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New Garage Build in TX

AKS_Racing

Active member
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
37
Location
N of Houston, TX
Well I have been a member for almost a year, but something was amiss with my profile that did not allow me to post at all or even see pics. After much requesting to get the situation fixed, someone just deleted my entire membership, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I joined all over again this evening, and I can now post. WOOHOO!!

OK, here's the details, I live in a master planned community with very tight deed restrictions in The Woodlands, TX. My wife wanted a "wet room" for the neighborhood kids who swim over at our house so they wouldn't track water through the house when needing to use the bathroom. She wanted a 6' x 8' outside bathroom behind the existing 24' x 31' 3-car garage. I suggested that we add a complete extension across the back instead of just an "adjunct" out the back. We started to draw up an 8' x 31' extension, then I thought we should add additional room, and then I could park a car "tandem". Well as I began to draw, I decided that 50' deep was a nice "round" number, so the extension became 26' deep. So what next, a nice garage needs a lift, so that meant that one bay needed to be ~11.5' tall, which meant that I would need to raise the roof. That gave way to an upstairs room, which led to a large entertainment room upstairs (32' x 31', and I thought a balcony overlooking the pool would be nice (check out the cantalever balcony, no support columns!). All work was done between Thanksgiving '07 and May '08, with all labor by myself, with a bit of help from my son (Travis). I worked every weekend, and every vacation day on this project for ~6 months.

Here is what the slab looked like as work got under way in early December '07.
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2nd floor support beams. That large beam that spans 26' is an 10W34 which is over 880 lbs supported on the 4" square columns.
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Here are the first floor joists going into the I-beams. First floor framing and stairwell.
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Upstairs being framed and Hardi-planked.
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The back wall of the existing garage comes down to allow "tie-in".
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More construction on upper level, including canti-lever balcony overlooking the pool.
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Finishing the hardi-plank and roof to complete "dry in". Pretty much finished from outwardly perspective.
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Inside view with some electrical completed.
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The lift is now installed, and the kids have a ping/pong table and a flat panel upstairs. I still have a lot of finish work to do, but my family and I are pleased with the results. Total cost (every nail, bolt, steel, all supplies, glue, and tools) including the slab and lift is still slightly below $20K, due to no labor costs due to doing the work myself. This goes to show what one can do with a bit of incentive and some hard work.

I am open to additional suggestions and comments.
Aaron
 
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AKS_Racing

Active member
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
37
Location
N of Houston, TX
A couple of things I learned when dealing with the HOA:
1) follow the build lines and easement requirements of your property (mine had 3' build set-back from side property lines and 10' from rear, with 15' ariel easement). I stayed ~7' off the sides, and still have between 30' and 70' to the rear.
2) allow some discretion to the HOA when they direct window placement (they are looking out for neighbors placing windows "strategically" to invade other's privacy). Not an issue here, as mine were to my own backyard.
3) learn to use the phrase "same as existing". When I submitted as steel frame with hardi exterior, it was returned "not approved" with requirements for more definition, as no metal framed buildings are allowed in my subdivision. I resubmitted with wood construction and hardi exterior - same as existing, composite roofing - same as existing, double pane windows - same as existing, exterior color - same as existing, etc. etc.

Be creative in your approach, and you may be surprised at what you can get into the tighter deed restricted communities.
Aaron


BTW, there is a guy in Silver Lake in Pearland that has a lift in his custom garage for his Porsche.
 
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BollWeevil97

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Messages
9
Location
Plano, Tx
Great job!!! Question. What will you do for insulation? Are you planning to finish the walls inside. Just curious as I know it can get pretty hot and humid in Houston area. Wondering how's the temperature inside?

Again, it looks great!!!
 

v8garage

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
901
Location
Texas
Looks like you have a great project going on there. Keep up the good work.:thumbup:
 
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