GLTHFJ60
Well-known member
Progress is exciting!!
Above 1200 Sq/FT Swiss Garage / Workshop / House Build
- Thread starter JDMjunkies.ch
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
rixtrix1
Well-known member
This is going to be a great home!
ConCretin
Well-known member
Tower cranes, gang forms, concrete buckets.......It's just too much fun for a residential garage! I'm loving this build. I'm also digging that awesome modern kitchen. Keep the updates coming please.
Mpower5266
Well-known member
Wow this is an awesome build, Ill be following this one for sure.
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Oh, thanks for all your kind words.... So here's another update for you:
More walls, formwork and other stuff done. Now selecting and ordering all the little stuff.
Water-collection tank should arrive here in a few weeks, cat-flap has been ordered (will be integrated directly into the concrete wall instead of the usual window-mount), fireplace has been contracted, etc...
We also decided to bust our budget with modern - and unfortunately expensive - bathrooms
Also we got a truckload of bricks delivered (you only see a quarter of them in these pictures):
Here's where the mains supply cabinet will go (Power, TV, Internet, ground wires, etc..)
More walls, formwork and other stuff done. Now selecting and ordering all the little stuff.
Water-collection tank should arrive here in a few weeks, cat-flap has been ordered (will be integrated directly into the concrete wall instead of the usual window-mount), fireplace has been contracted, etc...
We also decided to bust our budget with modern - and unfortunately expensive - bathrooms
Also we got a truckload of bricks delivered (you only see a quarter of them in these pictures):
Here's where the mains supply cabinet will go (Power, TV, Internet, ground wires, etc..)
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OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Same procedure everyday. More walls up, more formwork done...
View at the in-law's house side:
two of the future parking-spots:
View on the future workshop / garage area:
Also the drain-hose has been laid inside. you can see the different layers of different sized gravel here. The fleece mats should keep dirt out of the gravel, to ensure a nice drainage is guaranteed but the hose will have acess from the surface to have it cleaned if needed:
View at the in-law's house side:
two of the future parking-spots:
View on the future workshop / garage area:
Also the drain-hose has been laid inside. you can see the different layers of different sized gravel here. The fleece mats should keep dirt out of the gravel, to ensure a nice drainage is guaranteed but the hose will have acess from the surface to have it cleaned if needed:
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stsmytherie
Well-known member
This is fun to watch go up. Thanks.
GLTHFJ60
Well-known member
So much concrete in Switzerland!! Is the use of concrete for the primary structure dictated by laws/statues or is it just customary? Has to be crazy expensive compared to stick built.
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Thanks guys. Yeah most people build with concrete. it has a lot of advantages. It will last (almost) forever and houses here are built to last. It has a good isolation for the harsh winters, which is also required by law (to reduce energy consumption used for heating or cooling).
It's also possible to achieve this with other constructions (like wood) but usually that's a bit more expensive. Most people (at least in this area) build with concrete where it's needed for structural rigidity and with bricks for the non structural parts. just as we do
It's also possible to achieve this with other constructions (like wood) but usually that's a bit more expensive. Most people (at least in this area) build with concrete where it's needed for structural rigidity and with bricks for the non structural parts. just as we do
Hugo L.
Well-known member
That is a LOT of rebar! Which part of Switzerland are you in? The french, italian or german part?
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Yeah i asked the Architect and static engineer why they put so much rebar, and they told me - with this special structure they wanted to be on the safe side and put a bit more than actually calculated. I'm ok with that.
I'm in the german part. only a few minutes away from the german border
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Today we got literally a truckload full of form panels and other stuff delivered for creating the form for pouring the huge concrete garage ceiling that will cover almost everything we built so far.
Meanwhile a few more walls and wall-sections are up. now only two small pieces of concrete walls missing and some sections made out of bricks:
Oh and we got the flush-mount loudspeaker housings today. these are a special product by swiss company B-Sound. These boxes are made so that you can put them inside the concrete forms together with hoses (where you put the speaker wires later), before pouring concrete. Then after the forms are gone you only have a hole in the concrete ceiling for the speakers:
And then we got the RFID Chip controlled (will only allow our own cat to enter) cat door flap thing Rather than putting it in a glass window or door as you would usually install this thing, we decided we prepare a form in the concrete for it. it's not a big effort at this stage of the work, but you will get rid of an ugly cat flap in your windows or panoramic glass doors. We hope at the end the idea is as brilliant as we now think it is. Yeah, we build a dedicated door for the cat into the concrete - because why not? 
