To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The 12-Gauge Garage

Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
Thanks, Outlaw.

You never notice the wind -- until you're all alone, trying to get 400 square feet of shade fabric to go up and over a 15' structure. Especially when all you've got is a 10' stepladder.

I hate the wind.

But the corners are secured. Now I just have to figure out how to lock it down.

cover01b.jpg


As you can see, I did the sewing 'on site.' 60 linear feet of stitching. (If only I could weld that quickly.)
 

Omphaloskeptic

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2008
Messages
2,346
Location
Ultima Ratio, Wa.
Is the furniture going to be Tarragon Green? :lol_hitti


I'm thinking the canopy will be J.O.G. (Terragon Green). lol

Did I miss some in-process pics of the canopy creation for the front? I went wa-a-a-yyy back in the thread to check but could not find any. I'm hoping Jack will share all the details of that portion of the 'cathedral canopy'. I'd sure like to know what machine he's using to piece it all together. Is it an industrial-grade sewing machine or a regular household quality machine; and most importantly of all, is it painted J.O.G.? :D

The 'cathedral canopy' will be interesting to see being made as I suspect it will involve some serious calculations for layout. Similar to what is necessary to create a spinnaker sail for a boat. One nice thing is that Jack has already created the 'sail lofting' floor for the layout and cutting of the material by way of that beautiful back deck! :thumbup: In fact Jack, you may want to refrain from oiling said deck until you have the canopy erected to avoid staining the cloth.:dunno:


*******************************************

Whoops! I was typing the above while Jack was posting progress pics. He's much further along than I thought he would be with the canopy. For some reason I was thinking the canopy would have to be cut/sewn to follow the 'vaulting' of the arches; my bad.
 
Last edited:
OP
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
Thanks!

The cushions are going to be a sort of orange/rust color. They were on sale. And I figure this set of furniture is the sacrificial set. A one-year-old and a four-year-old will probably take their toll on the fabric, before too long.

Here's this morning's 'color check' picture.

cushions.jpg


Here's my sail factory in action. The arches were all made to line up along that 'roof' plane. I'm not sure how the math worked out -- since the radius I came up with for the crossing arches initially had to be changed on the fly. But sometimes you do the math, and sometimes you just fit it and cut. :)

seamster.jpg


I joined two 12'x20' pieces together, and then also made a rollover-thing to hold a length of steel on the lower ends.

anchoru.jpg


I'm sure there's a correct name for the rollover thing. But I'm only an occasional seamstress (seamster?).
 

rharman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
8,821
Location
SoCal
<snip>

I joined two 12'x20' pieces together, and then also made a rollover-thing to hold a length of steel on the lower ends.

anchoru.jpg


I'm sure there's a correct name for the rollover thing. But I'm only an occasional seamstress (seamster?).
</snip>


I think that technical name would be a "rod pocket".
 
OP
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
That sounds as goofy as rollover-thing. But at least it's correct.

I tacked down the edges of the shade fabric a little more -- although I'm keeping some C-clamps in place until I get a better idea of how the wind is going to interact with it.

cover05x.jpg


cover03.jpg


cover06.jpg
 

mailpete

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
103
Location
minnesota
Fabulous work as usual Jack. Your style and vision are remarkable. and to get to witness it even here is a blast, so thanks.

One thing I noted with the canopy, you lose the beautiful sky view. It's striking if you look at the open ends. What would be the effect of opening every other panel? The sections that are like the one over the double doors. You would still have majority coverage overhead in case of light rain, as well as the best of the natural scenery around you.
 

Zeke

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
17,176
Location
Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
That was a little scary, since I had to stand on the very top of the tallest step ladder. But I was able to hold onto the frame itself. I used my little HF inverter stick welder ($89!) and it worked great. It's only about four pounds and it's the size of a lunch box.
Can't vouch for the HF inverter, but I have a Thermal Arc inverter SMAW/GTAW and it works super. I'd have to agree with you that having a light weight compact unit is really handy.

The whole patio is looking great! I think I see a new feature coming. You could very easily get that project into Sunset Magazine.
 

scab

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 20, 2012
Messages
462
It looks like you should be hosting a prom or cotillion in your backyard.

However, it looks really cool, Jack. Plus, points for not doing the same old thing.
 

rharman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
8,821
Location
SoCal
<snip>
I tacked down the edges of the shade fabric a little more -- although I'm keeping some C-clamps in place until I get a better idea of how the wind is going to interact with it.
</snip>

You may need to consider a couple of strategically placed vents along the ridge. I'd guess that big cover could generate a lot of lift.
 

Dan in Pasadena

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
13,139
Location
Pasadena, CA
... But I'm only an occasional seamstress (seamster?).

Tailor.

