Project Garage Condo

[HIRISC]

HIRISC, are you allowed to do fabrication like welding, cnc plasma, milling in these spaces? or is basic maintenance and assembly the only thing they allow.
I guess i am curious as to ccr's and what the restrictions would be in a type specific community like this. Do you have 24 hour access?
I love your build out, but i was curious if considered doing commercial glass on the edge of the loft to keep dust and other particles from getting on your upstairs man cave space.

One is allowed to pretty much do as one would like. The rules dictate that one cannot operate a retail business, but as far as work goes, sky's the limit. As Stuart says later, most of these are 'show-rooms' for people's collections. Ours is in the middle. I'm not a hard-core mechanic, nor a fabricator like my neighbor Drew, but I do wrench on everything I own. I'm hoping to continue to build my welding and 'fabrication' skills over time. It's funny, but we raced to get our place done, then summer came and we're not over there very much. That should change soon.

Re the idea about creating a barrier to the upstairs. That's been asked before, and it's a good question. Since I don't do bodywork, having debris float upstairs hasn't been a problem. We have 6 ceiling fans pushing air down, so particles and to a larger extent gas odors from my ridiculously carb'd '69 Camaro stay 'downstairs'.

Just an amazing build and facility. I read the whole thread today and just wanted to say to HIRISC that I'm impressed with your condo but also very impressed with the graciousness and humility in this thread. You've obviously put yourself in a position to enjoy the finer things in life and while reading this thread I was struck by how down-to-earth and gracious you were throughout.

Thank you very much for saying that.. I really appreciate that. I have been very blessed (and lucky) to be able to buy things I always dreamed about having - this condo/shop being one of them. I think it's awesome that people think it's a cool place and it's an honor to have people check it out. We usually open it up for Cars/Coffee events here, unless it's raining then we keep it roped off because it takes forever to clean the floor up

I was out to the Auto Motorplex a couple weeks ago for the Muscle Car show, and walked by HIRISC's garage - it's even nicer in person. No one was around at the time, I would have liked to say hello.

A lot of the other garages were open, and I saw lots of welders, lathes, milling machines and so forth. Some of the people there are doing ********* fabrication, while others have their garages mostly set up for displaying their cars and leisure time. It's their choice.

You nailed it.. lot's of different ways folks are using these. Sorry I missed you Stuart.. I'm hoping for good weather for the next C&C.. if you get a chance, stop by and introduce yourself.

I sent a friend here in Castlemaine a link to this page. After going to Bonneville and the Street Rod Nationals I understand he is going to look at this complex to get ideas before he flies home to Australia.

He is involved in this project http://castlemainehotrodcentre.com.au/ also on similar lines to the complex your condo is in.

Their idea does look very similar. I think people respond to it because it's a cool getaway that doesn't necessitate selling one's current place.

Great place. I love modern design and your use of industrial materials looks great. Nice work.

Thanks very much.

 

[TurboCup87]

Looking forward to checking out your great garage and that 69 at the Sept C&C, when I'm back in MN to visit the family. Hope that you'll be around! Kyle

 

[NUTTSGT]

I see there's a few pages I need to catch up on.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Well, I'm updated on this thread again, it NEVER disappoints.

 

[HIRISC]

Looking forward to checking out your great garage and that 69 at the Sept C&C, when I'm back in MN to visit the family. Hope that you'll be around! Kyle

We'll be around at the Sept. 4th C&C.. We won't be at the October one, though I might get my brother to open it up.

Well, I'm updated on this thread again, it NEVER disappoints.

Thanks Eric.

 

[TurboCup87]

We'll be around at the Sept. 4th C&C.. We won't be at the October one, though I might get my brother to open it up.





Thanks Eric.

I didn't seem to find your garage on Saturday. Saw a lot of nice cars and a few really nice garages. Maybe some other time!

 

[XcYZ]

I didn't seem to find your garage on Saturday. Saw a lot of nice cars and a few really nice garages. Maybe some other time!

I finally got to see Chris's garage this past Saturday. It's fantastic. I love everything about it. It was my favorite one at the AutoMotorPlex.

Thanks once again for the hospitality, Chris. It was a real treat!

 

[mojo_13]

Wow...very very jealous. I would never leave to go home if that was mine

 

[gmhill33]

Mini (progress) update.
Lot's of little, time consuming things to wrap up.

Diamond plate around sink/faucet

Painted trim black around those elements.

Stair risers and edging - I wanted to keep the sides of the bottom stairs exposed (vs shaving them off and sheetrocking over them), so we decided to frame each stair tread edge individually and leave enough of a recess for the soon to arrive rubber stair tread to sit in. I like the way it turned out. (FYI - the stair treads will be black rubber)

Brushed diamond plate stair risers - ton of work as each is recessed and each is slightly different height x width.

