Above 1200 Sq/FT Garage Refurb®

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

We enjoy sitting on the deck watching for bats to circle around. Well, we did until one swooped down when my wife and daughter were sitting by the lake one evening

Never built a chimney before, did you do anything special to the blocks or just mortar like bricks and fill with sand?

I never built a chimney either. I used type S mortar between the blocks. I set the liners in and fille d the area between the blocks and liner with sand. The chimney block I used, has holes like a regular block, I filled these holes with concrete. I also added two pieces of rebar as an extra tie together to make it more solid.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

I did get to finsh want I wanted tonight. I added another two blocks and the chimeny grows by another 16 inches. After the blocks had set up a bit, I did get them filled too. I had heard reports of rain tomorrow so I wanted that done before any rain came along.

I know it's not much of a picture but it's progress.

 

[OldGarageChris]

Re: garage refurb

Incredible job Eric. Thanks for documenting all of this. I'm about to start my own garage repair and this helps a lot. Multiple pages bookmarked!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Incredible job Eric. Thanks for documenting all of this. I'm about to start my own garage repair and this helps a lot. Multiple pages bookmarked!

Thank you for the compliments. Not only do I document for my personal record, I do it for the entertainment value and to help others. While I'm not mason or carpenter, I do have some common sense and try to think things through if I don't know the answer.

If one person can learn something from my thread, it'll make the time I put into it worth it.

 

[tinbender 66]

Re: garage refurb

Little by little by little you're gettin' there. I did it the same way and every step is another small victory. That common sense thing helps a lot. I worked construction (sheet metal) and I was constantly spying on the other trades to learn stuff. Also lots of great advice to be had on a big jobsite. Occasionally free stuff too!

Are you still doing the volunteer FD thing on the side? I live about a quarter mile from a volunteer FD and I can't believe how often that siren goes off now. Keeps those guys hoppin'!! It's comforting to know they are there though.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Are you still doing the volunteer FD thing on the side? I live about a quarter mile from a volunteer FD and I can't believe how often that siren goes off now. Keeps those guys hoppin'!! It's comforting to know they are there though.

Yep, still doing the volunteer FD thing on the side.

I'm not sure how to word this as not to sound conceited. I've been asked at times for my opinion or what I think about a situation. It's nice to know that you're being appreciated and that my experience is being put to good use. The best that I can do is teach them what I know and learn from them just the same.

 

[IONH]

Re: garage refurb

I'm not sure how to word this as not to sound conceited. I've been asked at times for my opinion or what I think about a situation. It's nice to know that you're being appreciated and that my experience is being put to good use. The best that I can do is teach them what I know and learn from them just the same.

That's not being conceited. It's always a good feeling to know that you are valued by someone.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

That's not being conceited. It's always a good feeling to know that you are valued by someone.

Thank you.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Here we are, the chimney is finished ! woo hoo This was a major project for me and a serious goal finished. Several years ago while working on the house, maybe 2005, I asked a block layer about putting the chimney up as a side job. He told me if I bought everything, he would do it for $500. I saved myself atleast that much since I know his price would have gone up since then.

The last two block went up about noon, after waiting 2 hours for the Time-Warner guy.

From a little different angle, you can see the cap and liner on the roof waiting to go up.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

After a few hours, those blocks were filled and the last liner was set in. Once it was set, I filled around it with sand like I had done the rest. Once thing you might notice, it appears crooked.

I saved this liner for last as it was literally bent, like it was still wet and got moved before it was fired and cured. I wanted to take it back but figured it would break on the ride back over to Mansfield. Now that I think about it, I should have just bought another one, as it didn't look that bad. Now that I see it in the chimney, I know it's there. Nobody else will probably notice it.

Once the liner was set, I mixed up more mortar and set the cap. I was about at the end of my reach with my short step ladder. Yes, if you're wondering, I did this all off a ladder, no scaffolding and by myself.

 

[Motown 454]

Re: garage refurb

Nice job, it came out great. Your moving right along.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Nice job, it came out great. Your moving right along.

Moving right along but winter is coming. I'll be cutting wood probably next week. Then I'll be testing out the chimney not long after that.

 

[ODIS]

Re: garage refurb

Will the new chimney need to be "tempered" at all? That is to say, just small fires for the first few days, then on to more robust fires? Great job on all that you have completed.

Ody.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Will the new chimney need to be "tempered" at all? That is to say, just small fires for the first few days, then on to more robust fires? Great job on all that you have completed.

Ody.

I've seen some different things on different sites. One says to build a fire after 24 hours while others say to wait 28 days. Since it's not cold yet, I'll wait a bit and start slow.

Although I have put a masonary cap on it, which caps the top of the block, I still need to get a regular chimney cap. One that protects the flue from rain and a screen to keep the birds/bats out. I believe it'll also help prevent downdrafts too. I have a line on one of those.


Thank you for the compliments.

 

[ConCretin]

Re: garage refurb

Looks great Nutts. Love the way you tackle each project in such a thoughtful and diligent way. One more thing to check off your list. What's next?

 

[n2ocamaro]

Re: garage refurb

A lot of great work back there. Is that it for the outside?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Looks great Nutts. Love the way you tackle each project in such a thoughtful and diligent way. One more thing to check off your list. What's next?

Thank you.

I'm going to do a little work to the inside of the garage shed. Add some furring strips, insulation and then sheath with OSB. Basically, just a thermal break since it's the last of concrete block that is exposed to the cold weather, well somewhat exposed. I'm also replacing a few boards that are now interior vs. exterior. I still need to make a door for it and run a bit of electric out there. It'll get an outlet, switch and a single incadescent fixture.

I still need to get the front sided above the overhang. That's going to be a pain to do and trying to work off of a ladder. I'm going to have to get creative with ladder placement and keeping them in place. I'll get some pictures (of course) when I do it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

A lot of great work back there. Is that it for the outside?

I appreciate the compliment. I still need to finish the front above the over hang, see above post.

I also have to side the east side of the garage. I have a few issues with that side though. I need more siding and it's special order. I just happened to buy what they had in stock for a discounted price.
I want to upgrade the electric service with a new meter base, mast and entrance cable but the rates are going up. I'm still debating whether go that route or run it from the house and go down to having only one service to worry about.

I have to rip off the old T111, move a pile of bricks, and reframe around a couple of windows. Then add in that winter will be here soon and the cash flow is getting low.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

We had some rain here the last couple of days kept me from doing much. After the rain quit yesterday after noon, I went out and put some new fascia up in the garage shed. I also put in a bit of styrofoam in the east door jamb. I then covered it with some OSB.

Today I went out and tapconned the furring strips. Then just like the rest of the exterior block, I added some styrofoam and covered it with OSB.

Furring strips tapconned.

Here you can see wheere I had to replace part of the old soffit as it had some water damage from years of neglect prior to our ownership.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Styrofoam insulation in.

Incase you're wondering, that's not an outlet at the bottom, it is an exterior outlet cover. It covers a hole in the wall where I feed my air hose out from the compressor, as it sits on the other side of the wall. I simply push the air hose in the hole, thru the wall, go inside and clip it into the quick connect.



Then covered with osb.

I picked up some stuff for the wiring today, that just might be tomorrows project, we'll see. The garage shed will get an outlet and a single light with a switch.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Not a big update but the shed now has electric. It may not seem like much but consider there's literally 3 attics that the wire had to transverse, actually 4 if you count upper area of the garage shed. I had to go across each attic once to run the wire and then back again to staple it in place after I had it run. I must have went up & down the ladders 40-50 times, no wonder my knee hurts.

 

[Carrnflight]

Re: garage refurb

What can I say but WOW! Awesome build. I soon will be starting a build and this thread will give lots of inspiration for my project.

 

[andyaus]

Re: garage refurb

Man this is becomibg such an impressive shed, not over the top and functional,
I like it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

What can I say but WOW! Awesome build. I soon will be starting a build and this thread will give lots of inspiration for my project.

Thank you, I'll be watching for your build.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Man this is becomibg such an impressive shed, not over the top and functional,
I like it.

Thank you, I do a multitude of things from wood projects, working on my mustang, regular vehicle maintenance, home projects and just hanging out. I've tried to think everything through and put every space to use and fit in.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Next project on the list. . . .

some of the materials for it.

If you're still wondering, the next pics should clue you in.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Yep, it's the beginning for a door for the garage shed. Since I trimmed out the openning with a 1x6 to get it wrapped and finish the siding, I needed a long hinge. I decided to take a regular hinge and add some material to it. I cut some steel to size, ground off the primer, and cleaned up the steel. Next up was the welder, then I realized my welder was still down for repair waiting on regulator parts. So it I went back to a friends house and had him weld them up.


Welds ground down, extra holes drilled and ready for primer.

Next up some proper colored paint and hung up to dry.

I wanted more progress today but I ended up doing more BS'ing that working. There's always tomorrow.

 

[Motown 454]

Re: garage refurb

Still moving forward! Looks good Eric.

 

[SWA Guy]

Re: garage refurb

Eric,

I just spent many hours over the last two days reading all 25 pages of your thread. As so many others have said, I am truly impressed!

I know that at times during your build it appeared that you weren't making progress, you were boring everyone or the hassle of taking pics and posting them just wasn't worth the time and effort. I am here to tell you that none of the above is true. Thank you for taking the time away from your rebuild to document your progress. It's very generous on your part and we all enjoy it, even if we don't post.

Your thread has inspired me in so many ways! Project ideas, methods of working around a problem, the get-er-done philosophy, etc. I really enjoyed it all and have subscribe to follow future progress.

You have also inspired me to start my own thread of my humble little shop build. Dad was a WWII Navy veteran, and I during the good ol Cold War. I have a Navy theme and lot's of WWII machinery. Ok, now you have me thinking...

Also, thank you for your service to our great country, and to your community as well.

Guy

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Still moving forward! Looks good Eric.

Thanks Wayne, things are about to slow down and go into idle with winter approaching. I'll still be able to do some stuff inside, but the outside projects will halt.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Eric,

I just spent many hours over the last two days reading all 25 pages of your thread. As so many others have said, I am truly impressed!

I know that at times during your build it appeared that you weren't making progress, you were boring everyone or the hassle of taking pics and posting them just wasn't worth the time and effort. I am here to tell you that none of the above is true. Thank you for taking the time away from your rebuild to document your progress. It's very generous on your part and we all enjoy it, even if we don't post.

Your thread has inspired me in so many ways! Project ideas, methods of working around a problem, the get-er-done philosophy, etc. I really enjoyed it all and have subscribe to follow future progress.

You have also inspired me to start my own thread of my humble little shop build. Dad was a WWII Navy veteran, and I during the good ol Cold War. I have a Navy theme and lot's of WWII machinery. Ok, now you have me thinking...

Also, thank you for your service to our great country, and to your community as well.

Guy

Guy, thank you for the kind words. I'm documenting for my own personal usage, for others to learn, for others to point out things I have done wrong so they can be corrected or use other's ideas.

Probably the greatest reason is help motivate and teach others, when you teach someone how to do something, you are learning yourself. That is one of the things I learned from my military service that I try to do here on GJ, as a career firefighter and as a volunteer firefighter too.

. . . only a fool stops learning. . . . .

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

First up, cutting the plywood to size and then the frame got some rabbets cut in them.
I believe that would be the correct term.

Then it was glued, clamped and screwed. Sorry, my C-clamp collection doesn't rival Jack's awesome clamp cache.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

After the exterior frame was done, the door was flipped over and preparation for the backside. That consisted of 1x4s while the front was 2x4 stock. It also got a diagonal brace not shown, and yes, it was put in, in the proper direction.

Then back over the the exterior side for some wrapping of the trim.

After that was completed, I added some J-channel and ended for the night.

Tommorrow (later today actually) I will hang the door and finish it up.

 

[don long]

Re: garage refurb

hello Eric
Its been a while since I looked in on you
I see things are still going forward
I need to build a door for a tool/yard shed that is falling apart
Will be taking a page out of your play book for it
THANK YOU
Don

 

[ODIS]

Re: garage refurb

Eric,

Looks like that will be one strong door. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Ody.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

hello Eric
Its been a while since I looked in on you
I see things are still going forward
I need to build a door for a tool/yard shed that is falling apart
Will be taking a page out of your play book for it
THANK YOU
Don

Still moving forward but starting to slow with the onset of winter. The door should be done today, according to plan.


Thank you.

Eric,

Looks like that will be one strong door. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Ody.

I think it will be strong enough for it's purpose. I'm afraid it's going to be heavy too in relation to one person mounting it.

 

[CNGsaves]

Re: garage refurb

Fabulous overall job with DIY on virtually everything. You've transformed the old station into something new.

Personally, I'd like to see some of the old prevail like: old look of garage doors (carriage), multiple surface coverings (now whole building/house has lots and lots of siding all with horizontal lines - - need some vertical lines, and different textures/colors), etc.

Reading through the build is addictive as I've spent hours to get to page #37.

I'd like to have seen more nostalgia included in build like firehouse effect. Could have put white corrugated tin on roof, and red corrugated on another surface for the red & white effect (also corrugated roof has much longer life than shingles). Maybe a section on that large horizontal beam could have held name of Nutts Firehouse!!

Curious why keep the "shed" all outside, could have put small roll-up garage door and opened up wall to interior of garage? That opening could have been used to bring mowers, etc in and out of garage.

Just my two cents, but Wow, you've done a great DIY job!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Re: garage refurb

..... I've spent hours to get to post #37.

Man, you need to take a speed reading course!

We know you meant PAGE 37.

This IS a very neat thread. I've really enjoyed it too.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Fabulous overall job with DIY on virtually everything. You've transformed the old station into something new.

Personally, I'd like to see some of the old prevail like: old look of garage doors (carriage), multiple surface coverings (now whole building/house has lots and lots of siding all with horizontal lines - - need some vertical lines, and different textures/colors), etc.

Reading through the build is addictive as I've spent hours to get to post #37.

I'd like to have seen more nostalgia included in build like firehouse effect. Could have put white corrugated tin on roof, and red corrugated on another surface for the red & white effect (also corrugated roof has much longer life than shingles). Maybe a section on that large horizontal beam could have held name of Nutts Firehouse!!

Curious why keep the "shed" all outside, could have put small roll-up garage door and opened up wall to interior of garage? That opening could have been used to bring mowers, etc in and out of garage.

Just my two cents, but Wow, you've done a great DIY job!

I considered using metal roofing at one time, but that thought quickly passed as it gets loud enough in there when it rains hard. The main garage area still has standing seam roofing. I wanted the garage to match the house and it already had shingles, which I put on. I'd much rather shingle this roof once more in my lifetime than have to paint standing seam roof again. I f I have an issue durign the winter or a rain storm, I'd be on shingles in a heartbeat, metal forget it.

I also considered doing some kind of waincoting like a fake stone on the front of the garage. That could easily be done in the furture by removing the siding.

The back shed area has no roll for a roll up door inside, it's sole purpose was to get some stuff out of the house garage. No reason to have a second door to gain access in the rear of the garage, the front is fine. The back room it connects too, is merely storage and houses the air compressor on the other side of that wall. There's actually 3 different floor levels in my garage.


Thank you for spending hours reading my thread, I hope it entertained you.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: garage refurb

Man, you need to take a speed reading course!

We know you meant PAGE 37.

This IS a very neat thread. I've really enjoyed it too.

Thank you Dan and glad you enjoyed it too.




Well an issue has arose here at the Nutt House, even trial fitting the door, it's too wide. Between the width of the hinges and welding them, wrapping the door, it's gotten too wide. I simply screwed up and no I have to figure out a course of action. The worst thing is, I built that door not to come apart. The frame is glued and screwed. The coil stock I wrapped it with, I used some PL adhesive so it would not come loose and RTV to seal around the J-channel since I used regular plywood.