Above 1200 Sq/FT The Suburban Working Garage in VA...now building the Highland House in the Teton Valley

[Cdubu52]

Keep the hair Jeff, if i could grow it, it would be as long as I could get it. I have been follicully challenged for over 25 years now. Its ok if it turns grey as long as it doesn't turn loose!

 

[tweidman]

Your Race Inc was a twin to mine, back in the day. Although, I went with blue ano parts, not red. Cool bike.
Mine was stolen, or I may still have it. Do have my stingrays from the 70's.

 

[Nolift911]

I took everyone's advice on the bike...nope. Did not do that. Sent shocks out for rebuild.

I just don't have $5-7k or more for a bike I want right now vs. $400. So this old Trek will suffice for a bit. Did get a bike stand to work on said bike. I have the Defender getting the A/C fixed, reworked etc. for the trip west here in the next month.



This allowed me some space to work on some things like the bikes and Volvo.



Fresh rubber - yep 26's These had tubes but going to go tubeless with the Race Disc wheels.



Getting low on Volvo parts, boxes and buckets of parts - this is good.

I need to decide if I throw the turbo on here or make that an out west project to initiate the space. I have dreams of moving freely about in a temp controlled garage space, working on two or three projects without having to shuffle them around, being able to walk and being comfortable whether it is 100 outside or -30.



Finished up the lights - subtle in my opinion. Turned out well.








Some assembly required - I replaced those rusting clips, about 7 in all at $18 a piece.



Completed and ready to go back on the car -

 

[Nolift911]

Trying to determine the best strategy to get “stuff” out west this late summer / early fall. We are not emptying our current house of furniture, so it will just be some pieces here and there — not enough to justify a full mover. I was thinking about either a trailer or a truck for some of the larger items. The biggest priority right now is emptying our current storage unit and getting some vehicles out there to free up space here.

Work has been crazy. My better half just started a new job, and things are only going to get crazier. No time for anything.

The reality of moving west has hit hard. How do we do it efficiently? I’m not sure we will unload the house in VA anytime soon. We still need a base of operations in the DMV for a while — work, family, etc.

I looked into PODS and similar services, but I couldn’t find anyone willing to deliver closer than Salt Lake — not even Jackson Hole.

I also don’t want to load up the new house with furniture just for the sake of filling it. Couch, TV, bed. Done for now.

Then there are the tools — how to get all that out there. At the same time, I can’t completely pillage everything in VA since I still work here and don’t want two full sets of everything. The goal is actually less stuff.

I know… first-world problems.

Anyway, some house updates. Things are moving. I did manage to sneak out there for a quick trip to deal with some pressing questions and decisions. Just a solo trip, but I had a great time.

First off, I think Jackson is one of the cooler airports to fly into. From Dulles, United Airlines offers direct flights into Jackson Hole Airport from mid-December through mid-April. I always try to sit on the right side of the plane for the Teton show.









No jet bridge, everyone is relaxed, dogs at the airport - feels like you can breath again.



This young lady has been poking around for a few weeks now -





She decided to park up for a bit...



First day was super clear...this is from the driveway.



Next up was watering our "last years" Xmas tree - hopefully this survives and we can plant it this fall.



More to come...

 

[Madc]

My humble suggestion about moving tools.... and I'm saying this as I'm in the middle of a home renovation that basically required knocking down the garage that was pretty packed with tools, Bikes (cyclist) and lots of stuff. I bought a 7x16 trailer that I used to help a family member in need move, but then after a real purge, I moved all my garage stuff in to the trailer so I had access to during renovation. I will likely sell the trailer but also an option for you for the move.

Anyway my plan for the "new" garage is to only put the things there that I love or can't replace. Using this time to just bite the bullet and buy new cabinets and benches, and some tool sets for the setup I've always wanted. You have a a good setup in VA, but you're building your DREAM HOUSE- garage and tools should match! Keep your stuff in VA- move the stuff you can't live without and buy new stuff for the new house. I'm sure it feels like you're Hemoraging money at this stage (it does for me) but in the big scheme- a pretty great new garage set up tools/cabinets is a tiny fraction of the house and you're going to spend A LOT of time in the garage. This is your chance!
MADC

 

[Nolift911]

My humble suggestion about moving tools.... and I'm saying this as I'm in the middle of a home renovation that basically required knocking down the garage that was pretty packed with tools, Bikes (cyclist) and lots of stuff. I bought a 7x16 trailer that I used to help a family member in need move, but then after a real purge, I moved all my garage stuff in to the trailer so I had access to during renovation. I will likely sell the trailer but also an option for you for the move.

