To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Above 1200 Sq/FT Blue Bomber's Garages

Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

captain14

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2012
Messages
7,040
Location
Near College Park Maryland 20740
That’s sheer determination or will power to be up there laying shingles as a homeowner in the dark. About 6 hours too.

Good luck and stay safe up there on the ladders. Don’t rush to get it done.
 

C_F

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Jan 21, 2005
Messages
9,675
Location
Utah...SNOW BLOWS!
Total determination, wow! I bet your back was killing you after doing all those...mine is killing me just reading that post. :lol:
 
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
When the weather for Saturday was forecasted to be both warm (nearly 60 around Boston) and dry, SWMBO gave me a kitchen pass from family activities to finish shingling the garage roof while Mother Nature was cooperating. This time, I got to work in the daylight!

67e421b777623f45e4c32d7f32dd4563.jpg8a04ebffe11d3cca22970bc1bbc3cf41.jpg85f738986b3e4028709b0ee5a1588886.jpg91eb65ba17fbc16a4f059277b3951d4e.jpg

I realized during the day that, given the pitch of the roof and the slope of the land down away from the garage, there is no angle from the ground that provides enough standoff to detect any mistakes in my shingle courses. This should be considered a blessing, but I'm kinda bummed, as I think I did a pretty good job keeping them parallel. My estate-sale-found crowntop Craftsman chalk line helped keep me straight.

ee7f844c0af4544d514aa88b491251be.jpg
c6215058b4620a465ba59c64cf17c454.jpg

I reached the peak just as the sun was setting and discovered I would need another half-course on each side to properly tuck up under the ridge vent (so, 18 shingles cut length-wise). After then calculating how many shingles I would have to cut to make the tabs for the top of the vent (56 tabs), I was a little forlorn about the amount of utility knife work I was in for. However, being both a lazy and a clever man, I whipped out my phone and googled around for a better idea. I discovered I could cut the asphalt shingles on my table saw if I used an old, wide-toothed, carbide-tipped blade that I was prepared to sacrifice. Turns out, I had just such a blade. After setting my fence, I cut the shingles in stacks of 5 and 6 and was done in less than 10 minutes. Pro tip: wear a full face shield to protect yourself from flying shingle bits--they sting!

After returning to the roof with floodlight in hand, I discovered the roofing nails I had for the nail gun where not long enough to go through the vent and bite into the roof sheathing. I had no other roofing nails in my stash, so I secured the ridge vent with some galvanized framing nails and called it a night. I guess I'll have to make another trip to the hardware store.

Yesterday the garage door openers arrived, thanks to Amazon Prime. I still need to order the garage doors, but I'll have to go into Home Depot to place that order, as the on-line app doesn't have the high-lift kit I'll need to keep the garage door up and away from where I'll install the lift. I also need to order my vinyl siding in person anyway, get a man-door, and a few other things, I'm sure. Like a box of 2" roofing nails...

e59c0706d827dafe1e7532c399994530.jpg

Thanks for all the accolades and encouragement! It really helps to keep forward progress when you're accountable to a group of like-minded garage fans.

Happy Thanksgiving, all!
 

Attachments

  • e59c0706d827dafe1e7532c399994530.jpg
    e59c0706d827dafe1e7532c399994530.jpg
    104.3 KB · Views: 1
  • c6215058b4620a465ba59c64cf17c454.jpg
    c6215058b4620a465ba59c64cf17c454.jpg
    127.4 KB · Views: 1
  • ee7f844c0af4544d514aa88b491251be.jpg
    ee7f844c0af4544d514aa88b491251be.jpg
    96.3 KB · Views: 1
  • 91eb65ba17fbc16a4f059277b3951d4e.jpg
    91eb65ba17fbc16a4f059277b3951d4e.jpg
    172.3 KB · Views: 1
  • 85f738986b3e4028709b0ee5a1588886.jpg
    85f738986b3e4028709b0ee5a1588886.jpg
    175.5 KB · Views: 1
  • 8a04ebffe11d3cca22970bc1bbc3cf41.jpg
    8a04ebffe11d3cca22970bc1bbc3cf41.jpg
    191.2 KB · Views: 2
  • 67e421b777623f45e4c32d7f32dd4563.jpg
    67e421b777623f45e4c32d7f32dd4563.jpg
    209.6 KB · Views: 2
Last edited:

tacomanh

New member
Joined
Mar 23, 2011
Messages
3
BlueBomber, the garage looks great! I love the DIY approach as that is how I like to do most things, even those outside of my wheelhouse. I am looking to build a similar garage in New Hampshire and I am trying to DIY it, just new to a project to this scale. I have built sheds, decks, etc. and I am pretty handy. A couple of questions if you don't mind:

- How complete are the plans? Do they list all aspects of the building from spacing to materials and foundation specs, etc.? I can follow a set of plans as I have basic construction understanding.
- Did you just hand the plans to the concrete guy? I am looking to put a two post lift in as well. How did you measure where the posts will go for those footings?
- I may have missed it but did you use 2x4's or 2x6's? I am going to insulate mine and heat it and just want to make sure I go the right route for NH, which is the same for you in the Boston area.

Again, love the garage build and followed along the way. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

Chris
 
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
Looking forward to watching you dress out the garage after you get buttoned up.

Thanks, Jake. Things may slow down quite a bit once it's buttoned up.

BlueBomber, the garage looks great! I love the DIY approach as that is how I like to do most things, even those outside of my wheelhouse. I am looking to build a similar garage in New Hampshire and I am trying to DIY it, just new to a project to this scale. I have built sheds, decks, etc. and I am pretty handy. A couple of questions if you don't mind:

Thanks, tacomanh! This is my first major structure as well, but like you, I can follow a set of plans pretty well.

- How complete are the plans? Do they list all aspects of the building from spacing to materials and foundation specs, etc.? I can follow a set of plans as I have basic construction understanding.

The plans I bought were very detailed and did list every bit of the build. I did have to know enough about local requirements (depth of frost line for foundation footers, snow load spec for roof trusses, etc), but in both of those cases, the foundation guy and roof truss guy were already knowledgable of those specs. The only thing missing from the plans was the materials required to brace the trusses. Not unexpected, though, because the truss designer is the one who specs what bracing is required. The only thing I added to the design was the extra blocking between the trusses to better support the edges of the Zip panel sheathing.

- Did you just hand the plans to the concrete guy? I am looking to put a two post lift in as well. How did you measure where the posts will go for those footings?

Yep, that's exactly what I did. Emailed a pictured, in fact. I received two quotes and hired the slightly more expensive guy because I got a good vibe from him on the phone. As for the lift, I checked a couple of manufacturers floor specs, and for lifts under 12,000 lb ratings, Bendpak and Atlas don't require a floor any thicker than 4". The area I dug out for the extra inch was guestimated from a layout for a two post asymmetric lift on one of the company's web sites. However, if I'm off a little bit, I'm not worried. Between the wire mesh and the fiber mix I spec'd for the slab, it should be strong enough.

- I may have missed it but did you use 2x4's or 2x6's? I am going to insulate mine and heat it and just want to make sure I go the right route for NH, which is the same for you in the Boston area.

I built my walls from 10' 2x4s. If I had it to do again, I'd think real hard about using 2x6s. Not just for insulation purposes (my garage will be unheated for a while) but for structural rigidity. When I'm on a ladder propped against the middle of my long walls, I feel a little "spring" in the walls. Nothing egregious, just not "rock solid".

Again, love the garage build and followed along the way. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

Chris

Thanks again, Chris. Good luck with getting your build started, and feel free to stop in again with any questions.
 
Last edited:
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
I squeezed in a little more midnight roofing and got the ridge vent shingles nailed down. Now the only shingle work left is to trim 72 linear feet of shingle edges.

I'd like to do that with a power tool, but I don't own a shingle shear and unlike the roofing nail gun, I can't justify the expense for this one job. Any ideas out there?5d74ed437f38f0c9c8823e5097dd1d4f.jpg46d6574a92a18ac065ae43e60a1a6937.jpg

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • 5d74ed437f38f0c9c8823e5097dd1d4f.jpg
    5d74ed437f38f0c9c8823e5097dd1d4f.jpg
    81.3 KB · Views: 2
  • 46d6574a92a18ac065ae43e60a1a6937.jpg
    46d6574a92a18ac065ae43e60a1a6937.jpg
    80.7 KB · Views: 2

jakemac

Well-known member
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
9,035
Location
New England
I squeezed in a little more midnight roofing and got the ridge vent shingles nailed down. Now the only shingle work left is to trim 72 linear feet of shingle edges.

