Starting to plan new garage

[vrinner]

Just sold a property and we are going to use the proceeds (and then some) to start building a new garage/workshop. I first went to the city to verify that the basic idea is good to go and they gave me a thumbs up as long as it doesn't include a kitchen which makes it a second home on the property and then I'm limited to 1200 sf total.

Project location - Placentia, CA
Desired Garage/Workshop space - 2000-2400 sf.
Desired Studio with bathroom (second floor) - 500-1000 sf.
Plumbing - Toilet and sink. Maybe a shower
Construction type - Steel with some wood architecture on the outside

Budget for unfinished structure - $100,000. I am willing to just get the bare shell done initially then work on the finishing/electrical myself over time.

Something similar to the attached picture (looks way bigger than it would be) but not at all tied to that design. I am in the very preliminary stages so it will be interesting to see if my dream 2400sf turns into a 1000sf.

 

[vrinner]

A couple of questions and maybe some of you have some ideas on this.

Plumbing - The city will allow me to put in a bathroom but no kitchen. That's fine. The city will NOT allow me to put in septic system which means I have to get my dirty water pumped up hill to the house plumbing. If I put a bathroom only on the 2nd floor structure, the lowest part of the plumbing would be at 10' and my house floor is probably at 25'. Are there systems out there that can pump the waste up to higher elevations?

Aesthetics - I want to make the front and at least the side that faces my house not look totally like a steel building and dress it up with some wood siding. One building contractor suggested to leave off the sheeting on those two sides (they would engineer he building properly) and build it out with wood framing. This would reduce the cost of the building by a few thousand and can use that to build out the wood framing. Any thoughts on doing this?

 

[PNWguy]

Yes you can pump.

In general there are two options.
1) A grinder & pump system to pumps everything up to the septic.
2) A settling tank (basically a second septic tank) and pumping the liquids only up to the house. On occasion, you'd need to pump the second tank, just like the primary.

Neither option will be inexpensive. You'll need to decide how much it's worth to have a toilet in the shop.

 

[vrinner]

To clarify my main house plumbing is not septic but I don't really think that matters. Grinder & pump may be the only way to go. I'll look into that.

 

[ItsNemo]

A couple of questions and maybe some of you have some ideas on this.

Plumbing - The city will allow me to put in a bathroom but no kitchen. That's fine. The city will NOT allow me to put in septic system which means I have to get my dirty water pumped up hill to the house plumbing. If I put a bathroom only on the 2nd floor structure, the lowest part of the plumbing would be at 10' and my house floor is probably at 25'. Are there systems out there that can pump the waste up to higher elevations?

Aesthetics - I want to make the front and at least the side that faces my house not look totally like a steel building and dress it up with some wood siding. One building contractor suggested to leave off the sheeting on those two sides (they would engineer he building properly) and build it out with wood framing. This would reduce the cost of the building by a few thousand and can use that to build out the wood framing. Any thoughts on doing this?

You're going to want at least a mess sink in the main part of the garage on the lower level...so plan to pump the waste all the way up with whatever you buy.

 

[vrinner]

You're going to want at least a mess sink in the main part of the garage on the lower level...so plan to pump the waste all the way up with whatever you buy.

Yeah...I guess if I'm going to have to pump I might as well just start from the lowest level and be done with it.

 

[vrinner]

Getting a bit closer to beginning my project. I have 3 bids, all pretty close to each other and luckily within budget!

I am going to go with 6" slab thickness.

For my 2 post lift, most everything I've read says 6" is fine but I'm think that I should go ahead and add some extra footings where the two posts will be (along with air and electrical lines).

Do you think this is a good placement for the lift? There will be storage, tool chests, work benches along the back and side walls.