Anyway my plan for the "new" garage is to only put the things there that I love or can't replace. Using this time to just bite the bullet and buy new cabinets and benches, and some tool sets for the setup I've always wanted. You have a a good setup in VA, but you're building your DREAM HOUSE- garage and tools should match! Keep your stuff in VA- move the stuff you can't live without and buy new stuff for the new house. I'm sure it feels like you're Hemoraging money at this stage (it does for me) but in the big scheme- a pretty great new garage set up tools/cabinets is a tiny fraction of the house and you're going to spend A LOT of time in the garage. This is your chance!
MADC

Thanks — and I actually think you’re onto something there.

Start with my basic “dream box” of tools that covers about 75% of what I’m doing, then buy additional tools as each project requires them. My dream setup would be a Sonic Tools cabinet. I’m sure there are other options that are still great and a bit less expensive, but that’s definitely the benchmark in my head.

The issue is where I am. If I’m in the middle of a project, I can’t just run out like I can in VA and grab something. The local Ace Hardware is about it, so anything unique usually means a trip to Rexburg — about 45 minutes away.

On this trip out there, even though it was only four days, I had time to do almost nothing except focus on the house. I spent hours pouring over everything and exploring the surrounding area, which I never really get to do when the whole family is there.

I took hundreds of pictures and just got to absorb it all.

I stayed in Jackson for the convenience and walkability to restaurants and everything else, so the routine was: get up early, head over the pass, grab coffee at Wydaho Roasters (my favorite coffee place), and head to the property.

It’s about a 45-minute drive from Jackson to the house — honestly, not too bad.

Kitchen, family room drywall -

 

[badonk]

Those windows are SICK! You'll love it when you get them all open and just sit there in awe of the view. Totally worth it.

Re: tools, I was kind of in the same boat as you. I looked at Sonic seriously, but they are just too overpriced for what they are. Plus most of their kits have lots of things you won't ever touch. They look nice though. I made a spreadsheet where I compared what was in a Sonic set vs what I might get with Tekton kit or Gearwrench kit or going piecemeal with HF Icon and adding other brands to fill what they don't have or I don't like. End of the day I went down the HF Icon path for the basics plus some Wera, Klein, Astro, Tekton, etc as it made sense. And since I now decided I'll move out of my old space, all the unique things like oil filter wrenches, feeler gauges, cam tools, etc don't need to be duplicated. I'll move some of the extra stuff from the old shop to my Denver house (replace an old husky socket set I was using and will now have a full set of GW wrenches there) but I intend to do the major work on cars in the new shop. I'll maybe change wheels/tires in the Denver garage or do basic stuff around the house. Like you said, in the new space you can start multiple projects at once and move around and not feel cramped. That's where you want a full tool set.

Once you move the fleet you don't need that in VA any more...simplify.

 

[Horror Business]

What is your current thought process on how many years you will want (or need) to keep a home base in VA?

 

[Nolift911]

Those windows are SICK! You'll love it when you get them all open and just sit there in awe of the view. Totally worth it.

Re: tools, I was kind of in the same boat as you. I looked at Sonic seriously, but they are just too overpriced for what they are. Plus most of their kits have lots of things you won't ever touch. They look nice though. I made a spreadsheet where I compared what was in a Sonic set vs what I might get with Tekton kit or Gearwrench kit or going piecemeal with HF Icon and adding other brands to fill what they don't have or I don't like. End of the day I went down the HF Icon path for the basics plus some Wera, Klein, Astro, Tekton, etc as it made sense. And since I now decided I'll move out of my old space, all the unique things like oil filter wrenches, feeler gauges, cam tools, etc don't need to be duplicated. I'll move some of the extra stuff from the old shop to my Denver house (replace an old husky socket set I was using and will now have a full set of GW wrenches there) but I intend to do the major work on cars in the new shop. I'll maybe change wheels/tires in the Denver garage or do basic stuff around the house. Like you said, in the new space you can start multiple projects at once and move around and not feel cramped. That's where you want a full tool set.

Once you move the fleet you don't need that in VA any more...simplify.

Yah - I need to do the research on tools, boxes etc. I don't see anyway to avoid two sets for most things for awhile.

What is your current thought process on how many years you will want (or need) to keep a home base in VA?

Not for a while — the first constraint is having a junior in high school this fall, so that’s two more mandatory years right there. Then there’s work, family, and… all the other years?

Part of it is also sitting on a 1.9% mortgage that will be paid off in five years. You can’t rent a place for what my mortgage costs now, and we still need a base of operations in the DMV for some time to come.

