Garage Repairable?

[Markfothebeast]

Moved in to this place a couple years ago, demolished one garage and built a new on the same foundation.

The other garage in the woods however, was inhabited by critters and stuffed to the brim with ****. I now have most of it out (and found some nice antiques as well) but more roof decking and trusses are falling in every time I go in it. I advised nobody to enter. I cut 2 large trees off the roof. Now it's falling apart even more. It has a concrete slab as well as "electrical service". By that I mean the wire was cut and buried at the pole.

On a budget of absolutely zero dollars towards this garage, what would you do? I have extra 2x4s I could use to keep it from falling.

 

[texasranger]

Do you have a need for the space? Tough with zero budget, but it does look like you have some steel panels to use as roof if you want to try salvaging it.

If you need the space and have nothing to spend on it, I'd probably take it all down, see what wood is worth salvaging, and rebuild as a smaller lean-to for firewood or something along those lines. There is a whole lot of daylight showing as it is...

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[ChevyEFI]

Well, you have summer to make it livable through winter.

Is it passable, structurally, assuming the roof is fixed?

Would you trust it to park a vehicle, or goods you consider valuable?

 

[SIX225]

Snow loads? Local code requirements? Lot set backs? Looks kinda rough and might be better to start over, but "fixing" the old one might be easier than having to comply to new regulations.

 

[tjdux]

From the photos the walls look ok, unless they are rotted at the bottom really badly.

It looks like it really just needs a proper roof and could be fine.

Some new 2x4 rafters to replace the broken ones isnt too bad. At least a few sheets of plywood to replace the damaged sheathing. (Should plan a whole new roof once you can though)

Like said above there is some tin up there that could be used to seal up the big holes. Or a few bundles of shingles and it could be some storage space again. Maybe don't put anything super valuable in there for a year or two to watch for more problems.

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[Markfothebeast]

80% of the load bearing walls are still sound. I just need it for storage. It has held up with snow on it.

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[Markfothebeast]

West Central WI snow that is.

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[OzarkMan]

I would just tear it down and save up for a new one. You'll be chasing issues throughout the ownership of this one.

 

[DougWil]

Rafters and ceiling joists with one vertical midspan, nailed to the side does not make a truss.

I would rip the entire roof structure off and closely inspect the wall studs, T and B plates and anchorage. That would determine if they stay or go. I notice one of those studs has a huge gash out of it.

 

[Markfothebeast]

I think I'll make a hay roof like in South America.

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[rburke65]

Well with no budget it's going be a rough road.

 

[Markfothebeast]

I'm being sarcastic. If the thing implodes I really don't care. I'll eventually knock it over. This has been here since 1960 something with the same roof, no hurricane clips, cheesy 1x4's, untreated wood, but a solid foundation. It lasted over 40 years and was left abandoned for quite some time. But still it stands. I'll make it a little structural experiment.

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[CNGsaves]

I'd say consider . . . Phases
. . .
. . . . . . Phase 1 . . free . . . scour CL for free tin and put a roof on it
(becomes "cold storage" that is relatively dry)
. . . . . Phase 2 . . spend a little . . . start fixing walls for long-term use
. . . . . Phase 3 . . spend $$$ . . . decide long-term roof so remove and rebuild
(again you might get lucky and find trusses from CL on the cheap . . .
. . . . I recently ran across 40' for $10 each)
(at this point, also decide if you will raise roof height or other improvements)
. . . . . Phase 4 . . spend $$ . . in conjunction with Phase 3, raise walls off slab with row or two of concrete block. This will eliminate bottom sill rot and raise the roof. Also, this does better job keeping out critters.

Thus, your long-term plan will obviously center around what low-cost supplies you source, or spend $$$ outright to get what you want quicker. There could be an upside, you might get BIG stuff cheap, so you can Re-BUILD something BIGGER !!

 

[LXCam]

Maybe plant a couple of large trees inside to help hold the roof up for the time being

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

$0 is going to be tough. Maybe find someone that has a barn they want removed. If your willing to do some work you may find materials.
If you want covered space for a few hundred you could replace the bad joists and replace the roof, maybe even paint the exterior.
Unattended it will continue to deteriorate.

 

[dave89iroc]

anything is repairable with enough money, however, is it cost effective?

 

[matt_i]

The cheapest support is going to be a column of 2x4s down the center supporting every "truss" at the centerpoint/midspan.

Then there's the roof. Pond Liner anyone? Without spending something on the roof its headed quickly to its former status-quo, imo. Basically like the old rotting barns around here with birds and other mammals going in and out thru the giant holes in the roof planes its just a matter of time and the right amount of wind.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Sorry....and I'm not trying to be an a-hole, but I think the only things that can help that 'Money Pit' would be a gallon of gas and a match. No sense throwing good money away...sorry, but it's time to 'Pull the plug'...it's terminal buddy.

 

[-Brent-]

I think you need to up your budget if you want to save it. I've seen guys shore up and use much worse without too much investment. By the looks of it, you need a few hundred in lumber and some sort of sheet goods. Other than that, with no money or materials, I don't so how your last resource (time) could get you where you want to be.

 

[p_mori7]

Suggest you adjust the size of your photos, and don't place the links to the photos one next to each other. Change line between each link. Will make the post much more enjoyable to read.

480x640 is a good size for the forum.

 

[TractorJeff]

Throw a couple of hundred into it. If you tear it down, you'll never have the money to build again for a long time! Then there will be Zoning/Inspection issues. Put the necessary repairs into it to get a few more years out of it. Heck! Its lasted this long and the interior wood looks good.