New garage build questions

[CPH-Jeep]

New member here with a couple questions on designing and building a garage. When i bought my house it caught my eye because of the concrete pad that was next to the house. I've wanted to build a garage on it for some time now and its about that time to start this project.

The pad measures roughly 32x28 but it doesn't have any footers on it. Previous owners just poured a 4" thick concrete slab on the ground. I have been parking and using it for the past couple years with no cracking or settling in it. Now i have thought about building footers around the outside of the pad but have never laid footers before. I know how they are done and have access to a tractor to dig them. I also used to build pole barns and had also thought about just building a garage similar to how i would build a pole barn with the poles in the ground instead of footers. Does anybody see any problems with going the pole barn route?

Also, my driveway has a pretty good slope to it and when it rains all the water runs down the drive way and right onto the pad. What would be a good way to keep water and snow from running into the garage when its done.

Any advise or input on building this would be great. I can get some pics tomorrow to give a little better idea as to what im working with it.

 

[wssix99]

Welcome to the site!

Does anybody see any problems with going the pole barn route?

It depends on where you live. Please add your location to your profile and share some ideas about your geography and climate.

What would be a good way to keep water and snow from running into the garage when its done.

Slot Drain.

 

[firebirdparts]

The slot drain needs somewhere to go, so I hope there is some downhill location around somewhere. Consider how much water that is too, might be a lot.

 

[CPH-Jeep]

We do get some snow fall here so that does come into consideration. As for the slot drain, it would end up getting routed down towards the lower part of my yard where all the water drains to already.

 

[matt_i]

My opinion is if you are willing to go thru the trouble of casting frost-line footings next to your your slab, then I would break that out and fill it (raise it) enough so water is not going to run inside the building.

Alternative: can you use the existing slab as a parking area on the front or side of your building?

 

[Kaizen]

while parking on it hasn't caused issues, once you put a whatever ton structure on 4 or 6 inches at the edge it will cause issues. not worth the risk in my opinion. look into Alaskan slab and see if you can pour it around the existing slab and pin it. might want to start with your local permit police first and verify you can build on that existing slab.

 

[CPH-Jeep]

What about just building a pole barn style garage around the outside of the pad? Can just put the post's on the outside of the concrete that way nothing will actually be sitting on the concrete.

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[Falcon67]

http://www.elkhartcountyplanningand...g_Webpage_Files/Requirements for Footings.pdf