Hello - New Member

[BCVen]

I just wanted to say hello from a new member. I'm a self-proclaimed handyman and DIY-er. After a recent move, I've been without a sufficient workshop (almost year now; I'm getting antsy - that said, I have twin 2-year olds that take up much of my "free" time). Our "new" home was built in 1912 and the garage is in a barely usable condition. I've been contemplating the best options for replacing it (size, layout, etc.) or repairing it, which brought me here.

I'll plan a separate post soliciting advice, but I'm on a small lot in the city with a detached alley access garage (any forums in here about garages on an alley?). I can't go as big as I'd like so I'm trying to find just the right size to be happy, still have a yard, and meet setback requirements.

Thanks in advance; I've already enjoyed reading some of the articles on this page. I'm going to be a frequent flyer, I'm sure.

 

[PelicanPines]

All I can offer as a fellow person stuck with a small space... Practice Tetris for a few nights, learn it well and put what you learned into practice.

Oh... and welcome to the asylum !!! This is the most expensive free forum on the internet... if you get caught up in some of the fantastic tool purchase deals you will find out about.

 

[BCVen]

All I can offer as a fellow person stuck with a small space... Practice Tetris for a few nights, learn it well and put what you learned into practice.

Oh... and welcome to the asylum !!! This is the most expensive free forum on the internet... if you get caught up in some of the fantastic tool purchase deals you will find out about.

The good thing is I have practice with a small garage from our previous house. Even better news is my new garage will still be significantly bigger than that one. That one was 22x24. My new one should be around 26x32. I have a lot more kids toys than then though and I was hoping to spread out a bit more with my wood working tools in this one. Maybe just one less car in the garage to accommodate.

Thanks for the reply! As a manufacturing engineer for most of my career, I learned to solve spatial problems pretty well! Tetris is the way to go!

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Wow 1912 that is amazing. Hopefully you will get it fixed up. If you got any pictures we like pictures even if it isn’t in good shape.

 

[nadogail]

Welcome to the forum from the shore of San Diego Bay, I have a workshop in a detatched two car garage on a city lot that is 140 feet deep and 25 feet wide. With the required 3 foot set back from the property lines, this means my shop and house are 19 feet wide.

I have become selective about what I keep and where I put it. Most of my stuff has wheels under it so I can shove it out of the way when I need a little more room.

I think you will find a way to make what you have work for you.

 

[BCVen]

Wow 1912 that is amazing. Hopefully you will get it fixed up. If you got any pictures we like pictures even if it isn’t in good shape.

I'm worried it's beyond repair. The garage itself is newer than 1912. It has some nominal dimension lumber and some rough sawn. It's hard to tell exactly when it was built. The only way to salvage it is to lift it, re-pour the foundation, fix most of the framing that's rotted, single top plate, etc. It was originally a 20'x20' but a 10' lean to addition was added. The previous owners cleaned up the outside with siding and a new roof in the last decade or so, but didn't fix the primary issue... It's 12-14" downhill from the parking lot across the alley and several inches below the level of the alley. When I add up the $$$ to get it close to where I would want it to be, that number gets way too close to the cost of a new build.

 

[BCVen]

Welcome to the forum from the shore of San Diego Bay, I have a workshop in a detatched two car garage on a city lot that is 140 feet deep and 25 feet wide. With the required 3 foot set back from the property lines, this means my shop and house are 19 feet wide.

I have become selective about what I keep and where I put it. Most of my stuff has wheels under it so I can shove it out of the way when I need a little more room.

I think you will find a way to make what you have work for you.

Thanks for the feedback! That's a crazy tight lot! My lot is 50 feet wide, but have 8 foot setbacks (for some reason). I should be able to get about 32' wide (leaving 10 feet one one side to still have vehicle access into my backyard... And a driveway for the kids to play on).

 

[PelicanPines]

I've owned a dozen homes along the way to now. 3 of those I consider my primary homes. My last house was a 1910 6 color victorian style house with a detached 2 1/2 car garage. I had the same issue with the entire bottom of the garage rotted away. Thankfully 3 of the 4 corners had a solid foundation.

We lifted the garage... fixed the 1 corner foundation... installed drainage around the whole thing. Cut about 18 inches off... added 24 inches of pressure treated wood... ON two level blocks of newly installed cinder blocks.

Said with the voice of Yoda: "Monumental It Was... " As soon as I finished the restoration of that garage... I epoxied the rough poured floor... and sold the property during a housing bubble.

The entire house and garage was all dimensional lumbar... gas pipes for lights everywhere prior to them adding wires for something called electricity.

I built a brand new house... will never regret that adventure or move. Just wish I had more coin for a bigger garage in the new build. ( I spent it all repairing the old one that I sold )

 

[FMB4]

Welcome from SW Idaho.