Above 1200 Sq/FT Moving to the Mountains

[PA Slammer]

OK, haven't posted on here in a LONG, LONG time. I was just getting too jealous. [emoji16]

Anyway, my time has come. We're finally moving across the US from PA to Colorado. So if thought I'd share the build with you guys as you all have shared yours.

I've got some incredible ideas from your builds over the years. I hope this may do the same for all of you. PLEASE, throw out any ideas, comments, etc... you may have. I'm only going yo get one shot at this. BTW, the size is set. Can't/won't go any bigger.

I'll post up as many details and pics that I can. In the meantime, here is how I'll be using it; the main house will have a 3 car attached, just for the daily drivers. The detached shop will be used for a trailer, an RV, a boat and dirtbikes. And it'll roof the entire solar setup for the house. I like to work on the motorcycles, but am somewhat a hack and not as skilled as I'd like to be someday. Mainly just tinkering around with general repairs. I do have a MIG welder and have been teaching myself a little here and there. Keeping the toys clean and in good working order is my top priority.

Here is a teaser. I'll post more pics and plans soon. Should be breaking ground on the house and shop in 2-3 weeks.

 

[readhead]

Good looking design. Where in Colorado?

 

[LXCam]

That's going to be very nice. Congrats and good luck.

I'm certain you've given this considerable thought but looking at your dimensions are you certain about that demising wall between your car area and the back wall. I think you'll find that only having a ~18' depth for cars and then a 8' wide room not enough to do much of anything. And I know making the whole building larger is big money but if it were me I'd leave the wal out and install some 2ft deep benches or whatever on the back wall and leave room for wrenching on a ride or two.

Oops, after looking at your drawing again maybe that's a wall. Is it just post and beam?

Anyhow just an observation. Have fun and post lots of pics please!

 

[C_F]

OK, haven't posted on here in a LONG, LONG time. I was just getting too jealous. [emoji16]

Great, now you're going to make ME jealous.

Looking forward to your build progress, I hope it's smooth sailing for you!

 

[PA Slammer]

Good looking design. Where in Colorado?

Loveland

 

[PA Slammer]

That's going to be very nice. Congrats and good luck.

I'm certain you've given this considerable thought but looking at your dimensions are you certain about that demising wall between your car area and the back wall. I think you'll find that only having a ~18' depth for cars and then a 8' wide room not enough to do much of anything. And I know making the whole building larger is big money but if it were me I'd leave the wal out and install some 2ft deep benches or whatever on the back wall and leave room for wrenching on a ride or two.

Oops, after looking at your drawing again maybe that's a wall. Is it just post and beam?

Anyhow just an observation. Have fun and post lots of pics please!

Yep, just post and beam. I'll post interior layout in a bit, but it was designed to fit a 21' Sprinter, 20' toy hauler and a boat

 

[PA Slammer]

Yep, just post and beam. I'll post interior layout in a bit, but it was designed to fit a 21' Sprinter, 20' toy hauler and a boat

Well let's see if these pics turn out...

 

[lakeroadster]

Cool design

Not sure where in Colorado you're headed but keep in mind snow.. your roof design, if it's metal, will shed a lot of snow.

Snow breaks work pretty good, but you'll still have a decent pile right in front of the overhead doors.

 

[karlhungus]

Greetings from down the road in Niwot. I've never hired an architect, but I'm planning on doing so in the future. I'm interested in anything you might share about the process, particularly the specific costs and how much you get beyond the drawings. I understand there is a bit of a taboo about putting these things online, but I think the readers of this thread would be curious.

 

[PA Slammer]

Cool design [emoji106]

Not sure where in Colorado you're headed but keep in mind snow.. your roof design, if it's metal, will shed a lot of snow.

Snow breaks work pretty good, but you'll still have a decent pile right in front of the overhead doors.

The doors are south facing... for the roof solar. The roof is metal, but with the solar, might hold it a bit more. Hopefully won't be opening the doors much in the winter as this is just the storage for the toys. We will also have a 3 car attached on the house.

 

[PA Slammer]

Greetings from down the road in Niwot. I've never hired an architect, but I'm planning on doing so in the future. I'm interested in anything you might share about the process, particularly the specific costs and how much you get beyond the drawings. I understand there is a bit of a taboo about putting these things online, but I think the readers of this thread would be curious.

I'd be glad to share whatever, but might be hard to break out the price point as we're building a house and shop.

 

[jalbrecht55]

I really like the design of the place (the style and even the size seems decent). But if there is any way you can get rid of the posts (by using a pair of large beams in a sideways T as viewed from above) or even eliminate just 1 or 2, by using a larger main beam it might be worth your while and the expense. I have a post between each of my bays and it is absolutely maddening beyond words. They are always in the way.

Also, if you feel like sharing I'd be curious to see the main house and garage as well (both design and construction).

 

[PA Slammer]

I really like the design of the place (the style and even the size seems decent). But if there is any way you can get rid of the posts (by using a pair of large beams in a sideways T as viewed from above) or even eliminate just 1 or 2, by using a larger main beam it might be worth your while and the expense. I have a post between each of my bays and it is absolutely maddening beyond words. They are always in the way.

Also, if you feel like sharing I'd be curious to see the main house and garage as well (both design and construction).

I'll ask the architect. Never really thought it would be a problem. Interesting.

 

[PA Slammer]

Here's a couple renderings of the house. A view to the north and one to the south.

 

[Notgrownup]

Holy **** that looks awesome.....doing it right from the get go I see.. good for you man...make sure to keep us posted when you start.

 

[billscamaros]

Wow! Congrats to you. That house looks awesome!

 

[PA Slammer]

Thanks guys, I'll keep posting progress pics, even if it's slow going. Hard to believe we're at this point in our lives. Not bad for the son of a steel mill worker, huh?

Looking forward to all your suggestions for the shop. I'd hate to forget something during the build phase.

 

[readhead]

The design is beautiful and very Colorado ski mountain. I made a living doing steel, stairs and railing for houses just like that. The single slope roof is very trendy right now and I like it but I see several places that you are going to have problems with snow accumulation and damage. Snow in Loveland is going to be very different than what you're used to.

It may be to late but I would have a sit down with your builder and look at possible tweeks to the roof plans to avoid future problems. The builder probably already has ideas but on projects like this they tend to just go with the design to move things along.

 

[PA Slammer]

The design is beautiful and very Colorado ski mountain. I made a living doing steel, stairs and railing for houses just like that. The single slope roof is very trendy right now and I like it but I see several places that you are going to have problems with snow accumulation and damage. Snow in Loveland is going to be very different than what you're used to.

It may be to late but I would have a sit down with your builder and look at possible tweeks to the roof plans to avoid future problems. The builder probably already has ideas but on projects like this they tend to just go with the design to move things along.

Can you be more specific? Which places?

 

[PA Slammer]

Just to be clear, it's Loveland Colorado, not Loveland ski resort. Loveland CO only gets 41" of snowfall a year.

 

[LXCam]

That's going to be stunning! I bet you and the wife are super excited, hell I don't even know you and I'm excited

As for the post and beam comment I'm sure it has to do with your requirements for clear height. If you go larger on the beam to eliminate post(s) the beam obviously needs to increase dimensionally which would decrease that.

 

[tarmy]

My garage is 32' x 56' clear...with 1100 sq foot living loft. 10' interior ceilings, 8' doors...3200 total roughly...and I use every inch of it!

The comments about snow are really important. I wraped three sides of my garage in stone...should have done all four. The standing snow up against the siding trashes it and wood or the finish takes a beating.

Also, rain gutters are not going to last. In the area I am, I talked to alot of locals about pitch, roof material, snow load, ice dams, roof heaters, snow dams, and build up on the ground...before I finalized the design.

I switched from standing seem metal to asphalt composite...glad I did.

I love the look your going for...double check the door and access location, snow dump from roof, valley snow load build up and areas where ice daming will occur...

We are designing the house right now...going to use what I learned on the garage to apply to house...

Great looking build...good luck...make sure you have 200A service to garage...

 

[readhead]

Thanks for clarification on the location. The area to the left of the entrance has two roofs dumping into the corner. That will be difficult to keep clear and nothing there will survive. There are several roof to wall locations where there may be water intrusion problems. Metal roofs and valleys can be a problem. If the snow builds up as it slides together it will freeze and lift the roofing. You are so far along that the only solution is to pay very close attention to flashing and water proofing. Think very carefully about snow melting systems. They can cause more problems than they solve. I would be inclined to put shingles on the roof and keep the snow from moving.

 

[PA Slammer]

Thanks for clarification on the location. The area to the left of the entrance has two roofs dumping into the corner. That will be difficult to keep clear and nothing there will survive. There are several roof to wall locations where there may be water intrusion problems. Metal roofs and valleys can be a problem. If the snow builds up as it slides together it will freeze and lift the roofing. You are so far along that the only solution is to pay very close attention to flashing and water proofing. Think very carefully about snow melting systems. They can cause more problems than they solve. I would be inclined to put shingles on the roof and keep the snow from moving.

Thanks for the comments. I'll be sure to bring it up with architect and builder!

 

[lakeroadster]

Just to be clear, it's Loveland Colorado, not Loveland ski resort. Loveland CO only gets 41" of snowfall a year.

I used to work in Loveland.... beautiful area.

The snowfall can be pretty gnarly.. a little planning now will pay off big.

Your new place near the hogbacks?

 

[PA Slammer]

I used to work in Loveland.... beautiful area.

The snowfall can be pretty gnarly.. a little planning now will pay off big.

Your new place near the hogbacks?

Devil's Backbone...

 

[MacTexas]

Looks like a good project to follow.

 

[PA Slammer]

Shop pour...

 

[PugetDude]

Love the architecture!
Subscribed.

 

[Brian R]

Stunning. Good luck with the build.

 

[bj383ss]

This build is just badass. If only I could convince the wife to move to CO.


Bret

 

[PA Slammer]

House forms...

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Subscribed. Holy **** the renderings look awesome.

 

[PA Slammer]

Well as always... work gets in the way of having fun and surfing forums...
Anyway, no progress on the shop. But here's a peek at the house.

 

[PA Slammer]

One more a little further along...

 

[PA Slammer]

The shop foundation in the foreground.

 

[Riley]

Looks great!!

I have to admit it makes me smile to see a project like this coming out of the planning stage and solidly into the construction. I suppose it's because seeing others do it gives me confidence that perhaps, one day, I'll get to it my self.

Thanks for keeping the thread up to date!

 

[PA Slammer]

Anyone have any experience with tinted glass garage doors? Would let in a lot of great natural light, but poorly insulated.

 

[PA Slammer]

Looks great!!

I have to admit it makes me smile to see a project like this coming out of the planning stage and solidly into the construction. I suppose it's because seeing others do it gives me confidence that perhaps, one day, I'll get to it my self.

Thanks for keeping the thread up to date!

Thanks! It's been a life long dream!

 

[1949 caddyman]

Wow!