We are going to be adding onto our small ranch in order to accommodate our growing family. After throwing around a lot of different ideas we decided that the one that makes the most sense is to go back (rather than convert the attached garage or go up). I'm hoping to kill two birds with one stone this way by putting a full basement underneath of the addition, netting me not only two more bedrooms and a bathroom, but also a 500 SF shop/garage underneath.
Previously I had considered building a 16' x 24' pole barn in the back yard but not only would this space be larger, since it's attached to the house running power (and even water) to it/heating it would be simple and inexpensive. 500 SF is plenty because this will be more of a shed/shop than a garage. The attached garage is where I keep one of the cars, do maintenance, etc... The purpose of this space is to get all of the other **** out of there (Outdoor power equipment, yard/lawn tools, chainsaws/firewood tools, miscellaneous storage, etc...). Going 20' out from the existing foundation wall the grade slopes a fair amount so that I'll only have to clear about 4' of dirt (held by retaining walls on either side for a short distance) in order to have a walkout.
I'm in the process of estimating the materials cost for everything now, but the biggest question is the foundation as it relates to the ceiling height in the basement. The existing basement is a standard height-about 7' from the surface of the slab to the bottoms of the floor joists. What I'd like to do is dig the new basement a bit deeper, so that the ceiling height will be at least 8' (if not a little more) from the surface of the slab to the bottoms of the floor joists, while keeping the main floor height constant. I'm not sure if this is something that's typically done with basement additions as I'm wondering if there would be a concern about undermining the existing foundation during the construction of the new one? Anyone done this before?
Here is the plan as it stands now:
The red walls indicate new construction-the dimensions are a little off because I've tweaked things since then.
Access to the existing basement will be through window opening that will be cut to the slab to create a door. Just inside that door is a wood furnace that is our primary heat source with oil as a backup. Right now I dump wood down a chute going through the window. What I want to be able to do is wheel wood in with a wheelbarrow through the 6' roll-up door and then through the 36" door (I'll need a ramp of course because of the depth difference) to make it a lot easier.
Finally, as you can see the girder supporting the floor (single story, gable roof) above has a 19'-4" span. I'd really like to keep the span clear if possible. Obviously I'll be talking to an engineer about options, but I'm wondering if anyone else who has done something similar can let me know what to expect. Is this within the realm of possibility for an engineered/laminated wood beam or will I have to go with steel?
Previously I had considered building a 16' x 24' pole barn in the back yard but not only would this space be larger, since it's attached to the house running power (and even water) to it/heating it would be simple and inexpensive. 500 SF is plenty because this will be more of a shed/shop than a garage. The attached garage is where I keep one of the cars, do maintenance, etc... The purpose of this space is to get all of the other **** out of there (Outdoor power equipment, yard/lawn tools, chainsaws/firewood tools, miscellaneous storage, etc...). Going 20' out from the existing foundation wall the grade slopes a fair amount so that I'll only have to clear about 4' of dirt (held by retaining walls on either side for a short distance) in order to have a walkout.
I'm in the process of estimating the materials cost for everything now, but the biggest question is the foundation as it relates to the ceiling height in the basement. The existing basement is a standard height-about 7' from the surface of the slab to the bottoms of the floor joists. What I'd like to do is dig the new basement a bit deeper, so that the ceiling height will be at least 8' (if not a little more) from the surface of the slab to the bottoms of the floor joists, while keeping the main floor height constant. I'm not sure if this is something that's typically done with basement additions as I'm wondering if there would be a concern about undermining the existing foundation during the construction of the new one? Anyone done this before?
Here is the plan as it stands now:
The red walls indicate new construction-the dimensions are a little off because I've tweaked things since then.
Access to the existing basement will be through window opening that will be cut to the slab to create a door. Just inside that door is a wood furnace that is our primary heat source with oil as a backup. Right now I dump wood down a chute going through the window. What I want to be able to do is wheel wood in with a wheelbarrow through the 6' roll-up door and then through the 36" door (I'll need a ramp of course because of the depth difference) to make it a lot easier.
Finally, as you can see the girder supporting the floor (single story, gable roof) above has a 19'-4" span. I'd really like to keep the span clear if possible. Obviously I'll be talking to an engineer about options, but I'm wondering if anyone else who has done something similar can let me know what to expect. Is this within the realm of possibility for an engineered/laminated wood beam or will I have to go with steel?