GLTHFJ60
Well-known member
So overbuilt!! The garage will blend right into the mountainside.
Garage Build in the Swiss Alps
- Thread starter GeorgeK
- Start date
Rally Classics
Well-known member
I was thinking of your build when I was on vacation over the last two weeks. I was in Basel and Zurich for a few days with a side trip to Liechtenstein before moving on to Italy and Austria.
bwap
Active member
Wow, I love the idea of this!
I can't wait to see it done.
Are you going to be filling around the front under the windows, or will the entire facade be visible?
I can't wait to see it done.
Are you going to be filling around the front under the windows, or will the entire facade be visible?
The front under the vindows will be filled, obliquely, from the window sill on the left to the level of the (to be built) access ramp. I will put grass with maybe some shrubbery on it. I want to diminish the volume impact, and leave as little clues from the outside to its real volume. There will also be at least one full height opaque curtain inside, to hide the parked cars from view from the windows.
Backfilling - continued:
The diggers are pushing the earth they stored on the field next to the build back around the garage, starting with the rearmost part (obviously).
After they push 40 cm (16 inches), they bring in this articulated machine with steel serrated wheels, that vibrates, like a dinosaur sized massage bed. It compacts the earth between layers. The vibration is something fierce...
The diggers are pushing the earth they stored on the field next to the build back around the garage, starting with the rearmost part (obviously).
After they push 40 cm (16 inches), they bring in this articulated machine with steel serrated wheels, that vibrates, like a dinosaur sized massage bed. It compacts the earth between layers. The vibration is something fierce...
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Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Great progress.
I have seen these compactors in use around here and you're right, holy moly the ground shakes.
I have seen these compactors in use around here and you're right, holy moly the ground shakes.
NitroGarage
Well-known member
Is the roof going to double as a patio/lounge?
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Wow! 
WagonHo!
Well-known member
Thank you for posting your terrific garage build. Great to see the elevation plans and photos as the stages where completed. I’d like to see your landscaping as well and into the upcoming fall and winter seasons as the interior is completed. The steps in the interior shot leads to the tunnel that adjoins the basement?
Yes the steps lead to the tunnel into the house.
Tomorrow is the last day of work before the builder's holidays. The whole branch takes 3 weeks vacation.
That means the landscaping, garage door, windows, electricity, etc have stopped for a few weeks.
The team come in tomorrow to finish cleaning up the inside now that all the supports and wooden forms are off. I'll shoot better pics once it is cleaned correctly.
As the tunnel door to the basement opens towards the tunnel, I am wondering (spurred by my son's imagination) if I can build a hidden door, like a shelf, or closet door, or maybe a fake electric cupboard. Mmmhh, things to study.
The roof will stay with grass, if I can get it to grow with the little depth of soil there is. Gets brutally hot in the summer on this side of the valley. But grass makes it all but invisible from above, which suits me fine.
Tomorrow is the last day of work before the builder's holidays. The whole branch takes 3 weeks vacation.
That means the landscaping, garage door, windows, electricity, etc have stopped for a few weeks.
The team come in tomorrow to finish cleaning up the inside now that all the supports and wooden forms are off. I'll shoot better pics once it is cleaned correctly.
As the tunnel door to the basement opens towards the tunnel, I am wondering (spurred by my son's imagination) if I can build a hidden door, like a shelf, or closet door, or maybe a fake electric cupboard. Mmmhh, things to study.
The roof will stay with grass, if I can get it to grow with the little depth of soil there is. Gets brutally hot in the summer on this side of the valley. But grass makes it all but invisible from above, which suits me fine.
Toothaker
Well-known member
bwap
Active member
That looks fantastic being covered over, looks like a great spot to put a blanket down and have a lunch on the grass!
I can imagine you're looking forward to being able to get in there too.
I can imagine you're looking forward to being able to get in there too.
Ok, now I'm curious. What is brutally hot in your land?
Well, we are in a heat spell, with temperatures hovering around 32ºc in the afternoon and peaks of 36°c (97°f), which is unusual. We are not used to it. With the thin soil on the garage, the ground might heat/dry too quickly preventing grass growth.
You can't imagine how impatient I am. Literally holding my breath by now.
Zellweger is a typical swiss name, with some known people, but no personal knowledge. 8.3 M living in Switzerland.
"Zellweger is a typical swiss name, with some known people, but no personal knowledge. 8.3 M living in Switzerland."
So your sayin there's a chance? lol!
I always enjoyed working with the Swiss guys. Now the Germans.....
So your sayin there's a chance? lol!
I always enjoyed working with the Swiss guys. Now the Germans.....
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
this will be awesome once it's finished
At the opposite end of the country from JDMjunkie, work has started again on the build, if at a slow pace.
Electrician came today. I had prepared the boxes in the walls by cutting the nails, and the conduits flush with the boxes. I also IDed the different conduits for them. It was a matter of pulling a 5 lead cable from the main house electric panel, and a large grounding cable to make sure the house has the same ground as the garage.
After that, the electrical panel and its box were attached to the wall, with a wide conduit underneath to cover the place where they opened the wall to attach the ground to a large rebar rod.
They also pulled the wires for the garage opener, which was the last of their work, as contracted. It is the only wire that will be visible, following a change of plans for the garage opener after pouring the concrete (not my change...).
The rest of the electrics will be done later as time and money permits, likely this fall. My bro-in-law is an electrician and will help me (in fact I will help him) with the rest, which will then be signed for by whoever has the authority.
Good news is that all the conduits are patent, no occlusion/blockage found so far. I'll have to cover the cables in the main house, but not before the plumber brings water in the garage through the same wall.
I have also ordered the concrete sealer, to be applied once the crews have finished all and I have signed for the work.
I might be able to park a car in there before snow after all....
Electrician came today. I had prepared the boxes in the walls by cutting the nails, and the conduits flush with the boxes. I also IDed the different conduits for them. It was a matter of pulling a 5 lead cable from the main house electric panel, and a large grounding cable to make sure the house has the same ground as the garage.
After that, the electrical panel and its box were attached to the wall, with a wide conduit underneath to cover the place where they opened the wall to attach the ground to a large rebar rod.
They also pulled the wires for the garage opener, which was the last of their work, as contracted. It is the only wire that will be visible, following a change of plans for the garage opener after pouring the concrete (not my change...).
The rest of the electrics will be done later as time and money permits, likely this fall. My bro-in-law is an electrician and will help me (in fact I will help him) with the rest, which will then be signed for by whoever has the authority.
Good news is that all the conduits are patent, no occlusion/blockage found so far. I'll have to cover the cables in the main house, but not before the plumber brings water in the garage through the same wall.
I have also ordered the concrete sealer, to be applied once the crews have finished all and I have signed for the work.
I might be able to park a car in there before snow after all....
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JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Looks good
Are you doing the concrete sealing by yourself or are you letting a company do it?
have you planned to acid-etch it or use some kind of sealing-"Paint"? I'm still thinking about this. my architect told me it's ok to leave the concrete plain, but i think it's better to have it sealed. at least in the workshop and lift area where likely a lot of grease and oil will be spilled and a lot of heavy parts dropped to the floor....
if you have contracted someone. may i ask th eprice also? (just send me a PM if you don't want to make it public).
Cheers from the north-end
Are you doing the concrete sealing by yourself or are you letting a company do it?
have you planned to acid-etch it or use some kind of sealing-"Paint"? I'm still thinking about this. my architect told me it's ok to leave the concrete plain, but i think it's better to have it sealed. at least in the workshop and lift area where likely a lot of grease and oil will be spilled and a lot of heavy parts dropped to the floor....
if you have contracted someone. may i ask th eprice also? (just send me a PM if you don't want to make it public).
Cheers from the north-end
Hi Nils,
I am doing the sealing myself. No etching, only a thorough brush/vacuum beforehand.
I don't want any form of paint or epoxy. In the last 30 years that I have looked, I have *never* seen a garage without damaged floor. Be it paint, epoxy, tiles, you name it, all get damaged sooner or later.
After talking it over with the masons, and some other people who have been in the garages or masonry trade, I have chosen Sikafloor Proseal 22. It is more an impregnation than a paint, is transparent which is fine by me, and should seal against oil and other car fluids, as well as salt (for where the DD parks by the entrance).
Price is steep: 420 Sfr for 25 liter bucket. That is enough for between 125 to 250 square meters. Since my garage is 170, I have bought 2 and plan on 2 layers, esp in the working and DD parking areas. I am not yet ready to buy more, but we'll see how it goes, which I'll document here.
I am doing the sealing myself. No etching, only a thorough brush/vacuum beforehand.
I don't want any form of paint or epoxy. In the last 30 years that I have looked, I have *never* seen a garage without damaged floor. Be it paint, epoxy, tiles, you name it, all get damaged sooner or later.
After talking it over with the masons, and some other people who have been in the garages or masonry trade, I have chosen Sikafloor Proseal 22. It is more an impregnation than a paint, is transparent which is fine by me, and should seal against oil and other car fluids, as well as salt (for where the DD parks by the entrance).
Price is steep: 420 Sfr for 25 liter bucket. That is enough for between 125 to 250 square meters. Since my garage is 170, I have bought 2 and plan on 2 layers, esp in the working and DD parking areas. I am not yet ready to buy more, but we'll see how it goes, which I'll document here.
ford33
Well-known member
Interesting build in a beautiful country. Thanks for posting.
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Thanks for your feedback. Still not sure which is the best solution though
We use a company called Repoxit to do the floors in our machine assembly lines (huge halls) at my workplace. want to talk to them also. but it seems your idea isn't too bad either So many options and not "the one" solution so far Thanks and good luck with your project
We use a company called Repoxit to do the floors in our machine assembly lines (huge halls) at my workplace. want to talk to them also. but it seems your idea isn't too bad either
So many options and not "the one" solution so far Thanks and good luck with your projectAnother step forward:
I needed a 2nd door for the hallway into the house, to be placed on the garage side. Perusing the local ads, I found this door, from a hotel or school in a tourist town by the Vierwaldstättersee. The wide glassed frame will allow natural light through and, it looks cool (to me at least). It is at least 70 years old, all massive wood, no MDF.
So road trip today. It fits on the roof of a MB 280 Station Wagon with additional supports (old skis are perfect for that). Beautiful day through the Alps, with a slow drive home.
The dimensions are smaller than the opening, which should make it easy enough to put a sub-frame in, with additional windows if I find a god way.
On the further good news side, workers should be back at work on monday (they better…)
I needed a 2nd door for the hallway into the house, to be placed on the garage side. Perusing the local ads, I found this door, from a hotel or school in a tourist town by the Vierwaldstättersee. The wide glassed frame will allow natural light through and, it looks cool (to me at least). It is at least 70 years old, all massive wood, no MDF.
So road trip today. It fits on the roof of a MB 280 Station Wagon with additional supports (old skis are perfect for that). Beautiful day through the Alps, with a slow drive home.
The dimensions are smaller than the opening, which should make it easy enough to put a sub-frame in, with additional windows if I find a god way.
On the further good news side, workers should be back at work on monday (they better…)
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jimreed2160
Well-known member
Good find. It is a bold door and quite appropriate for such an impressive addition.
Toothaker
Well-known member
So I looked up what 420 Swiss Francs in US Dollars would be... $420. The exchange rate is 1 to 1 at the moment.
Sent from my mobile using The Garage Journal mobile app
How about a non-update? I am fuming right now….
The work should have started again this last monday.
As of today, friday noon, no one has shown up. To make matter worse, I have received word that the garage door is planned for a... september 17th delivery. This is after the rep told us 3-4 weeks, on july 16th.
Some choice words were exchanged with the team leader, with a wish for quicker work, or else.
It is not always rose gardens, even in Switzerland. We are looking at 6 months to build a f***ing shoebox with 2 windows and a door.
The work should have started again this last monday.
As of today, friday noon, no one has shown up. To make matter worse, I have received word that the garage door is planned for a... september 17th delivery. This is after the rep told us 3-4 weeks, on july 16th.
Some choice words were exchanged with the team leader, with a wish for quicker work, or else.
It is not always rose gardens, even in Switzerland. We are looking at 6 months to build a f***ing shoebox with 2 windows and a door.
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
that's how it works in switzerland. When they show up, the work is fast and great quality, but due to tight planning sometimes workers and material will not show up as planned.
I'm sure the result will be worth the wait
I'm sure the result will be worth the wait
rixtrix1
Well-known member
Sorry about your delays at the end of you project. Gotta be frustrating as h#ll! Everything did seem to be moving so smoothly and looks great.
Something is better than nothing, right?
I am still headbanging walls at the apparent disdain the contractor seems to display towards accelerating things, but I guess he has his problems too. At least now he knows I am thoroughly p*ssed, and seems to have organised some work for next weeks. Still 5 weeks without masons is more than one can accept.
Anyway. The plumber showed up. I only wanted one line with a tap by the main door. I will at my leisure complete with a small water heater and a large sink, for which 2 drains are built in already.
SS piping, a valve to purge if freezing temperatures threaten, which I doubt, but better safe.
I am also on vacation now and have summonned help in the form of one uncle who is a very hard and dedicated worker. Plans are painting walls and ceilings, treating the floors and maybe putting up the white door (see above).
I am still headbanging walls at the apparent disdain the contractor seems to display towards accelerating things, but I guess he has his problems too. At least now he knows I am thoroughly p*ssed, and seems to have organised some work for next weeks. Still 5 weeks without masons is more than one can accept.
Anyway. The plumber showed up. I only wanted one line with a tap by the main door. I will at my leisure complete with a small water heater and a large sink, for which 2 drains are built in already.
SS piping, a valve to purge if freezing temperatures threaten, which I doubt, but better safe.
I am also on vacation now and have summonned help in the form of one uncle who is a very hard and dedicated worker. Plans are painting walls and ceilings, treating the floors and maybe putting up the white door (see above).
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Stuart in MN
Well-known member
That is an elegant faucet. The ones we have in the US are crude by comparison. The stainless steel piping is very nice as well - here it would be copper or PVC.
The ones we have in the US are crude by comparison. The stainless steel piping is very nice as well - here it would be copper or PVC.356vintage
Well-known member
Absolutely agree with Stuart in MN. Nice faucet detail.
Denwood
Well-known member
Thanks for posting this...a very interesting build indeed. I've always been fascinated by the concept of green roofs, and here it is. My guess is that this garage is a refuge from landslides, avalanches, or whatever else mother nature can throw at you as well The tunnel to the house is straight out of a Batman movie!
The tunnel to the house is straight out of a Batman movie!JDM is a great guy, he is planning a build on my garage. Anytime!
On my side, we worked again today. Hard.
As I said above, I have an uncle with me. He is an army work mule. Doesn't stop for drinks, food, pee or anything.
Yesterday we painted the walls and ceilings with base impregnation, a translucid acrylic based waterish paint, that is all but invisible when dried. That makes 3300 sq.ft. in US measures…
Today it was the first layer of white. Almost finished, but it got dark and we (even he) were hungry.
Tomorrow, finish the first and lay the 2nd layer. After that, the deco goes on.
As with electric tubing in rebar, I thought I was fit. Tonight even the knife and fork were a heavy lift.
But we are going forward, and much faster than if I were alone. So that counts for something.
On my side, we worked again today. Hard.
As I said above, I have an uncle with me. He is an army work mule. Doesn't stop for drinks, food, pee or anything.
Yesterday we painted the walls and ceilings with base impregnation, a translucid acrylic based waterish paint, that is all but invisible when dried. That makes 3300 sq.ft. in US measures…
Today it was the first layer of white. Almost finished, but it got dark and we (even he) were hungry.
Tomorrow, finish the first and lay the 2nd layer. After that, the deco goes on.
As with electric tubing in rebar, I thought I was fit.
Tonight even the knife and fork were a heavy lift.But we are going forward, and much faster than if I were alone. So that counts for something.
