Small Space in Michigan

[p912s]

Hello!

Stumbled across this site over the weekend and thought I'd share my little garage addition. Actually registered a few years back and then forgot about the site... found it while searching for floor paint ideas.

After dealing with the city ordinances for what is/isn't allowed we started building a small (roughly 16x18') addition on the back of our existing 2-stall garage. The space is for tinkering with various car projects. Small lathe, drill press, band saw, tool chests, benches etc that are all crammed in the existing garage. Which means anytime I want to work on something I pull a car out and move things around, not exactly an ideal situation.

This is what it will look like when completed. So far the frost walls are in, walls framed and trusses set.

Can't wait to have this space to play in!

Thanks for looking!

Scot

 

[p912s]

Gathered up some pictures from the last few weeks to show what's been done.

Cutting the brick wall.

Footing/foundation dug.

Pouring the footings. Backyard access is limited so we wheelbarrowed the cement from the street.

Pouring the walls. Used a pump truck for these.

Forms off; what a mess...

Back-filled and cleaned up a little.

Walls framed.

This is where the overhead will go in to the addition. Right where the old pegboard was from the previous owner.

 

[HOTFR8]

Impressive.

 

[marty_p]

Guts = Glory!

Keep us posted!!!

 

[p912s]

Thanks guys!

 

[xtremek]

lurker

 

[Teej2012]

Looking good... that's it... I'm knocking out an extra 3 feet or so in the back of the garage. Where in MI are you? Which contractor did you go with? My garage has almost zero working space...I have to wait for my passengers to exit their side and walk around the back of my vehicle before I close the garage door or else they'd have to go prone under the SUV or Dukes of Hazzard slide over the sports car hood in the summer.


Sent from an underground bunker

 

[p912s]

Teej2012 ~ I'm located in Grand Rapids and just started calling local contractors until I found one I liked and seemed like he'd do a good Job. I've also used him for some remodel work at my mother-in-laws house.

Been very busy since the last update with work, end of year stuff... but there has been progress; roof is done and waiting for siding. Floor has been poured and started the electrical this weekend!

This shot is just after the floor was poured before the doors were framed.

 

[p912s]

Click the image for a tour!

 

[YZman]

Digging the addition. Keep up the good work. Im just down the road from you in Coopersville! Small world.

 

[p912s]

Thanks. It's been a fun project; and I'm anxious to have the space!

*removed duplicate link/picture...

 

[kesslerbmw]

Looks great! I'll subscribe for updates.

 

[CNGsaves]

Wow, the rotating Microsoft Photosynth (spinning 360 degree view) of new addition is way cool . . . . as long as you're sober!!

Love your idea of adding garage space out the back. I had same problem looking at older houses as they either had narrow 1 or 2-car garages but this GIANT back yard / deep lot. Only access to that giant back yard was through through the garage, since sideyard was too narrow! I was considering just cutting down back wall for a drive-thru garage door and then construct a free standing garage in back yard. Ended up finding nice older house with detached 4 car garage.

In your case, it would have cost a bunch to add I-beam for support and tear up existing roof, but it would have been over-the-top to have your add on space be tall enough for a lift!!

Love what you're doing . . .keep the pics coming. Get real good at it and many others may want you to Fix their garages!

 

[Teej2012]

Teej2012 ~ I'm located in Grand Rapids and just started calling local contractors until I found one I liked and seemed like he'd do a good Job. I've also used him for some remodel work at my mother-in-laws house.

Been very busy since the last update with work, end of year stuff... but there has been progress; roof is done and waiting for siding. Floor has been poured and started the electrical this weekend!

This shot is just after the floor was poured before the doors were framed.

Very cool, im in GR as well. Id like to come by and see it in person once you get it all situated....


Sent from an underground bunker

 

[p912s]

Very cool, im in GR as well. Id like to come by and see it in person once you get it all situated....


Sent from an underground bunker

Sent you a pm with contact info for the builder.

 

[HSpencer]

WOW that is quite an accomplishment! You will have a huge gain on that project.

 

[Griznant]

Nice work! Chopping into that wall must have been a real leap-of-faith moment.

I actually clicked on this thread because you mention being in Michigan and then because of your screen name. I'm also in SW Michigan (about 1.5 hours south of you though), and have a 912, two Beetles, and recently traded in my '04 Miata for a more family friendly Mazda5 .

Great minds must think alike.

 

[p912s]

Nice work! Chopping into that wall must have been a real leap-of-faith moment.

I actually clicked on this thread because you mention being in Michigan and then because of your screen name. I'm also in SW Michigan (about 1.5 hours south of you though), and have a 912, two Beetles, and recently traded in my '04 Miata for a more family friendly Mazda5 .

Great minds must think alike.

I think I remember you from the Pelican Parts board, haven't been there in quite a while, pretty much since the quest to race at Bonneville started. You have a red 912 with Type 4 power; yes?

Mine will get Type 4 hopefully this year, I have all the parts, but too many projects and it runs/drives so no hurry...

There are pictures of the cars here.

As for cutting the back wall, that was a BIG moment!

Thanks for the comment.

 

[p912s]

WOW that is quite an accomplishment! You will have a huge gain on that project.

Thanks!

Drywall gets hung Monday. Hope to be painting next weekend!

 

[p912s]

Thought I'd post a quick update.

Roof is complete.
Doors are hung.
Insulation will be finished today.
Wiring in shop is done, need to connect the service wire at the main in the house.
Drywall will go in next week.
Hopefully painting next weekend.

This is what I think it will look like when complete.

 

[Sunbimmer]

Nice plan you have, please keep us updated here.
I'm very curious of the endresult.

 

[Griznant]

I think I remember you from the Pelican Parts board, haven't been there in quite a while, pretty much since the quest to race at Bonneville started. You have a red 912 with Type 4 power; yes?

Yep, that's mine. I don't think I've done more than move the car around in storage for the last four years though. Started on a dry-sump conversion and ran into issues. Then we had two kids which derailed most of my car projects so as soon as I get my own garage projects done I can hopefully get back on it.

If you decide to go T4, I may be able to offer some advice, but I'm still torn on whether it was worth all the money or not compared to just getting a flat-six and going that route.

Good luck!

 

[p912s]

Nice plan you have, please keep us updated here.
I'm very curious of the endresult.

Thanks!

This will be the nicest space I've ever had to work in...

 

[p912s]

Building inspector came by and approved everything today. And tomorrow the siding contractor is doing his thing!

 

[p912s]

Tested circuits in the new panel; everything worked as expected!

 

[delorian]

very neat work, well done.

 

[p912s]

very neat work, well done.

Thank you!

 

[p912s]

Drywall is up and is drying. Insulation has been blown in the attic space. And the little wall heater is maintaining between 65-70 degrees in there!

Here's an updated 3D view.

 

[CNGsaves]

Any pics of how your addition looks like on outside? Inside?

 

[p912s]

Any pics of how your addition looks like on outside? Inside?

Click the image to take a walk around inside.


The raised panel service door is being replaced. It was supposed to be a flush door with half glass and no grill on the window. To look more like your old high school shop door.

Here's an exterior shot when the siding was being installed.

 

[mml665]

Very nice garage you are building. Congratulations and good luck are in order!

 

[Pitbull711]

That looks like it will definitely serve its purpose and be a fun place to hang...keep the pics coming.

 

[p912s]

Very nice garage you are building. Congratulations and good luck are in order!

Thanks!

 

[p912s]

That looks like it will definitely serve its purpose and be a fun place to hang...keep the pics coming.

Thanks! Hopefully more pics this weekend with paint on the walls!

 

[p912s]

Just realized it's been over a month since I posted an update...

Here's a couple of shots from the middle of February as the paint was getting done and a few things set in place.

Since these were shot the painting is finished, knobs on the cabinets, trim up etc. And almost everything is in its place! Little more sorting out this weekend and organizing and I'll take some more shots.

 

[mml665]

Looks very nice! I am very impressed. What brand are the cabinets?

 

[dubber]

I'm really liking this build for more then one reason Keep it up!

 

[p912s]

Thanks guys!

The cabinets were custom built units from a school. I bought them from a Habitat for Humanity store a year or so ago. Nice units 2' deep, 18" tall and something like 6.5' long. They had more when I bought them and I'm sorry I didn't buy more than the 2...

They didn't have bottoms because they were attached to the top of countertops, so bottoms were cut from 3/4 plywood and glued/screwed in place to hold heavy stuff and be able to hang things from them.

And they were a medium brown stain so they sanded and painted the same color as the lower wall. And then knobs painted red to match the stripe.

Hope to put more pictures up after this coming weekend.

 

[dfreeman616]

hey someone else from grand rapids. nice addition, using a garage for both parking and projects is a pain! are you in the city itself or one of the surrounding areas? i plan to ad onto my garage sometime, but have no idea on the restrictions yet.

 

[p912s]

Restrictions are harder in the city than the township or surrounding areas. And yes I'm in the city...

Having a dedicated space to park and one to work is great! I can see the benefits already and I haven't really used the shop yet.

Sometime in the next few weeks we'll pull the engine from the race car and have it in their. Will be nice to not need to shuffle cars outside to do the work!