Mark's Monster Garage....3800 sq ft

[ConstructionBoss]

Nice job on dropping the lumber on the 2x6's! I grew up working as a framer for my dad and one on my jobs as a teenager was to place the lumber loads. He taught me where to place the runners so the loads would fall right coming off the truck and end up on the runners and not laying in the mud. Not all of them came down right every time, and I remember a couple times having to re-stack a bunk of 2 x 4's because I judged wrong!

I've been watching you garage for a while here. I give it two carpenters thumbs up (those would be slightly larger than normal ones because we hit them every now and then!) As a former carpenter on custom homes, I can definitely appreciate the work you have put in to your house and garage.

I grew up in Illinois over in Rockford and spent alot of summers in Sarasota. My parents retired to Venice 6 years ago. I saw you mentioned you come out to FTW for Goodguys @ TMS. I live in FTW and work right next to the Speedway. (Paving racetracks is one of our specialties!) You'll have to PM me if you come out in October. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you! Do you ever bring any of your cars up here?

 

[Thedoc14]

You can always add fork tynes to the bobcat, you wont get height but you will get muscle.

 

[IGO2XS]

Nice job on dropping the lumber on the 2x6's! My parents retired to Venice 6 years ago. I saw you mentioned you come out to FTW for Goodguys @ TMS. I live in FTW and work right next to the Speedway. (Paving racetracks is one of our specialties!) You'll have to PM me if you come out in October. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you! Do you ever bring any of your cars up here?

Your parents aren't too far from me as you already know. Oh ya man I see you live in Keller, Tx. One of my cousins lives in Keller. Great place that area is. My favorite restaurant in Ft. Worth is Pappadeaux Seafood Restaurant. Of course we have some favorite Mexican places.............Joe T Garcia's is probably number 1.

We should be out there again in October for the Goodguys show.

You can always add fork tynes to the bobcat, you wont get height but you will get muscle.

I have the forks, the 811 Backhoe attachment, grapple bucket, and we built a pretty nice cage to work off the ground in. You are right on the height limitations of the Bobcat. I bought the T250 Bobcat track machine new when we started this project and put 1000 hours on it right here on our property. I put in a storm drain system though out the whole property, layer sewer, electric conduit, you name it with this machine. I had a Bobcat in Indiana, this time I made sure to get the air conditioned cab. I wouldn't want to own one without it.

 

[CodyY]

I'll stop by.

Ft Worth boy here too

 

[Shoottx]

Well if you are coming to the DFW area we gotta great new BBQ place not real far from the race track, called "Hard 8". http://www.hardeightbbq.com/ It is just north of the DFW airport.

I may have to wander over to Good Guys for an introduction, and would be willing to arrange an outing for good BBQ. As time gets closer lets figure something out.

 

[Binrat]

I may have to wander over to Good Guys for an introduction, and would be willing to arrange an outing for good BBQ. As time gets closer lets figure something out.

I'm in, i'm in Hurst. Hard 8 and the TMS are just down the road a bit.

 

[IGO2XS]

I'll stop by.

Ft Worth boy here too

Well if you are coming to the DFW area we gotta great new BBQ place not real far from the race track, called "Hard 8". http://www.hardeightbbq.com/ It is just north of the DFW airport.

I may have to wander over to Good Guys for an introduction, and would be willing to arrange an outing for good BBQ. As time gets closer lets figure something out.

I'm in, i'm in Hurst. Hard 8 and the TMS are just down the road a bit.

I love Texas!!! EVERYTHING'S BIG IN TEXAS!! There are so many good places to eat. Sounds like a great party!! I guy earlier in this thread was on Google Earth and identified a truck and a trailer. This makes the trip to Texas a piece of cake. Here is our tow rig........

 

[Coyote Red]

She introduces me as her "first husband" and I refer to her as my "last wife."

 

[zagamuffin]

All I can say is wow wow and holy ****.....

 

[Wingnut65]

Nice Ride!

I may be in DFW in August for a wedding. If I make it, 'Hard 8' is on my hit list.

 

[IGO2XS]

Nice Ride!

I may be in DFW in August for a wedding. If I make it, 'Hard 8' is on my hit list.

Jeff, there are so many killer places to go to eat there in Ft. Worth. Try Pappadeaux too!

 

[CodyY]

Gotta go to the real Hard 8 in Stephenville.

