Any advice on small build

[billfig]

Hey everyone! been checking out your amazing builds! Wow, if I only had the cash flow Anyways, I need space to store a couple cars...prolly in current garage which is 32-34' long in 1 bay. they'll both fit but I would have to make room for lots of stuff that's in the back half. Was thinking of a shed type deal where my patio lays now. It would prolly have to just be a flat room with a small pitch for drainage. It's like 20'x 9'-10'. My deck is 2"x10"fj on 8-4'deep x 10" concrete piers right next to area.

Man, would I love to just have a 3 car where the pool is....

 

[rickairmedic]

Bill welcome to the garage journal and look around a little more . While there are some amazing high dollar joints here . There are alot of us doing up our places on little to no money . I have less than $1000.00 invested in my makeover so far " not counting tools " and have gotten aloooot of free stuff like cabinets along the way which helps the budget . I know Red LEaders 50's craftsman retro retreat is also a low budget build as well. I would love to have a 40 car garage mahal myself but thats going to be a few years down the road .

Rick

 

[billfig]

Yeah can't seem to find to much for this type of expansion? I suppose I would have to have some sort of block foundation with a cement pad?
I found this roof that looks like what I would image on mine.

 

[rickairmedic]

Bill my next question would be what type of stuff you are trying to store ? I would think at the least you would want a concrete pad out there higher than the surrounding ground . I I am considering a similar addition onto my garage currently was actually in a garage yesterday that had a room added onto it the guy had used as his workshop. That gave me even more ambition to do the same to my house to be able to move some of the larger tools out there and give more room to work in my current 2 car garage . I plan to eventually add a 35X45 addition onto the front of my garage but that is still several years off . A smaller say 12 X 20 addition onto the back of the garage however is something I could do myself for a reasonable amount of money .


Rick

 

[billfig]

Yes I would move table saw, a work bench, tool box, an entertainment system and a bunch of storage items in boxes. I suppose I should have it permanently attached to existing garage? would I want to have some sort of block foundation all around it? I've got an overhang/soffet on existing so, would I just plan on slipping/building the roof under that?

 

[rickairmedic]

I think the block foundation would depend on what you do for the floor if you pour a concrete pad level with the garage floor then you might get away with just using PT base plates on the walls . You might want to look at Brentocool's shed build which would be easier to build a little bit away from the garage and not have to worry about tieing the walls or roof into the house .


Rick

 

[billfig]

Yeah I saw his shed, very nice but not what I'm interested in.

 

[Red Leader]

Bill welcome to the garage journal and look around a little more . While there are some amazing high dollar joints here . There are alot of us doing up our places on little to no money . I have less than $1000.00 invested in my makeover so far " not counting tools " and have gotten aloooot of free stuff like cabinets along the way which helps the budget . I know Red LEaders 50's craftsman retro retreat is also a low budget build as well. I would love to have a 40 car garage mahal myself but thats going to be a few years down the road .

Rick

Ahh, tis true, tis true. While others may contemplate over whether to stick a Lambo or a Ferrari in their garage next, I'm deciding on whether to spend $8 buying decal paper or more $.97 rattle cans haha. But you know what, I love it. I'm having so much fun I don't even notice that I don't have a budget for the garage

There are two things that can dictate how you proceed: space and budget. Obviously, if you are working with a small budget you then you can't just go crazy out there, but really, the small budget thing only impacts time, not the result. If you are patient, you can find smoking deals on things to fit your budget or save up over time to get something for your garage and have it turn out the same as someone who had crazy money to spend.

The space thing is the one thing you can't change, unless you build another building, but that gets into the budget thing again, so for now you have to work with the space you have. I say embrace it and get creative! Start thinking of some smart storage ideas with higher up shelving, fold down workbenches, etc. Think of how you can repurpose items. The blessing of a small budget is you have LOTS of time to plan out how you want to do it, which actually can make things turn out a lot better than if you had all the money in the world and did something right away.

 

[bczygan]

Space planning starts with laying out a program. A program is nothing more than a list of needs and wants and a description of existing conditions that you work through to find the best combination of solutions to solve your problems. You balance budgetary and regulatory constraints and space limitations against what you want to accomplish.

First find out your zoning classification and regs. including height and area restrictions, setbacks etc. Then look for existing utility and other easements on your mortgage documents and deed. Look for any deed or home owner association restrictions.
Second, define carefully and completely what functions you want to accomplish with your spaces and how they relate to each other. This should include all the existing spaces. Next allocate the amount of space required for each function and allocate the spaces needed in proper relationship to each other. Then simply provide appropriate structure to surround those spaces.

Avoid the flat roof you are thinking of. You are letting cost considerations drive you toward solutions that will be difficult to drain and protect from weather.

Think in terms of a master plan that can be implemented incrementally as time and budget allow.

You are thinking correctly when you say "I need a space to store some things", or I need a space to set up certain specific shop equipment and use it".

Think next about what the ultimate layout and equipment and storage needed will be.

You will be constrained by what the rules let you do. Maybe the solution will be a stand alone shed for storage and a bump out of the garage for shop space. Maybe it will be the other way around. Maybe a stand alone structure for the extra car will later be a future shed or shop. Define the problem well and the solution will stare you in the face.
If 2 different solutions look like they will be close to the same cost and as satisfactory as each other, do estimates to tie down cost more completely.

If the structure that comes from your planning looks like it doesn't fit well with what is already there, then the solution is a forced one and won't be ideal.

Give us a lot more info and we can work with you to get to where you are going.

Answer some questions for yourself. What DO you have to spend in cold hard cash?
What work will you be willing and able to do to offset labor costs?
What scrounging can you do to get materials?