motormitch
Well-known member
I am starting this thread to follow my new garage build which is now far enough along that I finally believe it is actually happening. Here is path...
Start with years of working on any and everything in my house garage and driveway, which has put more strain on the marriage than living next door to a ********** would. All of the messes and stupid moves on my part like washing things in the kitchen sink, soda blasting on back porch with the door to the house left open by mistake, cleaning valve covers in the dishwasher with added Purple Power degreaser (oh yes I did and it worked pretty well except for the odd smell for two weeks whenever she washed the dishes) all led to an environment where the wife actually said "why the hell don't you just build yourself a garage and stop ruining our house?"
GREEN LIGHT! First, I design what I want on Google sketchup. Second, I find this site and start over on the design. I read and read threads here and change and change. Finally, I submit plans to the HOA before spending money getting real plans drawn up. Thus begins a battle and story all unto itself.
Long Long Long story short. I win approval to build a 3,000 sq.ft. detached shop with 14' walls. (of course it has to match the house in every way from full rock exterior to window and roofing which adds a lot) Plans are drawn up professionally, bids gathered, builder selected (sounds easy doesn't it, but somehow 6 months go by). County permits for septic are filed, city permits for building are filed, test holes are dug , county issues septic and driveway permits and city does nothing on building permits.
Wouldn't you know it, permit reviewer for city are suddenly overwhelmed by work load due to a person retiring ( I found out this is code for an unofficial strike without a union for more pay and benefit, but again a different story) 2 months go by. Builder can't seem to find a way to moves things forward even after I offed to pay "expedite fees" which is code for bribe. I write the mayor a letter offering some well thought out and constructive suggestions on how to deal with the "resource shortage" in city permitting.
2 more months go by. Nothing from the mayor's office on suggestion, builder now reducing communications with me, frustration building, but ever the optimist I am shopping and finding awesome deals on shop tools and equipment. More deals on cars that I MUST have to restore, storage rental space secured. 2 months go by. I start working with the permitting office on my application and discover that the builder hasn't even been calling about the status of the permit application so clearly no "squeaky wheel gets the oil", pressure being applied.
I squeak and squeak. After all, I accomplished the impossible with our HOA so how hard can a city permitting office be? 2 more months go by.
I snap, buy a separate piece of land just outside of city limits, fire builder and decide to GC my own build on metal building where only county permits are needed. File permits, and get told that something the size I am looking at building simply can't be for personal use so I must file commercial permits which fall back under City permitting due to extended jurisdiction.
I expand plans to go from just having just a toilet to a full bathroom, full kitchen and great room/bedroom to show clear residential use. (this pushed plan up to 4,000 sq.ft.) Still questioned, but they are starting to believe me. I then get the brilliant idea to show head permit examiner the car insurance statement proving personal ownership of a ridiculously embarrassing number of cars. Head examiner loves old cars, is invited to use my shop sometime when it is complete and permit is issued.
City calls and approves first permit for my first plans for building on my home lot under a new program for expediting residential garage builds that reads exactly like the suggestion I submitted to mayor's office 4 months earlier. I realize that I am actually living in a Dilbert strip.
Throw city approval in trash. Bids for metal building and flat work accepted, builder selected and ground broken. Septic firm selected, hole dug and tanks is installed. Plumber selected, foundation poured with all rough in plumbing. Electrician selected and works with power company to actually get me 240V 3 Phase for free. (love this guy, doesn't even ask for initial payment on contract)
Metal building shows up and here we are today. They are standing it up and bolting it together as you read this. Now I need to select HVAC and interior construction subs, but at least I will have a dry building by Friday of next week with power following soon (power company has to install new pole and transformer) I will post some of the pictures of progress in a few minutes.
Start with years of working on any and everything in my house garage and driveway, which has put more strain on the marriage than living next door to a ********** would. All of the messes and stupid moves on my part like washing things in the kitchen sink, soda blasting on back porch with the door to the house left open by mistake, cleaning valve covers in the dishwasher with added Purple Power degreaser (oh yes I did and it worked pretty well except for the odd smell for two weeks whenever she washed the dishes) all led to an environment where the wife actually said "why the hell don't you just build yourself a garage and stop ruining our house?"
GREEN LIGHT! First, I design what I want on Google sketchup. Second, I find this site and start over on the design. I read and read threads here and change and change. Finally, I submit plans to the HOA before spending money getting real plans drawn up. Thus begins a battle and story all unto itself.
Long Long Long story short. I win approval to build a 3,000 sq.ft. detached shop with 14' walls. (of course it has to match the house in every way from full rock exterior to window and roofing which adds a lot) Plans are drawn up professionally, bids gathered, builder selected (sounds easy doesn't it, but somehow 6 months go by). County permits for septic are filed, city permits for building are filed, test holes are dug , county issues septic and driveway permits and city does nothing on building permits.
Wouldn't you know it, permit reviewer for city are suddenly overwhelmed by work load due to a person retiring ( I found out this is code for an unofficial strike without a union for more pay and benefit, but again a different story) 2 months go by. Builder can't seem to find a way to moves things forward even after I offed to pay "expedite fees" which is code for bribe. I write the mayor a letter offering some well thought out and constructive suggestions on how to deal with the "resource shortage" in city permitting.
2 more months go by. Nothing from the mayor's office on suggestion, builder now reducing communications with me, frustration building, but ever the optimist I am shopping and finding awesome deals on shop tools and equipment. More deals on cars that I MUST have to restore, storage rental space secured. 2 months go by. I start working with the permitting office on my application and discover that the builder hasn't even been calling about the status of the permit application so clearly no "squeaky wheel gets the oil", pressure being applied.
I squeak and squeak. After all, I accomplished the impossible with our HOA so how hard can a city permitting office be? 2 more months go by.
I snap, buy a separate piece of land just outside of city limits, fire builder and decide to GC my own build on metal building where only county permits are needed. File permits, and get told that something the size I am looking at building simply can't be for personal use so I must file commercial permits which fall back under City permitting due to extended jurisdiction.
I expand plans to go from just having just a toilet to a full bathroom, full kitchen and great room/bedroom to show clear residential use. (this pushed plan up to 4,000 sq.ft.) Still questioned, but they are starting to believe me. I then get the brilliant idea to show head permit examiner the car insurance statement proving personal ownership of a ridiculously embarrassing number of cars. Head examiner loves old cars, is invited to use my shop sometime when it is complete and permit is issued.
City calls and approves first permit for my first plans for building on my home lot under a new program for expediting residential garage builds that reads exactly like the suggestion I submitted to mayor's office 4 months earlier. I realize that I am actually living in a Dilbert strip.
Throw city approval in trash. Bids for metal building and flat work accepted, builder selected and ground broken. Septic firm selected, hole dug and tanks is installed. Plumber selected, foundation poured with all rough in plumbing. Electrician selected and works with power company to actually get me 240V 3 Phase for free. (love this guy, doesn't even ask for initial payment on contract)
Metal building shows up and here we are today. They are standing it up and bolting it together as you read this. Now I need to select HVAC and interior construction subs, but at least I will have a dry building by Friday of next week with power following soon (power company has to install new pole and transformer) I will post some of the pictures of progress in a few minutes.
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Never to old for a quick game of anything with spray paint 