Meanwhile a few more walls and wall-sections are up. now only two small pieces of concrete walls missing and some sections made out of bricks:
Oh and we got the flush-mount loudspeaker housings today. these are a special product by swiss company B-Sound. These boxes are made so that you can put them inside the concrete forms together with hoses (where you put the speaker wires later), before pouring concrete. Then after the forms are gone you only have a hole in the concrete ceiling for the speakers:
And then we got the RFID Chip controlled (will only allow our own cat to enter) cat door flap thing
Rather than putting it in a glass window or door as you would usually install this thing, we decided we prepare a form in the concrete for it. it's not a big effort at this stage of the work, but you will get rid of an ugly cat flap in your windows or panoramic glass doors. We hope at the end the idea is as brilliant as we now think it is. Yeah, we build a dedicated door for the cat into the concrete - because why not?
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1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
JDMjunkies.ch what an amazing build.
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
It seems like we run out of free space to store things soon - Got another big delivery. This time Insulation panels and fiber panels.
The Fiber panels will go below the concrete ceiling in the garage to prevent condensation of humidity on the cold ceilings, and also works as a thermal insulation and as noise reducer (sound killer).
While the concrete guys were finnishing the last bits of garage and basement walls today (still some small segments missing) the masons showed up and put up some walls at light-speed in the in-laws part of the build (every brick you see here was put there today only!)
The Fiber panels will go below the concrete ceiling in the garage to prevent condensation of humidity on the cold ceilings, and also works as a thermal insulation and as noise reducer (sound killer).
While the concrete guys were finnishing the last bits of garage and basement walls today (still some small segments missing) the masons showed up and put up some walls at light-speed in the in-laws part of the build (every brick you see here was put there today only!)
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GeorgeK
Well-known member
That is seriously quick work. I also like that you planned all the conduits, even for net/TV/sound. I am glad I did not have that for mine, would have gone crazy. It was hard enough to pull the conduits as it is.
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
We have quite a modern Electronic concept with all the bells and whistles, integrated Photovoltaic system, etc.. Will show you some of it during the build.
I'm a former Audio-/Video electronic engineer and did a lot of conduits myself in the past and now i'm a full-time senior engineer in Automation business.
After talking to a few local electronic guys i figured out i better plan it myself and just let them do the execution. Many of the local electricians are not familiar with such "modern" devices, and especially the proprietary brand we chose. Everyone has their favourite system. and those one-man run businesses are not always up to the latest.
Nevertheless we found a good partner now i guess. The younger guy there is really a nerd and loves to solve the tasks i give them.
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OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Todays updates consists of more walls. Our basement with the workshop and storage area, as well as the electrical room, is almost finnished including the holes for the heater:
The rebar guys were working a bit longer today so they can start pouring concrete early tomorrow:
The two Masons continued their work on the non-structural inside walls. One is putting the bricks while the other guy measures if everything is straight and level and prepares everything so guy nr. 1 can continue work without interruption:
And i got my Magnat ICP62 "in-ceiling" speakers that will get flush mounted into those b-sound boxes directly into the concrete ceiling and will be almost invisible once mounted, but deliver excellent music
The rebar guys were working a bit longer today so they can start pouring concrete early tomorrow:
The two Masons continued their work on the non-structural inside walls. One is putting the bricks while the other guy measures if everything is straight and level and prepares everything so guy nr. 1 can continue work without interruption:
And i got my Magnat ICP62 "in-ceiling" speakers that will get flush mounted into those b-sound boxes directly into the concrete ceiling and will be almost invisible once mounted, but deliver excellent music
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OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Managed to score another nice thing for a good price at our work's cleanout:
A pressurized air extension hose box with wall-mount and automatic pullback / locking mechanism.
Picture is not the best but this will come in handy together with my compressor.
Had it cleaned after i took this picture:
A pressurized air extension hose box with wall-mount and automatic pullback / locking mechanism.
Picture is not the best but this will come in handy together with my compressor.
Had it cleaned after i took this picture:
GLTHFJ60
Well-known member
I've never heard anyone say that concrete is cheaper than wood construction! Must have some crazy insulation requirements up there. Jealous!
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Im by no means an expert, but the regulations regarding insulations are really crazy. I have a 30+ page document from our engineer and architect proving that every single part of the construction fullfills the insulation requirements with a drawing of the build-up of each section and thermal calculations
In fact our fireplace builder told us that it's not good to use built-in ventilators anymore to spread hot air from the fireplace, because modern houses here are insulated so good that you would have a sauna within a few minutes...
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Ready for your daily dose of concrete? Here we go:
More walls up. last section is beeing poured tomorrow and the masons will also do the remaining wall in my future workshop tomorrow, then the complete basement / underground level should be finnished
Also the concrete frame for the garage door got formed today, and i guess concrete will be poured early tomorrow so forms can be removed either tomorrow evening or monday morning:
Also got another huge delivery of rebar (see piles in the back), and they filled up the hole arround the house with more soil and mostly gravel (for drainage reasons) from other construction sites:
More walls up. last section is beeing poured tomorrow and the masons will also do the remaining wall in my future workshop tomorrow, then the complete basement / underground level should be finnished
Also the concrete frame for the garage door got formed today, and i guess concrete will be poured early tomorrow so forms can be removed either tomorrow evening or monday morning:
Also got another huge delivery of rebar (see piles in the back), and they filled up the hole arround the house with more soil and mostly gravel (for drainage reasons) from other construction sites:
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OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Progress today was a bit slower than expected. but nevertheless. some things happened:
Our storage / Technical room / my workshop has been finnished and cleaned. The masons didn't show up to make the inside brickwalls, but they should come on monday:
This is how it looks from the garage point of view, and you can see the marks for the brickwalls are there already:
They have prepared a socket for the heater, which should be poured by early next week together with a few small steps between the actual garage part and the workshop "podium" area...
...and the remaining section. They wanted to pour it today, but didn't have a fitting formwork to close the gap on the other side, so they have to bring something else next week.
Well despite all those small delays we're still pretty much on schedule and things really start to look like a "home" or "garage" now with almost all the walls up in the lowest level. Still one more level to build on top of this for the in-laws and two more levels to build on top of this for us
Our storage / Technical room / my workshop has been finnished and cleaned. The masons didn't show up to make the inside brickwalls, but they should come on monday:
This is how it looks from the garage point of view, and you can see the marks for the brickwalls are there already:
They have prepared a socket for the heater, which should be poured by early next week together with a few small steps between the actual garage part and the workshop "podium" area...
...and the remaining section. They wanted to pour it today, but didn't have a fitting formwork to close the gap on the other side, so they have to bring something else next week.
Well despite all those small delays we're still pretty much on schedule and things really start to look like a "home" or "garage" now with almost all the walls up in the lowest level. Still one more level to build on top of this for the in-laws and two more levels to build on top of this for us
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Today the weather wasn't that good, so progress was a bit slow. Good thing is, we already were able to test the drainage system and it works
And we now have an official Garage entrance (view from the Inside):
Now let me take you to a tour through our new garage.
View from the outside of the entrance, where the garage-door will go:
Once you enter, this is the view to the left: Two parking spots and the entrance to the in-laws area:
if you look straight from the entrance, there is a lot of space for moving the cars around. At the right end you find another parking spot, the "box" to the left is where the lift will go (therefore the walls are higher):
If you stand in front of that "lift" area, and look left, you see another Parking spot (last concrete wall has been poured today):
And the entrance to the workshop / Storage / Electrical room, where the formwork for the steps have been completed today:
Inside the brickwalls are still missing (masons should come tomorrow):
But the Base for the heater has been poured today and covered from the rain:
The one at the in-laws part has already been completed and looks like this:
If you step inside and turn around, you see my future workshop area, with the bricks ready for the masons tomorrow:
Other than that, they have started to prepare the formwork for the ceiling at the in-laws area. Because they have to start from the lowest point and then build it up step by step:
Oh, and also had a visit to the Bodyshop to check out the progress on my Z:
And had some spirited drives with my EK9, as long as weather allows me to
And we now have an official Garage entrance (view from the Inside):
Now let me take you to a tour through our new garage.
View from the outside of the entrance, where the garage-door will go:
Once you enter, this is the view to the left: Two parking spots and the entrance to the in-laws area:
if you look straight from the entrance, there is a lot of space for moving the cars around. At the right end you find another parking spot, the "box" to the left is where the lift will go (therefore the walls are higher):
If you stand in front of that "lift" area, and look left, you see another Parking spot (last concrete wall has been poured today):
And the entrance to the workshop / Storage / Electrical room, where the formwork for the steps have been completed today:
Inside the brickwalls are still missing (masons should come tomorrow):
But the Base for the heater has been poured today and covered from the rain:
The one at the in-laws part has already been completed and looks like this:
If you step inside and turn around, you see my future workshop area, with the bricks ready for the masons tomorrow:
Other than that, they have started to prepare the formwork for the ceiling at the in-laws area. Because they have to start from the lowest point and then build it up step by step:
Oh, and also had a visit to the Bodyshop to check out the progress on my Z:
And had some spirited drives with my EK9, as long as weather allows me to
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wasfast
Well-known member
If I'm seeing correctly, there's brick on the inside of the garage?
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Not in the garage, only in the workshop/Storage space and the in-law's living space which is partially on the same level as our garage.
GLTHFJ60
Well-known member
So cool!!!
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
The weather was a bit better today, so progress was a bit faster than yesterday
The masons finally showed up and started to build up the inner walls at the workshop / storage / Electrical room / Stairs area:
And the steps from the garage area to the "Podium" area got poured (Still covered):
The formwork has been removed from the last concrete wall in the basement level (all walls are now completed except the few missing bricks in the first picture):
The manhole got covered with a nice cast iron piece (Still covered for protection)
Then the formwork for the lowest level ceiling continued... Guess that's the main task over the next days...
Have some appointments at the site over the next days, so will keep the updates coming. Oh and tomorrow hopefully i will go and check out some tech gimmickery for our new house. stay tuned
The masons finally showed up and started to build up the inner walls at the workshop / storage / Electrical room / Stairs area:
And the steps from the garage area to the "Podium" area got poured (Still covered):
The formwork has been removed from the last concrete wall in the basement level (all walls are now completed except the few missing bricks in the first picture):
The manhole got covered with a nice cast iron piece (Still covered for protection)
Then the formwork for the lowest level ceiling continued... Guess that's the main task over the next days...
Have some appointments at the site over the next days, so will keep the updates coming. Oh and tomorrow hopefully i will go and check out some tech gimmickery for our new house. stay tuned
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Wasn't able to check out the construction site today, because i had a different appointment With a tech supplier. It took me a long while to find what i was looking for, but finally i found a german company that makes 21" Android panels with multitouch and Power over Ethernet and in-wall (flush) mounting kits for a reasonable price. comes with some extra stuff too and is good quality. Don't want to advertise, but the company allnet.de is really great.
Maybe not so garage-related but the panel will be used for our home-automation and to show us some statistics about production from our photovoltaic panels and energy consumption, etc...
This is how it looks flush mount without the frame:
And here it's running with the frame:
Oh and then we got our new mailbox and stand. yay
Tomorrow i will go back to the site to check out progress
Maybe not so garage-related but the panel will be used for our home-automation and to show us some statistics about production from our photovoltaic panels and energy consumption, etc...
This is how it looks flush mount without the frame:
And here it's running with the frame:
Oh and then we got our new mailbox and stand. yay
Tomorrow i will go back to the site to check out progress
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OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
rixtrix1
Well-known member
Such a neat build! Thanks for all the pics.
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Things start to feel serious now, when you have some kind of a "roof" on the rooms... you really get the feeling how big it gets. It's nothing compared to some other builds in here, but for me it seems to be huge
Steps to the upper levels are completed, but not the complete forms removed:
The Ytong Walls inside the workshop / storage / technical room area have been completed. The small space is for the stairs to the upper level (aka our house).
Ytong Bricks (Concrete bricks with air bubbles inside) were chosen over standard bricks because they have a great heat-insulation, which was required to insulate the Living-area of the house (stairs) from the unisolated garage / workshop area.
The walls will be plastered at a later stage of the build
The base for the Heater has been completed too:
Some random tool photo
This is how it looks from above. The concrete forming and pouring will probably take another week or two, because it's so complicated in this case with all the different levels and heights, etc..
Oh and then one of the in-laws sheep just got a new-born (1 day old) little lamb just next to our house, so we had to say hi to the little cutie
Steps to the upper levels are completed, but not the complete forms removed:
The Ytong Walls inside the workshop / storage / technical room area have been completed. The small space is for the stairs to the upper level (aka our house).
Ytong Bricks (Concrete bricks with air bubbles inside) were chosen over standard bricks because they have a great heat-insulation, which was required to insulate the Living-area of the house (stairs) from the unisolated garage / workshop area.
The walls will be plastered at a later stage of the build
The base for the Heater has been completed too:
Some random tool photo
This is how it looks from above. The concrete forming and pouring will probably take another week or two, because it's so complicated in this case with all the different levels and heights, etc..
Oh and then one of the in-laws sheep just got a new-born (1 day old) little lamb just next to our house, so we had to say hi to the little cutie
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OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Got my PoE (Power Over Ethernet) Power Injector for DIN-Rail mounting today. It will power the IPC Panel through the Etherenet-cable and go into the Electrical cabinet. Will also order an DIN-Rail mount Power supply, because if you have a DIN-rail, why would you want to have a "loose" Power supply lying around in the Cabinet?
With the PoE Injector, i was able to test the new IPC Panel and install some Apps for security and for the future House-automation system and make some basic tests:
Oh, and got all the reworked electrical wiring plans today, Still needs some changes, so will have to go over all of it over the weekend and then hopefully it will be done soon
With the PoE Injector, i was able to test the new IPC Panel and install some Apps for security and for the future House-automation system and make some basic tests:
Oh, and got all the reworked electrical wiring plans today, Still needs some changes, so will have to go over all of it over the weekend and then hopefully it will be done soon
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Had a visit to the in-laws yesterday and of course had to check out the updates on-site too
Formwork for the lowest-level (garage and basement) ceiling is almost completed. now insulation, rebar and some installations missing only:
Also Formwork for the ceiling of the in-laws living area is prepared:
Which also includes these "junction" boxes for electricity that will be poured into the concrete. Now it has all to be connected by hoses for the wires, as seen in the electrical plans from the last post...
And same for the water hoses (hoses still missing, only "junction-" and connectors are installed yet):
Formwork for the lowest-level (garage and basement) ceiling is almost completed. now insulation, rebar and some installations missing only:
Also Formwork for the ceiling of the in-laws living area is prepared:
Which also includes these "junction" boxes for electricity that will be poured into the concrete. Now it has all to be connected by hoses for the wires, as seen in the electrical plans from the last post...
And same for the water hoses (hoses still missing, only "junction-" and connectors are installed yet):
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wasfast
Well-known member
I'm always impressed when I see the European plumbing and electrical wiring components. They seem far better thought out as a system than what we commonly use in the USA.
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Well, i guess it's a necessity, We pour it into the concrete and will never again have access to it leter, while americans very often (from what i've seen here and on TV) use a dry-wall system, where it's fairly easy to access later if needed.
And it's of course approximately 10x the price compared to american prices, like everything here
And it's of course approximately 10x the price compared to american prices, like everything here
OP
JDMjunkies.ch
Well-known member
Well, this week didn't start as well as planned.
The constructors installed the under-ceiling-insulation for the garage area as planned and the rebar guys showed up today...
... when suddenly a guy from the public accident insurance showed up (attracted by the tower crane he saw when travelling through the valley) and halted work immediately, because of a missing fence.
It appears that you need a fence when working on areas higher than 3 meters, to prevent workers from falling down. Since we didn't have such a thing, and the Scaffolding was just booked for installation in a few weeks, they don't have time to install it these days. Luckily they can bring the hardware tomorrow, so the workers from the main contractor can put it up as much as currently needed, and work should be able to continue in a few days we expect / hope...
The constructors installed the under-ceiling-insulation for the garage area as planned and the rebar guys showed up today...
... when suddenly a guy from the public accident insurance showed up (attracted by the tower crane he saw when travelling through the valley) and halted work immediately, because of a missing fence.
It appears that you need a fence when working on areas higher than 3 meters, to prevent workers from falling down. Since we didn't have such a thing, and the Scaffolding was just booked for installation in a few weeks, they don't have time to install it these days. Luckily they can bring the hardware tomorrow, so the workers from the main contractor can put it up as much as currently needed, and work should be able to continue in a few days we expect / hope...