautiously in case that money is needed for something else. Like a wide moat with alligators for example.
Moat alligators are expensive right now.
Probably cost more than a shop! :-)
Not to mention, a moat can keep YOU in as well as others out. Might not be a good thing, I prefer to be mobil.....or mobile, not sure.
Quote from: 94touring on April 14, 2020, 05:04:11 PM
Moat alligators are expensive right now.
I heard they cost an arm and a leg. ;D
Quote from: BruceK on April 14, 2020, 04:52:18 PM
Quote from: MiniDave on April 14, 2020, 04:31:13 PM
Well, this is not going to happen, bids are coming in at a ridiculous $100 a sq ft.....or about $70K.....for what is basically an empty shell - no heat or A/C, no plumbing. It's absurd.
Can't just build a separate garage back there like Bruce is planning as there is no access and I'd run afoul of setback regs.
So, back to the drawing boards.....
Sorry to hear that. My own backyard garage/shop project is on hold indefinitely until I feel a lot more comfortable about the economy. I am fortunate to have some cash reserves that I had earmarked for the project, but I'd really like to move cautiously in case that money is needed for something else. Like a wide moat with alligators for example.
According to what Jim is experiencing in Fla, things are about to get slow - around here you can barely get anyone to come bid a "small" job like this. I had it suggested to me ( won't work in my case) that I look for some Amish builders, apparently they have crews roaming the US putting up small buildings like this for very reasonable prices. For a free standing garage/shop like you want to build they might be the perfect way to go. and if things are about to get slow you might be able to get it done quickly and affordably.
I wouldn't wait, what's going to change in your financial situation now that you're retired? Might as well be using it, just like your pick up truck!
If I were building in your area I would definitely plan on A/C if not heat - so enough electrical capability and insulation - this is the perfect scenario for a "pole barn" type building... where you don't need to pour a foundation.
You make some good points Dave. I'll have to mull over this for a while.
I haven't given mine up completely, I spoke to a neighbor of mine and he and I discussed a bunch of different ways to do this project, we'll see if any of them produce any significant savings.
He's going to work up some numbers for me in a few days.
Styers got the bid on his new garage/shop today.....originally guestimated to run $50-55K, bid came in at $93K.
He has none of the access issues I have and his shop was a little bigger, but it only had one garage door. It did have an upstairs mezzanine over part of it, but still...........that number seems excessive to me. And I wonder what a $100K shop does for property taxes?
The reason I ask is that in a discussion on the Garage Journal it seems a nice shop adds little to resale value and in many cases takes value and sellability away.
Just for fun I found an Amish garage builders site and priced out a 24X32 two story garage, even with Mezzanine it came to $17K, plus $18K for concrete as quoted I'm at $35K....my original budget. That's delivered and built on site, parts and labor.
My first example just to get an idea.....
https://www.amishbackyardstructures.com/product/2-story-double-wide-garage-wood (https://www.amishbackyardstructures.com/product/2-story-double-wide-garage-wood)
Booming economy equals booming prices. This virus might work in your benefit. Only on a acreage in TX does a shop add value. It's like pools here. Used to be 30-40k now pushing 90k. Be lucky if it adds 10-20% of cost to home value.
Quote from: MiniDave on April 21, 2020, 11:38:10 AM
Just for fun I found an Amish garage builders site and priced out a 24X32 two story garage, even with Mezzanine it came to $17K, plus $18K for concrete as quoted I'm at $35K....my original budget. That's delivered and built on site, parts and labor.
My first example just to get an idea.....
https://www.amishbackyardstructures.com/product/2-story-double-wide-garage-wood (https://www.amishbackyardstructures.com/product/2-story-double-wide-garage-wood)
So much more reasonable. But do they build in your area?
My understanding is they build pretty much anywhere.
But one of these won't work for me, mine has to be attached or I run afoul of the setback rules and size restrictions on outbuildings.
My point in posting was 1st to show there are alternatives, and second that has as much material in it as mine would, yet the cost is SO much less, third, this is the kind of thing that would work perfectly for Bruce or John who don't have the size limitations or access restrictions I do.
Bruce, a 2 car 24X32 one story is just over $10K, plus concrete of course. In Bruce's case where they don't get winter all he needs is a slab. Way less than what John and I are dealing with where we need to have foundations down like 40" or so. That's a stick built with wood siding, they also do vinyl siding and metal roofs if preferred.
Quote from: MiniDave on April 21, 2020, 06:05:37 PM
My understanding is they build pretty much anywhere.
Are you sure? They are based in Pennsylvania and it would be quite a haul to Kansas.
Quote from: MiniDave on April 21, 2020, 06:05:37 PM
Bruce, a 2 car 24X32 one story is just over $10K, plus concrete of course. In Bruce's case where they don't get winter all he needs is a slab. Way less than what John and I are dealing with where we need to have foundations down like 40" or so. That's a stick built with wood siding, they also do vinyl siding and metal roofs if preferred.
That's about in line with what I've found locally here in my initial inquiries. I still need to have some onsite estimates done. Lots of trees and rocky soil to work around so that will definitely add to the costs.
Quote from: BruceK on April 21, 2020, 06:56:59 PM
Quote from: MiniDave on April 21, 2020, 06:05:37 PM
My understanding is they build pretty much anywhere.
Are you sure? They are based in Pennsylvania and it would be quite a haul to Kansas.
That's a long haul in a horse and buggy ;D
Quote from: 94touring on April 21, 2020, 08:19:02 PM
Quote from: BruceK on April 21, 2020, 06:56:59 PM
Quote from: MiniDave on April 21, 2020, 06:05:37 PM
My understanding is they build pretty much anywhere.
That's a long haul in a horse and buggy ;D
Are you sure? They are based in Pennsylvania and it would be quite a haul to Kansas.
The Amish have a shed building shop near where I grew up in Colorado. A large community moved there from the midwest . They built my brother's cabin addition 50 miles west in South Fork. They hire a driver to drive them to the site and driver works with them. Very common practice where there is long distances to job site. They do good work.
They did a show on that. It was after Vanilla Ice had a show working with the Amish. DIY network.
to the comment of garages not adding value. I agree. and that 'extra' garage only adds value to those that are NEEDING garage space.
Co worker bought a property in 2016 - he was full gearhead , had space on property and built a 3 Bay = double deep metal building = All concrete + Driveway extension.. whole nine... he' buys the best of everything .. has added 2 or 3 lifts... Countless things...
Come Mid 2019 - his employment is moving to Kentucky.... Lock stock- stay employed , you need to move.
He has tried to stay or make other adjustments but the property went on the market in December-= Still on market - Has made no prices changes and i heard thru the grapevine = No interest... - Asking price = 695K $...
By all means he thinks because he paid and put it all in... he should get it all back... Im distantly watching this happen.
if interested =here's the sale link... Take a view at the 'STUFF"
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6244-Mountain-Vine-Ave_Kannapolis_NC_28081_M62495-95384?view=qv (https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/6244-Mountain-Vine-Ave_Kannapolis_NC_28081_M62495-95384?view=qv)
Just like adding a massive greenhouse, or a 10-stall horse stable, the big garage he added is only attractive to some buyers. But any of us here on this site would die for a place like that!
In some ways, it's like customizing a car. It appeals greatly to the owner, but depending on the degree of customization, it may not appeal much to others.
I'll add this to support my point:
(http://www.restorationmini.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1434.0;attach=13282;image)
That's one hell of a garage 77.gif. But to echo others, it adds value like a pool adds value to resale. Ashame he's forced to move. I suppose one of the perks I have with a shop on a separate piece of property is I can buy and sell my primary house and the shop stays put.
Location says he need to find a nascar driver to buy it. Big problem is it's a family sized bachelor pad. No woman is going to agree to that price with those bathrooms. Kitchen is big but just ok. He spent all the money on the wrong STUFF for resale value.
Quote from: gr8kornholio on April 22, 2020, 12:51:28 PM
Location says he need to find a nascar driver to buy it. Big problem is it's a family sized bachelor pad. No woman is going to agree to that price with those bathrooms. Kitchen is big but just ok. He spent all the money on the wrong STUFF for resale value.
I've spent some time in Kannapolis when I lived in NC. Buddy with an rx7 has family there and Rotorsports racing is up there. Spent the night on the guys couch a few times while our rx7s were being worked on.
Went back and looked at the house and yeah it is a family sized bachelor pad.
I think he has more than $700K tied up in the shop!
I don't see what you all are saying about it being a bachelor pad - I mean sure, it would be great for a single guy but I didn't see anything a woman wouldn't want too.....
But that shop....Whooo doggies!
I agree with Mark, he needs to find a single young Nascar driver to own it.
I think because there's been more money put into the assortment of garages but nothing of interest in the living quarters. It looks to still have formica counters from my phone screen. I'd love to have a place like that though!
Me too!!!!
Hyacinth and I both like formica -
Over here if you don't have granite countertops you're nothing...... ;D
I went with chopping block and stainless steel counters in the kitchen and the bathrooms have a granite.
See......granite! 77.gif
The other thing hurting it was it sold for 300k less 4 years ago. I don't see 300k in interior upgrades. Probably how much that beautiful shop cost though! Update bathroom tile, ditch the upstairs carpet, update the oak cabinets, update backsplash tiles, brass shower frame is 90s looking...these are all things that stick out to me. Needs pulled into 2020. Jen and I look at a lot of houses. She's probably obsessed and I spend a lot of time looking at places we are in no position to buy.
Out of curiosity I sent the link to Jen to get her opinion without her knowing about the discussion here. Her response:
The kitchen needs renovated and the bathroom countertops and remodel seems cheap. I think the fixtures and remodels are old. I doubt those things are that important to the buyer tho since it's about cars.
I've often wondered if I'd ever want a 'nicer' hovel... We've got relatively nice stuff - furnishings, classic architect-designed furniture, appliances - but love the ease of easy-care surfaces. The hallway and kitchen floor are also good, old-fashioned rolled-out, glued-down grey linoleum. 4.gif
If we were to ever move from this 600 sq. ft. apartment, I guess I'd leave the granite countertops if the dwelling came with them. I wonder if formica skins could be glued to them?
Seriously though - from my perspective, when looking at this house, I find it practically absurd. It's far too pretentious and quite arrogant in its proportions. In short, a massive waste of space - in my opinion. Also, not enough land around the house - it's too big for the lot.
Lol. Actually John you can do some of these things on the cheap. My stainless counters are just raw stainless I bought, had cut to size, lip bent in a brake, and glued right on top of the existing counters. The chopping block I got in a 6 foot section from the hardware store for 300 bucks or something, stained it, cut out a hole for the sink, tore out the old top and set it in place, screwed down and done. For even easier floor cleanup we just have the concrete pad, all raw and industrial looking. Upstairs is wood flooring. Jen for whatever reason feels the need for a big house. I was perfectly happy in my 700sq ft condo upstairs that Skylar now lives in and I'm perfectly content with the 1400sq feet we currently live in.
We've got a 600 sq. ft apartment; the building was built in 1897. We could move to something bigger, but really don't see the need to. We've got the summerhouse lot (commonly referred to as 'the estate') and I've got my garage to escape to.
Everyone has different tastes, but to me, it's a waste of money. I'd prefer a smaller, simpler house of good, old-school materials and craftsmanship (something built before screw/nail guns and perforated joining plates), sitting on a larger plot.
Heck - smaller houses worked just fine for many generations; why must everything be a papier-mâché castle today?
I would agree. We look at a lot of places built in the 20s with a lot of character. With that usually comes a big price tag or big remodel cost.
I suspect the 'big remodel cost' is because many buyers don't understand that old buildings need to 'breathe' and that older homes don't need so-called 'modern' styles which clash with the basic bones, therefor requiring 'more on top of more'. Keep it simple, it worked before... Lay down some linoleum and perhaps a bit of modern formica...
Don't move down here. Granite is way out. It's all about quartz now.
I laid out where I'd like to place a 24 x 30 shop in the back corner of my backyard.
Looks like I have some issues to deal with.
Well, you got the 30 right, now you need to figure out how to do the 50! 77.gif
Old houses don't just need to breathe, they also usually need wiring, plumbing, insulation and often foundations and roofs.
Quote from: MiniDave on May 18, 2020, 08:38:54 PM
Well, you got the 30 right, now you need to figure out how to do the 50! 77.gif
Old houses don't just need to breathe, they also usually need wiring, plumbing, insulation and often foundations and roofs.
I'd love to do a 30 by 50, but I'm stretching from considering a 24 by 24 to go to a 24 by 30.
Quote from: BruceK on May 18, 2020, 08:25:45 PM
I laid out where I'd like to place a 24 x 30 shop in the back corner of my backyard.
Looks like I have some issues to deal with.
What kind of tree is that big one in the middle of the shop? Is it alive? Got a chainsaw?
Actually, if they bring a mini excavator in to clear the property and lay down the base they can probably just knock those trees over so there is no stump.
Is the fence the property line?
The tree is a cedar - very common here in the Texas Hill Country. Actually these trees are the scourge of the region - very hardwood too. They can't just be pushed over because the "soil" is mostly solid and heavily compacted limestone. Karst topography if you took Earth Science classes. The cedars grow in cracks in the limestone and are very much secure to the earth. I had a tree service come out this morning and give me a quote on removing 3 trees (need at least 5 feet clearance on all sides of the foundation) and stump grinding on those three and two other stumps already within the work footprint. I agreed on the quote and the tree work should be done in about 2 weeks.
