First timer DIY garage builder

[gboezio]

This thread is the continuity of http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9685

Well, since I poured the concrete myself, I think I'll be even prouder of this garage and may even have money to build some toys inside.
The pour went well, but the forms bent out of shape in the back, but I still can manage to cheat my walls a little since the slab is one inch from the ground, my girlfriend said she will plant tons of flowers to save my ****
I finished the concrete with a 2X4 and a magnesium float, this was easier than people were telling me.
I took a break for a few well needed partys but I'm back on it this week.

 

[shocksystems]

Great start. Looking good and things are moving along quickly.

Any reason why you started a new thread rather than continue the prior one? just curious.

Cheers!

Jim

 

[gboezio]

Thanks, it's pretty hot these days here and I'm digging a lot, but I see the light, I'll start the fun part soon.
As for the thread change, it just felt dead and forgotten so I left it behind.
More to come

 

[gboezio]

Well I think I took the DIY concept pretty far, I did everything and I mean everything by myself, including getting all the roofing material, 4x8's up there. The only thing I had done was mixing the concrete, but I poured it myself and it wasn't too bad. I used a magnesium float. Now I'm taking a break for a few days. I spent about 3000 $ so far.
Here's a few more pics.

 

[gboezio]

More pics.

 

[shocksystems]

Looks great!

 

[twostory]

gboezio,

It looks good. I do have two observations though...

1) Did you use pressure treated 2x6s for the bottom sill plate? In your pictures, the bottom plates look like normal untreated wood.

2) Your header to hold the vertical stud over the radiant heat tubes, looks iffy. You can easily fix this with a 2x6 header, supported by vertical studs on either side of the radiant heat tubes. Or just nail two trimmer studs to the adjacent full length studs, and make a 30.5 inch wide 2x6 header.

Goodluck...

 

[gboezio]

Thanks for the comments !!
twostory, good eye, it's untreated wood, there is no drain on the slab since it will be more of a workplace than a real garage. But it would have been a good idea to use treated wood there. I plan on painting both sides and to cover the exterior lower than the slab. I hope that the radiant heat will keep it dry.
I will fix the header, I first figured that the low stud was close enough to the top one, but after I took all the roofing stuff over there I get a pretty good idea of all the weight that rest on the walls, add to that the summer stuff in the storage and a few tons of Canadian snow, it need to be strong.

 

[PAToyota]

The issue is more that the concrete will wick moisture into it from below than rain or water will attack it from the "outside" surfaces.

 

[gboezio]

That make sense, there is a vapor barrier under most of it but there is none under the footing itself. It measure 20 inches. There is a pink foam under the bottom sill plate, but I don't know how good it is to keep moisture out. Better than nothing I guess.

 

[gboezio]

I have to add, almost everybody I talked to told me to get trusses, I had a 930$ quote for 13 trusses opened for a storage. The total cost of wood was 980$ including all the OSB, 2x6, 2x8, etc...I took me 2 days by myself to build the roof structure and it would not nave been possible to get the trusses over there by myself without a crane. I just had to recall some mathematics to calculate all the measurements, make a template and copy/paste 30 times.
So for those who are doing smalls projects, I strongly recommend to build the roof the old way, setting the top piece right it the big PITA, specially when you are alone, once it's firmly in place, you just add the prepared 2x6. I used 3 1/2 screws to fasten the trusses on the parts that could see some tension.

 

[gboezio]

I forgot about this thread, I'm having slow progress, due to financial constraints, newborn daughter, girlfriend in need of a new bathroom, daughter room, lot of work, trackdays , etc...
But still I had some progress
For those who wonder, the building code over here don't require wires in tubing for non commercial buildings, it just require that you know where the wires are and that you don't put a sheetrock screw in one

 

[checkthisout]

Any building inspector would have a field day with what you have done so far.

I bet that they would be so pleased with what you have done that they would snap a whole bunch of photographs and then get a tour bus full of trainees out there to look at the structure.

 

[kartracer23]

Y'know what's funny about this thread? Go to the first post. Mouse over the photos and it will show how many views each thumbnail has had. Concrete, foundation, etc., around 200 each. Picture of girlfriend? 750. Buncha manwhores aren't we?

 

[walrus]

Any building inspector would have a field day with what you have done so far. .

I'm pretty sure an electrical inspector would

 

[Moon63]

Y'know what's funny about this thread? Go to the first post. Mouse over the photos and it will show how many views each thumbnail has had. Concrete, foundation, etc., around 200 each. Picture of girlfriend? 750. Buncha manwhores aren't we?

Girlfriend? What girlfriend? Is it the picture of the bike you men?

 

[woodbutcher]

.learn from your mistakes thats the best anyone can do?

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Damn, way to rain on a guys parade. He said inspection requirements were lax in his area. Give him a break. I think his garage looks awesome...

 

[dykstra]

looks awesome

 

[gboezio]

I can build a garage with scrap wood, popscicle sticks, and run naked wires in the walls here and no one would care less over here, I know that in the US you have to run them in pipes, not here.
The permit is 15 $ and the inspector only comes to raise the tax cost and firefighters are there to help to pull me out of the crumbled pile of materials when if falls and burn on me.

That bike is pretty nice, it's been built by Touring creations. Maybe I can get a cleaner pic of the bike without stuff in front.

 

[tfi racing]

Cool,I was going to ask for a pic of the bike!Don't let the nervous nellies get to you,as long as you are happy with your project and nobody gets hurt is all that really matters.That being said,your electrical work does leave a bit to be desired...

 

[matt60j]

Whats with the purlins if you have studs to anchor to? Just wondering. Nice job! -MATT

 

[gboezio]

Cool,I was going to ask for a pic of the bike!Don't let the nervous nellies get to you,as long as you are happy with your project and nobody gets hurt is all that really matters.That being said,your electrical work does leave a bit to be desired...

That bike is awesome, not the kind I would buy, but I admire the design and craftmanship
The pics have been taken before I hung the wires between the purlins not to put a screw in them
You can see a lot of these here even from contractors.
I still admit that even if we can and it's dirt cheap and fast, its not the best method to run wires in a building, but since there is very little electrical fires, the building authority don't care, specially for detached garages.

Whats with the purlins if you have studs to anchor to? Just wondering. Nice job! -MATT

These are to provide extra insulation from the air gap, and to have room to run the wires.

 

[brad d]

Where are you located?? The wires will be fine as long as you dont hit them with a dry wall screws.. just look back at your photos when you need to drill a hole or put a nail in the wall.

 

[gboezio]

Québec Canada, I realized that I did not completely filled my profile, fixed.
I use shorter screws to avoid wrecking the wires.
Beside the wiring, I made a trench and set a 4" PVC tube for the main wire witch is a 6/3 wire all the way to the house, I disable the clothes dryer that we never used and too the power from this circuit since the power box is a 100 A and is loaded, it's going next year and I will upgrade from a 30 A to 50 A breaker. This will be done professionally since the insurance company will refuse to insure the house if not inspected by a master electrician.

I will buy my garage door very soon and build my work bench, as a countertop, I thought of bolting and gluing 2x3 together, then belt sanding and cover with fiberglass resin or leave it bare wood, I bought some white plastic and 3/4 plywood, but working on engines it will turn to a complete mess in no time, I may get some steel sheets, it would be the absolute best, I just don't know how thick to get them, probably 18 to 22 gauge, but these will rust from beer bottles, so the 2x3 counter wins.
Should look like this

Then I will put some cabinets in the remaining space over the counter, I just wait to score some good deal, if not I'll build them myself.

Progress is slow, but we recover from a few things in life that *****, so the garage took a hike, but all is good now and I'm taking back life where I left it

 

[idoine in toronto]

I can attest to the lack of building inspections in the area. I've designed homes in the Laurentiens & Eastern Townships of Quebec and none of them were ever visited by a building inspector during construction. Unfortunately most of the builders I’ve encountered do whatever they want when they know no one is looking over their shoulder.
Keep this in mind the next time an inspector seems to be hassling you or your builder. At least consider them as extra set of eyes on the project.

And good job on the DIY.

 

[Fullback66]

I was lookng at the bike behind her.

 

[gboezio]

I got some time to work on my asylium, I decided to use false marble vinyl tiles for the countertop, rugged, hard to scratch and dirt cheap.
I searched classified ads for cabinets, they were all **** and expensive so I snapped it and went to buy 8 sheets of regular 3/4 plywood and 4 BC Fir plywood sheets for the doors.
Got the counter and cabinets core done, need to make the drawers, doors counter top and varnish the whole thing.

500 $ invested... but I have it the way I wanted...and NOW !!

 

[wolfgang_90]

Where are you located?? The wires will be fine as long as you dont hit them with a dry wall screws.. just look back at your photos when you need to drill a hole or put a nail in the wall.

Being the second owner of a house built like this, you could do what I do. Go get the fire extinguisher, a nail and a hammer... hit nail into the wall where you want it. If it sparks, hit it with the fire extinguisher, pull out the nail, and go reset the breaker...

 

[gboezio]

I took 3 weeks off for now the government pays 5 weeks to new dadys, will save 2 for this summer, beside changing diapers and wiping milk puke all over my shirts I had some time and ca$h to work on my castle sipping a few beers to make it relaxing, we don't want to feel like working on a day off, don't we ??
My little helpful daughter was smiling along proving that she likes my garage and that they did not mix the babies at the Hospital

I had a few 750 $ quotes for a 8x8 insulated garage door, I went to see my ex boss (I installed quite a few garage doors few years ago) and got a slightly scratched door 3 inches shorter than I wanted, but for lamost half the price I figure I could work a bit and paint the inside(got to add the price of the beer I drink to the total cost of the door)
The wind almost ripped some of the sheeting on the front, got to fix this as well before the next wind storm.

 

[4StarCstms]

Well, Its standing, personally I think ya did a good job.

 

[porschedude996TT]

Nice build. I too am working on a DIY build and deviated on pouring the concrete. I was in the hospital and off the job for two months and played catch-up using Green-backs.

Don't you just love those 12 in 12 pitch roofs. I like the ladder over the ridge...

You sure have the cost under control.

 

[gboezio]

Thanks for the comments.
I had to decide between keeping the crumbling horse shed or find a way to cut on the costs.
For example,
I refused to spend more than 50 $ on the counter top, searched the board could not find anything cheap enough and doing a good job until I took a coffee at the harware store, I came across those self sticking false marble vinyl tiles, cost 38 $ and I have 15 left, add 10 $ for the trim around it.

Don't you just love those 12 in 12 pitch roofs. I like the ladder over the ridge...

I had to figure out a way to do this
In fact there was a rope tied to the other side over the top, I moved the ladder around the roof, at least until I tied it sideways, so I could walk without moving the damn thing.

 

[autoist]

Looks great...out of curiosity: why did you leave the space between your upper cabinets & the tall storage box? (the upper cabinets under which that little doll is sitting...

& can we see a photo of the counter tops?

 

[gboezio]

Thanks,
I measured the space between the tall cabinet and the corner or the counter and I centered the wall cabinets, it left a gap, but I'll fill it with a fire extinguisher or some cool or mabe I'll build another small cabinet (space is going out fast)
I have a shot but that was before the aluminium trim, but you can see it on some of the pics above.

 

[autoist]

How are you going to finish off the edge of that countertop?

 

[Dragster Racer]

Very nice work on the cabinets. I can't see that they are tounge and groove, which would be a bit stronger. But I doubt that you would have troubles anyhow. Again, very nice!

 

[gboezio]

Well it's done !!!
At least for now, I'm taking a break and will finish the door trims, attic access and minor details this summer.
I wired my lighting, finished sheetrock, plaster, paint...
Now time for a few toy threads, compressors, turbo'ed vehicle, got an incoming corvette engine for rebuild, two dirtbikes for heavy maintenance, should get busy...
Here's the pics, consider that it cost under 6000 $ and I did everything myself

Now looking for a TIG welder, some Synchrowave 200 or something similar.

 

[sofob0909]

awesome build. i love the small but functionable garage. Can you get a car in there? the door looks skinny

 

[bigdaddycool]

hey salut , quand j'ai vu victoriaville, jme suis inscrit:

beau garage , j'espère débuter la construction du mien d'ici quelques mois ( dla minute quia pu de neige)

jsuis dans la même situation, petit budget, pas bcp d'aide pour construire...

Félicitation et bonne chance dans la finition du tien!

en passant je reste a trois-rivières!

salut