Alabama Build

[Mchele10]

Sometimes good things come to those who wait....I'd like to think so anyway. My wife and I bought this house 12 years ago when we moved back home. We fell in love with the property (it's on 6 wooded acres, on top of a hill), and decided we could deal with the house. Several small things wrong with the house (nothing a complete kitchen and master bath remodel couldn't handle), and one rather major hurdle...no carport/garage/parking area....at all!!
So the kitchen and master bath are now complete, well close anyway.....so now time to tackle the garage!
We thought long and hard about building an attached garage, but with the slope of the land it was getting cost prohibitive, not to mention the fact that we really wanted to keep the view out of the sun room and family room, which is the only place we could figure out where to attach one. So we decided a detached garage would be perfect!
First thing was to clear some trees, so we could build a pad to put the garage on. Did I say we are on a wooded lot??!!

Conscripting our son to help out since he was home for a couple of days.....cheap labor.

The big trees after being topped out by a professional crew. Trying to keep from hitting some of the other trees, and not harm them. They were only partially successful on that front!!

Ready to take down the big ones....and I'm trying to lend a little help. Didn't get very far!!

 

[luv2xlr8]

looks like a good start! what part of bama are you in?

 

[Mchele10]

Thanks luv2xlr8, we're just west of Prattville, near Montgomery. I'll post more pics this evening sometime.

 

[luv2xlr8]

Ahh, I live down in Mobile. I hate going through Montgomery though, every time I go through there, there's always a roadwork mess on the interstate.

 

[Mchele10]

Yea, we avoid Montgomery as much as we can. It's always a mess!! We lived in Memphis before moving back home... and I have to say that is much worse. Sad part is I still work out of Memphis, just don't have to stay there!!

 

[Mchele10]

Here's a few more pics of the pad preparation! I'll try to keep it short, because between my wife and I, we're taking a bunch of pics! Nothing to do with being excited about it!! This was the first tree down:

Then no. 5:

The real Inspector on the project lending some perspective to the stump:

Starting to smooth the 15 loads of dirt we had brought in:

 

[rustyproject]

Hey don't avoid Montgomery. Go to the cruise in on last Sat of month. Usually a good mix of rods and muscle cars. Lots of good guys with some unbelievable shops. I lived in Montgomery for 12 years. I still miss all the activities.You have to go to the air show at Maxwell. Really good show. If your in Prattville go to the muscle car shop right off the interstate. I was there a few weeks ago. Friend took me to see a unrestored hemi Belvedere,GTO rag top, Big block Biscane and some cool rare parts. If you are a woodworker Woodcraft Supply is in Pelham just north of you.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Very cool. Glad to have you here on G.J. !

I'm in Tuscaloosa, so not too far away.

 

[regguy1]

Keep the photos coming as you progress

 

[Mchele10]

Thanks, hopefully these will turn out so that people can see them....we have alot.

 

[Mchele10]

Displaced Hokie, I drive thru Tuscaloosa on average twice a month, and really like the "feel" of the town. NOW I'll say I'm an AU grad, soooooo. Still, I like it!! Thanks for the comments!!

 

[Mchele10]

Rustyproject,
Saving your reply for last. Thanks for the comments on Montgomery, cause even though we (both my better half & I avoid it, like any big city), we still really enjoy living down here!! I was flying in the Navy for 7 yrs., and brought an A-7E to the Maxwell airshow in 83' (I'm dating myself I realize)!! I also brought a personal military trainer to the show in 94', and both times had an outstanding experience Sooooo, as you've noticed, I have no intention of going anywhere else. I'll post a picture of the plane I displayed in 94', I still miss owning that one. Sold it to pay for our son's tickets so he could fly. He flies seaplanes down in the Miami area.
Thanks again. This journal has been a lot of fun, just for all the great members. I've been with it for about 6 yrs, under different names. Just got around to a build....

 

[Mchele10]

I'm trying to get the photo's down to a size that they will show on the page w/out having to "click" on them. Gee, does it show I haven't posted much....
First pic is of the "FIRST" pad. The company (guys) our builder contracted to clear the land and build the pad were not the most attentive to details!!! It took them two weeks, 5 extra trees, and another 3 loads of dirt to get the pad correct!! The rest of the photo's are when they were finished, and we started preparing for the pour....

Then they started building for the footing:

The pad is finally ready, and the forms have been built:

 

[regguy1]

I'm trying to get the photo's down to a size that they will show on the page w/out having to "click" on them. Gee, does it show I haven't posted much....
First pic is of the "FIRST" pad. The company (guys) our builder contracted to clear the land and build the pad were not the most attentive to details!!! It took them two weeks, 5 extra trees, and another 3 loads of dirt to get the pad correct!! The rest of the photo's are when they were finished, and we started preparing for the pour....

http://i923.photobucket.com/albums/ad74/Mchele10/Garage Build/A-FirstPad.jpg

Then they started building for the footing:

http://i923.photobucket.com/albums/ad74/Mchele10/Garage Build/B-SecondPad.jpg

The pad is finally ready, and the forms have been built:

http://i923.photobucket.com/albums/ad74/Mchele10/Garage Build/C-Readytopour.jpg

Be Sure the concrete is thick enough...you may want to put a lift in

 

[SiGmA_X]

Looks like its going to be a good build. Can you put "[ img ]" before the URL's and "[ / img ]" after, without the spaces? It will display the image in the post.

 

[mustangmccance]

actually all you have to do in photobucket is click on the picture then at the top there is a tab that says share. click on get link code,

a dialog box will show this.

IMG for bulletin boards & forums
? Full size
copy what the code after full size and paste it in your reply and it will show up great.

btw what size building are you putting up and give us some of the details, wood, metal, used only for parking cars, wood shop, resto shop etc.

keep up the good work.

 

[Mchele10]

Thanks for all the comments...and the help with the pics. As you can see, it helped.
The building is going to be a wood w/ vinyl siding to match our house. It's dimensions will be 32' x 36' interior, so outside the builder is making it 33' x 37' with 10' ceilings. We thought about higher ceilings because I did tell them that I wanted a lift in it, but we didn't want to lose to much of the view.
So more pics. The pour begins:

Smoothing:

And keeping the pad wet:

 

[green.bubbly]

Great pics, keep them coming. Do your have figures on slab cost that you would like to share?

 

[Mchele10]

green.bubbly, unfortunately no as that was rolled into the cost of the building. I have no idea without asking the builder to break it down.

 

[Mchele10]

My wife got a big kick out of this truck, which to her looked like a wasp. We had three truck loads of concrete before the pour was finished.

They smoothed the pour, then put a taper in the concrete around where each of the doors are going to go. I forgot to mention that we plan on having three doors in the garage, two 12' x 8' doors on the front, and a 9' x 8' door on the back. I'm going to build a parking pad in the back.

The garage will be strictly for working on and parking cars. Then I'll have a smaller building in the back (next to the parking pad) for lawn equipment.

The last part of the pour was cutting grooves in the concrete for expansion, and to stop any cracks from spreading through the entire slab.

 

[g9m3c]

we're just west of Prattville, near Montgomery.

I'm in Tuscaloosa, so not too far away.

Hello from another Tuscaloosa member. The project looks like it is shaping up quite nicely.

 

[Bib Overalls]

I forgot to mention that we plan on having three doors in the garage, two 12' x 8' doors on the front, and a 9' x 8' door on the back.

Having a door in back will give you flow through ventilation if the orientation is right. A big plus in the hot and humid South.

The garage will be strictly for working on and parking cars. Then I'll have a smaller building in the back (next to the parking pad) for lawn equipment.

I put up a 30' x 40' building ten years ago. I just started the dirt work to build a 16' x 20' shed for the yard, pool, and wood working stuff. Take my word for it, dirt, grass clippings, bulk corrosive chemicals, and saw dust have no place in a mechanical work shop. You have a good plan.

 

[Mchele10]

The build progresses. Started framing in:

The first wall goes up:

The second wall going up:

Two walls up:

The basic shape is up....and then they ran out of lumber:

 

[Interex]

Looking forward to seeing this build. Subscribed!

 

[Mchele10]

Bib Overalls: The ventilation is one of the reasons for the door on the back, plus being able to drive through to the pad in back. We are also planning on a light metal roof to keep the heat down, as I don't plan on putting a/c in. Looking forward to the "yard barn" in the back, but I'm probably going to do that myself with the wood from the deck when we tear it down. We are going to make a courtyard type area between the house and the garage where the deck is now. See the snakes better that way. We have 33 acres behind us undeveloped, so I kill an average of 3 snakes a year.....and I've only gotten one this year so far!!

 

[Mchele10]

Short aside-- I was running this morning in Aguidilla, Puerto Rico (west end of the island), when I took a picture of this guys jeep. I've been admiring it for some time when he has his garage door open, and usually he's working on it. But this morning he had it pulled out. Couldn't resist stopping and taking a pic to post. Thought some of you would get a kick out of it:

Also this is for Rustyproject. In an earlier post I mentioned a picture of the airplane I took to the 94' airshow in Montgomery...actually upon thinking about it, I'm pretty sure it was the 99', not the 94'. Anyway, here's the pic:

 

[Firefighter315]

Mchele, those look like the tall and straight ash trees that cover our 5 acres! Already had around 150' back into the lot cleared after moving in (left several very large specimens) but will be clearing quite a bit more in the near future for a (hopefully) not far behind detached shop build too. Great photos on the progress! Keep 'em comin'!

 

[Bib Overalls]

The vehicle is a M151 MUTT and technically not a "Jeep". The owner is lucky to have it. Very few made it into civilian hands. Love to have one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M151_MUTT

 

[408Chevelle]

First of all, nice build! Being on a wooded lot is always a plus.

Short aside-- I was running this morning in Aguidilla, Puerto Rico...

Isn't is strange how many cool old cars are in Puerto Rico!? I spent some time in Rincon last year and saw more original '55-'57 Chevys than I have ever seen in the States.

 

[rowdyhillrambler]

No wonder you look so fit, you ran all the way from Alabama to Puerto Rico, and you pushed over that big *** tree!!! Really though, you have a beautiful place and good luck.

Short aside-- I was running this morning in Aguidilla, Puerto Rico (west end of the island), when I took a picture of this guys jeep. I've been admiring it for some time when he has his garage door open, and usually he's working on it. But this morning he had it pulled out. Couldn't resist stopping and taking a pic to post. Thought some of you would get a kick out of it:

[

 

[Nighttrain]

Aguadilla! Awsome, I lived there for three yrs. Those are old Ramey AFB houses that jeep is at. Never saw that jeep but there are old cars that guys have handed down for years to other military guys moving to the base. Do you fly for FED-EX?

 

[Mchele10]

Mchele, those look like the tall and straight ash trees that cover our 5 acres! Already had around 150' back into the lot cleared after moving in (left several very large specimens) but will be clearing quite a bit more in the near future for a (hopefully) not far behind detached shop build too. Great photos on the progress! Keep 'em comin'!

When we started cutting down the trees for the build, we quickly figured out that most of them (trees on our property) are hickory trees with a good sprinkling of oak in there. The owner of a local barbecue place was informed we were cutting them down, and quickly jumped on it. Thanks

 

[Mchele10]

The vehicle is a M151 MUTT and technically not a "Jeep". The owner is lucky to have it. Very few made it into civilian hands. Love to have one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M151_MUTT

Thanks so much for the info, and I stand corrected!! It was very interesting reading the wiki write up on it. I'm hoping he'll be out next time I'm down there so I can ask him questions about.