Yes, the back fence in the photo is the property line. The side fence on the left of the photo sort of creates a no-man's-land of a 10 ft area away from the neighbor's fence. No idea why the previous owners did that - probably to keep their dogs separated from the neighbor's dogs. Anyway, the deed restrictions require 10 feet setback on the side boundary and 5 feet on the rear boundary so I'm planning on snuggling the garage up into that corner.
I guess I should start my own shop build thread...
Yes please do....
So, the rumors of the death of my shop project seemed to be premature!
That is, I may have found a builder who can do one within my budget, I found them thru a reference in a thread on Garage Journal, a fellow there is building one and mentioned their name, and they are local to me! So I called them and they're sending a guy over to see my site and work up an accurate estimate.....but based on a conversation with what seemed to be a very knowledgeable salesperson on the phone, it may be do-able.....
It was good to see Bruce's cars parked in his shop as mine will be very close to the same size - mine will be 24X32
Styer's shop project has fallen into limbo after the city rejected his plans for some reason, a surprise to me as I thought his plans were already approved. I know he ran afoul of a neighbor who protested the setback he had proposed, but he has enough property that he could just shift the building around to another spot to meet the complainer's requirements.
I'll see him later this week and find out what's up, but I think it had to do with the façade of the building, not the size or placement.....
Quote from: MiniDave on July 14, 2020, 08:53:02 AM
So, the rumors of the death of my shop project seemed to be premature!
That is, I may have found a builder who can do one within my budget, I found them thru a reference in a thread on Garage Journal, a fellow there is building one and mentioned their name, and they are local to me! So I called them and they're sending a guy over to see my site and work up an accurate estimate.....but based on a conversation with what seemed to be a very knowledgeable salesperson on the phone, it may be do-able.....
It was good to see Bruce's cars parked in his shop as mine will be very close to the same size - mine will be 24X32
That's great news. Do you realize that the 24 x 32 size you are doing is big enough to store six (6!) of your Audi Allroad models? (3 across and 2 deep). Sure it would be tight, and you'd have room for nothing else, but that helps you visualize the space.
So... anything happening on the shop?
Yes.......and no. They came out and looked over the site, took some more measurements and said they'd get back to me. After a couple of weeks I sent them an email asking what was up - the bottom line - they're too busy to get to me till next year at the soonest.
So, if I want to wait maybe I'll get a shop built.......someday.
Wanna send your crew up north for a few days? :-[
Next year!? Crazy.
I wish I could send that crew your way.
I don't know where he is based, but this guy has a bunch of videos on YouTube of building very reasonably priced garages. There must be somebody similar in your area.
I would love to have that guy build my shop, but he's a bit out of my area, and I can't seem to find a local guy like him.
I did have a guy come by today who owns a "Handyman" service, tho he claims he's able to build "anything I want" and has done plenty of garages already. I sent him the drawings and he came and took a few pics, we'll see what he comes up with but I will def want references before I let him swing a hammer on my project.
The local metal building builder who swore they could easily have me in my shop before cold weather hit now say maybe after the first of the year - as in that seems to be when they'll have the bid ready!
Whats your shop look like Dave? Is it completely detached like the video above the guy is building or is it attached to an existing structure? Just curious
Completely detached is a whole lot easier and faster to deal with that is for sure.
I sometimes do design/construction stuff on the side, but do not live close enough to be able to tackle something of this nature since I also have a full time job. LOL
Here's to hoping you can find someone to do it within your budget, it can be hard to find good builders these days because the good ones are always so busy.
My current shop is the garage under the house - I have a mid-60's split level house, the garage is under the bedrooms. My plan is to build an attached structure directly on the back of the house, opening to the current garage. Car access will be thru a door on the back wall of the garage.
I found an interesting thread on Garage Journal, where a guy is doing almost exactly what I want to do, he's in south Carolina so build requirements are a little different in his area, and he's on a corner so his driveway will come into the back yard and he'll have an outside garage door access. But the plan is very similar - same size - and his build is coming in right at my budget. So, obviously it's possible - at least somewhere! ::)
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=460683 (https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=460683)
Makes sense, and seems like it ought to be fairly straight forward.
I didn't read through that whole thing, mostly just browsed the pictures, I assume he is doing the concrete block just to grade and is then building stick frame walls on top of that? It's usually cheaper doing concrete block rather than poured wall but that also depends on who is doing it and where you are.
Yes, he's doing stick built.....I would too if I could find anyone to build it....
Because of the lack of interest in builders around here, I took a different tack - we looked at a house for sale that has a 24X24 shop already on the property - only downside is I would have to go inside the house for water. great property, out in the country a ways but near town, on a 1 acre lot so I have plenty of room for the doggo's to play - all fenced already. Of course the wife hates the house....it's not "open concept" enough.....sheesh.
https://www.redfin.com/KS/Stilwell/8340-W-172nd-Ter-66085/home/83225307
Or, they have one of those car condo places about 20 min from me, several friends have one there and are urging me to buy one of them too. downside there of course is it's 20 min drive anytime I want to work on something.....and all my tools will be 20 min away too
Lot's of money can be made in the Trades these days. The folks who are good and want to work are so busy they can't take on a lot of new stuff. The ones that are left either don't know what they are doing or just don't seem all that interested in actually working.
Nice place with the shop!
The car condo idea has me intrigued, what exactly is it? Is it like a mini storage place, only with larger garages for us mechanical types? Or is it a larger garage with lifts and such where you basically rent space?
I have always thought a mini storage unit type setup, only with more garage sized stalls for cars/tools and such plus a central larger garage with things like lifts, more specialized tools, trailers etc.. that could be rented out would be cool. As you mentioned though the inconvenience of a drive to the place any time you wanted to work on something would be a hassle.
Yea, sorta like mini storage but with 20 ft ceilings! Some are designed that you can pull thru a large 45 ft motorhome, of course that's not what I would buy. The smallest they have is a 20 X 30 which is what I would get. The problems include no HVAC unless you buy an end unit - you can put an electric heater in but good luck warming up a room with 20 ft ceilings and no insulation with a plug in heater! Also, no bathroom - there is a "clubhouse" with a restroom of course, but you'd need to drive to it!
http://garagecondoskc.com/?fbclid=IwAR05NyuMzi_UOe496Scs5HLxiqPck9B9afM2jZptTTLrsAVuiNnJynkvC-c (http://garagecondoskc.com/?fbclid=IwAR05NyuMzi_UOe496Scs5HLxiqPck9B9afM2jZptTTLrsAVuiNnJynkvC-c)
https://www.facebook.com/CarriageHouses (https://www.facebook.com/CarriageHouses)
Advantages are all my shit is in one place and room to store at least 4 cars, I can put a real 2 post lift in it and so on.
Downsides are no water, no A/C, 20 min drive and property taxes, HOA costs about $200/year and so on......I'd rather either buy a place with a shop or build one here if I could.
Hey, I have an idea, how about a good old Restoration Mini barn/garage raising this spring at my house?? I'll get the concrete poured and we'll have it closed in in one weekend I bet! 77.gif 62.gif
Should see the garage condos they put up around here. Can't remember the name or I'd post a link. They are ac/heat insulated bathroom second floor inside veranda or whatever it's called and easy fit 4 cars. Downside they started at close to 250K.
That is pretty cool, but I can definitely see where the no heat, no cooling, no plumbing etc.. would be a pretty serious deficiency that could easily get cost prohibitive trying to solve, if they even let you solve it.
You are probably correct on the barn/garage raising. With enough people it could probably be, at the very least, enclosed in over a weekend. The incorporating it into the existing structure is where things can get complicated. Well, that and the entire permitting process I am sure the city makes you jump through.
Actually in Kansas, they make it pretty easy for a homeowner to work on his own house. You do have to get permits, and it has to be inspected along a schedule, but after that you can do pretty much whatever you want, including your own electrical. Again, it all has to be to code and inspected but other than that they seem willing to help and provide guidance. The local PoCo even has drawings and specs on upgrading your service, then all they do is disconnect and reconnect to the new panel.
In my case it will be pretty easy as I'm not doing any plumbing in the new shop, just the electric. HVAC will be the big window unit that's in the garage now.
Well that is nice at least. The permit process can certainly be a real headache some times. Living where I do, you don't even have to pull permits or get inspections in most cases which certainly has it's benefits. You have to be a lot more careful on who you hire to do things though. But word of mouth gets around real quick so the scoundrel's do not generally last long. With the absolute dearth of quality trades people these days though even the crappy ones seem to stay busy.
No worries about permits or inspections where I live. That means no bureaucratic nonsense. But it also means the onus is really on the homeowner who does his own work to do it right.
When installed electricity in my garage recently I learned all I could about doing things the right way (such as following the NEC).
Unlike when I was young, when I work on something these days - electrical, mechanical, or whatever - I always work as though someone will be coming right behind me inspecting and judging me on the quality of my work.
You got your lights on? pics please, and update your thread?
Ah man.. I was hoping to see some pictures of the build...
Quote from: MiniDave on November 10, 2020, 05:40:25 PM
You got your lights on? pics please, and update your thread?
Sure. I'll post some tomorrow.