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Got the green light!

sharp21

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Dec 6, 2012
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After a full year of basement renovations I told the wife that I was done with home improvements until the garage was rebuilt. Non negotiable!

Following a lengthy negotiation we compromised on me first building a car port for her... I can live with that!

The garage is nothing special now - stick built in the 70's, open ceiling with no insulation, 2 doors, 20x20 or so for the sake of argument. It has a single dim bulb hanging from a wire by the chipped and sagging bench/shelving units installed by a long forgotten owner.

I intend on ripping out the works, including the water stained old drywall, and first finding the hole where the mice come in! After that it'll be a full rewire job - including sub panel. Then new drywall.

But first I might vault the ceiling! Its something I've actually been thinking about for inside the house (also stick construction) and I've seen a few inspiring conversions here. I figure it would be good practice, will look great, open up the space, and provide room for a lift if I ever decide to add one.

I've been searching the archives but any links to projects that have replaced the joists would be appreciated.

FYI I am in Alberta so snow load WILL be an issue!

S.
 
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LX-Markham

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I did this to our garage, created a vaulted ceiling. It was my wife's idea!
This made room for the car lift (also the wife's idea).
 
OP
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sharp21

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Messages
33
I did this to our garage, created a vaulted ceiling. It was my wife's idea!
This made room for the car lift (also the wife's idea).

Any pictures of the vaulting in progress? I'm trying to figure out how to go about it

S.
 
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sharp21

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Small update.

First, I don't think ill vault the ceiling. It doesn't look like I'll gain more than a foot and I can't see installing a lift anyway.

Second, I was looking into new fluorescents when my neighbour asked if I wanted some pot lights. I'd already done some reading and figured I would need a ton of them to make it work. He gave me 36 6" lights!

Time to start wiring!
S.
 

Kevin54

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Location
Urbana, Ohio
After a full year of basement renovations I told the wife that I was done with home improvements until the garage was rebuilt. Non negotiable!

Following a lengthy negotiation we compromised on me first building a car port for her... I can live with that!

The garage is nothing special now - stick built in the 70's, open ceiling with no insulation, 2 doors, 20x20 or so for the sake of argument. It has a single dim bulb hanging from a wire by the chipped and sagging bench/shelving units installed by a long forgotten owner.

I intend on ripping out the works, including the water stained old drywall, and first finding the hole where the mice come in! After that it'll be a full rewire job - including sub panel. Then new drywall.

But first I might vault the ceiling! Its something I've actually been thinking about for inside the house (also stick construction) and I've seen a few inspiring conversions here. I figure it would be good practice, will look great, open up the space, and provide room for a lift if I ever decide to add one.

I've been searching the archives but any links to projects that have replaced the joists would be appreciated.

FYI I am in Alberta so snow load WILL be an issue!

S.

Get your Man Card out. I vote for two demerits. One for putting your foot down, and another for getting it trampled on.
 

LX-Markham

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Markham, Ont.
Any pictures of the vaulting in progress? I'm trying to figure out how to go about it.
oops, sorry for the late reply, forgot about this thread.

Here's some pics:
Started off with a 2-car garage (20x20) with standard trusses.
garage-02_zpsc287a430.jpg

Installed horizontal steel channels on the rafter support sides, and steel angles on the other sides. Essentially creating a steel frame "box" along the top plate.
garage-05_zps00bf4806.jpg

Sistered the new rafters to the existing truss top chords...
garage-07_zpsa2ac6dec.jpg

...and cut out the truss bottom chords and webs.
IMG_1210_zpsd9eab511.jpg

IMG_1213_zps2c9b94cf.jpg


The steel frame "box" takes the horizontal thrust from the new rafters. Everything was done in-place with no shoring. The roof sheathing is still attached to the old truss top chords.
 

Kevin54

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LX....where did you get the steel channel, and what sort of pitch do you have on your roof. It sort of looks like a 5/12 or a 6/12 pitch. Also how tall are your sidewalls?
 
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LX-Markham

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LX....where did you get the steel channel, and what sort of pitch do you have on your roof. It sort of looks like a 5/12 or a 6/12 pitch. Also how tall are your sidewalls?

8/12 pitch, it's pretty steep.
Side walls are 9' high. So with the trusses out of the way I've got 15' to the inside peak.

I hired a guy I know who does structural steel work. He supplied, fabricated, and installed the steel.

plan-small_zps03e60e81.jpg
 
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sharp21

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Thanks for the pics LX, looks great!

My roof has a much lower pitch though and a wider span. I was looking at doing something with rafter ties but on further research it looks like I've got site built W trusses. For the cost and effort involved I think I'll just live with the 8' ceiling.

Kevin, obviously not married...
S.
 

coljar

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Belpre, Ohio
Yeah, pretty sure Kevin's married. My wife and I will discuss major projects just so we don't get ahead of the money, but she doesn't say much about my spending because she has horses and trailers and tack...............ain't cheap and she doesn't work and I'm the one working the overtime.
 
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CNGsaves

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KS and OK
Need pics from the OP (ie Sharp21).

Let's SEE what you are starting with . . . before the transformation begins. ;)

Also, don't miss this opportunity to PLAN, any and all, future things you want in garage before it's all sheetrocked. Thus, plan out electrical, lighting, heating/cooling, airline system, low voltage (internet/phone/TV/security/intercom), and other in-stud work BEFORE you start the insulation process.

Since you're in Canada, you'll want tight envelope to prevent air infiltration, thus install vapor barrier AFTER you've got all the above in-stud work done and insulation. Last step is sheetrock, so don't get into any big hurry for sheetrocking.

Now also would be good time to Update GJ Profile with LOCATION. Good luck.
 

Kevin54

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Thanks for the pics LX, looks great!

My roof has a much lower pitch though and a wider span. I was looking at doing something with rafter ties but on further research it looks like I've got site built W trusses. For the cost and effort involved I think I'll just live with the 8' ceiling.

Kevin, obviously not married...
S.

Yeah, pretty sure Kevin's married. My wife and I will discuss major projects just so we don't get ahead of the money, but she doesn't say much about my spending because she has horses and trailers and tack...............ain't cheap and she doesn't work and I'm the one working the overtime.

Yep...Married. As a matter if fact, 23 years last Sunday. Second marriage for me, third for my wife. And yes, we do discuss things also, or I should say we discuss everything. She lost everything in a fire 24 years ago, and I lost everything in my divorce when her and I got together. We never argue, and we never deny the other if they want to do something. We worked our asses off to get where we are today, now were both retired and going to enjoy the rest of the time we have on this place called Earth.
 

LX-Markham

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It looks like you have a ridge beam in there now. How did you get that in, or is it just blocking?

Great work so far.
Yeah, that's just blocking.

Sorry about hj the thread, but hopefully it gives you some ideas what can be done with a green light and a blank canvas. Post some before (current) pics.
 
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sharp21

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http://0.tqn.com/w/experts/Building-Homes-Extensions-2333/2010/02/W-Truss.jpg

No pics right now due to the garage being full of the basement for the reno, but its exactly like the one posted.

Rise is 3 feet and the garage is 24ft wide so thats a 3/12 roof pitch. Pretty shallow. And I've got anywhere from 2-4ft of snow on the garage right now so I don't think I'll mess with it.

Kevin, my answer was tongue in cheek, as was the initial post.

I'll start a separate thread when I get building. Thanks everyone for the ideas!
S.
 
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