24 x 36 Garage in Forest, VA.

[German_laconi]

Hi guys, I recently started building my detached garage. I have been coming to this site for a while looking for inspiration, and experiences. This is the story of my build in hopes that it will help somebody wanting to do something similar, and if nothing else, a little eye candy LOL. The build started on February 7th, 2025, with the digging of the footers, because of the slope, we had to do a step foundation and did 36" wide x 24" deep footers. We had a little bit of snow, so we had to wait a week to pour the concrete.




Block work started 2 weeks later and ran some late days.



Crusher run filling and compacting.

 

[German_laconi]

We used 6" WWM under the slab with rebar tied to the edges that was inserted into the blocks, all of the block cells were filled with concrete.


There is also a 4' X 14' x 15" section where the lift is going to go.

 

[German_laconi]

Slab was poured, and covered under a tarp with a water hose underneath so we could slow water cure it for 2 weeks.
Tarp removed and vehicles on the slab for the first time.



Walls went up quickly. picture of me standing next to 12' tall wall. ( I'm short LOL)

 

[German_laconi]

Attic trusses delivered, the room upstairs will be 13' x 36' x 8'.






100 Amp electrical service into the garage coming from the house. we ran a 120' trench from the house meter disconnect to the sub panel.
Stairs roughed in.

 

[German_laconi]

Roof going it, we tried to match everything to the house as much as possible. The goal is for the garage to look like it was built with the house (brick may have something to say about that)



Epoxy floor done by a local guy that does good work and is very reasonable.



Lights installed.


Brick work started first week of May, and this is where it currently sits due to monstrous amounts of rain. I hope to be able to post some more progress soon.

 

[kngelv]

Looks great. I'm in the middle of a 24' x 24' with a 12' ceiling myself.

James

 

[CraigStu]

A fantastic looking garage. I can't wait to see it next to your house.

 

[ATC]

Howdy neighbor! Looks like an awesome garage! Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[captain14]

I’m watching also.

 

[German_laconi]

Thank you all. I can't wait till it's finished (at least the outside) the inside finishing will take a long time.

 

[mschoo92]

Watching this one, looks like it’s gonna be a great garage!

 

[Mike65]

Looks like it is going to a very nice garage when finished.

 

[German_laconi]

I do have a question, has anyone used fiberglass sheets to finish inside walls? how did they turn out? how are the joints done? there is a local company selling them at 3 bucks per sheet (too cheap to not notice)

 

[madison069]

Nice garage!

I'm in the process of building a 32'x32' myself. Waiting for the electrician to install the breaker panels right now.

I'm not familiar with fiberglass sheets on the inside of the building. Got any more details of this fiberglass sheet?

 

[German_laconi]

Sheets

 

[German_laconi]

I found them on FB marketplace.

 

[madison069]

Your back half reminded me of my garage build, instead of spending the coins to just fill a void I installed I-beams and steel decking to pour a 7" thick concrete slab on top. This allowed me to have a bunker in the rear of the garage base to store outdoor equipment in. I still need to finish the digging of the bunker, but I'm looking forward to using the bunker!

 

[German_laconi]

Your back half reminded me of my garage build, instead of spending the coins to just fill a void I installed I-beams and steel decking to pour a 7" thick concrete slab on top. This allowed me to have a bunker in the rear of the garage base to store outdoor equipment in. I still need to finish the digging of the bunker, but I'm looking forward to using the bunker!

My neighbor across the street did that, he did a 2 story parking garage and wrapped the driveway to the rear. Bunker under the garage sounds nice!

 

[madison069]

Those sheets almost looks like cement boards for tiles. I never seen those sheets installed before, so I’ll be curious if anyone has experience with it myself.

 

[mike93lx]

Sheets

Ah, FRP. They are used for cladding over other materials, generally to make them easier to clean or water protected, like in commercial bathrooms and kitchens. You'd have to sheathe with something like osb, then place these on after.

I'd just drywall

 

[German_laconi]

Ah, FRP. They are used for cladding over other materials, generally to make them easier to clean or water protected, like in commercial bathrooms and kitchens. You'd have to sheathe with something like osb, then place these on after.

I'd just drywall

Thank you for the info! I thought it may have been too good to just screw them to studs.

 

[1/4atatime]

Hello fellow Virginia person the garage looks great. I had a huge drop off (5ft) as well I ended up doing a form for it and just pouring concrete. If I had to do it again I would have just done the retaining wall because it was a lot of concrete. However I had gotten a deal on the concrete price and so it was a toss up cost wise. I love the brick not many people do that anymore. I would have loved to do stick built but it wasn't in the budget ended up doing a steel building and for what it is I really like it (doing vertical panels made it look much nicer than most of the steel buildings I'd seen).