It all looks great, Jack. I like the orange cushion color and you're very right to assume they will likely catch the worst of the children's young years. Oh well, they're only young once.

Knowing the Olsen mind....what is the "next big thing" you've got in mind? There's gotta be something!:lol: Enquiring minds (not to mention nosy ones) want to know.
 

oldldh

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2012
Messages
3,700
Location
Fairhope, AL
He's going to put a second story on the garage...

To keep his neighbors happy, he's going to lower the existing garage 5 feet, and then put the upper story in place...

Should have it done in a long weekend...say, Memorial Day is next month!!!
 
OP
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
No plans. I promise. I've promised the neighbors. I just want to get the garage back cleaned up, get all the construction stuff out of the driveway, give the car a wash and maybe take it for a drive.

Thanks for the nice words about the deck and pergola.

This weekend I hope to finally oil the wood, move in the furniture, and start to work out the best way to permanently secure the shade fabric.

And get some rest. :)
 

Chuck S.

Active member
Joined
Oct 18, 2009
Messages
43
Location
Plano, TX
jack,
I've been following this one for years. What a great project!!:thumbup::thumbup:

Just starting my own garage "upgrade" after being in this house for years..

Thx for the ideas!!
 

firecracker

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
415
Location
Lancs UK
"Wonderful" JackO, as usual, you seam to have a lot more time than most:wtf: wtf are we all doing with our time:confused: we could do with some of those motivation pills.:headscrat
 

firecracker

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
415
Location
Lancs UK
JackO now that you have used your refitted garage, is there anything you wish you had in another place than you have it now, its just that im refitting mine:headscrat and :( :wtf: :confused: :beer: by the way do you have before pics, I mean well before you started, like when you bought the property.:bounce:
 

Chucktown

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Messages
94
Location
Lowcountry, SC
He's going to put a second story on the garage...

To keep his neighbors happy, he's going to lower the existing garage 5 feet, and then put the upper story in place...

Should have it done in a long weekend...say, Memorial Day is next month!!!

Just in time to host the Catalina wine mixer!
 

tornadocaster

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 25, 2012
Messages
278
Location
Edmonton, AB. Canada
I'll never claim to be a neat worker. This was the center bench early on in the process. It's only gotten worse.

messl.jpg


Do you know how good this picture makes me feel? No matter how clean and neat I try to be, I end up with the same mess with every project.
It's good to see this happens to the best of them...
I have to agree though that the payback for being organized is being able to clean up quickly.

Thank you for all the inspiration. Great work!
Cheers
Gio
 
OP
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
Thanks, guys.

On the question of what would I lay out differently with the garage, it's hard to say. Nothing jumps out at me. There are limitations that come with the small size of the place -- I couldn't easily cut or bend the 20' lengths of steel inside it -- but I don't see a different way to arrange benches to change that. For now, I'll say I don't have any regrets.

Gio, I'm glad that picture helps. The place is MUCH messier now. People look at the cleaned up pictures and assume I'm not a messy worker and not a pack rat. They're wrong. I don't have 'before' pictures of the garage, but it's worse than you imagine.

As an example, I'll post a 'before' picture of the back yard. It used to be a serviceable postage stamp of grass. But then it became a staging/paint/junk-storage area for the garage. For years. To the point where the grass turned to weeds and the junk just stacked up.

beforeq.jpg


Here's the same area this morning -- with the Penofin oil treatment I did on the wood. It's almost ready for furniture.

penoofin.jpg
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
A very big dumpster.

And as any pack rat will understand, I've already kicked myself a dozen times for things I threw away that I could have used in the course of building the deck and pergola.
 

Dan in Pasadena

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
13,139
Location
Pasadena, CA
Dumpster? Don't I see a serviceable 60 or 80 gallon vertical compressor and some kind of big grinder in there?

...and of course the next question is, Where does future,..um..er "treasure" storage go now that the garage AND backyard are so pristine?
 

Zengineer

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2010
Messages
781
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Looks really good Jack, I'm sure the SO approves. Can't imagine living in a hot climate like you are and not having the outdoor space for your kids to roam. I live in a moderate climate, and the outdoor space we have is used extensively in the warmer weather.

I'm sure your family will get decades of use, and create a lot of memories in that space!
 
OP
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
Thanks, Zengineer. We've got a front yard with a swing set and a slide. But it's small. We're lucky to have a pretty large park a block away. The kids are there almost every day.

Dumpster? Don't I see a serviceable 60 or 80 gallon vertical compressor and some kind of big grinder in there?

...and of course the next question is, Where does future,..um..er "treasure" storage go now that the garage AND backyard are so pristine?

The compressor is still with me. It's been waiting to get installed in the crawlspace for about a year, now. Problem is, my old compressor is still limping along. So it hasn't become an urgent issue yet.

But your other question is a good one, Dan -- at least to me. I think that it's important to have a place to spray paint (and hold junk) while you're working on just about any big project. And I've just about run out of that kind of space now on my little 1/8 acre of land. My wife spotted the side of the house (that is obscured by bushes and is only a couple of feet from the property line) and saw where some of the, uh, "treasure" gets put. But there isn't room for much more than steel and wood stock back there.

Outside of that, I guess I'm going to have to get good with a drop cloth in the driveway from now on. My Sanford & Son tendencies are going to have to be kept in check.
 

Dan in Pasadena

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
13,139
Location
Pasadena, CA
It's surprising how much you can store in a very small space if it's not stuff you access frequently. I've got a little strip maybe 3 ft (at most) by 12 ft. I have a truck bench seat frame, a '55 chevy truck door, a bunch of little-used garden handle tools, a bunch of PVC pipe - I've always MEANT to make a break own-able) spray booth with it, and maybe 5-6 plastic bags of recyclables at any give time plus more stuff hanging on nails on the walls! I don't know if you have a little strip like this but if so, perhaps you can enclose it in some attractive looking way and use that(?)

EDIT: I just had a thought (that's always dangerous). Since you have a relatively flat roof and a little parapet wall around it, could you store a few things up there on dunnage that would be undamaged by sunlight or rain? Perhaps make an access hatch through the garage in some way, or just go up via a ladder on the outside IF you have space to store the ladder (under the deck?)
 
Last edited:

Zeke

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
17,176
Location
Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Penofin. Excellent choice. The only thing I think will be a challenge on that beautiful project is anything smaller than the cracks may very well become posterity on your 1/8th acre of property.

Dan, that's an interesting thought about roof storage. I don't know of anything in the code that would not allow a certain amount of enclosed storage on the roof. As long as the height limit is not exceeded something like the blinds they put around roof top HVAC and similar equipment is quite within the code.

I know roof load on an old flat roof is a big consideration. Near the walls will take some weight, not so much the center. Even with the center post. Proper drainage has to be thought about.

Still, an intriguing idea.
 

bknudtsen

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2009
Messages
103
Location
Issaquah, WA
Stunning transformation, Jack! Well done! I feel like I'm looking at a feature in Sunset magazine. Make sure to kick back and enjoy that space this summer.
 

Dan in Pasadena

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
13,139
Location
Pasadena, CA
OP
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
Roof storage is a possibility. Although after this pergola, I'd hate to block any more of my neighbor's sunlight.

I hadn't thought about cooling the thing -- I've been building it in the winter. So naturally, today I started putting in the fireplace.

furniture03.jpg


(The furniture in the picture did not make the cut with my wife and will be going back.)
 

oldldh

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2012
Messages
3,700
Location
Fairhope, AL
Quote from my wife, "That's the WRONG color, WRONG shape, WRONG kind, I wouldn't be caught DEAD sitting on that!!!"...

Or words to that effect...

Now she chooses, and I hide in the garage...
 

kered

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
202
Location
Ireland
I sat down with a pot of coffee yesterday & spent much of Sunday afternoon reading back through pretty much this entire thread again.

I have to say Jack, what you have done with that garage of yours, the car & around the house is nothing short of amazing. You're a true inspiration to those of us, who look at what we have & wonder, what the heck can we do with this. Your attention to detail is second to none & you've pulled the whole thing together to create a really practical workspace, while keeping the cost down.

Reading what you've written here, your postings on some other sites & your own websites, turned out to be a very pleasant way to spend what was really a pretty miserable, wet, windy, Sunday afternoon here in Ireland. I thoroughly enjoyed catching up again with the continuing evolution of the 12 Gauge Garage & getting up to speed with all the goings on in the Olsen household.

Myself & "Mrs Kered" were in L.A. this past February on holiday & as it turns out we passed within a couple of blocks of the 12 Gauge Garage a number of times during our visit & I didn't know it :(

Keep up the good work Jack :beer:
 

ChristopherLutz

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Messages
270
Location
Flower Mound, TX (DFW)
Jack,

It's been a while since I've posted; work has been infringing on my internet time. I just thought I'd pile onto the comments and flattery for the project. It's quite a stunning result. You're efforts and "from scratch" approach are an inspiration.

Thank you for taking the time to document, share your experience and help us all learn along the way. Thanks too - for sharing the pics of the space before.....it did wonders for my self esteem :)
 

1Garageman

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2009
Messages
4,417
Location
Columbus, Ohio
That is so amazing awesome looking! It looks like you are on vacation somewhere in your backyard. Like a weekend getaway, but you only have to go to your backyard.
Flat out out amazing!!!:rocker:


Roof storage is a possibility. Although after this pergola, I'd hate to block any more of my neighbor's sunlight.

