Project Garage Condo

[Quiksilver]

Does your neighbor's beam span the entire 40'? The only way the beam might make more sense is if it is going to be exposed completely. Even then the steel beam could be covered in wood if you really wanted exposed wood.

I would love it if one of these condo facilities came to my area, I am limited on space to build and would kind of like the idea of being able to sell the house and not start all over with the shop, or visa verse.

Keep the pics and updates coming.

 

[HIRISC]

Does your neighbor's beam span the entire 40'? The only way the beam might make more sense is if it is going to be exposed completely. Even then the steel beam could be covered in wood if you really wanted exposed wood.

I would love it if one of these condo facilities came to my area, I am limited on space to build and would kind of like the idea of being able to sell the house and not start all over with the shop, or visa verse.

Keep the pics and updates coming.

Yes, he's got a 40x70 unit and apparently isn't going to side-load the stairs like I did. I wanted to maximize the light from the two corner windows and to keep the stairs as open as possible so I spanned about 30 or 31 feet with my steel beam. I could have done 40' clear like he did with a 16" high x 8" steel beam - no center support.

It's really dependent on what the contractor is comfortable doing. The neighbors contractor is a wood-only guy and so he gets the lam beam. The only thing I'm not really comfortable with is what the ends of his beam sit on - four 2x8's.. two (3 inches) on each side of the beam.. looks a little light to me.

I wasn't intending on the open wood for the knee wall. I've got a collection of vintage signs and am going to display some of them all the way down that 42" knee wall. For my neighbor, I believe he'll just wrap that lam beam with sheetrock and hide it 'inside' the knee or full (?) wall that he's building around his mezzanine.

I'll definitely keep the pics coming.. My knee wall and bathroom should be framed by now. Pics tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[D KRAGER]

So on the inside walls that are shared, do those get insulated/ soundproofed? or not?

Curious how that works?

 

[HIRISC]

So on the inside walls that are shared, do those get insulated/ soundproofed? or not?

Curious how that works?

Insulated with pink - 2x6" walls with 5/8 rock on both sides.

I wouldn't call it sound proof.

The guy with the biggest sound system wins.

 

[D KRAGER]

Insulated with pink - 2x6" walls with 5/8 rock on both sides.

I wouldn't call it sound proof.

The guy with the biggest sound system wins.

Yea for true sound proof you'd really need two separate insulated walls with dead air space.

 

[HIRISC]

Kneewall almost up - bathroom framed, joist hangers installed.. about time for some electrical/plumbing.

 

[Quiksilver]

Moving right along, looks like your neighbors are too. Someone already has cars moved in, that's kind of funny.

 

[HIRISC]

Moving right along, looks like your neighbors are too. Someone already has cars moved in, that's kind of funny.

That space is still for sale.

The managing partner let one of the guys building another space park his rides there temporarily.

I considered it, but even with a discount, that pushes this project (and the corresponding build-out cost) past the point of being 'reasonable'.

 

[storageshop]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum. I discovered that some incoming traffic was coming from this site ( thank you for the referral). I develop Storage/Garage Condos and have a site www.inside-storage-shop-condos.com that gives information mostly on how to develop but also, good buyer information. I have developed 16 locations throughout wisconsin and sold over 100 units. The location/sales site is www.storageshopusa.com

I would be available to comment on any questions people may have. It all started because I couldn't even park my car in my new garage - zoning codes wouldn't let me build it big enough.

regards
greg thompson

 

[HIRISC]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum. I discovered that some incoming traffic was coming from this site ( thank you for the referral). I develop Storage/Garage Condos and have a site www.inside-storage-shop-condos.com that gives information mostly on how to develop but also, good buyer information. I have developed 16 locations throughout wisconsin and sold over 100 units. The location/sales site is www.storageshopusa.com

I would be available to comment on any questions people may have. It all started because I couldn't even park my car in my new garage - zoning codes wouldn't let me build it big enough.

regards
greg thompson

Looks like you've got a good price point (+/- $80 square ft) and some good momentum in WI.

Are you expanding into other states?

Have you considered a higher ceiling height (>16' clear) to allow people to put full mezzanine's in? They seem to be very popular at the Motorplex location.

Nice website BTW! You might want to consider adding 'garage condo' and variations to your meta keywords as well as corresponding content within your on-site text. It might save you some money on your PPC advertising.

