75-year-old carport

[renatahollenstein]

This over 75-year-old grandfathered-in carport sits only 5 feet off the road next to a 1907 Colonial farmhouse in Traverse City, MI. Grandpa’s 1937 Ford was the first car in a long lineage to find shelter within. We have county approval to renovate this 20’x11’ carport into a garage. We can’t change the footprint or relocate it. We would like to turn it into a squirrel prove, sealed garage, ideally with a concrete floor. We have our own sawmill and a good supply of red pine. Any and all input would be appreciated.

 

[xtremek]

So you can build a new one on the same exact site, and you can increase the overall height of it, but the rest of the dimensions have to stay the same? 10'-12' walls and a steep pitched roof?

 

[Stuart in MN]

He didn't say anything about being able to increase the height but that may have been implied. Having said that the first step I'd take would be to lift it up enough to run a course of concrete block around the bottom, to get the wood up off the ground. It will certainly need some reinforcement of the roof beams as well to get rid of the sag - if you can replace the entire roof structure that would be better and probably simpler in the long run.

 

[Bondo]

We can’t change the footprint or relocate it. We would like to turn it into a squirrel prove, sealed garage, ideally with a concrete floor.

Ayuh,..... Back a trailer or wagon inside, 'n jack it up, on the trailer,.....

Drag it outa the way, 'n pour yer slab,......
When nobody's lookin', build a new garage on yer slab, 'n drag the rotten pos out back, 'n burn it,.....

 

[evintho]

I gotta agree with Bondo^^^.
Get it outta the way (tear it down), pour a slab and build a new one preferably in the style of your 1907 colonial.

 

[Kirkvkid]

Cool back story.

Material costs- cheaper to do what Stuart said and repair
Labor intensity - Your better off doing what Bondo suggested.

I have a smaller machine shed on my property that looks to have been built by the same person, minus the metal on the sides. Only reason my shed is still standing is because it forms part of the fence line for my dog...

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Are there any technicalities that prevent it from being remove and a new structure put in place?
I helped a guy repair an old garage. We starting by putting in a footing and a couple layers of block (raised it). Then replaced each wall (one at a time). Then replaced the roof (including trusses).
Improvements after that were electricity, insulation and interior.

Since it was all repairs it didn't require a permit where it was at.

If he had demoed the building he would have had to do the whole variance, permit and inspection process.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'd be careful about trying to play tricks to replace it altogether - many places have figured that ruse out and won't let you get away with it. Read the fine print in the local regulations first.

 

[PWC Repair]

If it was grandfathered in and only 5ft off the road........I can almost guarantee there's something in print that if over 50% of the structure is damaged there will be no rebuilding allowed. This would also include completely tearing down and rebuilding it. You might even have to rebuild it in stages to sneak around the rules.

 

[renatahollenstein]

Thank you so much for all the insights and suggestions! Looks like I have to investigate if we have to keep the walls or if we can tear them down. I will keep you posted on the project. Glad I found this forum!

 

[Kevin54]

I would fight that **** tooth and nail to build a bigger garage to match the house. Or you could probably buy a 20x12 premanufactured shed and probably be all the permits.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

I love saving old garages... but...
Can you build a new garage elsewhere on the property? I'd do that.

You may also find that once a "historical" building falls down, it's considered gone and you can do whatever you want. That is worth checking into.

Or is the point that you just want to use that location, and can get away with it because of the old building? That's a different story. If so, straighten it out, brace it and jack it up. Search the forum there are lots of examples of this. But be aware that fixing an old building like this is certainly more expensive and harder than just building a new one.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

This guy had a similar project...
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=367287

 

[Bretny]

Being 5ft from the road i wouldnt rebuild it there. Im sure theres a better spot on the property.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Being 5ft from the road i wouldnt rebuild it there. Im sure theres a better spot on the property.

One advantage of a garage close to the road is there's that much less snow to shovel in the winter. Mine is ten feet from the alley and I like it that way - I look at people who have 100 foot long drives, and am very glad I don't have to deal with that every year.

 

[Bretny]

5ft from the road is close enough that the plows snow may be hitting the wall. 10ft in an alley is different.

 

[volleyball]

It's old, we get that. Does that mean much to you?. If so, leave it, maybe do some repairs and go build your garage elsewhere. You are not going to save any money by turning this into a garage.
Maybe the town would work with you and allow you to move this to the back yard out of view and give you a variance to build something nice. I bet your neighbors would sign a petition in your favor. A win win.
If this is just a plan to do this on the cheap, think again

 

[Stuart in MN]

The original poster hasn't said what their reasons are for wanting to keep the structure, so speculating on why is just that...speculation.