25X29 bi-level

[JasonW]

Nice job. Hard to believe that zoning gave you trouble. From the front it looks like any other garage and with the right landscaping no one would know there was a lower level. I really like the idea of the solid poured walls and structural floor. Going to have to keep that in mind.

 

[rkaiser58]

I am sorry I have not posted in a while. Life threw me a couple curves. Lost my job, started my own business, lost my father....and the garage took a back seat. I uploaded the latest pictures. Raised the retaining wall and exterior is finished with solar. Interior has not been touch. Hope to work on that soon. Thanks for viewing.

 

[Sunbimmer]

Welcome back, your garage is looking great Thanks for the update.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Sounds like you have had a tough run lately, all the best for the future..

Many thanks for the update your build looks fantastic.

Regards

 

[TheSwede]

Just registred at this forum and looking at all these fantastic buildings) Great work! Yes, life can hit you hard sometimes, i´ve been there also.
What type of insulation you use? Sprayfoam?

 

[rkaiser58]

Thanks guys. No insulation yet. Just rigged up some lights inside, no sheetrock, heat/air etc. So I have my work cut out for me. Honestly I thought about having it sprayed but I can pick up the roles and do it myself to save some money but I have to research it a lot more.

 

[TheSwede]

ok i see, yes do some research about it. Sprayfoam is an fantastic product, especially if you use both open cell and closed cell in combination. I dont know how cold winters you have where you live but here in north part of sweden where i live we can have more than minus 30 celcius, so we need good insulation! I work with this type of insulation a few times and all i can say is positive.
For example you need just half of thickness compared to traditional products, wich means that you can use less thickness of woodenbeams (cheaper material costs)
You dont need vapor barrier if you use closed cell.
About costs for hire company who comes and spray for you i think will not be any more cost than traditional products in the end.
Dont know how american companies charge per hour but in Sweden most of times customers say that they would never do that work with glasswool and **** when there is sprayfoam.
What you mean with do it yourself? To use sprayfoam takes a lot of expensive machinery and knowledge how to use it.
If you mean to buy those DIY kit on ebay i can save you that money, it is ****! we bought it few years ago to try it, didnt work at all.

 

[dubber]

The fascia of your garage is spot on, really dig the look you created.

 

[brosher]

Looking good. I have a similar slope and am looking to do a similar build, these have been very helpful.

 

[venturesomerite]

Loks great, love the bilevel concept. Waiting to see what you do inside it.


I have the same garage door opener on my shop (12'x12' door)
I hung the auto lock as high as I could off the ground. I figure that someone can easily pull the cord and throw the deadbolt over. A thief might not notice it higher up tucked out of sight. Just a thought.

 

[CNGsaves]

Simply GORGEOUS shop and perfect location in the hill. Having the 2 levels is terrific and makes the garage so much more functional so all the gardening stuff, mowers, etc can be on the lower level.

Keep your spirits up as you've endured a tough run.

Only safety question is whether you'll need a fence to prevent kids from falling over that terrace wall ??

 

[rkaiser58]

Thanks for the comments and support guys, greatly appreciated. I am putting a black aluminum fence along the block wall (I have two small kids so the safety thing crossed my mind too )

 

[rkaiser58]

Some late summer shots.
View media item 64731View media item 54832
The latest update:
Framing out the interior walls of the basement and the bathroom.
Insulating the upstairs area so I can start using my heater.
After I get all my inspections for the basement done, sheetrocking.
Not sure what direction I will take with the basement whether it be a project shop or a lounge.
I just picked up two HD-9XW Bendpak lifts to support storing some vehicles for my new business venture so hopefully will get things moving a little faster. I will try and post more.

* added two windows on the back will update pic

 

[1/2 Cup]

rkaiser58 Wow, that looks stunning..

Thank you for the update..

 

[rkaiser58]

Rear windows.
View media item 65851

 

[rkaiser58]

Thanks, its starting to make some progress again.

rkaiser58 Wow, that looks stunning..

Thank you for the update..

 

[rkaiser58]

Just installed 2 Bendpak HD-9XWs and they are working great. I have the insulation in for the upstairs, and the plumbing set upstairs and down. Waiting on inspections for framing in the basement, plumbing, and then electric before I can close up the walls. Getting there. I was hoping to have the lifts in after I worked out what to do with the floor but I had to get everything inside before the weather gets nasty.

 

[rkaiser58]

A quick shot of the bathroom wall in the basement, will get better pictures tomorrow.

 

[wasfast]

A Lambo, McClaren and an Audi R8......wow.

 

[rkaiser58]

I can truthfully say I did not think my garage would be graced with these cars but after my old man passed I decided to start a second business dealing in exotic car experiences on the east coast. We specialize in rentals, group scenic drives, and track events. Between this and my tech business its been a handful but the good news is it got me back on point for the garage finishing. The weather will be hitting us soon so I have at least 6 cars to store and the detached is taking care of 4. I'll get some pics of the other cars in a few days. (not pictured: Ferrari 458 Italia, Ferrari California, Maserati GT/MC).

A Lambo, McClaren and an Audi R8......wow.

 

[dubber]

I was a fan of the outside..... before you posted the garage contents. Damn thats a nice selection of vehicles. Big fan!

 

[dirt_dobber]

split levels are awesome. great stone work. and dream cars on top of all that!

 

[Boosted1]

Your garage turned out nice. I like the use of a lower level, the exterior look and of course the lifts!
Is your business like Xtreme Xperience? I drove with them at Atlanta Motorsports Park in Oct. 458, 911 and Huracan.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Holy ****.

 

[wasfast]

I'm a big fan of the 458's. Congrats on the new business and continued success in the coming future.

 

[rkaiser58]

The track experience is similar to Xtreme but we are based out of NJ and service the trip-state area. Extreme does only track and travels the country. We also provide street rentals and scenic tours where people drive a series of cars every 30 minutes over a 3-4 hour ride in scenic PA.

Your garage turned out nice. I like the use of a lower level, the exterior look and of course the lifts!
Is your business like Xtreme Xperience? I drove with them at Atlanta Motorsports Park in Oct. 458, 911 and Huracan.

 

[rkaiser58]

Thanks, the 458 is my favorite. It performs on the track and the street and is an all around great ride.

I'm a big fan of the 458's. Congrats on the new business and continued success in the coming future.

 

[ZSetley]

Some late summer shots.
View media item 64731View media item 54832
The latest update:
Framing out the interior walls of the basement and the bathroom.
Insulating the upstairs area so I can start using my heater.
After I get all my inspections for the basement done, sheetrocking.
Not sure what direction I will take with the basement whether it be a project shop or a lounge.
I just picked up two HD-9XW Bendpak lifts to support storing some vehicles for my new business venture so hopefully will get things moving a little faster. I will try and post more.

* added two windows on the back will update pic

RKaiser58 - What do you think the total cost was for the garage - not including the wall and fencing? I'm looking at the possibility of something similar on a hillside next to our home.

Your project is stunning. I joined this forum after finding your posts and really appreciate you sharing your build process!

 

[MINIz guy]

You're too south to work for Gotham Dream Cars, right? I did some work for Rob when I was in college.

 

[rkaiser58]

We are the central area of Jersey so about an hour and a half from NYC. About an hour from Philly.

 

[rkaiser58]

short answer, 60K for the building unfinished inside, doors, door openers, windows, lights. The concrete planks turned out to be a huge savings over a engineered floor but obviously the foundation was more because its 12" thick walls to support them. After everything is all said and done I am into the garage and surrounding landscape etc. 70-80K and have not completed the interiors yet. I am just about finishing my inspections to close the walls, been a long road but its coming along.

 

[Pluribus]

The two-level garage is really cool! Hadn't seen those hollow planks before, so I learned something new today, thanks.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Sweet Jesus! I need to pitch this to the old lady. Mine is freaking cheap in comparison.

 

[Whitey1]

I love this entire build and retaining walls.

 

[benicebr]

looking to break ground in the spring/summer of 2019 on a 45x36 with hollow core planks....how much did the planks cost/what size were yours? how did you fasten your lifts to the planks?

 

[rkaiser58]

Not sure if you already started and completed the job but I bought 4 post lifts to distribute the weight and benpak doesn’t require you to mount them. The planks were 4’ wide by 25’ long. I forget the exact cost per plank but it was way more reasonable then steel work.

 

[rkaiser58]

Been years but going to wrap things up soon.
View media item 103430

 

[mattmountz94]

You built almost exactly what I’m looking to just slightly smaller. How is it holding up?

 

[Blkcweld]

looking to break ground in the spring/summer of 2019 on a 45x36 with hollow core planks....how much did the planks cost/what size were yours? how did you fasten your lifts to the planks?

I did a similar build last year as the prices were just starting to go up. My planks are 12” deep, 4’ wide, 37’ long. I have 8 planks and installed they came to a little over $21K In the Pacific Northwest. I would do it again in a heartbeat for the room underneath. But it does require wider footings and walls on the 2 sides supporting the planks.

 

[rkaiser58]

You built almost exactly what I’m looking to just slightly smaller. How is it holding up?

It has been excellent but I sold the house this past November.