Your meta keywords - home page:
<meta name="keywords" content="Wisconsin commercial storage,Madison commercial storage,commercial storage,storage condo,office warehouse,business bungalows"

 

[storageshop]

the price point is good. I am expanding in other states as I find qualified people/developers that want to tackle a project like this. I provide the platform and training and they actual own and "do" the project for themselves.

I have considered 16ft ceilings. here is the catch. All my projects are zoned and approved for business use (in addition to storage and personal workshops). Almost all municipalities having parking restrictions which are directly related to the square footage of office and warehouuse. If I had 16ft ceilings, there would be a 2nd floor adding more square footage and then more parking spaces. I provide 2 per unit and that is sufficient for most all applications. In addition, in wisconsin, If I keep the total volume of the building under 50,000 cubic ft, I don't need "state approved" plans, no spriklers, etc. Modifications are a lot less complicated. 16ft ceilings would put me over that limit. One more thing, I can't build 16ft walls with 2x6 lumber (structurally not acceptable) - therefore I would have to go with steel studs or a pole building, neither of which are more economical. that is another discussion.

I am in the process of adding a whole entire 'garage condo" section on the website - good call, thanks for the help!

good to be part of this emerging discussion and industry

greg

 

[HIRISC]

You have indeed thought about the higher ceilings and seem very well versed on your business.

Good website/marketing - check
Good 'product' knowledge - check
Good attitude - check

High chance of continued success - check

 

[Rick S]

Great looking shop,I have done some of the same things you are doing.I bought a 30x50 garage condo here in the Appleton,WI area and I just love it. Our condos are all 16' high ceilings & 14'x18' wide
overhead door.I put a 12x30 mezzanine over the rear of the shop with a fixed staircase (was thinking of a swing-up one).My wife thinks it was one of our better purchases.I have insulated and finished the ceiling with steel and walls in osb on 2x4 studs with insulation. We have no water or restrooms yet but that is coming in the near future and the condo fees are only $200 a year
that is snowplowing and lawn mowing which is not too bad.

 

[alberto]

the price point is good. I am expanding in other states as I find qualified people/developers that want to tackle a project like this. I provide the platform and training and they actual own and "do" the project for themselves.

good to be part of this emerging discussion and industry

greg

You need to come to San Diego to put one of these. There are a few tweaks I would make, but I love the concept and have read pretty much all of the stuff on your web site, which I went to as a result of this thread. I really wish I could find or develop something like this in the area, but the issue here is land anywhere near any place convenient is VERY expensive, if you can find it at all. I would be very very surprised that you could keep the price point from the midwest if you did something like this here (unfortunately).

Alberto

 

[hemi]

CHRIS,
Do you still have the Z.
hemi

 

[HIRISC]

CHRIS,
Do you still have the Z.
hemi

Oh yeah, I don't think I'd ever sell it.. I love that car

 

[HIRISC]

Deck built (waiting on door), framing done (except stairs), plumbing 1/2 way, beams welded, wrapped, bolted to floor.

Ready for electrical (once I can get a reasonable quote).

Going to run low voltage myself (just because), then sheetrock/paint/flooring/fixtures/cabinets/furniture

 

[Suprman]

is that a deck? sweet

 

[HIRISC]

is that a deck? sweet

Yes, good for cigars or ****** mary's while watching the monthly cars & coffee events

Have a perfect view of the entry gate:

 

[SSCustoms]

Looks like things are coming along nicely. I have looked at doing something like this in my area.

 

[HIRISC]

Looks like things are coming along nicely. I have looked at doing something like this in my area.

What city/state?

 

[Iroc-Z]

What city/state?

Channhassen, MN

 

[HIRISC]

Channhassen, MN

I was asking SSCustoms where he was located..

 

[Iroc-Z]

I was asking SSCustoms where he was located..

I was just going to fix my post.

 

[HIRISC]

Sprinkler addition installed under mezzanine/in bathroom. Copper airline run, concrete floor cream being honed off to expose more of the aggregate before they clear coat it tomorrow. Should look cool.

Electrical will be done next week, rough plumbing finishes, then it's sheetrock time.

 

[jj3]

Man, this is pretty darn cool! Any more progress?

We have something similar down here in the Houston area but their price points were way too crazy for me, plus it was a bit out of my way.

 

[HIRISC]

Man, this is pretty darn cool! Any more progress?