I'd like to do that with a power tool, but I don't own a shingle shear and unlike the roofing nail gun, I can't justify the expense for this one job. Any ideas out there?
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk


A cheap (relative) electric metal shear and a guide ????
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-gauge-4-amp-heavy-duty-metal-shears-62213.html
 

captain14

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2012
Messages
7,040
Location
Near College Park Maryland 20740
I’m glad to see the weather cooperated with you for the roof shingles. You know the shingle line is straight so that’s all that matters .

Now for the safety question of the day. Were both of the ladders shown in the daylight shingle Installation pictures fully extended? In the fire service, we like to have 3-5 rungs above the roof line to make it so much easier to mount and dismount from the ladder to the roof. Plus it makes It easier to spot if you have to leave quickly. Thanks

After you get it weather tight, I think you’ve earned a break to spend time with the SWMBO.
 
Last edited:
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA

Assuming your compressor is up for the task, you could go pnuematic: http://www.grizzly.com/products/Pneumatic-Sheet-Metal-Shear/T23094

~Jon

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

Thanks, gents! I found a comparable pneumatic shear on Amazon that can guarantee delivery (via Prime) by Friday.

I’m glad to see the weather cooperated with you for the roof shingles. You know the shingle line is straight so that’s all that matters .

Now for the safety question of the day. Were both of the ladders shown in the daylight shingle Installation pictures fully extended? In the fire service, we like to have 3-5 rungs above the roof line to make it so much easier to mount and dismount from the ladder to the roof. Plus it makes It easier to spot if you have to leave quickly. Thanks

After you get it weather tight, I think you’ve earned a break to spend time with the SWMBO.

So, ah, no, I didn't extend my ladder the recommended distance above the roof line. I have a ladder stabilizer at the top of one of my extension ladders, and I used that one to avoid crushing the newly installed drip edge. As is, I only have one wrung above the roofline. I was very conscious of the safety limitation and deliberately slowed down when entering or exiting the ladder top.

I also agree that SWMBO and I need some time. This weekend will be focused on getting her yard ready for winter (leaves, Christmas lights, etc). However, some time NOT doing yard and garage duties is in order as well.
 
Last edited:

old__man

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 29, 2017
Messages
294
Location
Gander, Canada
I squeezed in a little more midnight roofing and got the ridge vent shingles nailed down. Now the only shingle work left is to trim 72 linear feet of shingle edges.

I'd like to do that with a power tool, but I don't own a shingle shear and unlike the roofing nail gun, I can't justify the expense for this one job. Any ideas out

A couple other solutions come to mind.
1) get a roofing blade or roofing knife. It is a blade that fits in most utility knives and will work better than a straight blade.

230058.jpg


2) Get an oscillating tool if you don't already have one, that should be easy to justify. and get one of these attachments.

osl138k_Hero.png


It's what I did. It only had problems when it had to go through two shingles of the really thick part of the architectural style shingles.
 
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
No garage progress to report this week. I did buy the above sheet metal shear, but first put it to work trimming singles on an Eagle Scout project today. Matt was one of the crowd that came out to help lift my trusses, so I returned the favor by helping to put a roof on the storage shed he's building for one of the local crew organizations.

The sheet metal shear works okay for trimming shingles, but doesn't quite have enough jaw opening to handle the overlapping layers of an architectural shingle. I think I can make it work on my own garage. I'll try it out next weekend.

Oh, and my junk is already migrating into the new garage as I cleaned up SWMBO's bay so that she could get her car into the heated garage. I guess I ought to get the doors and windows in to make more, I don't know, secure....weathertight...all of the above...? Soon.
 
Last edited:
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
i got a couple them crown top chalk lines. oh yea, nice job.
Thanks, wrenchguy. I hope to get some door and window work done this weekend. I may also put that chalk line to work if the temps get high enough to tempt me up on the ladder to trim the shingles.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
We'll, I managed to squeeze in a little work on the garage as temps rose briefly above freezing this week.

d7347cb47712b726ce5f1ca273d8d8bc.jpgef377db0d2d401e7ff7a437d21906a89.jpg

Windows are in on both side walls. I started framing the door opening, and went on a buying spree for the vinyl siding, garage doors and vinyl trim materials. Depending on temps tomorrow, I may try to get either the man door installed or take a stab at starting the siding.
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • d7347cb47712b726ce5f1ca273d8d8bc.jpg
    d7347cb47712b726ce5f1ca273d8d8bc.jpg
    146 KB · Views: 1
  • ef377db0d2d401e7ff7a437d21906a89.jpg
    ef377db0d2d401e7ff7a437d21906a89.jpg
    107.9 KB · Views: 1
Last edited:

old__man

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 29, 2017
Messages
294
Location
Gander, Canada
Depending on temps tomorrow, I may try to get either the man door installed or take a stab at starting the siding.
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I discovered the hard way that how I cut siding in warm weather and how I had to cut siding in the cooler temps was quite different.
 