 

[Mchele10]

No wonder you look so fit, you ran all the way from Alabama to Puerto Rico, and you pushed over that big *** tree!!! Really though, you have a beautiful place and good luck.

Short aside-- I was running this morning in Aguidilla, Puerto Rico (west end of the island), when I took a picture of this guys jeep. I've been admiring it for some time when he has his garage door open, and usually he's working on it. But this morning he had it pulled out. Couldn't resist stopping and taking a pic to post. Thought some of you would get a kick out of it:

[

Thanks for the comment......but I mostly stay in shape to keep up with my better half.

 

[Mchele10]

Aguadilla! Awsome, I lived there for three yrs. Those are old Ramey AFB houses that jeep is at. Never saw that jeep but there are old cars that guys have handed down for years to other military guys moving to the base. Do you fly for FED-EX?

Yeah I do!!! We stay in the old hospital that's been renovated to a Courtyard Marriott. The MUTT is on the street right behind the hotel. So I gather that you were in the Coast Guard (couldn't have anything to do with your avatar). You still in?

 

[Mchele10]

Sooo, where was I.....oh yea, the build. The basic frame is up, and they started putting in the headers, and bracing it to get it square. Then the sheathing started going up:

The next morning the trusses showed up. The truck came around the driveway, and I kept looking for a crane to show up, but it never did. The driver stepped out and asked the crew if they had a chain, which of course no one did, so I volunteered mine. This is where it got interesting. They hooked the chain around the end (you can see it at the bottom of the first pic), then around a small tree. Then proceeded to start driving out from under it. Remember I mentioned will live on a hill? Well as the trusses started coming off the truck, they also slid sideways, and everyone gasped seeing disaster in the making. Luckily they slid off and stood up straight against another tree, which kept them from falling down into the woods. Enough narrative, here's the pics:

 

[Nighttrain]

They could have not planned a better off load of those trusses could they? Your build is coming along very nice.

I retired last year but am still flying helicopters. I was at Ramey when they first started to re-build the hospital. One of the guys that worked for me was born at that hospital.

Keep up the pictures!

 

[jktruck150]

Good luck with the hillside shop build! I am from southern AL (Fairhope to be exact), but live in MS now (by way of Memphis, north and south GA, Nashville, TN and Bowling Green,KY). Its a small world, cause I bet we both know another pilot for Fed-Ex out of Memphis, and if you get back down to Puerto Rico, try the Medalla light.

After all that icebreaker, what fun cars/toys do you get to work on? or is it giong to be daily driver storage? Can't wait to see more pics!

 

[Mchele10]

Good luck with the hillside shop build! I am from southern AL (Fairhope to be exact), but live in MS now (by way of Memphis, north and south GA, Nashville, TN and Bowling Green,KY). Its a small world, cause I bet we both know another pilot for Fed-Ex out of Memphis, and if you get back down to Puerto Rico, try the Medalla light.

After all that icebreaker, what fun cars/toys do you get to work on? or is it giong to be daily driver storage? Can't wait to see more pics!

Thanks for the post. I'm betting we do know another pilot for FedEx, problem is there are a bunch of them. Had the Medalla today compliments of Miguel when I got into Borenquen (got it all month, my wife is going to kill me since she reads all these!!!). I prefer the Old Harbor "Krofresi" from the San Juan brewery!! One of the advantages of our job is sampling all the brews from around the world. I like a lot of them, but I'm partial to Portland Or. brews......
Why do you think I run.....health????....Hah!!!

 

[Mchele10]

The trusses showed up, and then the crew started loading them onto the frame. Put some 2 x 4's on the side of the garage to slide them up,,, and:

Stacked about 7 of them up there, then slid the far gable end up, and set it in place.

Squared that one up, then put the subsequent trusses in place: