whoabackitup
Member
INTRODUCTION - DIAGNOSIS
Now that I can post pictures let me tell you about my car hole.
OVERVIEW AND DIMENSIONS
If you're squinting a little, or maybe suffering a mild concussion, I've got a two bay garage (13 x 28 and 10 x 22, respectively) built into the side of an incline with a patio on top (16 x 22 over the narrower section and 28 x 25 over larger section). Behind the bays are two separate storage areas (both roughly 7 x 13)--rumor is they were changing rooms back when a gigantic above-ground metal pool came off the patio (seller had it removed when they bought the house in the early aughts). Behind those rooms is a stairwell from the patio to the lawn. Stone retaining walls sprout out from the front and back for the surrounding land.
Materials appear to be stone, steel, concrete, and cinder blocks. Little wood is involved (or at least left), which I thought I read on some forum was getting expensive...
CONDITION
Exterior - formerly under assault from various trees, plants, and other greenery. Vines were literally coaxed to grow onto, up, and around the building and patio. I imagine the immediate previous owner, given the chance, would've reclassified the building as some kind of art installation. Pieces of the outer wall and window are damaged, possibly from vandalism (damn those rowdy teens!), and need TLC or outright replacement.
Interior - oh, man. Water gets in when it rains, mostly tracking along the overhead beams from the wall built against the dirt, turning the bays (smaller one in particular) into giant humidifiers. This has, as you would expect, caused the little wood remaining to rot, the walls to peel, and the remaining metal to rust real nice. Despite having (mostly) functional bay doors, I now keep them open 24/7 to keep tools and equipment dry. I'm sure my neighbors love that. Otherwise the building seems structurally sound.
At least two doors inside were eventually closed off with cinder blocks, further sealing in the humidity (one leading outside and one to the changing room). There's space for a window between the former changing rooms, but nothing other than the doors going outside from these rooms. The door frames are shot but the side rooms are at least still water proof. There is dim illumination from the block windows in the larger bay.
There used to be electric service from the house, though I couldn't tell you how much or for how long. The original section of the house is super old (1780s) and the addition came in the 1970s, and I'm wondering if the garage didn't come about some time prior the addition.
VISION
Somebody clearly had grand plans for this garage when they built it, which I want to restore and expand upon without breaking the bank (full disclosure: I am not much of a craftsman, so though I'm willing to learn and to do a lot of manual labor this will be largely contractor work).
Most of the garages I've seen here are like palaces, and you have my respect for building and maintaining such impressive spaces. In terms of my garage I'm a simple man--I want to do things right but definitely don't need to "HGTV" what amounts to a bunker. Having a dry, well-lit small work area and the ability to garage vehicles and tools (mostly landscaping) would be amazing. I'm also looking to future-proof my car hole with enough service to charge an electric truck (they're coming!) without worrying about water seeping in and ruining everything.
As far as the electric is concerned, I can see where the old conduit exits my crawlspace bound for the garage and I'm confident I can at least do the trenching myself.
QUESTIONS
Phase I of the renovation--where I tear down and root out all the trees, vines, and bushes growing around it, is just about complete. I'm asking for your frank and friendly analysis here as I look toward the future. Below are my initial questions:
1. How old do you think the original electric is, based on the pictures?
2. If you were to blindfold yourself and shoot from the hip, how much do you think it would cost to get this place decent again? Given the nature of the design I am NOT looking to expand the rooms here, just to reclaim and repair. Feel free to get as granular or broad as you want. Reckless speculation is encouraged and any "minimum" and "reach" numbers are welcome!
3. Dealing with the water seems like the top priority, which I assume means digging out the wall built into the incline and getting it fixed up (runoff from the patio roof, rather than straight leakage from the top, seems to be the main culprit). What would you do to keep the water out?
4. If this was your car hole, what potential do you see? What would be your priority?
Front
Side
Patio/Roof
Interior
Electrical
Now that I can post pictures let me tell you about my car hole.
OVERVIEW AND DIMENSIONS
If you're squinting a little, or maybe suffering a mild concussion, I've got a two bay garage (13 x 28 and 10 x 22, respectively) built into the side of an incline with a patio on top (16 x 22 over the narrower section and 28 x 25 over larger section). Behind the bays are two separate storage areas (both roughly 7 x 13)--rumor is they were changing rooms back when a gigantic above-ground metal pool came off the patio (seller had it removed when they bought the house in the early aughts). Behind those rooms is a stairwell from the patio to the lawn. Stone retaining walls sprout out from the front and back for the surrounding land.
Materials appear to be stone, steel, concrete, and cinder blocks. Little wood is involved (or at least left), which I thought I read on some forum was getting expensive...
CONDITION
Exterior - formerly under assault from various trees, plants, and other greenery. Vines were literally coaxed to grow onto, up, and around the building and patio. I imagine the immediate previous owner, given the chance, would've reclassified the building as some kind of art installation. Pieces of the outer wall and window are damaged, possibly from vandalism (damn those rowdy teens!), and need TLC or outright replacement.
Interior - oh, man. Water gets in when it rains, mostly tracking along the overhead beams from the wall built against the dirt, turning the bays (smaller one in particular) into giant humidifiers. This has, as you would expect, caused the little wood remaining to rot, the walls to peel, and the remaining metal to rust real nice. Despite having (mostly) functional bay doors, I now keep them open 24/7 to keep tools and equipment dry. I'm sure my neighbors love that. Otherwise the building seems structurally sound.
At least two doors inside were eventually closed off with cinder blocks, further sealing in the humidity (one leading outside and one to the changing room). There's space for a window between the former changing rooms, but nothing other than the doors going outside from these rooms. The door frames are shot but the side rooms are at least still water proof. There is dim illumination from the block windows in the larger bay.
There used to be electric service from the house, though I couldn't tell you how much or for how long. The original section of the house is super old (1780s) and the addition came in the 1970s, and I'm wondering if the garage didn't come about some time prior the addition.
VISION
Somebody clearly had grand plans for this garage when they built it, which I want to restore and expand upon without breaking the bank (full disclosure: I am not much of a craftsman, so though I'm willing to learn and to do a lot of manual labor this will be largely contractor work).
Most of the garages I've seen here are like palaces, and you have my respect for building and maintaining such impressive spaces. In terms of my garage I'm a simple man--I want to do things right but definitely don't need to "HGTV" what amounts to a bunker. Having a dry, well-lit small work area and the ability to garage vehicles and tools (mostly landscaping) would be amazing. I'm also looking to future-proof my car hole with enough service to charge an electric truck (they're coming!) without worrying about water seeping in and ruining everything.
As far as the electric is concerned, I can see where the old conduit exits my crawlspace bound for the garage and I'm confident I can at least do the trenching myself.
QUESTIONS
Phase I of the renovation--where I tear down and root out all the trees, vines, and bushes growing around it, is just about complete. I'm asking for your frank and friendly analysis here as I look toward the future. Below are my initial questions:
1. How old do you think the original electric is, based on the pictures?
2. If you were to blindfold yourself and shoot from the hip, how much do you think it would cost to get this place decent again? Given the nature of the design I am NOT looking to expand the rooms here, just to reclaim and repair. Feel free to get as granular or broad as you want. Reckless speculation is encouraged and any "minimum" and "reach" numbers are welcome!
3. Dealing with the water seems like the top priority, which I assume means digging out the wall built into the incline and getting it fixed up (runoff from the patio roof, rather than straight leakage from the top, seems to be the main culprit). What would you do to keep the water out?
4. If this was your car hole, what potential do you see? What would be your priority?
Front
Side
Patio/Roof
Interior
Electrical
