soxmis457
Member
Hi guys,
Well since I introduced myself, I've actually already built the garage/ wksp and very nearly finished the external works.
The story so far. I started thinking about a garage a few years ago but didn't want to have the usual 'single can't open the doors properly' type that we get here in the UK.
I'm a heating engineer and wanted cupboards for boiler spares and radiator valves etc. I came up with an L shape that served both my needs - a home for my VW Golf and a workshop for work. And it didn't increase the original footprint of the car port and garden shed by very much.
First the old shack had to come down. It used to be a 6 legged car port that I fitted walls to.
Going, going....
Gone.
A new floor level had to be created and this was set at 4" above ground level.
Water supply was next along with the conduit for the electrics.
The concrete was ordered and poured and whilst it dried I showed 'black magic' his new home. Easy there, Lad. Got to find that oil leak first!
On Friday 29 May 2009 all the timber arrived and my Dad came down to help me build it. We had 7 days to erect a watertight building before we had to go back to work.
I wanted a timber frame building that was insulated and built like you would build a timber frame house. The only difference being that we would build each wall from scratch on the concrete slab.
First walls going up.
The orange membrane is similar to Tyvek Housewrap. I got it from Southern Timber Frame here in The New Forest. A UK retailer selling Tyvek told me I needed a minimum order of £175.00 before they would sell me some. That was 4 times the amount I required so I went elsewhere.
Day one (Saturday) over with, I parked black magic inside the walls.
On Sunday, the inside corner walls went up and we started on the roof.
Followed by the topping out ceremony.
A couple of days later the garage door went in - not without it's own problems I might add. It fitted the frame perfectly but every time we opened the door it jammed halfway, bringing the cables off the drums which in turn activated the fall-safe locking system.
8 hours later we realised the spring which assists the door opening and closing had no tension. A completely wasted day.
Still, now it's in and looking good.
The next day we covered the roof and put in the wksp door.
Followed by the windows.
And that's where I am to date. Apart from the garage door, every part of the build has gone without a hitch. But then, if you fail to prepare, you should prepare to fail!
So far I've spent £2,300 by using a timber frame and building myself. I did get 2 building quotes of £8,000 and £19,000. So I'm well happy.
I'm still undecided whether to clad the outside with vinyl siding that you guys seem to use quite a lot in the States or western red cedar which is quite common here in the UK.
jimbo
Well since I introduced myself, I've actually already built the garage/ wksp and very nearly finished the external works.
The story so far. I started thinking about a garage a few years ago but didn't want to have the usual 'single can't open the doors properly' type that we get here in the UK.
I'm a heating engineer and wanted cupboards for boiler spares and radiator valves etc. I came up with an L shape that served both my needs - a home for my VW Golf and a workshop for work. And it didn't increase the original footprint of the car port and garden shed by very much.
First the old shack had to come down. It used to be a 6 legged car port that I fitted walls to.
Going, going....
Gone.
A new floor level had to be created and this was set at 4" above ground level.
Water supply was next along with the conduit for the electrics.
The concrete was ordered and poured and whilst it dried I showed 'black magic' his new home. Easy there, Lad. Got to find that oil leak first!
On Friday 29 May 2009 all the timber arrived and my Dad came down to help me build it. We had 7 days to erect a watertight building before we had to go back to work.
I wanted a timber frame building that was insulated and built like you would build a timber frame house. The only difference being that we would build each wall from scratch on the concrete slab.
First walls going up.
The orange membrane is similar to Tyvek Housewrap. I got it from Southern Timber Frame here in The New Forest. A UK retailer selling Tyvek told me I needed a minimum order of £175.00 before they would sell me some. That was 4 times the amount I required so I went elsewhere.
Day one (Saturday) over with, I parked black magic inside the walls.
On Sunday, the inside corner walls went up and we started on the roof.
Followed by the topping out ceremony.
A couple of days later the garage door went in - not without it's own problems I might add. It fitted the frame perfectly but every time we opened the door it jammed halfway, bringing the cables off the drums which in turn activated the fall-safe locking system.
8 hours later we realised the spring which assists the door opening and closing had no tension. A completely wasted day.
Still, now it's in and looking good.
The next day we covered the roof and put in the wksp door.
Followed by the windows.
And that's where I am to date. Apart from the garage door, every part of the build has gone without a hitch. But then, if you fail to prepare, you should prepare to fail!
So far I've spent £2,300 by using a timber frame and building myself. I did get 2 building quotes of £8,000 and £19,000. So I'm well happy.

I'm still undecided whether to clad the outside with vinyl siding that you guys seem to use quite a lot in the States or western red cedar which is quite common here in the UK.
jimbo