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
I discovered the hard way that how I cut siding in warm weather and how I had to cut siding in the cooler temps was quite different.

Care to share your technique? I am currently storing the siding in my other heated garage and plan to cut it in there and take it out to the building.

How did you do it?
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

old__man

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 29, 2017
Messages
294
Location
Gander, Canada
Care to share your technique? I am currently storing the siding in my mother heated garage and plan to cut it in there and take it out to the building.

How did you do it?

I used two different siding colours and they behaved differently as well. When it got cooler I had to be a lot more careful and gentle. Especially when using a utility knife.

That being said, my primary cutting method was using a 12" mitre saw with the factory blade on straight. I would just drag the blade back as oppose to dragging it forward. This is not the accepted technique but it seemed to work quite well for me. Coldest I worked in was about 45F maybe with all materials stored outside. .

Your technique sounds much more reasonable.
 
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
Christmas presents at my parent's place--they know me well!0f1cf598f13c85fa9d1b939acba73701.jpg

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • 0f1cf598f13c85fa9d1b939acba73701.jpg
    0f1cf598f13c85fa9d1b939acba73701.jpg
    98.2 KB · Views: 2
Last edited:
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
Snowing again, temps aren't going to get above freezing again for a while. So, instead of working on the garage, I'm doodling designs for the workbench and storage mezzanine.

e2e2b7dc8e9cd4998b064816a700a37b.jpg

The workbench will stretch just over 17 feet from the back right corner of the garage. I'm planning on a height of about 40" above the slab and a depth of 30 inches from the studs. The work surface will be oak butcher block that I'll assemble from old oak fence boards I salvaged from my parents' farm in Virginia. I'm also seriously thinking about putting a pair of Harbor Freight 44" tool chests under the section between the two windows for plentiful small tool storage.

Overhead, a pair of 6x6 posts will support a beam of triple 2x6s that will in turn support a 5-ft wide mezzanine that will provide access to a bank of 2-ft deep by 4-ft wide storage shelves. With the 13'-4.5" ceilings, I should have just over 6.5 ft of head room under the cantilevered mezzanine joists and just over 6 ft of headroom on the balcony of the mezzanine. Fortunately, that matches my height perfectly.

For access to the mezzanine, I'm thinking of one of those rolling library type ladders, although I may just build a fold-up ladder on the end facing the door.

All just day dreaming until it gets warmer outside....or until those Harbor Freight boxes go on sale again. :)
 

Attachments

  • e2e2b7dc8e9cd4998b064816a700a37b.jpg
    e2e2b7dc8e9cd4998b064816a700a37b.jpg
    46.1 KB · Views: 2
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
Good suggestion, Jake. I do want enough tread to support a body carrying a load up there, which argues for a wider tread and more run than a straight up ladder.

In other news, look what came in the mail today...9cbdb7db6e5d9e5a8ba4c527e95b1516.jpg

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • 9cbdb7db6e5d9e5a8ba4c527e95b1516.jpg
    9cbdb7db6e5d9e5a8ba4c527e95b1516.jpg
    90.7 KB · Views: 1
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
I'm satisfied with the twice-monthly catalog by mail. I've got too much **** in my garage already--partly why I'm building the second one!

Of course I also have about a dozen toolboxes I've collected over the last two years, thanks to the Garage Sale thread. If I were really dedicated to them, I'd find a way to use them instead of shelling out $700 on new imports.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
With temps well below freezing, I turned to an indoor project in the top of the old garage (where there's heat!).

The second floor of the old garage is a partially finished rec room, 25' x 36', drywalled and painted with flooring down, but a big open floor plan. We've got a curb-picked big screen projection tv and our old living room sectional up there, but we want to add a bathroom, kitchen and a Murphy bed and turn it into an efficiency apartment/visiting family suite. Today, I started on the storage room that will hide all the camping gear and also serve as the wall for the Murphy bed.

Here's the corner where I'll build a 7' x 9' storage closet to enclose all that gear you see there.

deffeab83d390ffb6608854f6fbe1830.jpgecc77ed7d45a77a7cd3d8bc50bf33c03.jpg

The first step was to cut out the vinyl flooring where the walls will go. I laid out the bottom 2x4 plates and traced the wall outline. A few cuts with the circular saw set to a 1/4" depth and some follow-up with a utility knife got it done.

3982f53a8a2dd0fb25d2061628f548a6.jpgc5c85baf673490bc3190bddb80e24663.jpg

Next was framing the walls. Here's an in-progress shot....

3372249d57d5bcf5ba0de2efdc0c8a6e.jpg

...and framing done.

ca1136927338aab86353b43345a650d2.jpg

Tomorrow, I'll move on to drywall, door installation and electrical.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • deffeab83d390ffb6608854f6fbe1830.jpg
    deffeab83d390ffb6608854f6fbe1830.jpg
    96.5 KB · Views: 1
  • ca1136927338aab86353b43345a650d2.jpg
    ca1136927338aab86353b43345a650d2.jpg
    97.6 KB · Views: 1
  • 3372249d57d5bcf5ba0de2efdc0c8a6e.jpg
    3372249d57d5bcf5ba0de2efdc0c8a6e.jpg
    90.8 KB · Views: 1
  • c5c85baf673490bc3190bddb80e24663.jpg
    c5c85baf673490bc3190bddb80e24663.jpg
    113.3 KB · Views: 1
  • 3982f53a8a2dd0fb25d2061628f548a6.jpg
    3982f53a8a2dd0fb25d2061628f548a6.jpg
    112 KB · Views: 1
  • ecc77ed7d45a77a7cd3d8bc50bf33c03.jpg
    ecc77ed7d45a77a7cd3d8bc50bf33c03.jpg
    119.8 KB · Views: 1
Last edited:
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
My son joined me (probably because SWMBO told him to) and we got the drywall cut, mounted and mudded. I decided to hold off mounting the door because it would cramp up the already crowded room. I'm also holding off the electrical until I get a proper breaker box for the second floor circuits.

Uh, measure once, cut once, curse twice, cut a patch panel, knowing I'll hide the mistake with mud and a Murphy bed.b3b647f2f50495a01c45dedf142fedc3.jpg

Here's the finished drywall with the first layer of mud....

d80194ab4326cdca49abeb5d653461cf.jpg

...and an interior shot. So far, so good!

24b2be9c39adc28f139dba03474a6aae.jpg

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • d80194ab4326cdca49abeb5d653461cf.jpg
    d80194ab4326cdca49abeb5d653461cf.jpg
    64.2 KB · Views: 1
  • b3b647f2f50495a01c45dedf142fedc3.jpg
    b3b647f2f50495a01c45dedf142fedc3.jpg
    44.4 KB · Views: 1
  • 24b2be9c39adc28f139dba03474a6aae.jpg
    24b2be9c39adc28f139dba03474a6aae.jpg
    37.3 KB · Views: 1
Last edited:
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
Win some lose some. You remember the measure twice cut once until you forget it again.

Quick work on a Sunday by 1600 hours. Drafted labor is great isn’t it?
Thanks, cap'. My indentured labor goes back to school next weekend, so I'm going to lay out the sanding tools for him to use during the week.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
I spent this weekend tidying up the old garage and doing some automotive maintenance.

First up was moving the to-be-restored Impala out of warm storage and into the new garage so that I could get the Mustang in its place and bedded down for the winter. Thankfully, my son was still home from college, and helped me heave-ho the old beast out the door, across the new asphalt and backed into the new garage.

Next, my wife and I went to pick up the Mustang from the Ford dealership. I had them install a new a/c compressor, condensor and filter because that's what you need working in the middle of winter! No, it was really just the culmination of some DIY maintenance gone bad and I just decided to pay my way out of it. The Mustang is now ensconced in the far bay heated garage and covered to slumber through winter.