I hadn't thought about cooling the thing -- I've been building it in the winter. So naturally, today I started putting in the fireplace.

furniture03.jpg


(The furniture in the picture did not make the cut with my wife and will be going back.)
 

Dan in Pasadena

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
13,139
Location
Pasadena, CA
Jack, I LIKE that furniture...but what do I know?! Say, "Yes DEAR" and swap it out for whatever she wants. She's supportive (or at least tolerant) of your garage & all your tool purchases.

As for the roof storage, I did NOT mean anything that would stand up higher than the parapet. I was thinking of laying stuff down on a 1x or 2x,possibly with a UV resistant cover if necessary. Lightweight things like an aluminum ladder, Igloo coolers (weighted down). Just smaller stuff.
 

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
Roof storage is a possibility. Although after this pergola, I'd hate to block any more of my neighbor's sunlight.

I hadn't thought about cooling the thing -- I've been building it in the winter. So naturally, today I started putting in the fireplace.

furniture03.jpg


(The furniture in the picture did not make the cut with my wife and will be going back.)


I like the furniture myself. It just makes the deck really pop. I would imagine if that were a designing show and they had to pick out furniture, what you have wouldn't be too far off of what the experts would pick. Is the fireplace electric, gas, or a real woodburner?
 
OP
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
I sat down with a pot of coffee yesterday & spent much of Sunday afternoon reading back through pretty much this entire thread again.

I have to say Jack, what you have done with that garage of yours, the car & around the house is nothing short of amazing. You're a true inspiration to those of us, who look at what we have & wonder, what the heck can we do with this. Your attention to detail is second to none & you've pulled the whole thing together to create a really practical workspace, while keeping the cost down.

Reading what you've written here, your postings on some other sites & your own websites, turned out to be a very pleasant way to spend what was really a pretty miserable, wet, windy, Sunday afternoon here in Ireland. I thoroughly enjoyed catching up again with the continuing evolution of the 12 Gauge Garage & getting up to speed with all the goings on in the Olsen household.

Myself & "Mrs Kered" were in L.A. this past February on holiday & as it turns out we passed within a couple of blocks of the 12 Gauge Garage a number of times during our visit & I didn't know it :(

Keep up the good work Jack :beer:

Thanks, Kered! My wife and I went from Cork to Dublin a few years back -- maybe we passed close to the Kereds? Even in Los Angeles, we're regulars at our local Irish pub, Tom Bergin's.

Jack,

It's been a while since I've posted; work has been infringing on my internet time. I just thought I'd pile onto the comments and flattery for the project. It's quite a stunning result. You're efforts and "from scratch" approach are an inspiration.

Thank you for taking the time to document, share your experience and help us all learn along the way. Thanks too - for sharing the pics of the space before.....it did wonders for my self esteem :)
Thanks! I won't lie about it. I'm a messy pack rat by nature -- just making it with a clean garage one day at a time (and occasionally falling off the wagon).

That is so amazing awesome looking! It looks like you are on vacation somewhere in your backyard. Like a weekend getaway, but you only have to go to your backyard.
Flat out out amazing!!!:rocker:
Thanks!

Jack, I LIKE that furniture...but what do I know?! Say, "Yes DEAR" and swap it out for whatever she wants. She's supportive (or at least tolerant) of your garage & all your tool purchases.

As for the roof storage, I did NOT mean anything that would stand up higher than the parapet. I was thinking of laying stuff down on a 1x or 2x,possibly with a UV resistant cover if necessary. Lightweight things like an aluminum ladder, Igloo coolers (weighted down). Just smaller stuff.
I agree about the matrimonial harmony part. Plus, she's better at that sort of thing than I am.

And those cushions weren't comfortable when I spent a little time on them. Who'd have thought there'd be such a thing as good and bad cushions?

I like the furniture myself. It just makes the deck really pop. I would imagine if that were a designing show and they had to pick out furniture, what you have wouldn't be too far off of what the experts would pick. Is the fireplace electric, gas, or a real woodburner?
The new ones will be a similar color. I'm not a fan of orange, usually. But then, it looks good on this deck. I'm not usually a fan of green either -- now my garage has forever linked me to it.

The fireplace has a gas line running to it, and I got one of those vented log sets for it. I don't think I'd haul wood out to it more than a couple of times, otherwise. I'm too lazy for that.
 

kered

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
202
Location
Ireland
Thanks, Kered! My wife and I went from Cork to Dublin a few years back -- maybe we passed close to the Kereds?

You would have been pretty darn close :thumbup: We're roughly half way between Cork & Dublin, near Kilkenny city.

Also, "Mrs Kered" is originally from Cork so you were in her home town !
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom