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The "Bunker" garage is almost complete!

JimTressel

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2008
Messages
6
Now I know you have the coolest garage. Notice the e30 BMW on the TV?

You sure it's not an e29? ZING! Sorry JT, I couldn't pass that one up.

It's been said before, but you have every right to be proud of yourself Utah. As a fellow HT enthusiast and gearhead, I've followed your progress both here and on the AVS boards. I'm mostly impressed with the design and styling of the whole shebang. With enough money, any idiot can go out and buy expensive things, but it takes a uniquely creative mind to come up with this sort of insanity! Keep the updates coming!
 
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utah997

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Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
254
You sure it's not an e29? ZING! Sorry JT, I couldn't pass that one up.

It's been said before, but you have every right to be proud of yourself Utah. As a fellow HT enthusiast and gearhead, I've followed your progress both here and on the AVS boards. I'm mostly impressed with the design and styling of the whole shebang. With enough money, any idiot can go out and buy expensive things, but it takes a uniquely creative mind to come up with this sort of insanity! Keep the updates coming!

Thanks man!!

:beer:
 

slopecarver

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 29, 2008
Messages
342
Location
Erie, PA
I don't feel like reading 45 pages of discussion but I recently found the garage journal. I've been cruising AVSforum and have know about your Utah Theater for about a year now. I just find it funny that I've stumbled across your bunker twice now on 2 unrelated forums.
 

PatG

New member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
2
Location
J-Ville, NC
Amazing build and love your idea's. :bowdown: Came across this last night on Rennlist and read the post in its entirety.

Rather curious if your garage stairwell extends deeper than the bunker floor level to act as a fume sump pit. I also noticed that you have at least three steps down from your existing basement level to reach the bunker theatre/gym/crafting area. Just guessing, but is that to ensure you have no potential fume flow into the house?
 
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utah997

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Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
254
Amazing build and love your idea's. :bowdown: Came across this last night on Rennlist and read the post in its entirety.

Rather curious if your garage stairwell extends deeper than the bunker floor level to act as a fume sump pit. I also noticed that you have at least three steps down from your existing basement level to reach the bunker theatre/gym/crafting area. Just guessing, but is that to ensure you have no potential fume flow into the house?

The steps down have nothing to do with fumes. I just made the garage/bunker how I wanted it, and then put in steps to reach the exsisting basement. There are actually two more steps up around the corner.
 

wrenchr

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
11,603
Location
Michigan
I think that's the definition of a backhanded compliment. lol..

I actually was seriously considering the stainless steel route, but I couldn't find any that would fit the exact measurements that I wanted. Plus the Rhino lined workbench is just about the toughest, scratch resistant surface I could come up with..

Plus stuff will not slide easy on it!! I like it the way you did it:thumbup:
First Class all the way:bowdown:
 

AKS_Racing

Active member
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
37
Location
N of Houston, TX
Utah997,
Awesome build!!!

I showed the pics to my wife and son, as I like you had to overcome some overzealous building requirements when I went through the approval process for my garage addition. I always get the compliment "that you can not tell what is there when approaching my house", due to the unique engineering approach. You have accomplished the same with your build (only on a "grander" scale).

As I see that there are references to CFOT (fellow member on CF as well), I would be interested in what vettes you have.

Again, AWESOME build!

Aaron
 

e-tek

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
10,690
Location
Saskatoon, SK
For a guy worried enough about theivery to go back and delete half his thread, you sure have posted it in enough forums!!!! ;)
 

BooUrns!

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Messages
477
Location
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
THis is the thread that led me to the garage journal forum. I had the same idea and then searched online to see who else had already done it. Voila! The bunker thread! GJ Man.
 
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utah997

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Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
254
THis is the thread that led me to the garage journal forum. I had the same idea and then searched online to see who else had already done it. Voila! The bunker thread! GJ Man.

Do tell.. are you gonna do it??? :beer:
 

BooUrns!

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Messages
477
Location
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I'm wavering these days. We're not sure if we want to build improvements on this property so we can move to a more desirable location or if we want to build to stay long term. We live in a great area but our alley backs onto commercial land that lines a very popular main city street. Building some improvements would make the property valuable enough to sell and move further back into the neighbourhood and a view of the valley.

I think the project here will probably become a garage with apartment above and the bunker will have to wait until we get our ideal plot of land. It will get built eventually, just not sure if it will be here.
 
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utah997

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Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
254
I'm wavering these days. We're not sure if we want to build improvements on this property so we can move to a more desirable location or if we want to build to stay long term. We live in a great area but our alley backs onto commercial land that lines a very popular main city street. Building some improvements would make the property valuable enough to sell and move further back into the neighbourhood and a view of the valley.

I think the project here will probably become a garage with apartment above and the bunker will have to wait until we get our ideal plot of land. It will get built eventually, just not sure if it will be here.

Make sure and keep us updated on the progress. I'd really like to see someone else do the "bunker" style garage..
 

mad57

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
1,698
Wow what a well thought out garage! And love the under ground lair, ive always wanted to do something under ground, but nj coast and zoning around here does not allow it. keep up the good work and please keep us posted on the progress , mike. once again amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Old61

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 12, 2008
Messages
157
Incredible build! Looks like you got everything you wanted and then some.
 

johnweinssen

New member
Joined
Mar 23, 2009
Messages
4
I started in May of '07 in building a garage on my lot next to my house.

Originally I wanted to put in a second story for some office space, theater room etc. The city nazis put an end to that with their height restrictions, so I decided to do the next best thing, build down.

First, we started by clearing out the RV pad that ran along the side of the house.

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Then start digging a big hole

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Here you can see the tunnel to the main house

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AH! Found the gas line.. I'm sure this whole project is OSHA approved.

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Footings

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Can't find the pic with all the forms built up, it was a huge mess, here's the final foundation.

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After a 2.5 month wait, we finally get steel delivered.

garageprogress005.jpg

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(I'm skipping all the drama here, and we were out of town for two weeks when the B-decking went down over the beams, and the rebar reinforced concrete was poured over the beams)

Framing

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Ah yes.. the drama with the power. We had to completely destroy the front yard to run 400 amp service to the house, and then across the yard again to the garage. (wife was thrilled)

garageprogress001-1.jpg

LOOKS LIKE THE NAZI's LOST THIS ONE,TOO
 

Red'n'WhiteRebel

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
261
Location
Ontario, Canada
Utah. Excellent job. Just curious, how's the rhino liner workbench workin' out ? How smooth is it? What material is it applied to? Wood/steel?? Thanks man. That's an incredible space.
 

roselaker

New member
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
2
Location
Northwest
Been reading a lot on GJ in preparation for a project, saw this one and had to say: Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Nice job! Bummer about the potential problems related to posting so much info, hope all works out. Thanks for sharing.:thumbup:
 
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utah997

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Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Messages
254
Utah. Excellent job. Just curious, how's the rhino liner workbench workin' out ? How smooth is it? What material is it applied to? Wood/steel?? Thanks man. That's an incredible space.

It's great man. You can grind, cut, glue.. whatever on there and you can't see any marks. Just like workin' in the back of a truck.. :bounce:

I believe it was applied to a 2 inch section of MDF and then assembled. Frankly, I can't imagine having anything else to work on. It takes abuse and then just cleans up with a wet rag.
 

babzog

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
2,117
Location
Eastern Ontario, Canada
...and I should add that the design and layout are just incredible!! If I dug about a foot into the ground, I would be in 8 inches of muck and marsh. I guess that's what I get for living on a filled in swamp!! :lol:

I know what you mean... swamp is just a few steps from the house.

Post and beam building? LOL :beer:

Back on topic... Utah, this thread is amazing! I'm in awe, esp since my basement is 1 power failure away from being an indoor pool. Nicely executed design!

Love to see more pics of the theater build but understand if you'd rather not. I'm faced with building either a cabinet for the TV and gear (yawn) or something cool (and yours qualifies as uber-cool)!
 

PistolWhip

Well-known member
Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
361
Location
People's Republic of New Jersey
Amazing Utah. I have never regreted anything that I have ever done in life, but after reading this thread I find myslef regretting taking the civil service test..... :lol_hitti

Great job bro! Absolutely the coolest garage/basement I have ever scene. The only thing I would have added would be concrete room with a bank vault door to store all my "other" toys ;-) .
 
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