During & After Garage Photos

[Old Moparz]

Haven't posted much, but I read a lot on this site. I have a few photos & a floor plan showing my own garage. It seems that no matter how big they are, they're never big enough. I also keep making changes to small things inside, like the layout of benches, shelves & tools, but this spring I will make sure I have the whole thing under control. I knew the garage would be for 3 cars, but I can fit 4 inside in a pinch. It doesn't leave much room for working on something, but that problem will be solved very shortly.

I am in the process of installing 2 - four post lifts to free up the work area again. This will allow me to finish placing the work bench, parts washer, compressor, tool chest & shelves in a permanent location. The second floor has been a big plus for storage of parts, furniture, toys & whatever else we don't want in the house. I have a ladder to get to it right now, but maybe later this year I'll add the stairs & an exterior door on the side of the 2nd floor. It'll make bringing the larger things up & down a lot easier.

It's basically a post & beam building for the first floor, & stick built on the second floor. I had to raise the yard about 4 feet on the left with a retaining wall & ended up bringing in about 150 cubic yards of fill & crushed stone to level off the area. The floor is 5" thick, I have 60 amps with a sub panel coming from the house underground. I ran a cast iron pipe to the septic tank & capped it inside to hook up at a later date. I also have a sleeve with a cap for a future water line.

I thought I'd be completely done a long time ago, but we had a little girl right after I built it. She's 5 now & I figure it's set back the finishing touches by about 4-3/4 years. :lol: I will never tackle a project this big alone ever again, but it was well worth the savings. The whole project, (1997) has totalled about $15K & would have been much more with a contractor.

Current Layout (Rear wall is staggered for property line & septic tank clearance)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/OldMoparz/GarageLayout.jpg

Started Contruction 1997 & Finished in 1 Year
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/OldMoparz/Garage1997B.jpg

Second Floor Looking Front to Back
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/OldMoparz/Garage1997C.jpg

Steel "I" Beams to Avoid Using Columns
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/OldMoparz/Garage1997A.jpg

Finished With Cedar Siding in Front, Vinyl on the Rest
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/OldMoparz/Garage97to98.jpg

[Luckydevil]

The outside wood looks awesome!

[casaleenie]

Very, very nice... Just beautiful.... :rocker:

[Old Moparz]

Thanks, the compliments are a nice plus.

Bob

[...dave]

Very nice! Now you just need to get some C-bodies in there to give the place a little class! :D

...dave

[Old Moparz]

Very nice! Now you just need to get some C-bodies in there to give the place a little class! :D

...dave

I like those cars & used to have a '73 New Yorker. I kept the 440 drive train when the frame got bent in an accident, it had only 72K miles or so. I also had a '66 Sport Fury with a 383 for a while. I think if I was looking for another C-Body, I'd try to get either a '69 Imperial or the Hurst 300. A ragtop would be cool too. Nothing like a living room on wheels. :lol:

[C_F]

Don't you ever take pics of that great looking garage in the summertime? :bounce:


I still have garage envy, Moparz. ;)

[Old Moparz]

Don't you ever take pics of that great looking garage in the summertime? :bounce:


I still have garage envy, Moparz. ;)

You had to ask about pictures, huh? Want to hear something that will make you want to cry?

I didn't have a digital camera, or even my own when I started construction on it. My wife was the camera bug back then & has an old, manual everything, Minolta with filters, lenses, tripod, etc. & said she'd take the pics for me. She did, & took them of the yard before we started. Also the retaining wall I built, the 150 yards of fill in piles, (that we raked with friends by hand) the 20 holes augered for the poles, the concrete footings, the poles going up, the frame, the I-beams going in, (on the television, lazy susan spinner) & the rest of the work.

After the building was mostly up, she announces one day, "Oh my god, there's no film in the camera!" She was very upset & worried I was going to be mad at her. I was annoyed, but oh well. Now I take the digital camera "EVERYWHERE" & don't let her touch it. :lol:

[DLR]

Great looking garage! :drool: Building it yourself makes it even better. I understand how family responsibilities can slow down a project. Loft idea is neat.

Good luck,
Dave

[C_F]

After the building was mostly up, she announces one day, "Oh my god, there's no film in the camera!"

Now that's a perfect DOH! moment. :eek:
Oh well, it's times like those that bring back funny memories.