Clean Slate Garage

[LSVLance]

Hello all...I've been a member here for a long time but haven't been active in many years. Here is my Garage Build thread from my Kansas City house that we just recently sold. Unfortunately most of the pics were lost in the Photobucket debacle...

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83249

We recently decided to sell everything and relocate to Phoenix, AZ (Peoria area to be precise). My wife has wanted to move there forever and I told her that if she could find a house with the kitchen and floor plan that she liked and the garage space that I needed...and that we could afford...I'm in. Much to my surprise...we found just that.

Apparently they build subdivisions out there designed to hold large "RV Garages" next to the houses...lots of these subdivisions... After a few months of searching, we found the perfect spot for us. We are building a 3100 sq ft house along with a 1634 sq ft RV garage on a 8/10s of an acre in a gated subdivision in town. I'll have everything and more that I have now on our 11 acres...without a stitch of grass to maintain!! I'm stoked.

Because of the double move, and that most of my shop equipment was second hand or hand me downs...we decided to sell just about everything in my shop and buy all new once into the new place. My tall 48" tool chest, all my hand tools, and a pressure washer are all about that I am bringing from the old shop to the new...hence the name "Clean Slate".

Here is the plot showing how the house and RV Garage will lay on the lot.

Since this is being built by a production builder, I am limited in such that I can not make any custom changes to the plan. When having them build your home, you basically pick your options out of a catalog and that's how it is. If I was doing a custom build, there are a few things that I'd do differently but in an overall sense, I'm happy to be able to use this as a starting place. We feel lucky to have found a lot and builder that accommodates all of our "specific needs" we stated before starting the search, it wasn't easy trust me.

One of the challenges has been that they use tension cable slabs for the foundations. This means basically no drilling of the floor in the shop to install a two post lift. I would prefer a two post like I had in my old shop, but will make do with a really nice commercial grade 4 post with 2 rolling jacks. Here is a pic of the RV slab pre-pour showing the tension cables in place inside plastic sheaths.

They will tighten those cables down to 30,000 psi of tension once the concrete begins to setup. I have learned you do not want to hit one of those with a drill bit after the fact.

So here is the floor plan of Clean Slate

On the front left will be a 14' tall door, front right will be a 9' tall door...there will also be a 14' door on the back opening up to a 50x50 flat graveled area behind the shop inside the 6' tall concrete block fence around the backyard.

My plan is to build a small office for me to work out of between the bath and 9' door, the put the 4 post lift between the office and the door. The other side of the garage will need to house our RV.

That's about as far as I've gotten with interior plans. I need to make a list of all of the equipment I plan to install and spend some time with the builders "space planner" to see where it'll all fit.

I got these pics just yesterday showing the slabs being poured...so stuff is getting real. Closing date is estimated to be Feb-Mar 2018...so I have some time to plan.

House on right, garage on left.

House

Garage

Here is what the front elevation will look like once complete, only real difference it I'll have a second 9' door on the right front of the garage where this one has windows with a living area inside that area.

Anyway, here's my reintroduction to Garage Journal with our new build project 'Clean Slate". I know I'll be perusing all the new and old builds here and making lists of things to incorporate into my new shop. Is it March yet???

 

[Remythepug]

Wow, that RV garage sounds like an amazing space [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]


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[ap2002]

very nice!

 

[LSVLance]

Not the largest or clearest of pics...but final grade is done and we are awaiting lumber and framers.

I can't tell for sure but I believe that I got my extra outside cleanout at the back of the RV garage which will double as a RV dump! Woot...

From the street, House on right, RV garage on left

Entrance to house garage and RV garage

From way in back on slope looking toward street

This is the full bath area in back corner of RV Garage. One of the black PVC pipes behind slab is most likely for the power run to the pool equipment and the other is an outside cleanout (I hope)...

We are going there Oct 15th and the Super mentioned that hopefully we'll have a framed in house to look at while we are there. He won't commit to an actual start date on the framing but did say we are next in line.

 

[rattle_snake]

Any updates?

 

[panchohughes]

Subscribed.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Get some clear photos and measurements of the cable. Look for the grout lines on the slab edge.
Snap some chalk lines. You can avoid hitting the cables.

Nice place. I thought turnkey places like that were only in the 8 figure range but I don't see the servants quarters and tennis courts.

 

[LSVLance]

Any updates?

I'll try to get some more pics uploaded today along with an update.

Get some clear photos and measurements of the cable. Look for the grout lines on the slab edge.
Snap some chalk lines. You can avoid hitting the cables.

Nice place. I thought turnkey places like that were only in the 8 figure range but I don't see the servants quarters and tennis courts.

Thanks... Not quite 8 figures for sure!!

I have pics and measurements of the cables but only closer to the 9' door. I didn't ask my Realtor who took them to go further in where I plan to put the lift now.

I've been asking a few lift installers in the area about this and most run away screaming. Did have one yesterday say "We'll stand outside while you drill the holes, then we'll finish the install" lol... At least it wasn't a hard no.

 

[LSVLance]

Here are some inside pics of the current state of condition. Sheetrock finished and painted, light fixtures hung, garage doors hung and cabinets inside bathroom.

I've enlisted some help from my brother for some 3D modeling to help get a better picture of how things will fit.

 

[LSVLance]

These are the latest outside pics I have.

 

[Morio]

Wow! Looks like a great space! Can’t wait for more updates

 

[zmotorsports]

Very nice.

The color of stucco looks very close to ours on our house and shop/RV garage that we recently built.

Just out of curiosity, what kind/size of RV are you building this to house? You mentioned that you sold all your tools, do you have any other plans for the garage or just storing the RV?

Subscribed.

 

[LSVLance]

Very nice.

The color of stucco looks very close to ours on our house and shop/RV garage that we recently built.

Just out of curiosity, what kind/size of RV are you building this to house? You mentioned that you sold all your tools, do you have any other plans for the garage or just storing the RV?

Subscribed.

Thanks. We have a 33' Class B+ that will live in the shop and I'll also use it for storing and working on my heavily modified 1985 Monte Carlo SS as well as my office for my wholesale company.

Here's the RV

And here's the Monte Carlo (Barney)

I sold most of my heavy tools but kept all of my small or hand tools. I'll be replacing the heavy items like a hydraulic press, drill press, trans jack, engine hoist, etc. I don't think I am going to replace the 60 gal air compressor though. I find myself using the 18v impact and other tools more and more these days and don't plan to run a bead blaster or paint gun much anymore.

I plan on building a rolling steel work bench that'll hold my vises, welder, bench grinders etc and use it as a place to do "dirty work". Hope to pick up one or two rolling work bench\tool boxes to keep the rest of my hand tools in and use for clean jobs. I'll also need to come up with some sort of rack for nut\bolt bins and storage for other small parts.

It'll be a functioning shop once again like I had before, but hopefully more organized and easier to keep clean this time.

This picture from my old shop shows why I have needs for both a two post and a drive on lift. Doing suspension setup requires the weight of car to be on the tires but to also be able to get under it to make adjustments.

 

[LSVLance]

Wow! Looks like a great space! Can’t wait for more updates

Thanks!!!

 

[C_F]

Great looking build so far! If that was my garage, with that much vertical space, I would be building a loft over much of the area where the shorter door is.
Looking forward to your continued updates.

Are you & your wife living in the RV while the home and garage are being built?

 

[LSVLance]

Great looking build so far! If that was my garage, with that much vertical space, I would be building a loft over much of the area where the shorter door is.
Looking forward to your continued updates.

Are you & your wife living in the RV while the home and garage are being built?

Thanks! Just got back from there and it is coming right along.

I've looked into building up and it's pretty hard to do unless I could hang it from the ceiling which I don't think is a good idea. Anywhere there is a good place to go up, poles to support the loft would be in the way of down below.

I kicked around the idea of a 6' wide mezzanine from the bathroom along the East wall to the service door but the bottom of the 3 windows would be about 6" off floor of mezzanine and would kill all that usable wall space and the stairs down would be 11-12' long and kill even more lower floor space. I'm pretty sure it doesn't make any sense. Heck, I can't even figure out a way to get stairs up to the area over the bathroom without killing room down below.

I had these stairs going up to a loft over an apartment I built for my Dad in my old shop in KC. I had to make them short and steep to get them to fit and regretted it every time I went up and down them. Not making that mistake again.

 

[rixtrix1]

Hi, welcome to the Phoenix area. I like your Monte, having followed it for a few years on the PT forums. New place looks nice; planning HVAC for the RV garage?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Awesome shop! Lots of space.

 

[LSVLance]

Hi, welcome to the Phoenix area. I like your Monte, having followed it for a few years on the PT forums. New place looks nice; planning HVAC for the RV garage?

Thanks for having me Ric!

And yes, I am planning on HVAC for the RV garage...spent some time working on that today in fact. You know any local installers you trust?

 

[LSVLance]

Awesome shop! Lots of space.

Thanks... It sure gets used up quickly though...they are never big enough it seems.

 

[rixtrix1]

Thanks for having me Ric!

And yes, I am planning on HVAC for the RV garage...spent some time working on that today in fact. You know any local installers you trust?

I used Mason Mechanical when we put our Trane unit on the house, and they have done followup maintenance ever since. Never a problem. They are in Mesa.

 

[LSVLance]

I haven't updated much because there just isn't that much being done to the Clean Slate garage at the moment. Except for some finishing in the bathroom and some plumbing, it's pretty much done until I can get in there. There is a lot going on inside the house and in the backyard though which keeps us busy keeping up with.

I have decided on a final HVAC design and have several competitive quotes on getting it done as well as a plan on getting it wired up.

I'm putting a 5 ton split system heat pump in, the air handler will stand on a box I build next to the water heater like pictured below and we'll bring a duct up off the top to just higher than the roof above the bathroom and point it toward the center of the shop. The box will have grates in it and act as a return duct\filter holder.

I did also figure out that all of the garage doors are insulated which was a plus.

The electrical I have to deal with is crazy...but it is what it is. The builder permits and installs a 400 amp meter on the front of the house. Next to it on the outside is a panel with (2) 200 amp disconnect breakers which feed the panel on the front and a panel inside the house garage. Coming off the bottom of this outside panel is some 2" ID conduit that runs to a sub panel on the RV garage which they will protect with a 100 amp breaker.

Here is the first outside panel alongside the meter.

And the panel just inside the garage on the house.

And the sub panel on the RV garage.

As you can tell they haven't finished pulling wire and adding breakers. I understand they won't pull the feed to the RV panel until right before it's ready for city inspection. I am thankful that they used such a large sleeve though in case I need to increase the size of wire for future needs. I'll probably be leaning on some of the sparkys here when the time comes to start adding circuits and figuring out loads to see what I'll need.

For now though...we are still in wait mode. Close date is scheduled for middle April...

 

[LSVLance]

Things are getting closer to completion with the shop and the house. We have a close date set for April 12th then moving in starts immediately after.

I have picked someone to grind and apply a polyaspartic clear coating on the shop floor before moving in and will be making a final choice on a lift at Good Guys show in a couple of weeks (narrowed down to 2 right now). Have also picked an HVAC contractor to install the Heat pump soon thereafter.

Here is my latest rendition of how I'll lay the shop out. I moved my tool boxes and workbenches to the center of the shop and moved the lift closer to the wall. This will make entry onto the lift easier and use the extra space in the middle of the shop wiser. The plan is to park the RV pretty close to the front door and leave the 20' or so behind it by the back door as my "dirty work" area.

The desks for my office will come from Ikea and I'll build the shelves above the desks specifically to fit all my printers and other special office and stereo equipment. The TV will go on the bathroom wall to the left of the shelves.

And here's the driveway...

 

[C_F]

Looking really good! I like your choice of using pavers for your driveway too, that looks nice.

 

[rixtrix1]

What's with the "pond" in front of your driveway?

 

[LSVLance]

What's with the "pond" in front of your driveway?

The landscapers working next door had a big pile of dirt in the street and the rain backed up behind it.

 

[LSVLance]

Well, we've been sleeping in the new house since Thursday. Most of the house stuff is moved in...today they are grinding the shop and garage floors prepping them for coating.

Snapped some decent pics last night...

Floors should be ready to drive on again Thursday...then the real fun can start by moving the shop stuff in.

 

[LSVLance]

 

[zmotorsports]

Looks great. Congrats on getting moved into your new home.

 

[Mgnu]

Hi neighbor. Just north of you, Stetson Valley. Son plays basketball at the CCV by your place. Looks great!

 

[LSVLance]

Looks great. Congrats on getting moved into your new home.

Thanks... now the real fun starts. They should be finished with shop and garage floors today.

Hi neighbor. Just north of you, Stetson Valley. Son plays basketball at the CCV by your place. Looks great!

Howdy neighbor! Loving it up here so far. Can't wait to get to know the area even more.

 

[LSVLance]

I really was a bit unsure about how this would look once done, but I'm VERY happy with it!

Can walk on it this afternoon and park on it Sat... Then the real fun starts, moving in.

 

[rattle_snake]

Ok, well you ****. As in, nice floors.

But, you can't move all your stuff until its over 100*.

 

[LSVLance]

Ok, well you ****. As in, nice floors.

But, you can't move all your stuff until its over 100*.

As long as you are available to help move in on the first 100* day...it's all good.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Looks like fun, how far out did you have to move? I am more in town myself. Love how it is looking.

 

[LSVLance]

Looks like fun, how far out did you have to move? I am more in town myself. Love how it is looking.

Thanks!! Not far at all really, near Happy Valley and 76th Ave.

 

[Mgnu]

Let me know if you want to grab a coffee or beer, there's a few of us around this area now. I think the gentleman doing the 3.5 ecoboost swap in the older truck also is near us, and the ex-Toptul guy too... Floors look great!

 

[LSVLance]

Absolutely...will do. I'm racing with SCCA autocross at AMP this Sunday. Probably be making my runs 10ish- noonish or so if that kind of thing interest you. Look for the only Monte Carlo SS there...

 

[1/2 Cup]

LSVLance absolutely fantastic.

 

[rixtrix1]

I really was a bit unsure about how this would look once done, but I'm VERY happy with it!

Can walk on it this afternoon and park on it Sat... Then the real fun starts, moving in.

Wow, Lance, floors look fantastic! Congrats on taking possession. The fun begins...

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