We have something similar down here in the Houston area but their price points were way too crazy for me, plus it was a bit out of my way.

Thanks. I haven't been over today, but I don't think they are going to coat the floor until tomorrow. I'll post some pics up of the finished product if I can get over there before the guys put down the 1/8" Luaun plywood to protect the new finish from the electricians/plumbers/sheetrock guys.

Proximity is everything with these places. We're locked into my company location for at least 4 more years (likely longer), and it's 5 minutes door to door. Much more than 15 minutes from work or home and it would be less appealing for sure.

 

[evil_twin]

Sick garage condo. Definitely subscribing to this thread.

 

[Big N8]

Great looking space you have there. I am from **** Rapids and have been to the cars and coffee a couple times. Sadly I don't have a sweet car so I park around the block.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks like somebody got carried away with the torch when they were sweating the copper.

That floor is going to look good.

 

[jj3]

Thanks. I haven't been over today, but I don't think they are going to coat the floor until tomorrow. I'll post some pics up of the finished product if I can get over there before the guys put down the 1/8" Luaun plywood to protect the new finish from the electricians/plumbers/sheetrock guys.

Proximity is everything with these places. We're locked into my company location for at least 4 more years (likely longer), and it's 5 minutes door to door. Much more than 15 minutes from work or home and it would be less appealing for sure.

HIRISC, totally agree with that. 5 minutes isn't bad at all. Can't wait to see more as it develops. Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[HIRISC]

Great looking space you have there. I am from **** Rapids and have been to the cars and coffee a couple times. Sadly I don't have a sweet car so I park around the block.

Sometimes it's better to be a spectator there - so much to look at!

Looks like somebody got carried away with the torch when they were sweating the copper. That floor is going to look good.

Thanks re the floor - I'm excited to see it done.

Yeah, my contractor was laughing about his own 'plumbing' work on that air line. He didn't have the right torch, but he got her done

HIRISC, totally agree with that. 5 minutes isn't bad at all. Can't wait to see more as it develops. Thanks for sharing with us!

Thanks for your interest.. It's cool to share it with people that think it's cool - if you know what I mean. Some of my friends are like, 'a garage condo - why would you have one of those'?

 

[strnge]

I would in a heartbeat!

 

[mkdive]

Wow... looks amazing! Can't wait to see the final results.

 

[HIRISC]

Flooring update:

We wanted to keep our garage floor 'concrete looking' and to see the aggregate. Honing allowed for this. Epoxy obviously covers the concrete - which is the point for some people.

So we contracted with a company to hone the floor. They bead blast the floor first, then come in with a circular cement scraping machine. They are supposed to take all the cream off - showing a minimum of 'light' aggregate and a maximum of 'large' aggregate due to surface level differences on the slabs.

After the honing, the floor is coated with a product called MMA - 2 layers - with or without color. We wanted the 'natural' concrete color, so no stain additive. The product is rolled on and cures in under 1 hour. The resulting floor is what I would describe as a matte finish and is not slippery.

As it happens, our guys didn't take the floor down to a minimum hone thickness - resulting in some cream showing and not as much aggregate as we had discussed. The net result is that they may be re-doing the floor. That will be a PIA for them as the MMA is harder than the concrete. If you choose this method, ensure that you have a chance to review the scrape level after it has been vacuumed up and insist you see it wet which will mimick the look of the final product.

Read more about MMA here: http://www.mmafloors.com

Here are a few pics - some look a little red - that's the flash, not the floor.

 

[strnge]

I like the aegregate. I would go with the epoxy to hide mistakes, but that's me. I can see where it is cloudy. I would make them do it again. It looks from your photos that it is mostly cloudy and less aggregate.

Your build has me on a mission to find a warehouse here to do the same thing. Keep us posted!

 

[HIRISC]

The MMA coating is mostly translucent. It's actually not cloudy, it's the way it photographs. The aggregate level is the main issue - and apparently a matter of taste as my brother thinks my floor looks great.

I considered the Epoxy, but I do prefer the more natural look of the honed.

 

[irisservice]

looks good, but get what you asked and paid for

 

[HIRISC]

looks good, but get what you asked and paid for

edit - oops, sorry.. i misread that. Thanks, I will.

(I guess I'm a little sensitive about the floor).

Thanks for pointing that out IdahoJoe

 

[IdahoJoe]

I think he's saying "go get what you asked and paid for" not "you got what you asked and paid for".