To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

It's About Time!

M

Mackey

Active member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
36
Well, I have been drooling over your shops, garages and projects for the last couple of years now, but this is the first time that I can happily say that I will soon be starting my OWN garage project, from the ground up!

I bought a house a few years back with no garage, and have bounced back and forth on building a garage or just selling it as is. Decided to stay a while longer, but don't want to go one more winter without my favorite retreat in the world- a nice workshop/garage.

Here's what I know so far- will be a basic 24X24 detached unit, planning to insulate and finish the inside, allowing to be heated in the winter as needed.

Currently finalizing bids for the concrete, and will be building it with a friend and others of strong back and weak mind!

As the project gets underway, I will certainly post some pics and updates!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
R

rogsmart

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 22, 2009
Messages
240
Location
It's the part that's gonna fall in the ocean when
Welcome to GJ. It's always good to have some friends with strong backs who are willing to work for beer, barbecue, and all the bad jokes they can stand. :beer:

This place has a certain uhh... fetish for project pictures. So keep that digital
cam a clicking as things progress. Your most common complaint is gonna be, "Dude why didn't you take more pictures??"

Best of luck on the new garage.
 
OP
M

Mackey

Active member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
36
Thanks gang- I should be applying for my permit tomorrow or the day after, so hopefully there will be no issues and I can get the flatwork started within a week or so (I have a contractor who's pretty much waiting for the go ahead- not much work these days).

One interesting side note is that my town in Wisconsin now requires that if you build a new garage (including replacing an old one), you have to put in a new paved driveway within 18 months. So I found out today that I may be facing THAT substantial investment. When I talked with her, though, I explained that there is no way I could justify that kind of investment given current property values just to satisfy a 3 year old statute. She admitted that if I spoke to the inspectors, I may be able to get a waiver. We'll see...
 
O

Omphaloskeptic

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2008
Messages
2,346
Location
Ultima Ratio, Wa.
Mackey, I'm curious to know what the town's reasoning for the paved driveway statute? Hopefully, you can get that waived! With that kind of burden placed on the homeowner, I wonder what other hoops are in store for you in getting your permits and inspections? Good luck with all of it and hopefully, you'll have it all closed in before the snow flies.
 
W

Wingnut65

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
3,170
Location
Tampa Bay, FL
Welcome to GJ, Mackey. Sounds like you found us just in time to make this new shop something that you have always dreamed of but didn't know it.

For the driveway requirements, it may be just a word problem. Would you need a driveway for a 'storage building', 'workshop', or even a 'barn'? I don't recall seeing paved driveways at any of the Wisconsin barns I've seen. What if it had swinging barn-type doors instead of a roll up door. Just a thought. Play their game and get what you want and what you can afford.

Good Luck. Keep us posted. Oh, and start a build thread in the 'Garage Gallery. We are addicted to pictures also...
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
M

Mackey

Active member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
36
Thanks all-
Wing Nut- actually I've been a garage/shop fiend ever since I was a kid, I've just been without one for the last several years since I bought a fixer upper! I've been satisfying my withdrawl for the last few years by lurking out here enjoying the great spaces you've all put together, not to mention helping friends perfect theirs (such as Rick S out here).

Now I've just decided I'm not going to go through another winter without one, not to mention all of the overdue projects that would be better served with proper tool availability and set up, floor space, etc. IT'S TIME!

Hopefully they will back off on the requirement for a paved driveway- it would be nice, but my neighborhood and home values simply can't support that kind of investment at this point, and I got the impression that they were pretty open to working around that. Taking a few days to get all of the ducks in a row before I approach it with them so they see a well prepared permit application and a well planned project.

And don't worry, I will definitely be dropping some photos out on the Gallery page- it will pale in comparison to what some of you have done, but it will suit my needs, if not my wants!
 
OP
M

Mackey

Active member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
36
Spent much of the day cutting down trees along the side of the driveway. They were sapplings when I bought the place in 2006, but were 30+ feet now, and encroaching on the driveway (at least for those who can't back up straight!).

It was a lit of work for one guy, but a buddy of mine (Rick S from here on the site who turned me on to GJ) is coming over tomorrow with his chipper, which will be a major help. A LOT of trees, but not much wood! Just limbs!!

Now a concrete truck can easily get in there, and the squirrels will no longer have a super highway to my roof!

As the project gets closer to reality, I'll get a thread going on the gallery section!

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
 
OP
M

Mackey

Active member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
36
Soon! Soon! This is quite the request from the guy who took a bunch of pictures of his own project, only to NOT post them yet! I'll get my gallery thread posted up when you get yours going... how's that?!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom