Mountain Garage using Logs and Heavy Timber

[NC.50]

I am in the process of building my new garage out of 6" x 12" logs for exterior walls and heavy timbers for interior and roof structure. No drywall and very little traditional "stick" framing.

The ground floor is a poured slab with about 2000 sf of area. It will hold 10 cars including my MB Sprinter RV. There is a loft over the center bay with about 500 sf. I will store parts and maybe an office that overlooks the first floor. There is a modest "man-cave" area on the first floor.

We are in the midst of installing the roofing system. The decking over the rafters is 1x8 tongue and groove. An underlayment is on top of the decking. On top of that is 9" thick foam insulation [R-38] followed by "peel and stick" membrane that makes the system waterproof. The finishing layer will be a brick-color metal roof.

I am new to this site and appreciate the advice I have already received from some of the experts. Glad to be here.

 

[kbs2244]

Ware did you get the logs?
They look like they have been "squared"

 

[Farmall450]

Looks great from that picture -- got any more?

 

[NC.50]

From Battle Creek Log Homes in Eastern Tennessee. Yes they are rectangular in profile 6" thick and 12" high. They have a double tongue and groove that lock the log layers together. A foam gasket is installed between each layer of logs. A special construction adhesive is applied between each layer. Pretty airtight.

 

[dw1]

Yep, I agree, need more pics please!! Looks great.

 

[yeldogt]

They are very quiet structures ..... I did a smaller structure .......cabin w/loft -- many years ago in PA .... Hemlock. Similar system w/ gasket ... no glue back then. It was sort of a kit -- mine were not as nicely milled on the outside.

I loved it ... metal roof. It proved to be too far to get to from the city ....

 

[^&right]

I'd love to see some inside pics and how you are running wires/plumbing.

Very nice!

 

[NC.50]

Here a few more photos. Sorry for the poor quality. Not one of my talents.

 

[NC.50]

There is a powder room in the rear of the middle bay. The walls to this room have not yet been framed. The drain pipe for this room is under and runs up through the slab. The vent pipe also runs through the slab and will extend to the second floor loft where it will also serve for future bath if I need it.

There is a 2' high block perimeter stemwall above the slab on which the logs sit. Being slab on grade the logs cannot sit on the concrete floor to avoid water issues. The width of the stemwall is 12" leaving a "ledge" inside since the logs are 6" wide. This is where we will run the and mount the wall outlets. Once complete this stemwall will have a log siding covering and shelf ledge that will conceal the wiring. Lighting is a bit more complicated. But since this is just a garage and not a house the plan is to run the wiring on the tie-beams and along the backside of the rafters where they meet the roof decking. A wood trim piece will cover the wiring. Light "boxes" will be metal and exposed but wiring will be covered. Kinda hard to explain each device and fixture but hopefully you get the big picture. Electrician starts tomorrow. There will inevitably be some "on the fly" decisions. But again...it's just a garage.

 

[Vahispd]

Very nice. I'm in for the updates.

 

[Bighead38]

Looks awesome.

 

[gnpenning]

I'm sorry I have to mildly disagree with you about it being "just a garage".


That is a thing of beauty!! Keep the pictures coming.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I'm sorry I have to mildly disagree with you about it being "just a garage".


That is a thing of beauty!! Keep the pictures coming.

I agree. I would live in that for sure! Nicer looking than most houses!!

Jim

 

[BuffettFan]

Hell, I'd live in that!
Beautiful! Please keep the pics coming.

 

[Bretny]

I don't think there's anything modest about a 10car garage or anything modest about any of your pictures. It does look nice...just not modest.

 

[topcok88]

I don't think there's anything modest about a 10car garage or anything modest about any of your pictures. It does look nice...just not modest.

He only said the man cave was modest. And it’s not like he is going over the top. It looks like the architecture and design fit with the area it is being built. The structure doesn’t look out of place or over the top - just another cabin style build in the woods. Good job by the OP and looking forward to seeing more.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[theoldwizard1]

Ware did you get the logs?
They look like they have been "squared"

Likely local. He is on the southern side of the Smokey Mountains.

 

[firebirdparts]

I like the looks. Very nice.

 

[NC.50]

If I didn't have a wife I would be happy to live in the 500 sf loft overlooking the cars below! But that's not the real world. I have been thinking about having my dream garage for a very long time. Now it's finally coming to fruition. Here is a picture of the loft above.

Found a great electrician. In two days his crew wired all lighting, receptacles, breaker panel w/ breakers, service and meter pot and more. All the overhead lighting wiring is neatly tucked against rafters at roof decking and receptacle wiring on top of the concrete block foundation wall that left a 6" shelf inside [block is 12" logs above 6"]. All wiring will be easily covered with wood trim. Only thing left for electrician to do is install light fixtures. I held off until the rest of the interior finish work is completed. Total cost for labor and material $4880. Pretty cheap for a 2500 sf structure.

 

[NC.50]

Found these nice looking polished nickel light fixtures for the garage. There will be 24 installed. A 100w equivalent LED lamp will be used. They are also dimmable. Should provide plenty of lighting for display and polishing/cleaning. And dimmed for more ambient levels like garage parties....

 

[SeniorCitizen]

What's the plan for moisture control?

 

[NC.50]

There is a moisture barrier under the slab. In addition I am installing a "3 head" Daikin mini-split system for temperature and humidity control. Here in the mountains winter humidity is managed by simple heating. In summer I will run one of the head units just to keep down the humidity. The temperature in summer is rarely an issue. Last year the hottest day was 82 degrees. But here in the Smokies it does stay humid most of the year. In our back yard we have this substantial year-round humidifier.

 

[pat9198]

That is going to be a really cool cabin!

 

[Jayman17]

Awesome looking place, thanks for posting and keep the photos coming.

Jay

 

[NC.50]

Just an update on the progress. The roofing is now "dried in". The make-up of the roof is tongue and grove 1x8 decking covered with platinum self adhesive roof underlayment. On top are two layers of foam panels...5-1/2" + 3-1/2" w/ OSB sheathing joint-staggered for a total of 9" of insulation. 12" screws fasten the insulation to the rafters below. On top is Polyglass MT heavy duty self adhesive underlayment which is what insures a water-tight roof. I use the Polyglass in FL where the rain can be monsoon intensity. Probably overkill here in the NC mountains but waterproofing is important to insure no issues...ever.

Here are some pics. The garage is 3 bays. First pic is the left bay...22'w x 34'd. This will have a lift and a full width workbench and cabinets on the rear wall. Second pic is the middle bay showing framing for a PR and stairs above to the loft over the middle bay. Third pic is of the middle bay w/ the insulation panels. Behind is the right bay. Loft is above.

 

[Tarnished]

Amazing place! Keep the pics coming. Looking forward to seeing the completion.
What does your house look like? Is it of the same log construction?

 

[CraigStu]

That is beautiful.

 

[Arps]

Looks like a dream!

 

[NC.50]

Amazing place! Keep the pics coming. Looking forward to seeing the completion.
What does your house look like? Is it of the same log construction?

The house is at the other end of the property about 1/4 mile away. We built the house at the base of the waterfall. However I didn't want to use logs due to the significant humidity that could create more mold conditions. Instead I used cement board siding and Azec trim and minimal exposed wood for the house. This also prevents the carpenter bee issue.

Here is a picture of the house taken after a big snowfall in late 2018. Not much snow this winter. Fortunately NC is still in the South. So when it snows in few days it melts and disappears.

 

[NC.50]

Here is a picture of the waterfall behind our house. Taken this morning after overnight rain and some lingering fog.

 

[CN Spots]

Quit hogging all the awesome! That looks like a resort! Well done.

-and I bet the new shop smells great inside. Love me some wooden buildings.

 

[HotrodHR]

Aw c'mon, tell the truth... that log structure is really your wife's dream home, open floor plan, etc. You're just using that nice looking house as base camp while you complete her forever home! I guess you'll build a 24'x24' garage like the rest of us at a later date...






Great looking garage mahal in a beautiful setting!

 

[Pluribus]

Awesome garage and property! That waterfall sure makes for a nice water feature, too.

 

[Jackfre]

...an important detail you have left out. It being a dream garage I assume there are some dream cars. The wood is really nice, now about the metal!

 

[losdudes]

Very nice!

 

[NC.50]

Been awhile since I posted the progress. The exterior of the garage is complete less a few details. Metal roofing installed in 1-1/2 days this week. It's a new finish and color I had never seen before. It's a textured deep red. I think it matches the finish of Sikkens Butternut stain on the logs. Three coats in the Sikkens 1-2-3 system. Interior is moving along too. Stain and sealing is complete. Working on final trim out of cabinetry, plumbing and porcelain tile on the slab. Maybe a month away. Getting bids for paving now...lots of it w/ a 400' driveway plus pad in front.

 

[NC.50]

...an important detail you have left out. It being a dream garage I assume there are some dream cars. The wood is really nice, now about the metal!

Yes...there is some nice "metal" being relocated from FL to the mountains. Being of Italian descent I have a collection of fun cars. 4 Ferraris..a 599, an 05 Superamerica, an 81 BB512 and my fav a 67 330 GTC. Two Alfas...a 4C and a classic 67 1750 GTV. Add in a bought from new 05 Maserati Quattroporte.

Here in the NC mountains are some of the best driving roads anywhere. FL is nice and warm but driving is no fun. Finally these cars will be happy here in WNC.

 

[469 runner]

That will be an awesome garage. I know the Maggie Valley area well as I work in Transylvania county often. I have free time and I hike the beautiful Pisgah Forest, Smokey Mountains, and check out the waterfalls. Yes, your cars should be happy there. Good Luck with the construction.

 

[NC.50]

That will be an awesome garage. I know the Maggie Valley area well as I work in Transylvania county often. I have free time and I hike the beautiful Pisgah Forest, Smokey Mountains, and check out the waterfalls. Yes, your cars should be happy there. Good Luck with the construction.

Thank you for the note. Yes lots of great hiking trails around here too. We live about 1/2 mile as a crow flies to Smokey Mountain National Park. This is the SE end of the park near the Cataloochee Valley. Every once in a while we see a family or two of elk in a nearby field when we drive to town. Cataloochee gets popular during rutting season in October when visitors set up their chairs and watch the elk. From a distance they seem big but when one walks closer they are HUGE! They seem to ignore humans.....pretty indifferent attitude.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

That is a really nice looking building!