FINALLY...Started building new garage today!

[DynoDave]

I've wanted a second garage since I bought this house in 1993. And the day has FINALLY arrived. It's GO time! After many years of planning, plotting, and hanging out here (thanks, now I'm over budget! ), we are finally under way.

I started last weekend by removing the old privacy fence...

...and putting up a temporary fence 8 feet back to keep the dogs in until spring.

Cement contractor showed up today, in the early morning rain, and started to work. Digging the footing trench...

..and after inspection, pouring the footings in the afternoon sunshine.

Prep work resumes tomorrow, including lots of block work, grading, sand, VB6 vapor barrier, and steel. Should be pouring the slab on Thursday with some luck.

 

[burger]

how deep did the foundation need to be? looks like at least waist deep

 

[Der Bugmeister]

Off to a good start - congrats on breaking ground! What dimensions are you going with?

 

[draglink]

Looks great Dave! I remember being at that point...couldnt wait to get it dried in!! What is the size, construction etc.? Lets have some details!!

 

[bmwpower]

Cool. You're in for a fun project. Putting epoxy down?

 

[DynoDave]

Thanks guys. It's exciting. I hope the weather clears up later this morning like it did yesterday...it raining now.

burger - The footings are 42" deep, to get below the Michigan frost line. And 10" wide with rebar, per local code.

Der Bugmeister - The building is 26' deep and 36' wide. 936 sq. was as big as the law would allow in my situation. I'm on a corner lot, so in the top photo, as you look at the back of the house...the front of the garage will be to the left.

draglink - It's pretty standard stuff. 2x4 framing, trussed roof (about 1/3 light storage spread web on one end, and scissors on the other 2/3). The scissors, a 10' 5.5" wall, and a little bit of block above the slab should give me the height I want for a 4 post stoage lift. The slab is thicker under the part of the shop with scissor trusses, so I can move the lift if I should choose to, or add another some day. 1 18' x 8' o/h door, and 1 9' x 8' o/h door. A service door, and a small arched window up in the gable to the north.

bmwpower - Yes, I am. I ordered the VB-6 per your recomendation, actually, just for that purpose. I plan to do a couple of coats of Rustoleum Professional with clear in the spring. The race is to get weather tight before the snow flies. Then I'll have all winter to work inside on electrical, heat, insulation, drywall, lighting, etc.

 

[JMURiz]

Over 900 sq/ft on your second garage, I'm jealous!!! My county only let me build 22x24. I'm sure it'll be a very nice space. I need to plan out my epoxy flooring too.

 

[DynoDave]

Thanks Nathan. I'm sure you'll enjoy your new space as much as I will mine.

We had some pretty heavy rains today. So the progress was modest. Cement guy did come out with his bobcat, and removed the grass and loose top soil from the slab and approach locations. This paves the way (no pun intended) for an inspection tomorrow. He'll be back on Friday to continue the prep work.

Oh, and the sand showed up today!

The weather is supposed to be beautiful through the weekend. So I'm hoping that by Saturday night I'll have a slab and an approach.

 

[Jay H 237]

Looking good!

As long as they keep up with the amount of progress they're making so far they should have the shell up by the end of October. Hopefully they'll get most of the exterior stuff done before the Michigan winter sets in.

Are you going to did trenches for the power before the frost or wait until the spring?

 

[DaveL.]

I really enjoy watching garages being built...keep the pictures coming Dave.

 

[DynoDave]

Thanks guys. I'm having the cement work done, but I'm doing the rest. So expect the progress to slow dramatically!

Just kidding. I certainly can't work at their "full time" pace. My customer wouldn't like that. But I have a crew of 6 volunteers lined up from work, 3 of whom have quite a bit of building experience, and I have a little. We are "hoping" to start framing on the weekend of 10/21 - 10/22 if all goes well. The optimists among us are hoping to be started on putting shingles down before that weekend is out (framed, trussed, roof sheathed, shingles started).

 

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

Thanks guys. I'm having the cement work done, but I'm doing the rest. So expect the progress to slow dramaticaly!

Just kidding. I certainly can't work at their "full time" pace. My customer wouldn't like that. But I have a crew of 6 volunteers lined up from work, 3 of whom have quite a bit of building experience, and I have a little. We are "hoping" to start framing on the weekend of 10/21 - 10/22 if all goes well. The optimists among us are hoping to be started on putting shingles down before that weekend is out (framed, trussed, roof sheated, shingles started).

Have fun with it! I'm sure it will go faster than ours, but then again its a two man crew on ours. Lookin good so far

 

[Inetmonkey]

Congrats Dave! Now all the waiting & planning should finally pay off. Can't wait to see the progress pics as you move into the building stages.

 

[86swb]

I too enjoy watching garages being built. Just wish I could watch mine get started. But still saving. Want to pay cash and not borrow. Oh well, Someday. Looking good. Also would like to see more pictures.

 

[Pointbock]

Why not 6" walls?

 

[DynoDave]

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. I appreciate it.

Inetmonkey - I sure hope the planning pays off. I keep thinking of little additional details. Either I'll get them all out of my head & into the shop, or I'm going to think of them MUCH later and be saying, "I wish I'd thought of that sooner"!

We got the blessing of our building inspector on the removal of the grass and loose top soil today. So the crew will be back tomorrow to continue with the site prep. I'm hoping they'll be able to pour on Saturday. Oh, and two more mountains of sand showed up today! That's a good thing though, as a fair amount of fill is needed. It was too dark when I got home to get any pictures of the grading work. It's just a big muddy mess to be honest. But I'll try to get one tomorrow morning before they continue with their work. Should be able to post some real good progress pics tomorrow.

Pointbock - I could have done 6" walls. I guess I just didn't feel very passionate about it. It's extra cost, and my budget is already stretched beyond breaking. It's more money for insulation (assuming you want to take advantage of the extra wall thickness for insulation). The wall sections would be just that much heavier to heft into place. Etc., etc. I guess I think of them as a premium feature, and many premium feaures just didn't fit into my budget. It was a bang for the buck thing.

 

[wilbilt]

Looks great, Dave
You are probably stressing on it right now, but the end result will be worth it.

Hopefully, I will be starting on my shop in about a year...

 

[DynoDave]

Sadly, we didn't really make any construction progress today. Work will resume tomorrow. Here are a few picks from yesterday.

Two more loads of sand arrived. I officially have the biggest sand hill on the block.

And here is the site with the grass and top soil removed.

I was able to buy a like new 10' Werner orange fiberglass ladder that had only been used once. So that saved me some $$$. And I may have a line on a 3 y.o. Reznor heater for the shop that will save me even more. So some progress was made today, even if it wasn't construction.

 

[PAToyota]

Pointbock - I could have done 6" walls. I guess I just didn't feel very passionate about it. It's extra cost, and my budget is already stretched beyond breaking. It's more money for insulation (assuming you want to take advantage of the extra wall thickness for insulation). The wall sections would be just that much heavier to heft into place. Etc., etc. I guess I think of them as a premium feature, and many premium feaures just didn't fit into my budget. It was a bang for the buck thing.

Are you heating the shop? Much better to pay for the insulation up front than pay for the extra heat year after year after year...

 

[W-Cummins]

Looks good so far! It's sure nice when you can get started on the project!

Are they going to get some gravel also or are they just going to use sand under the slab??

Are you heating the shop? Much better to pay for the insulation up front than pay for the extra heat year after year after year...

Last year I too sugested that. I seem to remember the answer has changed though, then it was that the extra 4" more of floor space, was worth more than the addtional insulation The extra insulation is a premium that you pay one time. The extra heating and cooling costs is one of thouse "gifts" that just keeps on giving!

William....

 

[ZRX61]

Does that concrete truck have enough axles???

 

[evs1]

Does that concrete truck have enough axles???

Big trucks can never have enough axles.

 

[DynoDave]

Yes I definitely plan on heating. Six inch wall would be nice, but just don't work for me, for the reasons listed. And yes William, in the past I did site the loss of storage space as one of the many reasons I won't be using them, and that's still a valid concern today. Consider that to be part of the etc., etc. on the end of my list of reasons for not doing it. Oh, and you asked about fill too..they are using the three large mounds of sand in some of the pictures above to fill with.

The block walls went up today. Here are the latest picks....

 

[DynoDave]

A quick update....rain, rain, rain, rain.....hopefully they'll be back tomorrow...if the weather permits.

 

[DynoDave]

A quick update....rain, rain, rain, rain.....hopefully they'll be back tomorrow...if the weather permits.

....followed by SNOW!

But, eventually, a break in the weather. All 3 truck loads of sand in place, and still not enough.

And finally, a garage slab....

Electrical contractor also stopped by, and we got to discuss plans for a temporary service during construction, and a more permanent arrangement before the ground freezes.

 

[wilbilt]

Wow. I'm getting cold just looking at that snow.

Frozen ground? Crazy.

Is the slab really "floating" on all that sand? I'm assuming the sand was compacted. Around here they just dig a 12" footing around the perimeter and pour an integral footing/slab. Of course, it rarely gets below freezing. Brrr.

 

[DynoDave]

Yeah, that cold snap with snow is a little unusual in October, even by Michigan standards. It melted away in an hour or so.

The ground isn't frozen...yet. In another month or so, who knows. Temps are not even down to freezing at night yet, so I still have some time to get my trench work done for the electrical and gas lines. But not too much!

We used to do slabs in Illinois the way you describe also. But here, it's a little different. The sand is heavily compacted. The slab sits on a 6" lip on the block wall, that transfers its load down to the foundation wall/footing.

It's raining again today, so they'll finish up tomorrow.

 

[Wile1Coyote]

WOW, great that you go it started Dave and thanks for the PM I have not been over here in months been flat out with work. I am ******* till November but would be glad to volunteer to help some after that or at any point this winter. I have raised a few barns already not to mention 2 houses and an addition. BTW where the heck were you for the Donut Cutter get togehter this year? And you thought I didn't notice! LOL

Keep coming with the pics. I'll start popping in and checking. I wish GJ wasn't blocked at work.

Jon

 

[PAToyota]

Yeah, that cold snap with snow is a little unusual in October, even by Michigan standards.

My father is originally from the Upper Penninsula and his quote is "It's not like it snowed in August... at least not every year..."

 

[DynoDave]

My father is originally from the Upper Peninsula and his quote is "It's not like it snowed in August... at least not every year..."

PAToyota - That's funny...and sometimes true. Have you ever visited Michigan?

Glad you had a chance to stop by Jon. I hope to be up and weather tight before the snow is too deep! But I will be working in there all winter (as I can afford to) pulling wire, insulating, lighting, and dry-walling. I appreciate the offer for help, and don't be surprised if you get a call.

The trusses arrived today. It was so slick from raining all day that, even with the axle locked, he couldn't get the truck back to where I wanted it, so here they sit! Not exactly where I wanted them, but not bad, considering...

I also pulled mechanical (gas line) and electrical permits today. Temporary power pole, with permanent trenched in wire (and gas pipe) should go in this week, if I can catch a break in the weather. Lumber arrives Thursday.

 

[PAToyota]

PAToyota - That's funny...and sometimes true. Have you ever visited Michigan?

It has been awhile, but I'd go up there to my grandfather's cabin on Lake Louise in the lower penninsula. My grandfather was a minister, so the family lived all over the upper and lower penninsulas.

 

[DynoDave]

It has been awhile, but I'd go up there to my grandfather's cabin on Lake Louise in the lower peninsula. My grandfather was a minister, so the family lived all over the upper and lower peninsulas.

Well, I'm not a Michigan native, but there is a lot of very pretty country around this state.

Believe it or not, we actually had a second consecutive day of acceptable weather! I just might beat the snow yet.

The cement approach in front of the garage went in today. Also a small side walk around to the service door. The garage slab was saw cut as well. And a gravel drive went in.

HVAC guy also stopped by to talk about trenching, gas pipe, and a hanging furnace (Reznor UDAP or Modine Hot Dawg).

 

[Wile1Coyote]

Your not going to have much lawn left to mow are ya Dave.

 

[Down Under Bloke]

Lawn is just a space where a garage is yet to be built

 

[wmonroe]

Lawn is just a space where a garage is yet to be built

I would agree with that.

Will

 

[DynoDave]

No Jon, I don't. I knew I wouldn't, but it's still a little visually surprising, after many years of living here and seeing that yard space sitting empty. I'm sure I'll get used to it!

Framing lumber showed up this morning. We'll start building tomorrow afternoon.

 

[DynoDave]

We used up every ray of sunlight today, and then some. It was totally dark when we quit, so I won't get any pictures until tomorrow. But the first (end) wall is built, truss attached, and sheathed. Hopefully we'll have all the walls up by early afternoon, and trusses up before dark, mother nature permitting.

 

[Wile1Coyote]

Go Go Gadget Hammers!

 

[Der Bugmeister]

No Jon, I don't. I knew I wouldn't, but it's still a little visually surprising, after many years of living here and seeing that yard space sitting empty. I'm sure I'll get used to it!

Framing lumber showed up this morning. We'll start building tomorrow afternoon.

It doesn't take long to get accustomed to the change of scenery, but looking back at old photos can be a bit of a shock ("Wow, it used to be so open"). Once we got over the height of the first bit of wall, we never looked back.

 

[toolman]

DynoDave, what city are you located in.