Finally, the Silverado was next. Back during the holidays, I high-pointed the muffler on a log while backing a load of brush into the treeline at my parent's farm in Virginia. The pressure snapped a band on one joint in front of the muffler and and snapped a bolt on the stainless steel flange on another. The resulting exhaust leak sounded cool for the first couple of hours, but now is a total buzz kill on my daily driver. To fix the problem, I had to break out most every advanced tool in the garage: lift, impact wrench, pneumatic hammer, gear puller (repurposed to remove the rubber muffler hangers from their hangers), come-along, BFH, sawzall, and even the plasma torch! And I'm still not done. The back half of the exhaust is lying on the garage floor, finally ready to go back in, but first I need to replace the rear driveshaft rubber seal. I'm definitely doing that while the driveshaft is out.

But the rest of today will be spent running the boy back to school at RPI and tomorrow I'll be a work. Hopefully, I can get back out there during the week to get it back together before I need the snow plow again.

Ah, the joys of home maintenance. I keep reminding myself of the money I'm saving and the satisfaction I'll have when its all done and working that I did it myself. It helps get me through the swearing sessions.
 
Last edited:

C_F

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Jan 21, 2005
Messages
9,675
Location
Utah...SNOW BLOWS!
Ah, the joys of home maintenance. I keep reminding myself of the money I'm saving and the satisfaction I'll have when its all done and working that I did it myself. It helps get me through the swearing sessions.

That's what I have to do too, keep reminding myself of money saved. Yesterday it was 51 degrees in the garage, so I decided to do a much needed plug swap & coil exam on my Town Car. I was still grumbling about the cold, but at least the Townie is happy again & didn't bleed once that whole time! :D

Your new closet looks great! :thumbup:
 

TurtleValley

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2017
Messages
253
Location
BC. Canada
BUMP...

...you need to build this so I can copy it for my shop.:evil:


Snowing again, temps aren't going to get above freezing again for a while. So, instead of working on the garage, I'm doodling designs for the workbench and storage mezzanine.

e2e2b7dc8e9cd4998b064816a700a37b.jpg

The workbench will stretch just over 17 feet from the back right corner of the garage. I'm planning on a height of about 40" above the slab and a depth of 30 inches from the studs. The work surface will be oak butcher block that I'll assemble from old oak fence boards I salvaged from my parents' farm in Virginia. I'm also seriously thinking about putting a pair of Harbor Freight 44" tool chests under the section between the two windows for plentiful small tool storage.

Overhead, a pair of 6x6 posts will support a beam of triple 2x6s that will in turn support a 5-ft wide mezzanine that will provide access to a bank of 2-ft deep by 4-ft wide storage shelves. With the 13'-4.5" ceilings, I should have just over 6.5 ft of head room under the cantilevered mezzanine joists and just over 6 ft of headroom on the balcony of the mezzanine. Fortunately, that matches my height perfectly.

For access to the mezzanine, I'm thinking of one of those rolling library type ladders, although I may just build a fold-up ladder on the end facing the door.

All just day dreaming until it gets warmer outside....or until those Harbor Freight boxes go on sale again. :)
 
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
Finally had some weather warm enough to work outside and free time to make use of it! I put up vinyl siding on two sides of the garage. I had to do the side with the windows through a curtain of raining snowmelt. Nothing says "Fun!" like ice water dripping down your neck and in your ears. Good times.

The siding cut well in 40-50° F weather. I set up my cutting station in front of the Impala in the right garage bay. In general, I'm very pleased with how easily the vinyl is going up and have no regrets in choosing it over cedar or Hardieplank.

No evening work this week--I'm planning SWMBO's 50th birthday party for next Friday. It was supposed to be a surprise, but she was getting pissed at me thinking I was blowing it off, so I had to let her know I WAS in fact planning something. Of course, now that she knows, it has to be really good!8a04f17004ad24bd7d371030feccf3a4.jpg6bba499035580b3e045d8a55e97a65c6.jpg923c3ea44a37acb6e488315df03f00d3.jpg661a2ddbe553edd893dfe038c382eee0.jpg

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • 661a2ddbe553edd893dfe038c382eee0.jpg
    661a2ddbe553edd893dfe038c382eee0.jpg
    152.6 KB · Views: 1
  • 8a04f17004ad24bd7d371030feccf3a4.jpg
    8a04f17004ad24bd7d371030feccf3a4.jpg
    133.4 KB · Views: 1
  • 923c3ea44a37acb6e488315df03f00d3.jpg
    923c3ea44a37acb6e488315df03f00d3.jpg
    132 KB · Views: 1
  • 6bba499035580b3e045d8a55e97a65c6.jpg
    6bba499035580b3e045d8a55e97a65c6.jpg
    90.1 KB · Views: 1
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
SWMBO's party went fabulously, although the crowd didn't eat half the food I ordered. We'll be eating spinach salad and shrimp casserole for the rest of the week (not a bad thing). I also now have a garage fridge full of the beer they didn't drink!

Sunday I got out to the garage and unpacked the garage doors, which had finally arrived. I had ordered them back in early December, but I guess 9'x9' is an unusual size that takes a while to work into the production schedule. :dunno

Anyhoo, I didn't make much progress yesterday because I went running after a Snap-on tool chest that popped up on LetGo for $300. Turned out it was a bit beat up, so only a moderate good deal. It was interesting unloading this beast by myself. At one point I had it leaning against the tailgate on two wheels, wanting to slip on said wheels and crash to the floor. I managed to brace the wheels and back the truck up a little more to push it more upright and then was able to help it onto all four wheels.

Garage doors! My building foundation features 3-ft stem walls 8-in thick. The garage doors openings were poured at 9-ft, 3-in but the stem walls were not notched. Although the first picture is a bad angle you can see the setup. There's not enough room to mount the lower two tabs on any door frame I could install. I didn't want to build up the wooden wall until it was even with the inside surface of the stem wall, nor did I want to grind out a notch in that much concrete for the door track. After mulling it over, I decided to remove the bottom two mounting tabs and I will attach the rails directly to the stem wall on the sides of the opening.

Last night I slipped out there and got one entire door assembled, mounted in the opening, and held in place by the lower track. I still need to order the high lift kit that'll tuck it up against the ceiling. Hopefully that won't take another two months!0aee670973db039d722e8c7d3f0bce0c.jpg5f127cb94b1f9077ff3c21abd17339ba.jpg77594a7515abe632c6c72a0e8d9601b3.jpgf1a906e4667c4270794fa2206ddf69d8.jpg93da0684fad0c8a57600f1cca777346f.jpgd2e120b171cc485a2d3b49e2e7433af4.jpgfa928b4a9a9e7cd53298af73d5633c32.jpg

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • fa928b4a9a9e7cd53298af73d5633c32.jpg
    fa928b4a9a9e7cd53298af73d5633c32.jpg
    60.8 KB · Views: 1
  • d2e120b171cc485a2d3b49e2e7433af4.jpg
    d2e120b171cc485a2d3b49e2e7433af4.jpg
    87.4 KB · Views: 1
  • 93da0684fad0c8a57600f1cca777346f.jpg
    93da0684fad0c8a57600f1cca777346f.jpg
    59.6 KB · Views: 1
  • f1a906e4667c4270794fa2206ddf69d8.jpg
    f1a906e4667c4270794fa2206ddf69d8.jpg
    80.9 KB · Views: 1
  • 77594a7515abe632c6c72a0e8d9601b3.jpg
    77594a7515abe632c6c72a0e8d9601b3.jpg
    100.5 KB · Views: 1
  • 5f127cb94b1f9077ff3c21abd17339ba.jpg
    5f127cb94b1f9077ff3c21abd17339ba.jpg
    85.2 KB · Views: 1
  • 0aee670973db039d722e8c7d3f0bce0c.jpg
    0aee670973db039d722e8c7d3f0bce0c.jpg
    92.3 KB · Views: 1
Last edited:

C_F

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Jan 21, 2005
Messages
9,675
Location
Utah...SNOW BLOWS!
From what my monitor shows me, your Snap-On box purchase looks like a good one!:thumbup:

Glad all went well with the birthday festivities...I'm usually happiest when it's all over. :bounce: Your one door looks good so far, it won't be long now before you'll be able to shoo the mice out of there for good! LOL
 
OP
B

BlueBomber

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
whats with the shim at the bottom of the door?
The instructions said to make sure the first panel was level. It took that shim to get it there. Of course, that means my slab across the doorway is not level. This build is reaffirming for me the truism that there is usually some differences between architectural drawings and the actual construction. In this case, the variance from level across the nine-foot three-inch doorway is about a half inch. More than I'd have liked, but I'm hopeful the door gasket can absorb it. This weekend I'll try to get the other garage door in.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom