Garage walls sitting on dirt

[mustangguy]

Hey guys looking at buying a new house with a old 24x24ish garage. its old 2x4 construction with plywood on the outside walls i plan to metal the outside walls and metal roof aswell, the only problem is that the outside walls the kickplate sits on top of 6X8 wood blocks. it is not rotten...i was just wondering what the best idea to lift the garage and pour concrete under it. it also has a dirt floor so i will be pouring concrete in there too this garage is just to get me by still i build my shop then it will be used to park the cars in the cold winter what are your guys idea's and suggestions...sorry grammer is not my thing thanks guys.

 

[jkeyser14]

If you can afford to pour concrete under it I would. The wood will eventually attract insects and/or rot away to nothing.

 

[mustangguy]

that was the plan but i was wondering how i should go about it?....get building jacks and jack it up and then it will be hard to dig down to pour a form?.

 

[thrifty bill]

Post pictures. Sounds like your choices are to either move it (a significant undertaking), or jack it up in place, and pour foundation/footings piecemeal (you might be able to do the footers all at once). Once the footers are done, lower it back down and pour a floor. I would seek some professional advice. Need to brace it before jacking it up.

I am really surprised it is not eaten up by either termites or carpenter ants. Around here, anything in direct contact with the ground is attacked.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Watch this !


Jacking a garage (when it is completely empty) is pretty easy. Biggest concern is adding additional bracing, especially across doors and windows. I would add some long 2x6 across the width about 3' up from the floor if possible. Same front to back. I don't think the interior plywood/OSB is necessary (as stated in the video) if you run some long 2x4 diagonally on each wall, nailing into each stud.

If you add hurricane straps to the connection between the rafter and the top plate, you may be able to jack it up with a floor/bottle jack and a 4x4 post up to temporary 2x6 (doubled, tripled ?) attached to the bottom of the rafter, as close as possible to the wall.

Once up in the air, what are you going to use to hold it there ? Look close at wht the guy in the video did.

Don't forget about securing the building against the wind. Again watch the video.