My garage build website.

[IDASHO]

Not NEARLY as fancy as some of the sweet garages/shops on the site, but it will be fun to build, and definitely fun to work in.

Click here for my page!

Rough specs:

24ft wide x 30ft deep
12'8" interior walls
compressor closet
2-post lift
floor drains
completely insulated and finished

Fun fun!

 

[JMURiz]

Great looking site, makes me wish I'd have done one myself to document my project!!! Great layout and pics.

 

[Kevin54]

That's gonna be a nice view out of the back. Why would someone build a house skewed on a piece of square property is beyond me though. It's going to be nice when you get done and the website is great also. Looking forward to more pics.

Kevin

 

[99E36M]

I'm definitely following this one...I'm hoping to build a 20x26 in the next 3 months
________
Vaporizer Volcano

 

[IDASHO]

Thanks guys.

I FINALLY got the plans submitted yesterday.

But with the next few weekends shot due to out of town business, I wont be able to demo the slab and grade the site for another 3 weeks or so.

Ill keep it updated though!

I did price out equipment rental from work today. I can get a skid loader with bucket and hammer attachment, along with a 5 yard dump trailer for a day for less than $300. And seeing that I also have other stuff I could use the trailer for (green waste limbs and the two stumps from the trees) I think Ill do that.

I dont want to touch that slab after digging the damn trees out Ill let the equipment do the work.

 

[PatrickR]

Neat and it looks like your efforts will be rewarded. I have bookmarked your site and I will add a link on my website too so others in my area can watch your progress.
Gonna start mine soon too. Wont race ya but will cheer ya on

 

[CJseven]

A small deck off the back for when your working and want to take a break, would be nice, sense you have a view. Looks like it's going to turn out nice once it's all done.

 

[IDASHO]

The rear of the garage will have a good size deck.

The rear of the house already has a huge deck, and the deck off of the garage will tie into that.

Here is a pic showing the rear of the house from the garage side. The garage deck will sit about 16 inches lower than the house deck, so there will be one step.

Long term plans also include removing the 'lovely' railroad tie retaining wall in favor of a block retaining wall. And block steps will provide a means of getting from the deck to the back-yard.

 

[IDASHO]

Pretty good update on the site today. I made some good progress.

 

[Matt2point4]

12inch thick slab!! don't blame you for giving up!

 

[IDASHO]

I got my permits... FINALLY. Took them more than 4 weeks And my god Idaho rapes you in the building permit portion.... $809 for 3 permits, building, plumbing and electrical.

Outrageous.

And here is the kicker..... Apparently there is a street ROW (right of way) that encroaches upon my property line 12 feet. And they want me to build 25 feet from the ROW line, not my PROPERTY line.

My property line is the curb, the street is 36 feet wide, and the ROW is 60 foot. So the ROW encroaches on my property 12 feet.

So that is a 37 foot setback from my property line. That pretty much screws the deal, as my plans place the garage 8 feet beyond.

Interesting enough the brand new home that just went in next door, is nowhere near that far from the curb. I went over there with a tape yesterday to prove it. They are only 30 feet from the curb. That puts them just 18 feet from the ROW. If they got some sort of variance, then I sure as hell will.

Unfortunately when I picked the plans up and gave them a heap of cash, the only one there was the secretary. So i couldnt even ask about the setback "requirements" that they are throwing at me.

Im ringing bells monday.

 

[JMURiz]

How did they give you an approved set of permits if your plans don't fit w/in their setback requirements? Does that mean they gave you the variance?

Best of luck getting a variance!!! Don't you just love how they spring stuff on you at the permit office. Mine was listed on every bit of documentation as only needing a 1' setback for a detached garage. Had everything drawn up/planned out. Only to have them say it has to be 3' or made of fireproof materials ($$$), grrrr!

 

[IDASHO]

Well, the verdict is in. They will not budge.
I had a LONG chat with the main inspector on my lunch break today... I picked at every little detail I could, all while keeping on good terms with him.

I remeasured the property from the only pins I have, on the back of the property, and sure enough... it ends right around 12 feet from the curb.

And get this... they do not consider covered porches, even with supporting posts, as structures. So for setbacks, they measure from the corner of the nearest stemwall. That places the neighbors home right at the minimum setback. 12 feet from the curb = property line. + 25 foot setback.... the home is 37 feet from the curb, with a 6 foot covered patio.


So Im redrawing the plans, and salvaging what i can.

And it is actually working out pretty good. Ill be building a taller stem-wall than I originally wanted, but will sneak in right under the "engineering required" mark, and the new setup will actually be pretty clean.

Only REAL drawbacks....

*The rear porch will not be as big, and will not tie into the existing porch.
*the man door for the front of the garage will be on the east side of the garage

And the BIG problem....

*I MUST remove that blasted slab. As with the change in plans, it places the footings right where the slab is.


I talked things over with the wife, and she is good to go with hiring a demo crew for the slab.

THANK GOD

It will all work out. Ill have updated plans on my site within the next 48 hrs

 

[IDASHO]

How did they give you an approved set of permits if your plans don't fit w/in their setback requirements? Does that mean they gave you the variance?

Thats a weird deal...

yes, they gave me a complete set of approved and stamped plans, BUT.... all is contingent upon an inspector verifying setbacks on site. So basicly, the approved plans are worthless... because I know my setbacks are screwed up.

I mean, Im not going to start digging footings, call for my first inspection... only to have them tell me Im encroaching upon the minimum setback.

 

[IDASHO]

The slab is gone.... The slab is gone.... THE SLAB IS GONE!!!!

We break ground SOON!!

http://www.bonnefinstudios.com/kwb/paradise/garage/

 

[IDASHO]

We broke ground!!

Footings are dug!

 

[bmwpower]

I love excavating and running heavy equipment. Brings a calmness to my soul.

Sweet deal. I'd laugh if my Mon got on one of those things. She can barely drive a car!

 

[IdahoJoe]

Man do I miss Moscow...I lived there for the first 22 years of my life. That picture looking to the SE towards Paradise ridge really brings back memories...

 

[Will67]

890 for permit fees...I would gladly pay that. California everything is more

minimum here in my county is $1743 then they go up from there

 

[IDASHO]

Forms and rebar!

Vertical rebar is going in tomorrow....

Inspection for footings before pour is Monday.

We pour mud for footings Tuesday!

http://www.bonnefinstudios.com/kwb/paradise/garage/

 

[IDASHO]

Ready to pour

 

[IDASHO]

Fun in the MUD!

Ive got the footings poured. Looks like Ill be setting blocks on the 4th of July

 

[IDASHO]

Eh... hello??? Is anybody watching?


Well, continuing on.... laying block!

I hope to have the bloc done in a week or so, then we start working on the slab!

http://www.bonnefinstudios.com/kwb/paradise/garage/

 

[chicane]

Fun in the MUD!

Ive got the footings poured. Looks like Ill be setting blocks on the 4th of July

What's the advantage of building forms for your footings? Is that a requirement where you live?

 

[bmwpower]

What's the advantage of building forms for your footings? Is that a requirement where you live?

You would use a LOT less concrete trying to pour in the trenches he dug. Looks like maybe he over-dug...i dunno.

 

[IDASHO]

I did overdig in some spots due to finding some HUGE pieces of concrete buried in the ground. but I was also required to install a footing drain-tile.

So, 16 inches worth of footing, 24 inch bucket.... that gave me a 8" area to install the drain tile and gravel bed

And even with the forms, the footings were monsters. 12"x16". A touch over 5 yards worth of mud just for footings.

 

[DynoDave]

Looking good!

 

[IDASHO]

Blocks, blocks, and more blocks!

Did I mention my wife likes to set blocks

 

[bmwpower]

Blocks, blocks, and more blocks!

Did I mention my wife likes to set blocks

Wish my wife would get her **** out there and build a wall. She'd likely drop it on her foot. Good for her.

Another thing...what's up with the block on the lower courses? It doesn't look as high as the stuff I used. Is it something special?

 

[IDASHO]

Yep, my wife is go-getter, for sure.

As for the blocks, we ran into some issues as far as elevations go on the lower part of the footings.

The lower footing wound up nearly 2 inches lower than the upper footing (math error somewhere).

So we are using a combination of 8x4x16 blocks and 8x8x16 blocks.

Using two 8x4 blocks instead of an 8x8 gives us the chance to catch up to the upper portions of the footing.

Confusing eh?

Here it is....

A 8x8x16 block is actually 7 5/8 inches tall. Assuming you have a 3/8 inch mortar joint, that gives you a true 8 inches per block.

Now, you can easily run 5/8 - 3/4 inch mortar joints, if you mix it sticky enough.

And using the 4" tall blocks allows us more mortar joints, therefore more height.

As seen in the pictures, we have already done all of the catch-up needed. The combination of 4 inch and 8 inch blocks looks a bit funky, but that doesnt bother me. Nobody will see it anyhow.

 

[IDASHO]

Im on the home stretch for the block laying.... thank god! Im SO tired of laying blocks!

I got an inspection for the second course of beam block and horizontal rebar today.

Three more course all around, and Im done with the stemwall. Then we grout the wall, and start backfilling and prepping for the slab!

http://www.bonnefinstudios.com/kwb/paradise/garage/

 

[V-10 Killer]

Im on the home stretch for the block laying.... thank god! Im SO tired of laying blocks!

I understand completely. It's interesting to do yourself, ONCE. But in the end, that last block feels GOOD!

Anyway, it's looking good!

 

[IDASHO]

I hear you there. Thats basically why I chose to do the stemwall like this. It is the only way Ive never built. Ive used snap and wedge form ties with plywood forms, as well as built forms using ties and lumber. But Ive never gone the block route.

Ill tell you this.... I did learn a lot. But Ill never build it this way again
All in all Im saving MAYBE $500 doing it this way. No forms and such to buy and possibly reuse somewhere, and a bit less mud. But the add into the equation how critical your elevations are, and the labor... and it simply doesnt make sense.

Live and learn.

 

[IDASHO]

Getting closer!

The south stemwall is DONE!
All That is left is the East stemwall, and left and right of the garage door

 

[29bowtie]

I love excavating and running heavy equipment. Brings a calmness to my soul.

Sweet deal. I'd laugh if my Mon got on one of those things. She can barely drive a car!

I agree,i just started training on a variety of heavy equipment,at a local Operating Engineers training site (40 acre pit).Nothing like"playing in the giant sandbox".LOL

 

[IDASHO]

Finished laying blocks today!

Inspection Monday.... Grouting the walls Wednesday...and hopefully pouring the slab the following week!

http://www.bonnefinstudios.com/kwb/paradise/garage/

 

[IDASHO]

We pour Friday!!!

I got the entire thing backfilled and compacted today. Tomorrow I throw down the plastic and start laying steel.

 

[IDASHO]

Prepped and ready for mud

 

[V-10 Killer]

Good luck Friday. Hope it goes great.
I'm pouring Saturday.

 

[JMURiz]

Wow, you'll have a commanding view out the back of your garage won't you?

Looks awesome, I'm sure it look a LOT of fill to backfill all that block.