 

[IGO2XS]

The garage was bustling with activity today. I had a couple guys come by to help me. Project number 1 was to get some wood standing up for the loft. I did not have too high of expectations because we had to lay out the walls and the stairs. My nephew Miles came to help with the carpentry. I had neglected to get the 2 x 12's for the stairs so we made a quick run to Home Depot. Luckily HD is less than 2 miles from our house. We decided to make the stair treads 10 inches wide and 8 inches tall. They are a little narrower the a standard stair but I did not want the stairs to make to much of an impact on space. We have the forklift so if there is anything substantial to put up in the loft we will lift it up on a pallet. I don't plan on storing anything up there I would use on a regular basis anyway.

The stairs are cut out, 8 foot of wall up, and everything else laid out so we'll be on our way when we jump back on this during the week.

My main focus today was trying to get the frame for my 69 chevy pickup primed. We have already spent 3 days on it. We have done a lot of custom work on this frame and I had no idea we would still be working on it. We spend 2 1/2 days just grinding welds. Today my neighbor, his wife, and I spent another 16 man (and woman) hours on the frame applying bondo and sanding more. I had hoped to be in primer but looks like another 4 hours before we will get to primer.

Check out our homemade rotisserie.......I had some 4 x 4 steel posts behind the garage and we welded a few pieces together and in a few hours had our frame mounted and spinning. In sure does make life easier.......

I clocked in the garage at 7:30 am and out at 5:40. I love good work days in the garage

 

[shopnut]

I know how time consuming stairs can be Did Miles realize he was going to be part of the thread?

What size SBC is going in the pickup? (assuming that engine in the picture is the one destined for it)

Good luck with the loft.

 

[IGO2XS]

I know how time consuming stairs can be Did Miles realize he was going to be part of the thread?

What size SBC is going in the pickup? (assuming that engine in the picture is the one destined for it)

Good luck with the loft.

No he did not realize he was going to get his 5 seconds of fame He just showed up about 8am because he wanted to fish the pond next to the garage. He had stopped by a few days during the previous week because he wanted to have a bluegill fish fry at our house on fathers day. His bait would be in the water no more than 10 seconds and he would have one hooked. It really wasn't even a sport. I feed the fish in the pond every other day so when something hits the water they hit it. A few stops earned him 100 bluegill. We fried up about 60 of them Sunday night and they were awesome. Really reminded me of a catfish restaurant we used to go to in Indiana.

Those steps took him about 40 minutes to measure and cut out. He started cutting and I said I have things to do in the garage.........yell at me when you need me. Next thing I knew he had the wall stood up by himself. This Saturday he will be back along with my other nephew who is a superintendent for a large construction company here in Sarasota.

I got my stitches out this past sunday from the little accident I had in the garage last week. I play drums in our praise band at church and the keyboard player is a nurse. She pulled the stitches out before church. Its not that I mind going to the doctors, I just hate sitting around waiting for them to see you.

Good eyes on the small block. It is a 350 with about 375 hp and it is going in the 66 suburban. I have a nice polished intake, chrome valve covers, jet hot coated headers, and a beautiful Billet Specialties aluminum serpentine belt system for it. It is really going to look nice. It isn't going to have the get up and go the twin turbo had but it will be enough for the suburban.

 

[richla]

It's been said before, but I'm going to say it again: STUNNING home and garage.
Thank you for sharing this with us.

 

[slimpickins]

Speechless! I'm going to go cry now!

 

[Fred72]

My first post after looking around for some time. Did find your Garage in the 67-72 forum reading about your c-10. Also a very nice build I will follow to it's finich.
Thanks for sharing the build of your garage. I might not have that many square meters to build on, but I gett alot of ideas looking at all your posts here. And thats what we need, ideas! I gess that is what this forum is all about
Even if a 67 c10 is my build i like your Suburban build to. I will enjoy that thread this evening before I go to sleep.
Keep on doing a great job and have funn

 

[IGO2XS]

It's been said before, but I'm going to say it again: STUNNING home and garage.
Thank you for sharing this with us.

Speechless! I'm going to go cry now!

thank you very much! there are so many friendly people on this site and I appreciate your visiting my thread.

 

[IGO2XS]

My first post after looking around for some time. Did find your Garage in the 67-72 forum reading about your c-10. Also a very nice build I will follow to it's finich.
Thanks for sharing the build of your garage. I might not have that many square meters to build on, but I gett alot of ideas looking at all your posts here. And thats what we need, ideas! I gess that is what this forum is all about
Even if a 67 c10 is my build i like your Suburban build to. I will enjoy that thread this evening before I go to sleep.
Keep on doing a great job and have funn

what is your screen name of 67-72 forum so I can look you up. Right now we are building a lot of stuff around here. Its like I come home and spin the bottle to see what direction I am going.

 

[IGO2XS]

Although we are hanging the floor trusses this weekend I decided to jump ahead today and attach the double 2 x 16 x 24' micro-lams to the block wall. I first nailed the two micro-lams together using a large bar clamp to keep the edges flush on the top and the bottom. I just worked my way from one end to the other. They were very straight so there was not much adjustment. I had previously located the solid poured block cells (about every 5th cell) so I knew where I wanted the primary lag bolts to go. I laid these cells out on the micro lam and used a long auger bit to pre-drill some 3/4 inch holes. I wanted the least amount of work as possible while trying to bolt this massive piece of wood to the wall. This job was made so easy with the forklift because I did not have to assemble a small army to lift this baby in place. I had some 4 x 6 and 6 x 6 posts laying around so I went ahead and cut them to length to help support the beam. I really didn't want to have to muscle it too much once we lifted it up. They really aren't necessary for support but I must keep the overbuilding genes satisfied. The floor joist hangers get nailed to the face of the mice lam and this is where they will bear on the block wall side. There is just about 4 feet of ceiling height next to the wall but that will be a good area for shorter storage items. The vaulted ceiling goes up pretty quickly so we will have plenty of good storage up there when we are done.

Here are the Simpson 8 inch x 3/4 lags. Luckily I have some heavy duty impact guns to drive these into the wall because otherwise they would have gone in with a fight.

Three of use put this beam in place today and I can give full tribute to my tools in the garage that made this job a piece of cake.:thumb up:

 

[gezuvor]

I can't get enough of threads like this and keep coming back to see what is new. Amazing work on the property and the vehicles! Watching this as well as your builds on the Chevy board.

Congrats on your success and passion!

 

[IGO2XS]

I can't get enough of threads like this and keep coming back to see what is new. Amazing work on the property and the vehicles! Watching this as well as your builds on the Chevy board.

Congrats on your success and passion!

thanks rich, the frame for the 1969 Chevy pickup really set us back. After all said and done I think I could have bought a custom frame from Art Morrison. We have alot of time in it and I will be posting some pictures of it today. It looks beautiful.

 

[nkachur]

Here are the Simpson 8 inch x 3/4 lags. Luckily I have some heavy duty impact guns to drive these into the wall because otherwise they would have gone in with a fight.

These are something I have never seen before, so please fill me in.

They are for concrete? correct?

What is the advantage of these over a wedge lock?

I use standard wood lag bolts all the time but this is something totally unfamiliar.

Again, I must tell you this is an amazing build.

 

[IGO2XS]

These are something I have never seen before, so please fill me in.

They are for concrete? correct?

What is the advantage of these over a wedge lock?

I use standard wood lag bolts all the time but this is something totally unfamiliar.

Again, I must tell you this is an amazing build.

Yes these are for concrete. You get the full use of 8" of the anchor.....unlike a wedge which as you know looses some of its penetration as you tighten it up. You have a nice looking bolt when installed instead of having the threads sticking out of the nut on a regular anchor, they are removable if you screw up and have to move one.......ever tried to remove a wedge anchor after there installed? I attached one of the 4 x 6 posts in a block cell that was not poured with concrete. Even though it was just attached through the empty block it did have some attachment strength.

I have a Dewalt 18v impact driver and it did not have the guts to screw these in. We used a heavy duty air impact driver and the strength of the attachment was incredible..........I don't think a wedge anchor could match it.

 

[Justanoldguy]

I don't think a wedge anchor could match it.

I'll second that.

 

[nkachur]

Learned something new, thanks guys.

 

[Fred72]

Same name as here: fred72. Have not started a build thread yet. Maybe in the autom, the winters are so long up in Norway that I dont want to start working on the car in the summer months. Using it as a daily driver in the summer.
The car arrived form Idaho to Norway in february so I have not had it fore long.
But now it will stay. I love it...

 

[poucedeleon]

Do you have a paint booth, or do you just use a section of the garage to paint. I am planning a remodel of the garage/shop (70'x44') that is at my new house I just bought.

 

[Mikea57]

Do you have a paint booth, or do you just use a section of the garage to paint. I am planning a remodel of the garage/shop (70'x44') that is at my new house I just bought.

Go back 1 page towards the bottom and you'll see his "paint booth".

Mark, gotta say, Great Job! Fellow drummer and AVS'er here. Also worked on the other side of the glass as a recording engineer and I gotta say about your getting the Genelecs at -40% - - YOU ****!!!

 

[kingofrestriction]

I'm beyond amazed by this entire thread. House, cars, GARAGE. I don't even know if that can be classified as a garage really. More like paradise.

Congratulations to you, Sir. I sincerely hope you have many years of enjoyment in your home.

 

[IGO2XS]

Go back 1 page towards the bottom and you'll see his "paint booth".

Mark, gotta say, Great Job! Fellow drummer and AVS'er here. Also worked on the other side of the glass as a recording engineer and I gotta say about your getting the Genelecs at -40% - - YOU ****!!!

I know my current paint booth is laughable but for priming and painting the interior of the suburban it has worked out pretty darn good.

Dude, on the 40% off its not what you know but who you know:thumb up:

 

[Thedoc14]

Dude, on the 40% off its not what you know but who you know:thumb up:

As is everything in work and life.

But hard work does pay off in the long run, but knowing people who can ease the pain make it more enjoyable.

Those pictures are slowing down some, I know its hard to use a hammer and a camera at the same time but you can do it.

 

[john1965]

That was really a monster garage but i was notice your forklift is very useful you can use it all around. Forklift is very helpful in doing things and reaching places in very high even you can stand it. For sure you can finish your garage faster.

 

[jimmie jam]

Mark, thank you for sharing. Can't believe that I just found this post. Your attention to detail is unbelievable. My father always told me that "quality does not cost more, it just lasts longer"....you obviously have that concept down! WOW, WOW and WOW, spectacular build and result!!!! Well, I've got to go kill myself now......

All the best, J.J.

 

[Mikea57]

I know my current paint booth is laughable but for priming and painting the interior of the suburban it has worked out pretty darn good.
:

Actually, it's perfect for what you're doing. I sent a picture of it to my boss who is in the process of doing a quick and dirty job of painting an old military jeep that he's had around for years. He's not trying to make is show quality as it's just a run around the farm jeep, he just wants to get some paint on it so it doesn't rust away. That ought to work great for him.

 

[IGO2XS]

That was really a monster garage but i was notice your forklift is very useful you can use it all around. Forklift is very helpful in doing things and reaching places in very high even you can stand it. For sure you can finish your garage faster.

Today we lifted all of the floor trusses up with it. I put everything heavy on pallets and between the hand pallet jack and the forklift it is so easy to move things around.

Mark, thank you for sharing. Can't believe that I just found this post. Your attention to detail is unbelievable. My father always told me that "quality does not cost more, it just lasts longer"....you obviously have that concept down! WOW, WOW and WOW, spectacular build and result!!!! Well, I've got to go kill myself now......

All the best, J.J.

J.J. Please don't buddy.....I could not live with myself. I guess I got the same advice from my father.

 

[IGO2XS]

I got a surprise on Friday when my best buddy and his son from Indiana surprised me with a visit. They are farming friends of mine from Indiana...our families go back 60 years. Well, within about an hour I had these guys working and we finished framing the bearing wall for the trusses. As I mentioned before it is 2 x 8 and is quite sturdy. We got up early this morning and set our trusses. It really went quite well and within 3 hours we had them set. I took us about another 90 minutes with had the 3/4 " tongue and groove plywood down. I took these pictures today with my phone as we worked.

Forklift makes easy work of getting the plywood on deck.

 

[Thedoc14]

Looking good, I gather the dogleg in the wall is for the stairs?

Neat and clean as usual..

 

[IGO2XS]

Looking good, I gather the dogleg in the wall is for the stairs?

Neat and clean as usual..

yes, I threw the stairs in at the last minute. I don't know what i was thinking but I finally realized I would probably go up there more than I originally figured so we added the stairs.

Here is a photo I snapped today. Now the plywood decking is on the loft I do not have any lights in the work room so its a little dark in there. You will notice a short set of stairs up in the loft. This leads to an existing 20' x 20' attic storage area. We had been accessing it by way of a ladder or raising someone up on a pallet with the forklift.

The opening you see in the front of the loft we are leaving for access with the forklift. I am right now looking for a 12' wide garage door to install in front of the work room. I have an extra garage door operator and I plan on using it. This way we can close the room off if we want to isolate any work going on in there or leave it open to have full access.

I have an extra 4 gauge cable running in the area of the loft I plan on using to add a dedicated sub-panel in the work room. I want need some dedicated circuits for welder and some other standard wall outlets.

One area I need some help on is the finish of the outside of this room. We will finish installing plywood on the exterior walls and my idea was to wire lath and stucco it. I had an idea about maybe jazzing it up a little bit and making it look like a gas station...Texico or ????? Some have said my garage doesn't have any authentic garage stuff so I thought what if. I don't like cheesy things and I would hate to make an effort and then it turns out looking like I just couldn't get it right. If you have any ideas I am all ears.