The only real alternative would be to sell and move somewhere smaller/cheaper in the DMV, but that’s not exactly an inexpensive option either.

So… I dunno.

Anyway, more drywall pics — master bedroom and bathroom. This entire wing of the house is tucked away from the riff raff…

Master bedroom: slider to the right, windows out front facing the Teton Range.



So that opening in the corner is for the fireplace and that whole wall is stone floor to ceiling/sides, or supposed to be - not sure why they sheetrocked it?



Man door in the corner out to patios -



I think they sheetrocked over some outlets and wires (speakers) ...electrician will love that.



Master bath -







MB Closet - this will be cabinets floor to ceiling.

 

[gearhead1960]

Part of it is also sitting on a 1.9% mortgage that will be paid off in five years. You can’t rent a place for what my mortgage costs now, and we still need a base of operations in the DMV for some time to come.

The only real alternative would be to sell and move somewhere smaller/cheaper in the DMV, but that’s not exactly an inexpensive option either.

Living in NOVA, that's a real dilema. I'm a year into retirement and the wife retires in three weeks! We really love this area, but don't need our mini mansion for 2 people. Wife would be happy moving to an over 55 community, but I'm not interested as I want my final home to be with garages for the daily drivers and a 2-3 bay out building for the projects and she shed. We're not going to find that in NOVA without a serious jump in interest rate and property cost (our's is 3.25% and close to paid off). She agrees to a certain extent. We want to stay in VA, but closer to my son in NC and her sister in Richmond. My other son is at AWS and is local, and has expressed interest in moving to NC when the jungle opens some data centers there, close to his brother. I think with the equity we have (got into NOVA Real Estate market in the 80's), west or south of Richmond might be the area to look. Some have suggested moving into an area more than an hour away from a major metropolitan hub, but we love all that NOVA/DC has to offer in sports and cultural events. Moving to the sticks makes that ab lot harder to enjoy....sorry to hijack...

 

[bunks-tj]

us too. i can retire in 8 but its more like 10-12. we are trying to buy a family property in Culpeper (28 acres) where we would start fresh.

 

[gearhead1960]

us too. i can retire in 8 but its more like 10-12. we are trying to buy a family property in Culpeper (28 acres) where we would stary fresh.

We have friends in Culpeper on 10 acres (with twin post lift I occasionally borrow). Culpeper won't get us any closer to Richmond, so have sort of dismissed that area. It's a neat area though, and like some of the restaurants and wife loves the shopping......

 

[Nolift911]

Living in NOVA, that's a real dilema. I'm a year into retirement and the wife retires in three weeks! We really love this area, but don't need our mini mansion for 2 people. Wife would be happy moving to an over 55 community, but I'm not interested as I want my final home to be with garages for the daily drivers and a 2-3 bay out building for the projects and she shed. We're not going to find that in NOVA without a serious jump in interest rate and property cost (our's is 3.25% and close to paid off). She agrees to a certain extent. We want to stay in VA, but closer to my son in NC and her sister in Richmond. My other son is at AWS and is local, and has expressed interest in moving to NC when the jungle opens some data centers there, close to his brother. I think with the equity we have (got into NOVA Real Estate market in the 80's), west or south of Richmond might be the area to look. Some have suggested moving into an area more than an hour away from a major metropolitan hub, but we love all that NOVA/DC has to offer in sports and cultural events. Moving to the sticks makes that ab lot harder to enjoy....sorry to hijack...

Exactly — this has been a great place to raise kids and build a life. Everything is here in LoCo: great schools, work, and our kids were able to walk to all of them. We’ve been here for about 26 years, and other than maybe LA or NY, we pretty much have everything we need.

Part of me thinks, why sell if we don’t have to? Maintaining two residences is tough — or will be — but are we really ready to give up this area wholesale?

With aging parents in MD and southern VA, that’s something that will need to be handled at some point too. I have no idea what that even looks like in the future.

More pics -

Entry way - two pivot doors on each end.



Wood will be stone from exterior - will be a transom on top of that 10 foot door.



Gear - mud room to garage and to office 1



Office 1, view to garage



Office 1 bathroom with shower -



Shed...





Hallway to other bedrooms - should be 3 floater steps here with lights





Couple reading nooks



Slider in between to other patio area -

 

[gearhead1960]

Part of me thinks, why sell if we don’t have to? Maintaining two residences is tough — or will be — but are we really ready to give up this area wholesale?

With aging parents in MD and southern VA, that’s something that will need to be handled at some point too. I have no idea what that even looks like in the future.

....second residence sounds like a money hole....but might be smart as a rental if you can find a good property manager. Almost paid off? Would be some nice extra income.....

...in regard to aging parents, my mom passed 2 years ago at 96 and that was really the major thing holding me to the area (aside from the wife not wanting to relocate until she quit). Her dad just turned 95 and he is living near her sister in Richmond, so that isn't on us too much.

 

[Nolift911]

us too. i can retire in 8 but its more like 10-12. we are trying to buy a family property in Culpeper (28 acres) where we would start fresh.

We have friends in Culpeper on 10 acres (with twin post lift I occasionally borrow). Culpeper won't get us any closer to Richmond, so have sort of dismissed that area. It's a neat area though, and like some of the restaurants and wife loves the shopping......

Culpeper is a great area -

....second residence sounds like a money hole....but might be smart as a rental if you can find a good property manager. Almost paid off? Would be some nice extra income.....

...in regard to aging parents, my mom passed 2 years ago at 96 and that was really the major thing holding me to the area (aside from the wife not wanting to relocate until she quit). Her dad just turned 95 and he is living near her sister in Richmond, so that isn't on us too much.

Yes and no. Everything has been done, roof, both HVAC systems, every room has been upgraded, new appliances etc so no real maintenance as of now. Rental is possible, but then I am a landlord and dealing with that.

Garage drywall -

 

[mmsheb]

Maybe I missed it, but how big is that garage? It looks almost large enough!
Mike in WI

 

[fourmotioneer]

May be the phone camera quality deceiving me but the garage looks like it’s going to have some excellent natural light. What a nice place to spend some time eventfully

 

[badonk]

May be the phone camera quality deceiving me but the garage looks like it’s going to have some excellent natural light. What a nice place to spend some time eventfully

There should be even more natural light once the glass garage doors go in too!

 

[Nolift911]

Maybe I missed it, but how big is that garage? It looks almost large enough!
Mike in WI

Garage is 2300 sq. ft. The idea was an oversized 4 car wide - 2 car deep. Almost large enough

May be the phone camera quality deceiving me but the garage looks like it’s going to have some excellent natural light. What a nice place to spend some time eventfully

There should be plenty of natural light.

There should be even more natural light once the glass garage doors go in too!

Yeah - garage door installers should be out next week - excited to see what they look like.

Couple other updates -

Floors got polished - 200 grit then up to 800 grit, then ram boarded - won't see those again until the end of the build. While the pics look shiny they are matte/satin, just a basic grind and then coated with Surecrete Commerical Grade DK 400WB Satin Poly. Garage has a more durable coating then rest of house - not sure if that is a different product or 2 coats etc?

Overall I think the floors came out with a lot of natural industrial character which is what we were after.

First grind - and joint fill.

 

[puttinonthekritz]

Are you doing jackshaft style garage openers on the wall or ceiling mount? Also, given your door sizes and specifically, weight, ensure you add a second set (at minimum), of ceiling track mounting brackets. Most people only have one set at the end of their track and potential for failure is real.

My insulated 18x9 home garage door gets used often with kids and stays open a lot (thus lots of weight up in the air). My 'oh sh@!' moment occurred after one single lag bolt pulled out just enough from the 'scaffold bracket' and ceiling joist or truss connection that the garage door almost seemingly came down. The door opener would not lower the door due to the alignment being that far off (approx. 6-8'' drop). I'm not sure if the lag didn't quite get squared up when installed and it separated from the truss between thousands of cycles/vibrations or sitting up in the air all the time. I have two lags, one on each end of the bracket as my trusses are 24"oc.

Luckily it was me and not the kids or wife. I pulled the emergency cable to push the door closed while holding the garage door rail to its proper location on a ladder. Since then, I've added a second set of brackets at middle of the door rail to distribute weight and have a redundant safety net to all of my doors. Between potentially coming down on expensive vehicles, the cost of an expensive door fix (especially your custom glass doors) or even worse on someone, I'd without a doubt make sure you get a second, if not, third set.

 

[puttinonthekritz]

Also, not sure if you plan on putting a ceiling fan in the garage, but if you do I'd recommend one that I've personally found to circulate a lot of air, quiet and won't break the bank compared to heavy hitter industrial fans. My shop has 14' ceilings and 46x46. I have one in the middle and no regrets.

Global Industrial 108" Industrial Ceiling Fan, DC Motor, 6 Speed, 20000 CFM, Black

Global Industrial 108" Industrial Ceiling Fan, DC Motor, 6 Speed, 20000 CFM, Black. Ships in One Business Day. Buy it and Save at Globalindustrial.com

www.globalindustrial.com