24'x28' Detached, Raising whole structure or???

[Nelkcots]

Hello guys,

It has been awhile since I posted on the forum. Last time I posted I showed some pictures of the race bike shop and my dad's model train garage.

Since that post I posted about moving away and starting a career with John Deere, well that is what I have been up to the last six months or so.

My wife and I just recently bought our first home and it has a 24x28 detached garage. It is ehhh ok at best. The biggest problem I see that needs tackled first is the overall height of the garage. It currently has 6' overhead doors and 7' from concrete to roof joices.

I have done lots of reading on this site and others and am debating if it will be worth it to lift the structure 3' or so. Game plan would be to jack it up and set it down on 3' pre-fabbed walls. I would cut the exterior sheathing up a foot on the old walls so I can overlay new exterior 3/4" plywood by a foot to stop the "hinge" effect.

The garage needs new siding and new doors if I were to finish it anyways as they are just uninsulated fiberglass doors... Wouldn't hold any hear in the Illinois winters.

After that project, next would be to run new electric, insulate, drywall, finish...

I guess my question is do you all think it is worth it to jack the building up if we only plan on staying in this home for 3-4 years? Whats an estimated cost on a project like this, and would a more functional and usable garage increase the home value??

I have a few calls out to contractors to get estimates on this as it may be a little over my head as I don't have access to all the cribbing and jacks. If I were to take the project on I'd be likely using two fork lifts.

Thanks guys, I look forward to hearing some input.

An old drain in the floor

Concrete issues

 

[kbs2244]

Are you sure about the 3 or 4 year time factor?
And how much time do you spend out there?
Personally, I wouldn’t build a “dream” shop for a 4 year life span.

The sad fact is that garages rarely do anything to improve real estate value.
There just are just not that many guys that want anything other than a dry place to park the daily driver.

So, go into this knowing you are spending time and money for your own enjoyment, and not as an investment.
There is nothing wrong with that.
We all do it.
Just go in open eyed.

If you decide to go for it, your plan is good.
Do you homework well and prefab your walls so they fit well.
You want to keep your time in the air to a minimum.