38x70 garage-condo in Wisconsin

nfamus10 · Sep 18, 2014

I thought I'd start a thread for other people that are looking to do something like this. It's becoming more popular and there are very few threads out there for real world reference.

Like the the title states, I'm doing a 38x70 studwall building that will serve as a garage-condo until I have a reason to build a house next to it. Living quarters are approx. 32x30 with 6' porch and the garage area will be 38x40.

Elevations:

Rough layout for inside:

First loads of road base for driveway:

Ready for the slab:

Lady friend probably facebooking:

I'll continue to update as progress happens. They're scheduled to be out the first week of October to start up.

1/2 Cup · Sep 18, 2014

I really like the concept, your plans look great.

Then there is the added advantage of when you decide to build a house and move into that as a primary residence you are left with one hell of a garage set up.

Thanks for posting.

Regards

brycez28 · Sep 18, 2014

Looks great! My wife and I have been talking about doing something like this in a few years (wife wants to do it next year, but not financially feasable for at least 3 years). Where is Wisconsin are you located? I'm looking forward to the progress!

k-os · Sep 18, 2014

brycez28 said:
Looks great! My wife and I have been talking about doing something like this in a few years (wife wants to do it next year, but not financially feasable for at least 3 years). Where is Wisconsin are you located? I'm looking forward to the progress!

Also interested in your location and an approximate cost if you don't mind sharing. I'm kind of starting the house hunting process and have thought about doing something like this.

nfamus10 · Sep 19, 2014

Thanks guys. I'm up in central Wisconsin near Wausau. Shoot me a pm if you want more specifics and I'd be glad to tell you because I was in the same boat.

Redroc25 · Oct 6, 2014

Any update?

nfamus10 · Oct 13, 2014

No progress yet. Things were supposed to start this past week but they should start this week. Hopefully.

classicJackets · Oct 13, 2014

I'll follow this closely, I'd love to be able to do the same thing in a few years!

s2kattracks · Oct 13, 2014

I like this idea. Hmm, Not sure I can convince my wife though

vertguy · Oct 13, 2014

Very interesting idea... Definitely in for progress updates as I could see us doing something similar when we make the jump to downsize. I joke with my wife that we need a 1k sf home with a 4k sf garage!

nfamus10 · Oct 14, 2014

vertguy said:
Very interesting idea... Definitely in for progress updates as I could see us doing something similar when we make the jump to downsize. I joke with my wife that we need a 1k sf home with a 4k sf garage!

Isn't that the truth. I guess I've always been fortunate to have my space and didn't want to give it up. I also like a my privacy. I'll definitely spend a little more money this way but to me it's worth it. Perks of being a younger guy... no wifey to convince

blmllc · Oct 29, 2014

Any updates? Very interested in this build seeing as I am in the same location as you. Looking at maybe building something similar.

nfamus10 · Oct 30, 2014

Not a whole lot. Waited 5 weeks on concrete. Finally last Friday, I got someone else to take the job. Hopefully the slab will be poured by next week. The concrete guy and plumber will be rotating days off and on to do their pieces. Pretty frustrating but not much I can do. The well did get drilled though ha. I'll be sure to update as things happen.

nfamus10 · Nov 3, 2014

Well my dad was out there today and managed to take a few pictures. Hoping to have the slab poured by Wednesday.

MacTexas · Nov 3, 2014

Looks like you have the best of both worlds.

nfamus10 · Nov 5, 2014

MacTexas said:
Looks like you have the best of both worlds.

You really can't beat it out there. Now that things are finally happening I'm getting excited again.

The Engine Room · Nov 5, 2014

I actually did one of these before I built my previous house. My advice is to put up a header and frame in for an 8' door in the condo side of the building. Then just stud in the opening and continue like it wasn't there. It would be much cheaper to do it now so adding a door would be a matter of cutting out the opening and putting one in. After I built my house and moved in, I put in a nice set of sealed carriage doors so I could roll in my "museum" car to keep it in the HVAC. I also liked to open the doors while entertaining and use the car as a conversation piece.

sean Buick 76 · Nov 5, 2014

That looks like a nice piece of land!

How much land is it?

What kind of projects do you plan to work on in there?