Mounted the compressor to the floor via hockey pucks.

Added a couple of stools to the workspace downstairs (running out of things to add )

Where did you get the rubber pieces that are on the feet of the compressor?

Thanks,
Gary

 

[HIRISC]

Sporting goods store... They are hockey pucks.

This was the cheapest 'solution' of the whole build.

 

[HIRISC]

I finally got to see Chris's garage this past Saturday. It's fantastic. I love everything about it. It was my favorite one at the AutoMotorPlex.

Thanks once again for the hospitality, Chris. It was a real treat!

Thanks much. You're welcome to hang out anytime Scott.

 

[abstamaria]

Very, very nice. Your shop has given me many ideas, like the checker plate for the stair riser..

 

[gmhill33]

Sporting goods store... They are hockey pucks.

This was the cheapest 'solution' of the whole build.

Thank you sir. Does it help dampen the noise?

Gary

 

[blue dog]

More......

I love this thread when ever it pop's up. I want to build something just like this, live upstairs and play downstairs.

How is the factory 5 coming along?

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

I finally got to see Chris's garage this past Saturday. It's fantastic. I love everything about it. It was my favorite one at the AutoMotorPlex.

Thanks once again for the hospitality, Chris. It was a real treat!

Do you have any pictures of any other garage condo's? Would love to see what Chris's neighbors have done to their places.

 

[HIRISC]

Thank you sir. Does it help dampen the noise?

Gary

I think slightly. I thought it best to isolate some of the vibration.. Partly on behalf of the compressor and partly for the floor.

I've seen people use slightly softer rubber, but I don't think it would make much difference re vibration and likely none re sound.

 

[HIRISC]

I love this thread when ever it pop's up. I want to build something just like this, live upstairs and play downstairs.

How is the factory 5 coming along?

Slowly.

I decided to take the summer off vs working all summer trying to get it done and then staring at the 'completed' project over the winter.

Summers are short here anyway and we've got other things we like to do while the nice weather is here.

I'm getting geared back up for a Nov 1 re-start. Should be running with the body on come April 1 and will fulfill the winter project need well.

I do feel bad regarding the slow progress as people who stop by at Cars and Coffee don't get to see it progress.

I guess it pays to be on this forum

 

[HIRISC]

Do you have any pictures of any other garage condo's? Would love to see what Chris's neighbors have done to their places.

Sure. Pics below courtesy of Scott at lateral-g.net or Alex Bellus, taken at Cars & Coffee.

We were after a very clean/minimalist look. As you'll see, some guys go way beyond what we did:

This one guys upstairs.. it looks like a house

Downstairs

Clubhouse:

Overhead shot of Motorplex

If you want to see bigger versions, go here or here:
http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=28422
http://picasaweb.google.com/bellus.alex

 

[TBOS2K]

Are you on L4P, if not your garage has made it on the site? Congrats, it looks amazing!

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

Sure. Pics below courtesy of Scott at lateral-g.net or Alex Bellus, taken at Cars & Coffee.

We were after a very clean/minimalist look. As you'll see, some guys go way beyond what we did:




If you want to see bigger versions, go here or here:
http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=28422
http://picasaweb.google.com/bellus.alex

Thanks for sharing Chris!! Just amazing garages!!! While I really like some of those spaces, the clean materials that you used are more in line with my personal taste. You really did a wonderful job.

I really do wish the AutoMotorPlex were closer -- then I'd be there quite often.

Not to call this guy out, but it looks like he has a stove/oven in there......
This one guys upstairs.. it looks like a house

 

[HOTFR8]

Nice to see some photos of different places in the complex.

 

[HIRISC]

Thanks for sharing Chris!! Just amazing garages!!! While I really like some of those spaces, the clean materials that you used are more in line with my personal taste. You really did a wonderful job.

I really do wish the AutoMotorPlex were closer -- then I'd be there quite often.

Not to call this guy out, but it looks like he has a stove/oven in there......

Thanks brother.

Yeah, good eye.. Somehow he either decided to put an electric stove in (against the code) and the inspector didn't catch it (or he hid a 220v and installed it after the inspection). Either way, no biggie. We have a toaster oven and a hot plate setup so the risk to the complex is basically the same.

The biggest meal we have/will cook there is something in a crock pot or pizzas (that do very well in our toaster oven).

A lot of guys don't have any cooking stuff and that seems to work OK too.

 

[HIRISC]

Are you on L4P, if not your garage has made it on the site? Congrats, it looks amazing!

Thanks much.. I'm a lurker on that site, but did see that they picked it up. They might have originally linked off of Jalopnik, but either way it's cool that those guys think my place is worthy.

There are some insane garages/collections over there.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Those are some nice garages, but I prefer yours. It's clean, simple yet worked in.