 

[Fuelie]

Beautiful shop! I like that you have an upstairs also. I have a 30x40 shop that I went thru the same situation with what to put on the walls. I ended up using drywall. Easy repair if necessary, I might do some type of metal 3-4' up from the floor.
Tom

 

[1/4atatime]

Beautiful shop! I like that you have an upstairs also. I have a 30x40 shop that I went thru the same situation with what to put on the walls. I ended up using drywall. Easy repair if necessary, I might do some type of metal 3-4' up from the floor.
Tom

I'm also debating metal on the 3ft bottom section. Mainly to protect against water if I wanted to wash my car inside or something. I also looked at Hardie cement boards as an option. It also breaks up the tall walls a little that way.

 

[German_laconi]

Hello fellow Virginia person the garage looks great. I had a huge drop off (5ft) as well I ended up doing a form for it and just pouring concrete. If I had to do it again I would have just done the retaining wall because it was a lot of concrete. However I had gotten a deal on the concrete price and so it was a toss up cost wise. I love the brick not many people do that anymore. I would have loved to do stick built but it wasn't in the budget ended up doing a steel building and for what it is I really like it (doing vertical panels made it look much nicer than most of the steel buildings I'd seen).

That makes for a SOLID foundation, our backdrop was 7.5 feet over the 36-foot length. as far as the brick, we didn't have much choice LOL the neighborhood said it has to match the house. the crazy thing is that almost half the cost of the garage went to concrete and brick.

 

[1/4atatime]

That makes for a SOLID foundation, our backdrop was 7.5 feet over the 36-foot length. as far as the brick, we didn't have much choice LOL the neighborhood said it has to match the house. the crazy thing is that almost half the cost of the garage went to concrete and brick.

Holy **** 7.5 wow and I thought my 5ft on a 28ft length was bad.

 

[German_laconi]

Holy **** 7.5 wow and I thought my 5ft on a 28ft length was bad.

My brother said that if it was any worse, I could name it, put a black diamond on it and charge people to ski it during winter.

 

[German_laconi]

I'm also debating metal on the 3ft bottom section. Mainly to protect against water if I wanted to wash my car inside or something. I also looked at Hardie cement boards as an option. It also breaks up the tall walls a little that way.

I wonder if I could use those fiber boards for something like that? They are so cheap that I just want to get them and use them for something LOL.

 

[German_laconi]

Stair Rails and pickets in place, ready for the framing inspection.

 

[mike93lx]

Stair Rails and pickets in place, ready for the framing inspection.

Get a good deal on that window? awful lot of framing around it

 

[BobsF85]

German,

I am near you. Just starting on my build. Do you mind me asking who you got to do your concrete slab and if you were pleased with quality/price of the work? I am currently shopping concrete contractors.

 

[CraigStu]

When we had our house built I got a 28x32 garage. Builder asked how I wanted it finished inside. I said do like the house, 2x4 walls w/ standard insulation and drywall. It's been 6 years and the only drywall I have had to do was when I added an extra outlet for my compressor and a twist timer.

 

[larry4406]

Nice shop/garage!

If your inspector is sharp, he will check to see if the window by the stair is tempered. If it is not, a competent glass shop can add a film to it and give you the cert to prove it.

 

[ddurrett896]

Looks good! Glad to see you bricked it, that's where a lot of people skimp out and man it really ties it together with the house.

 

[German_laconi]

German,

I am near you. Just starting on my build. Do you mind me asking who you got to do your concrete slab and if you were pleased with quality/price of the work? I am currently shopping concrete contractors.

Brian Smith did the digging, footing pour, wall, backfill, slab, and they subcontracted the brick work. He is the son of the owner of S&B concrete here in forest, hes starting his own thing, so far I am SUPER pleased with their work, we went a tiny bit over budget, but that was because the brick was more expensive that we though. the price is NOT cheap, but they came under everyone else, I also have a 7.5 retaining wall that required A LOT of fill and block. the slab is top notch. thinnest part is 6", and the back half is 8"+ with the 15" section for the lift.

 

[German_laconi]

Get a good deal on that window? awful lot of framing around it

I got a good deal on all of the framing and millworks, I think that window was 200 bucks installed.

 

[German_laconi]

Nice shop/garage!

If your inspector is sharp, he will check to see if the window by the stair is tempered. If it is not, a competent glass shop can add a film to it and give you the cert to prove it.

It is in fact tempered, the builder was way ahead of the curve on that one.

 

[German_laconi]

German,

I am near you. Just starting on my build. Do you mind me asking who you got to do your concrete slab and if you were pleased with quality/price of the work? I am currently shopping concrete contractors.

Also, feel free to send me a DM, and can give you my address if you are close and come take a look for yourself.

 

[eviltwin]

They dont require you to do fire blocking for those tall walls?

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

You aren’t too far away from me, I’m in Roanoke. Nice garage I’ll be excited to see the final product when it’s all done.