I will subscribe to this thread as I would like to build something like this at my empty chunk of land...

nfamus10 · Nov 5, 2014

The Engine Room said:
I actually did one of these before I built my previous house. My advice is to put up a header and frame in for an 8' door in the condo side of the building. Then just stud in the opening and continue like it wasn't there. It would be much cheaper to do it now so adding a door would be a matter of cutting out the opening and putting one in. After I built my house and moved in, I put in a nice set of sealed carriage doors so I could roll in my "museum" car to keep it in the HVAC. I also liked to open the doors while entertaining and use the car as a conversation piece.

I like the way you think. I already had this planned in so that I could utilize the kitchen/living room area once I'm out.

sean Buick 76 said:
That looks like a nice piece of land!

How much land is it?

What kind of projects do you plan to work on in there?

I will subscribe to this thread as I would like to build something like this at my empty chunk of land...

My piece is only a 20 that butts up to the Wisconsin River.

I've built a few trucks, but then there's sleds, bikes, quads, hunting stuff etc.

Zx360 · Nov 5, 2014

Can't wait to see more of this build, from a fellow cheese head.

MTUsledder94 · Nov 5, 2014

nfamus10 said:
I like the way you think. I already had this planned in so that I could utilize the kitchen/living room area once I'm out.

My piece is only a 20 that butts up to the Wisconsin River.

I've built a few trucks, but then there's sleds, bikes, quads, hunting stuff etc.

Looks like a great project, congrats.

I grew up at the south end of Rib Mountain just across I-39 from the Wisconsin River (near the Foxglove Rd. overpass), so I know the area pretty well. I'll be following to see how it progresses...and again congrats.

Matchew · Nov 6, 2014

Subscribed WI here too

Morio · Nov 6, 2014

Nice plans!!! We are doing the same thing but have no plans to build another house, another shop yes!

nfamus10 · Nov 7, 2014

My old man stopped out again today...

nfamus10 · Nov 30, 2014

Bringing this thread back up to the top. This is how things have sat for the last couple weeks. They set the meter so that WPS can bring power down the road and to the site. I believe that once that's done they'll start framing. WPS had equipment out there so hopefully it happens soon. Already so far behind planned schedule I'm not even frustrated anymore.

nfamus10 · Dec 16, 2014

Another tiny update. I now have power. Apparently the crew is on another build until Christmas, so they're looking to start then.

nfamus10 · Dec 21, 2014

Well I guess they ran into some hiccups on the other job so I have some more progess..

nfamus10 · Dec 21, 2014

Inside..

nfamus10 · Dec 21, 2014

Not sure why the pictures are rotated because they're normal in photobucket. I'll flip them if they don't rotate.

aCab · Dec 23, 2014

Subscribed for a project that I would love to build, but the fiance will never go for

nfamus10 · Dec 26, 2014

Slowly making progess..

k-os · Dec 26, 2014

Looking good. I'm glad we haven't gotten any of the snow so far!

schmoldty · Jan 14, 2015

any updates

brycez28 · Jan 14, 2015

What is the set of treated 2"x6" studs for?

nfamus10 · Jan 17, 2015

Was able to stop out today. There is one guy doing all the framing. Pretty impressive that he can do it all by himself.

Colors:

nfamus10 · Jan 17, 2015

brycez28 said:
What is the set of treated 2"x6" studs for?

Those were laid out for me to approve for the "hidden" header they're going to build into the wall so that once I'm out I can utilize that area for additional shop space.

James-W · Jan 17, 2015

It is too bad they don't have a full crew working on it, the framing would be done and the roof would be on pretty quickly if they did. I wonder why they only have one guy working on it?

tonkatoy611 · Jan 17, 2015

Looks like an awesome plan idea! Can't wait to see the finished product.

bfarroo · Jan 17, 2015

Looking good. Rough work out in the cold. We're they working through the really cold spell?

nfamus10 · Jan 18, 2015

James-W said:
It is too bad they don't have a full crew working on it, the framing would be done and the roof would be on pretty quickly if they did. I wonder why they only have one guy working on it?

He actually is a one man crew. I talked to him one day and he said he's been doing it by himself for 10+ years. I don't think he was the original crew scheduled but I was told people request him due to his quality. So I'm ok with it as I'm not in any major rush but the kid in me wants to see it done.

bfarroo said:
Looking good. Rough work out in the cold. We're they working through the really cold spell?

I don't think he did anything over that week. I believe he's hoping to get it tinned up real quick. The breeze comes off the river/field from the west and it's definitely brisk.

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