 

[Jarvis]

I need to go kick my school counselors azz as i went the wrong direction!

 

[HIRISC]

Those are some nice garages, but I prefer yours. It's clean, simple yet worked in.

Thanks much

I need to go kick my school counselors azz as i went the wrong direction!

 

[TonyF]

ok this thread just got absurd (sarcasm). All of these places are amazing!! I wish this garage condo idea would spread towards the south.

 

[Suprman]

I wish this garage condo idea would spread towards the south.

you and me both!

 

[HIRISC]

There's at least one in South Florida, so it would seem you're surrounded.

Plenty of nice cars (and good weather) to support this in Charlotte.

 

[Chippy569]

Hey, this thread got linked to on a Grand Prix forum I frequent. I have some pics from your shop from some of the cars n' coffee shows:

From May:

July:

I think I have more, they just weren't uploaded.

Hope the cobra goes well, and that yanko is awesome!

 

[HIRISC]

Hey, this thread got linked to on a Grand Prix forum I frequent. I have some pics from your shop from some of the cars n' coffee shows:

I think I have more, they just weren't uploaded.

Hope the cobra goes well, and that yanko is awesome!

Hey,

Thanks much.

Those pics were at our place.

It's cool that so many different groups of car folks swing by Cars & Cafe'.

 

[egads74]

Thanks for sharing Chris!! Just amazing garages!!! While I really like some of those spaces, the clean materials that you used are more in line with my personal taste. You really did a wonderful job.

I really do wish the AutoMotorPlex were closer -- then I'd be there quite often.

Not to call this guy out, but it looks like he has a stove/oven in there......
This one guys upstairs.. it looks like a house

Nice workshop... I see the foundry area to the left... The time clock for punching in... a workbench is the center focal point in the room... huge part washing from overhead (while traditional part washing is available on right)... lots of parts storage... there is the parts oven to bake on a finish and a metal tester directly above it... That cooler down on the right is definitely full of beer (no doubt).

BTW: I liked that the backsplash matched the FP. nICE touch.

 

[blue dog]

What's happening with the factory five? progress pics. Do you have any experience with the GTM, or seen any one build one. I am very curious of these.

 

[mtm_motors]

Found this writeup on MotorMavens... has some GREAT pics, kinda thought they looked familiar

http://www.motormavens.com/2010/10/guest-blog-eurowerkz-r3dbull-330i-e90-and-z4m/

 

[HIRISC]

Nice workshop... I see the foundry area to the left... The time clock for punching in... a workbench is the center focal point in the room... huge part washing from overhead (while traditional part washing is available on right)... lots of parts storage... there is the parts oven to bake on a finish and a metal tester directly above it... That cooler down on the right is definitely full of beer (no doubt).BTW: I liked that the backsplash matched the FP. nICE touch.

LOL.. funny. I don't think that particular owner does much wrenching.

What's happening with the factory five? progress pics. Do you have any experience with the GTM, or seen any one build one. I am very curious of these.

Factory Five fall/winter building will commence Thursday Been taking advantage of our short summers here by not being inside working. I'll be back at it hard beginning the week of the 20th. I'll post pics as I make progress.

I do not have any experience with the GTM. I looked at it briefly, but one of my early goals/needs for this project was a convert.

My limited understanding is that far fewer of the GTM kits have been sold, and as such, the supply of parts/fixes/support is not as great as that for the 'Cobra'. You can YouTube GTM and see some cool videos.

I did like that it tends to favor an engine with the distributor in the 'correct' place

Found this writeup on MotorMavens... has some GREAT pics, kinda thought they looked familiar
http://www.motormavens.com/2010/10/guest-blog-eurowerkz-r3dbull-330i-e90-and-z4m/

Thanks. Yeah, I saw that shortly after it was shot out at AutoMotorplex. Cool BMW's

 

[HIRISC]

Finally got some better pics of the inside railing, thanks to my friend Alex:

 

[creator]

Where did you source the light fixtures on the stairs? Thanks and beautiful place you have there. Very classy!

 

[HIRISC]

Where did you source the light fixtures on the stairs? Thanks and beautiful place you have there. Very classy!

Thank you very much.

Sorry for the delay.. was out of pocket.

Here's the link to the stair-tread lights.. LED and come with both portrait/landscape oriented louvers.. White or stainless-look (brushed nickel).

http://www.pegasuslighting.com/led-mini-step-lights-louvers.html

Pricey, but good quality and nobody else seemed to have them in this size.

LMK if I can help further.

 

[at_h2o]

That's a big garage door...

 

[HIRISC]

That's a big garage door...

Yeah, some guys put their boats/RV's in these, so they default to a good sized door. I think mine is 20w x 16' high.

Here's a good look at it from a pic taken right at the end of construction last Spring: