The cuckoo's nest

[ct71rr]

Your zoning is unreasonable. They are supposed to protect your neighbor. If he doesn't have a problem, who the hell are they protecting?

Zoning free small town VT!

Tell me about it!! I thought for sure they were going to make me remove the entire foundation. I'm just glad that I can now proceed. Nothing's ever easy, I guess

Funny side note, they made their decision back in January and I received their notice of findings yesterday in the mail, almost four months later...now that's service!

 

[ct71rr]

The form is pretty much done. I just have to add some bracing. I hope to have it approved and poured this week.

 

[maxwedge]

I've seen some really nit picky things from the city over the years but that's right up there.

 

[ConCretin]

Your zoning is unreasonable. They are supposed to protect your neighbor. If he doesn't have a problem, who the hell are they protecting?

Zoning free small town VT!

It's a religion up here in the Northeast - they don't even remember why. They just don't like people building stuff.

 

[littletoes]

Way to keep a "stiff upper lip". Guess theres just no choice, if you want anything built, and the sad part, there is no way to get the money back that was lost due to their slow proceedings.

Like Willysfan said above, "They just don't like people to building stuff....", what a crock.

Good luck, thanks for sharing with the pics!

 

[ct71rr]

Well, I finally got the form poured Friday and stripped Saturday A.M. I now have to get it inspected before I can backfill and start framing I also have to get the backhoe over here to pull out the "wrong" corner of the foundation...

 

[theoldwizard1]

After you are done building, you might want to think about lawsuit against the foundation inspector who did the original approval. You should be able to recover the costs of tear out the wrong footings and put in the new ones.

Then again, you probably PO the local officials who can have LONg memories !

 

[rsa]

They are supposed to protect your neighbor. If he doesn't have a problem, who the hell are they protecting?

I assume they're "protecting" potential future neighbors.

 

[ct71rr]

Progress has been slow but, it's starting to move forward now. The corner section of the foundation has been removed. It took four hours with the backhoe, concrete saw and jackhammer to get it out. Anyway, the big walls are up but, not squared and plumbed yet. I have to reframe one of the window openings. It started to rain yesterday and we (stepdad and me) were rushing...and framed the window too high...oops. Easy fix though.

 

[trust]

Its going to be an awesome build but I got to say, that kind of zoning enforcement would have me over the edge, it's nuts if the neighbors dont object and future neighbors see what they have to live next to before they buy. I'd have left the old footing as long as possible as a monument to bureaucracy...

Another reason why, warts and all, New mexico is a decent place to live (at least northern NM not in Santa Fe)

Good luck, I am intrigued by how you plan to lay out the interior with the unconventional geometry

 

[grim]

Awesome project buddy. I like the building a lot. I think that corner could really make the garage; quirks are always a gift in disguise. I have to be honest though, I'm real sad to see those big lean-to windows go... What made you decide to get rid of them?

 

[fergus]

Neat build dude. Serious douchebaggery on the part of zoning...they saved what...about 20 sqft? Idiocy. The inspector and everyone else should have been blamed. But whatever, you gotta make nice with the republik.

Anyway, I'll be keeping my eyes on this one. Go for it!

 

[ct71rr]

Awesome project buddy...I'm real sad to see those big lean-to windows go... What made you decide to get rid of them?

My plan is to have shelves on that wall so, I wanted to limit the space taken up by windows.

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. A heat wave is on course to hit us the end of this week. I dont know how much will get done...

 

[Coyote Red]

The name is a bit prescient, huh?

 

[ct71rr]

I have made some progress but, it is slow going. Got the walls plumb and square and most of the sheathing up. I also added a window on the right side (angled wall) and fixed the other window opening. I still need to cut out the openings for the windows on the rear. I have started re-framing the left wall which is currently 2x4 studs 18" on center. The two steel beems are being ordered today and should be here in a few days. These will run front to back, spaced between the existing doors and the existing right wall.

The name is a bit prescient, huh?

Yes, it is...unfortunately

 

[Falcon67]

Great work so far. I get the slow going. Sorry to read about your issues with the ZBA. Even here in no zone land I got a little at my meeting. But I did get past it.

 

[sneezer41]

I hate to defend a zoning board, but, there are issues beyond the board 'caring' if the garage is conforming or not. If they say, 'hey no prob, yah screwed up, it happens' at that point they have altered zoning in that entire town, and will have to allow anyone who asks to do exactly the same thing, or risk a lawsuit if they deny someone. We have zoning because 'we' want it that way. It bugs me too, but I don't want a house 20 feet from mine, so I put up with it.

I will probably end up with a similar shaped garage as I want to connect mine to the house, and the setback are larger for that.

I am glad it was 'relatively' minor. Now you know why they make you do 'as built' for the foundation, only started about 10 years ago around here. Beats tearing up a whole garage.

 

[Suprman]

so are you just adding onto the old building, or are you going to tear that down and rebuild so everything is new? whats the plan?

 

[ct71rr]

so are you just adding onto the old building, or are you going to tear that down and rebuild so everything is new? whats the plan?

