My Garaj-Mahal build

[Justin88]

Hey guys. Here are some pics of the progress on my garage so far. First time home buyer and I'm 24 so I have a little bit of a budget, but I'm doing the best I can...

Here is the garage the day we moved in. 22x30 with an 8' insulated door. Bare studs on the walls and an open ceiling.
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/28159_4870757647633_1941664908_n.jpg

There were 5 rafters that were 2x6x16 and sistered together in the center. sagging terribly. I installed 2x8x24 16" on center.
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/969782_10200500949427086_1606822151_n.jpg

4500 CFM whole house fan installed
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/988696_10200539952882148_1644014258_n.jpg

The ceiling is closed off with OSB. Every sheet of OSB is notched to fit around the 2x6's for the roof so it touches the roof plywood. Also, i had to use 2x4s above the garage door, as the roof would have been too low with the 2x8s above the door, and i wanted to maintain a flat floor in the attic.
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1240619_10200744232909021_1163879111_n.jpg

The attic is not very tall, but it has lights and good storage space. Accessed by a pull down Werner ladder
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1175523_10200620865384910_2071097563_n.jpg

The roof was sprayed because it would have taken me a month to roll/brush it
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1185501_10200744693800543_1539441446_n.jpg

15 gallons of paint later...
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1185037_10200750206138348_1384796039_n.jpg

Since the garage door opener is above the roof line, you wouldn't have any lights that would come on when the door was opened. The two lights pictured are controlled by the garage door opener
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All 16 lights installed. 14 on switches and two on the garage opener. The bulbs are Phillips T8 32w 835 5000k
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/65021_10200785179492660_1335283130_n.jpg

Night shot with just the ceiling complete
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1187100_10200794505365801_427376550_n.jpg

Floor coating
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/553649_10200820353691993_502743998_n.jpg

Outlets
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1239569_10200840186947812_861673906_n.jpg

Attic fan cover
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1239988_10200859504630742_862690946_n.jpg

Night shot after the floor
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1240112_10200860080845147_1511250391_n.jpg

Insulation
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/11507_10200863660294631_1580055312_n.jpg

OSB
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1256530_10200865157332056_1579154163_n.jpg[IMG]

Painted OSB
[IMG]https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1376467_10200897533501440_339255077_n.jpg

Pegboard on top
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1378315_10200924195647977_596455017_n.jpg

Because everyone needs to be able to balance tires at home
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/988306_10200895967542292_1662305503_n.jpg

Dayton 60k BTU heater
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1391633_10200932503855677_1314745480_n.jpg

Gas line
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/960153_10200937133451414_1409166940_n.jpg

https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1381193_10200937987032753_615708142_n.jpg

This is as far as I am for now. Tomorrow I will position my air compressor and start running the air line around the garage. There are alot of amazing garages on here so be easy on me! My girlfriend and my dad are the only ones that help me with this project, and the only thing we haven't done ourselves was the floor coating...thanks for looking!

 

[gipraw]

Looks good. Nice and bright with the white ceiling and glossy floor.

What are the long term plans?

 

[Justin88]

I work on quite a few vehicles, and i like to work on classic cars and motorcycles for myself. Every winter i buy something to build...as soon as the garage is done, my 79 bronco will be going under the knife.

 

[purevil115]

You have any plans to insulate the ceiling?

 

[Justin88]

im going to give it a try this winter with no insulation on the ceiling and see what happens. If i have time before the winter, i am going to caulk the seams in the OSB and put some insulation pieces in where the roof plywood and ceiling plywood meet to help. Ill also close off the hole where the attic fan is for the winter

 

[jsherid1]

Great looking transformation--very sharp.

You might be better off insulating the roof truss bays in your attic/loft just making sure you don't cut off the ventilation for the roof. With just the walls insulated the heat will go right out. When we lived in Michigan I did both the ceiling and the walls and the garage stayed nice and toasty all winter.

 

[zkling]

Wow, looks great. Keep up the good work.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Nice job!!!

 

[Neverfly]

Only 16 lights installed? I suppose it's adequate...


With all the shiny compliments, I thought your ego might need a little cool down. Your garage really is looking sharp, though.

 

[softailgarage]

Wow, nice job. You're a motivated guy, I can tell, owning a house at 24, good for you. That attic ladder was real fun putting up huh? I know, done it myself. could probably use more lights though....

A tire balancer? has to be a first for me, never seen that. Do you work in a tire shop?

 

[getbent4x4]

97-98 f150, 99+ red in the background. Both yours? 5.4s? Floor looks good too, should of did it yourself!

 

[Justin88]

Thank you for all the compliments and suggestions!

- I am a Ford senior master tech and ex-Ford service engineer. I currently work for a prototype testing facility but I work on a lot of vehicles at home. Always having multiple lifted trucks around, tire balancing is a huge and often expense when you are as ****/OCD as me when it comes to tire imbalance. So 17 balances will pay for the balancer!

Good eye on my F-150s! Bright red is a 2003 reg cab short bed 5.4 4x4 which is my daily driver, and the burgundy one was my 97 lightning clone that I sold to buy the 79 bronco pictured. One owner 70k miles and no winters. I did all the suspension, brakes and lightning style exhaust before selling it to my friend who is now swapping in a supercharged 5.4

 

[BuickFarmer]

Wow, LOTS of work and looking great. Like that bright ceiling. Keep up the good work young man.

 

[Flounder_Pounder]

Nice job!


1999.5 F350 4x4 CC (mine)
2002 F250 4x2 CC (wife's)

 

[nsogiba]

looks great, lots of versatility with all that pegboard.

 

[Justin88]

Additionally, I have 43 hanging cabinets and about 15 floor cabinets to install after I plumb the air line and hang my wall fan. Stay tuned!


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[rancherbill]

Looks like a nice workspace.

You need to block your ceiling/floor joists. They WILL sag! It also will give you more loading.

Where do you live? Please update you User Control Panel. You are obviously in a location that gets cold. I think you need a vapor barrier.

 

[Justin88]

I live near Detroit. I will update it when I'm on my laptop. Could you explain blocking the joists and the vapor barrier? Thanks!


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[soapii]

Looks great, nice work. Where are you at near Detroit? I'm in Clarkston.

RancherBill........the kraft face on the insulation is his vapor barrier.

--Joe

 

[Justin88]

Livonia


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[Justin88]

https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1391514_10200948149326804_961918271_n.jpg
air compressor installed. it hurt a little to drill thru my floor

air line ran...waiting for the water separator to arrive, and i have to hang my retractable hose reel

 

[Gentle_Ben]

Very impressive, all this and only 24 years old, just awesome!

 

[rancherbill]

I live near Detroit. I will update it when I'm on my laptop. Could you explain blocking the joists and the vapor barrier? Thanks!

Blocking

With time and loading a joist will twist. You have the floor nailed in your attic, when you put wight on it two things will happen. First it will sag under the load this is to be expected. The second thing is that the bottom of the joist will start moving to the side. When this happens the floor will really sag - this is a bad thing. If you put in blocking it keeps the bottom of the joist from moving to the side.

The pic shows blocking, another easier way is to nail several 2x4s the length of the garage to keep the bottoms in place. In older construction you will see and 'X' on the joist. You are past this point as they have to be nailed from the top.

Vapor Barrier - air barrier
You are in Detroit - it gets cold. You have a warm garage. Moisture from inside the garage gets through all the little holes and then meets the cold insulation and exterior siding. It will condense in the walls and you can possibly get many problems - mould, mildew, rot etc. I have seen many that have never had a problem. Pretty well any house around here does not have an adequate moisture barrier before 1985 (guess)

The barrier starts with a barrier at all electrical fixtures,

then the insulation is installed and then a poly layer is install.

Joints and edges in the poly are sealed with acoustic seal. Then you have a good vapor barrier and it also stops all drafts.

You are quite far along in your project, and don't know what to say. The one thing I would do is is take off the peg board and put a spacer in so the hooks don't rip the paper. If I bought your house, I probably would not do anything more.

In Canada, I have not seen paper backed stuff for a long long time. Actually I had forgotten all about it. We have a new house and it is so tight it actually has an air intake for the house.

 

[katotter]

In for updates.

Great progress so far. I am 25, you either have a bigger budget than me or everything is much cheaper that side.

 

[Justin88]

Thank you for the detailed explanation on the vapor barrier and the blocking of the joists! I will plan something for the joists. After the insulation was installed, a 1.5 mil visquine was stapled to the face before the pegboard and OSB were installed. Not sure if that is adequate, but it sure isn't as nice as the pics you posted.

And I don't think building materials are cheaper on this side. OSB and pegboard are both about $16/sheet and the 2x8x24 were $20 each. When I think about the money I have spent so far, I get nauseous, but the cabinets and lights are all freebies (with exception to the light bulbs) and when I'm done it'll be so sweet to work in, and doing auto/motorcycle repair on the side will hopefully get me some money back!


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[sunsation288]

Nice heaven you have there !! , good work

 

[brownb2]

Nice sweet spot and I love the Bronco use to have a 85 sure miss her cheers.

 

[thetastelingers]

Those lights may be more efficient if you dropped them down, so that the edge is at the bottom of the truss edge. See how the light hits them and gets reflected back?
Just an observation.

Nice work so far!

 

[Justin88]

I have them 1" from the ceiling but I may lower them down more


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[Justin88]

Here are a few updated pics

Air line ran
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/1003802_10200986505925695_274664648_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1379259_10200986505965696_21159151_n.jpg

Trim painted
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1379399_10200972689900303_805591132_n.jpg

Fan hung

 

[soapii]

Looks great, good progress. Good job reinforcing the door jam!!

--Joe

 

[ZRX1040]

The ceiling is closed off with OSB. Every sheet of OSB is notched to fit around the 2x6's for the roof so it touches the roof plywood.

https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1381193_10200937987032753_615708142_n.jpg

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that will have to change. You will need to cut the tight seal between the ceiling and roof sheathing and instal what is called "proper" vents.

Do an image search for "proper vent" and you will see what I'm referring to.

These will allow air to circulate up from the eave, assuming the eaves are vented, and keep your roof frozen in winter.

The area above the walls is the greatest heat loss. you will at least need to put in vents, cover with insulation, and then cover that area up to the ceiling.

If you dont do this your roof will thaw, water will run down to the edge of the eaves and refreeze once it passes the wall. This will create an ice dam which will back up causing the roof to leak and rot.

Then you will need some insulation on the ceiling. I put foil faced styro on my ceiling and blew cellulose on top of that. Then taped the seams with foil tape creating a vapor barrier in the process. You could actually do something like that and not lose what you have now. However you'll cover up that nice painted ceiling.



Better you fix it now than later. Also in this part of Michigan (Upper Penninsula) you need 2 rows of ice and water shield under the shingles on a heated building. Something you'll have to do next time you reshingle.


All in all you've done a heck of a nice job.

 

[ZRX1040]

You will also need a ridge vent or a gable vents to let the heat out the top. Not a big deal to do. Do a search and everything will be clear. You can get shingle over vents or some that just nail down. If your not in a heavy snow area gable vents may be sufficient.

Keep up the nice work.

 

[ZRX1040]

Here's a shot from another thread on what I did to the ceiling... scroll too post 17

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3408247#post3408247

 

[Justin88]

Thank you for the tips, that looks pretty sweet. I did have thoughts about an ice dam forming. The OSB is not an air tight seal to the roof sheathing, you can stick a finger in between the ceiling and roof sheathing, not sure if that will help but i had those vents in mind when i did that. The eaves are vented. I also need to put a gable vent up so my attic fan works properly. Right now, the roof vents cant keep up with it. Unfortunately, with running out of time, i am going to see what happens this winter with the snow on the roof and i will make changes in the spring if it is bad.