Rescue me!

[Boyd Who]

I wanted to build a nice new garage/workshop at our house, but with money being tight these days I've realized that it likely will never happen.

I currently have an old 12x20 garage which is certainly better than no garage at all, but it doesn't leave alot of room when tearing an old car completely apart.

Last week I found out about a guy in town who had an ancient 12x18 garage that he wanted to tear down so he could build something bigger. I had a look and decided that I could probably move the whole thing the few blocks to my place. Once the snow melts and things dry out a bit that is exactly what we'll do! I hate seeing nice old buildings demolished if they're still usable.

My current garage...

Our house. The new "shed" will go at the back on the right side of the yard.

House from the back. The shed will go sideways in the yard about 6 feet off the alley.

The new shed. Notice how well it matches the look of our house! It's not perfect, but it's fixable. It has a slight list to it, but it's just sitting on the ground with a dirt floor. I will pour a slab for it here which should help, then straighten out the walls and such. I'll run a 110V line to it for a couple of lights, too. It will be used basically as a storage shed, which will help out a bunch when I tear the hotrod apart for rebuilding.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Do you need:
Moving permit from the City
Building permit from the City for the new slab
Police permits (some places will require a police ******)
Permits from the electric utility and telephone company, to move/lift their lines so you can pass under them
A big truck or trailer to move the garage with
Big jacks to lift it up and set it back down
If the building is on a dirt floor is there rot, and is it repairable.

I'm not saying don't do it, but there are a bunch of things to consider.

 

[babzog]

Park it right up tight to the current garage where the truck is sitting and then join the roofs together. Replace the conjoined walls with a post and beam (or remove them altogether, depending how you do the roof) and you'll have a 20x20 (have to extend the new (old) garage a couple of feet).

 

[Mickey O]

There is a youtube video of a guy doing almost exactly what you want to do, I don't have the link but maybe do a search, it was quite entertaining.

 

[Boyd Who]

I won't be moving it myself, I'll leave that up to an expert. It should clear all the lines between his place and mine, and it's only a 5-block move. We're even on the same street, which makes things even easier.
Permits in our little town aren't going to be an issue, I've already talked to the town planner about it.
I expect some rot along the bottom, it will be dealt with before I drop it on the pad.
Joining the two would be cool, but there's quite a bit of difference in height and length between the two. Also, I like having the driveway running past the old garage. It runs from the street through to the alley.

 

[tatra]

al , if ya want to do some piers, i have the machine for the job........check your email for my number...

 

[PassnThru]

I won't be moving it myself, I'll leave that up to an expert. It should clear all the lines between his place and mine, and it's only a 5-block move. We're even on the same street, which makes things even easier.
Permits in our little town aren't going to be an issue, I've already talked to the town planner about it.
I expect some rot along the bottom, it will be dealt with before I drop it on the pad.
Joining the two would be cool, but there's quite a bit of difference in height and length between the two. Also, I like having the driveway running past the old garage. It runs from the street through to the alley.

Don't think or worry about it anymore until you get a quote from someone to move it. I have never done something like this but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't cost more to move it than to build a new one if you do the building yourself. You're already talking about pouring a slab for it Maybe consider building a smaller shed instead? That would also free up some space in the garage and you wouldn't necessarily need to pour a slab for that.

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

You said that you are in a small town.

You may be able to jack it up; put some skids under it and pull it the five blocks, while the roads are still snow covered. If you did this around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday you could be done before anyone called to complain!

 

[zkslawn]

You said that you are in a small town.

You may be able to jack it up; put some skids under it and pull it the five blocks, while the roads are still snow covered. If you did this around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday you could be done before anyone called to complain!

i agree.. do this..

by the way i love the essex truck.. im drooling

 

[iagsxr]

My old man moves garages all the time. It's not really my thing, but sometimes I get roped into helping. Biggest we've moved was a 30x40 10ft sidewall pole building that went about ten blocks. Luckily it had a sliding door in an end wall. Used both our cranes to pick it. Set it on top of a semi trailer(new owner was a trucking co) and down the road it went. Smaller structures we use our tilt-bed implement truck.

Anyhow, you don't need a professional to move that garage if you're a little handy. I'll tell you how if you're interested in doing it yourself.

 

[Identaltech]

My uncle had moved a garage that size with a old farm trailer.
sunday a.m. would be the best time.
I like the ideal of parking it in front of you garage so it double deep.

 

[tdkkart]

Had a neighbor that moved one about that size on an F350 with a dump box. Backed the truck in, jacked up the garage, cribbed it to the truck box and drove away.

 

[iagsxr]

My uncle had moved a garage that size with a old farm trailer.
sunday a.m. would be the best time.
I like the ideal of parking it in front of you garage so it double deep.

Had a neighbor that moved one about that size on an F350 with a dump box. Backed the truck in, jacked up the garage, cribbed it to the truck box and drove away.

Must be an Iowa thing

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

 

[Boyd Who]

al , if ya want to do some piers, i have the machine for the job........check your email for my number...

Thanks Jim, I'll keep you in mind. I don't think we'll need piers here, the soil is quite stable, but you never know.

Don't think or worry about it anymore until you get a quote from someone to move it. I have never done something like this but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't cost more to move it than to build a new one if you do the building yourself. You're already talking about pouring a slab for it Maybe consider building a smaller shed instead? That would also free up some space in the garage and you wouldn't necessarily need to pour a slab for that.

I was talking to some people this evening who had a couple of garages moved for them in town, cost was under a grand each and they were a fair bit bigger than this one. I can't build anything this size that cheap, plus once this building is set up in the yard it will match the house and look like it's always been here. That's important to me.

You said that you are in a small town.

You may be able to jack it up; put some skids under it and pull it the five blocks, while the roads are still snow covered. If you did this around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday you could be done before anyone called to complain!

Not a bad idea, but it's too late to try it that way...snow is already gone off the streets here.

i agree.. do this..

by the way i love the essex truck.. im drooling

Thanks!! I love the truck too...took me 30 years to buy it from my friend! Now I need the space to rebuild it so it's actually driveable.

My old man moves garages all the time. It's not really my thing, but sometimes I get roped into helping. Biggest we've moved was a 30x40 10ft sidewall pole building that went about ten blocks. Luckily it had a sliding door in an end wall. Used both our cranes to pick it. Set it on top of a semi trailer(new owner was a trucking co) and down the road it went. Smaller structures we use our tilt-bed implement truck.

Anyhow, you don't need a professional to move that garage if you're a little handy. I'll tell you how if you're interested in doing it yourself.

We may be able to move it ourselves with a buddies 20' open-deck car trailer. I just have to wait till all the snow is gone around it to see what we can do.

 

[Abbott]

You have a nice looking home Boyd. Good luck with your garage move.