I decided one day this winter that it was time to get the extension cord out of the dang yard, and trench conduit out to the garage. I dug ~3ft by hand (high-mineral content clay) threw down the shovel, and headed to my local rental store. 45 minutes later, I'm in the back yard driving this fun little machine around.
...now don't get me wrong, she's a helluva helper, but usually motorized equipment lands on my plate. This was different, she comes out of the door bundled up and says "that looks like fun, can I try it?".
...she took the reins and I didn't get it offered back it until she had trenched the whole way to the garage.
Power is a simple branch (220v) off the main panel running 12ga solid THWN to a disconnect, then in to the garage. As it is only storage, I have kept the design simple with a single outlet at the front corner, one outlet at the garage door opener, and one outlet upstairs. (Any more would have required an entire panel and all the permitting that involves, which was my aim to avoid.)
I also dug a couple of trenches where I planned to put some treated timbers as drive edging. I ended up finding some great looking 6x8x6' treated posts for a great deal, and had 20 tons of recycled asphalt delivered (queue trip #2 to rental location) as well. The result came out nice enough for me, and they say the trick is to wait until mid-august, and then compact it and even seal-coat at that point... Better than grass!
This is the only picture I have of the driveway (I know, I know, "GARAGE Journal", not carport journal...) ...I really should have taken some shots while I was first doing it...
This spring, epoxy floor goes in...
--billyM
...now don't get me wrong, she's a helluva helper, but usually motorized equipment lands on my plate. This was different, she comes out of the door bundled up and says "that looks like fun, can I try it?".
...she took the reins and I didn't get it offered back it until she had trenched the whole way to the garage.
Power is a simple branch (220v) off the main panel running 12ga solid THWN to a disconnect, then in to the garage. As it is only storage, I have kept the design simple with a single outlet at the front corner, one outlet at the garage door opener, and one outlet upstairs. (Any more would have required an entire panel and all the permitting that involves, which was my aim to avoid.)
I also dug a couple of trenches where I planned to put some treated timbers as drive edging. I ended up finding some great looking 6x8x6' treated posts for a great deal, and had 20 tons of recycled asphalt delivered (queue trip #2 to rental location) as well. The result came out nice enough for me, and they say the trick is to wait until mid-august, and then compact it and even seal-coat at that point... Better than grass!
This is the only picture I have of the driveway (I know, I know, "GARAGE Journal", not carport journal...) ...I really should have taken some shots while I was first doing it...
This spring, epoxy floor goes in...
--billyM
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