cedar rapids

[cedar rapids]

i want to convert a 32' x 18' 2 story house with full basement & a 12' x 18' add. into a garage-shop need ideas on how to beef up floor over basement & how to support roof if i gut part of second story for more ceiling space in first floor for shop

 

[Chris Adams]

Welcome, and that sounds harder to do than build a new structure.
Hopefully some of the contractors in here can help.





Wow, still thinking about that job...

 

[cedar rapids]

i'm new here so bare with me. on the 2 story shop project i plan on removing wood floor under 12 x 18 add. & pooring concrete i could also fill 1st. sec of basement with clay or sand & concrete that would that make my project doable? thanks

 

[Stuart in MN]

Is this a shop you'll be putting cars in? It's certainly possible to build a floor that will have the load capacity to hold a car, with a basement underneath it, but it will take some structural engineering to do so. Another concern is that you may or may not be able to do it with wood since it would be combustible, so you'd have to look at spancrete or a reinforced concrete pour over bar joists, something like that.

 

[cedar rapids]

thanks for replies on 2 story shop project i purchased an acreage next to mine the house is just a short distance form mine so after we close & i get some exact meassurements i'll get back for some more ideas, i would like to use appr. 1/3 of house for storage 1/3 to house 2 old tractors the other 1/3 & add. for shop this part i would probably use concrete.

 

[little d]

cedar, what your wanting to do is very doable. When i was a pup i got a remod on a restarant, suspended concrete floor over a basement. Anyways, after the tear out, clean up and forming up for the new pour(having never done this before), to say I was a little nervious is a understatement. The day of the pour, the engineer showed up and after looking over my work, put his hand on my sholder, smiling, said," Don't worry, the concreet isn't going to end up in the basement". WTF? This guy reads minds? He went on to say that after it set up i could take out ALL of the suports, that it would suport it's self. Well, it didn't end up in the basement and i left the center suport, but as far as i know, it is still there, used every day. Good luck with your project and post up some pics when ya can, d.