Recent content by Bob_McPhee

This is all great info guys, thanks. I agree, if I want to REPAIR the cracks it's gonna be a lot harder than I think. But I'm thinking the same as cdestuck and just correcting as much as I can (drainage and vegetetation), get some silicon going and keeping an eye on it.

Anyone have any experience with this? I'm thinking of trying to temporarily secure this entire corner (how I don't know yet), digging up the dirt, removing the small tree roots etc, and either repacking the dirt very well or even pouring some makeshift concrete footings or something similiar. My...

Slab looks great, zero cracks. I believe it is a "floating" slab, it definitely appears to be independent of the CMU walls.

We're pretty far from seismic activity fortunately.

Here are some better pics. I started farther out and then got closer in the pics so you can see how it looks like the (old) gutter drain is the culprit. I do believe in the 2 years since we've owned the house this crack has gotten slightly worse: *Step cracks are highlighted in red lines*...

Bought a house with a detached CMU (cinderblock) garage. Both gutter drains empty on the west side of the garage, and I'm guessing they've been dumping rain/snow water there for 30-40 years! No surprise that end of the garage is showing step cracks: While I'm not an expert, I'm guessing...

Thanks so much for the replies guys! Sorry I've been busy with my students testing this week. I have decided to NOT try to raise the available ceiling height. It would not be worth the time, effort, and money to only gain around a foot of ceiling height. I really wanted the extra height when...

Sorry everyone, I just found this thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=324278 I did a search on this topic and didn't find that thread but after manually combing through I came across it. It looks like it has most of the info I need! :) Perhaps anyone can add any...

I want to increase the available height in my garage by raising a ceiling/tension joist. The garage is 19' x 23' with a gable roof. It has 2 ceiling joists, each consisting of (3) 2x6's joined together. Underneath ONE of these ceiling joists (#2), I'm going to build an isolated/stand...

These are the kind of responses I was looking for. The unknown qualities of my slab seals the deal, I will NOT be going with a CMU. Sorry for the late responses, we're wrapping up the school year.

Oops sorry, I was agreeing with you. I meant why risk the cinderblock structure cracking my slab. My brother in law keeps insisting it will be fine but I've been leaning towards a framed drywall structure. The drywall structure will be slightly complicated given that I'm going with a double...

Ah yes sound TREATMENT. I'm afraid of this. Non-parallel walls and bass traps are what I keep hearing. There's a possibility we record in here and that is where proper design/treatment can make the room usable for recording loudish drums. Also ceiling height :/

Why risk it? Double wall drywall will be time consuming but not terribly expensive and my dad can help. That's my brother in law's argument, and it is based on experience. Not knowing the true design of my slab is where I'm thinking it's not worth the risk. Concrete starts cracking, whole...

Yep got the ceiling covered. Probably vertical 2x4 joists 10" apart. Either a layer of plywood or metal decking with around 2" of concrete poured. Got the idea from this guy: Yea like JRC said, just looking for some expertise/experience to confirm my doubts about the the weight of a...

You're forgetting the drummer haha. We try to practice same as we play, some are loud, some are quiet. I've read a lot about air gaps. I believe that's called a 2 leaf system. The air gap (w R13 insulation loosely packed) really helps break down low frequencies. You're supposed to avoid a 3...