My plan was to keep the existing left and front walls and add onto the back, the front and to the right. I was taking a closer look at the left and front walls this past week and noticed that the sill was completely rotted on the left wall and it was framed 18" on center. Also, I'm using 2X6's on the added walls so, I was planning on sistering them to the existing 2X4's...oh well. I tore the left wall down last week and reframed it (pictures soon). Now, I'm going to have to reframe the front wall and repour the footings/foundation, as well. It's about 1" to 1 1/2" out of plumb and there's nothing holding it to the foundation...super! Also, the footings/foundation under the front wall (between the garage openings) are not deep/large enough to support the beams I am using. I will be tearing off the roof this week in prep for the two steel beams. If I remember correctly, the beams are 18"X31'...huge!!

 

[Red Leader]

A lot of great DIY-ness going on in this thread.

Kudos to you for keeping a positive attitude despite the red tape and setbacks.

My money's on this build turning out to be incredible. Keep it up!

 

[ct71rr]

As promised, here are some more pics of my progress:

Left side wall removed, temp wall up and new wall waiting to be lifted into place.

Rotted sill plates

The start of the roof demo.

The roof demoed. My wife helped me yesterday with the roof. It was hot and humid...not fun!! Next plan of attack is to remove the front wall and replace the foundation/footings that will be under the beams. Then, reframe with 2X6's.

 

[ct71rr]

Progress has been slow but, ongoing. I removed the doors and much of the front wall. I discovered that the footings under the walls located between the garage doors were not done correctly so, I had to replace them. Since these footings will be directly between the new doors (three of them) and under the two steel beams, they have to be bomb proof. I demoed the existing footings and dug to the ledge. My entire garage sits on top of a mammoth piece of it. I drilled approximately 10" into it and installed 1/2" rebar to pin the new footing to the ledge. The forms I made consist of a "Big Foot" plastic footing which is 24"X24"X16". I connected a 12" sono tube to this and then to the actual form for the stub walls that the framing sits on. I used 5000 PSI quikrete (11 bags). These new stub walls will be buried approximately half way up in the new apron when it is poured.

And the beams have been delivered. They are W16's, 31' long and weigh approximately 950lbs. each

 

[ct71rr]

Well, it's been a while since I posted progress. September was a busy month for me so, not much was done on the garage. October, on the other hand, is a totally different story...

Sorry for the few crapy cell phone pics thrown in there. My camera pooped the bed.

 

[Coyote Red]

Whoa! That looks a little larger than what you started with.

Congrats on the progress. Looks great.

 

[OhioSiouxFan]

How are you dealing with the corner cutoff and the roof?

 

[tinbender 66]

Like usual I jump in on the last page, get interested and read it backwards. Quite the ordeal you've had there! From your latest post it looks to be well worth the effort. Good goin'

 

[AutoXRacer]

Would it have been cheaper to just demo everything and start from scratch? Just wondering...

Subscribing!!

 

[robarosa]

Nice construction you got going on there. First time I've seen this thread. I think they are just jealous of your Road Runner.

 

[TrooperJoe73]

Amazing! (I'm talking about your outlook on the zoning issues.)

Great looking garage, I look forward to seeing the completed project. I'd turn that corner into a bar!

 

[ct71rr]

How are you dealing with the corner cutoff and the roof?

The stairs are going to go into the corner. Some creative framing has to be done to make it look right though.

Would it have been cheaper to just demo everything and start from scratch? Just wondering...

Not much cheaper. I was planning on saving some of the original structure but, found it to be rotted.
Subscribing!!

Thanks for the kind words everyone It is a little bigger than I imagined. I guess a garage can never be too big

Here is a better pic of the front taken with my new camera.

And of the second floor.

 

[ct71rr]

More progress made, despite the Noreaster we had on Saturday...The roof sheathing has been completed.

The left side:

The left side 2:

It wasn't easy tying in the roof and wall with that angle...

 

[ct71rr]

Hello all and Happy New Year! It's been a while since I have posted, progress has been slow but, fairly steady. The posts (3"X3" square tubes) have been installed under the beams. They were originally spec'ed to be 6" lally's but, no one around here has them. I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather we have been having in New England and started shingling the roof. The top is done, just have to add the ridge vent. I started the left side today. The windows (except for one) are in and so is the side door. Also, the garage door openings have been framed in and finished.

 

[ct71rr]

Just a small update. I finished the roof last weekend and the garage doors are on (I will post pic later). The cedar shingles for the front siding arrived this week and I am waiting to hear on the siding (board and batten) for the sides and back. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can get the siding done in the next few weeks without freezing my nads off. We've had a real mild winter here in New England so far...fingers crossed!

 

[psychobillycadillac]

Wow. Like tinbender said I hopped in on the last page and got interested and went back to the begining. Thats quite the transformation you've got there. After the comments on my thread I can see the hell you've gone through with your inspectors. Cutting off the corner of the garage....that's a bit excessive. Thats alot of space you've got there now. Nice job.

 

[ct71rr]

I'm almost done with the siding on the front. All that is left is to finish up the trim. I would have finished it up yesterday but, my table saw bit my finger. I took the corner off my left index finger to include some of the bone. The surgeon at the ER (lucky for me a hand surgeon happened to be there) took some more of the bone off and grafted some skin from my palm to close it up. Yes, I'm an idiot

 

[readytobuild]

very nice build! where are you located in MA?

 

[novaboy009]

That garage looks bigger than my house!!!! Awessssommeeee.

In South Carolina, I'm pretty sure my neighbors wouldn't have bothered talking to a zoning board about a building like that. SC is as "live and let live" as any place I've ever seen, including Texas.

Up north, as an added bonus, the local government will slap you with a real estate tax reassessment when you're done!

 

[robarosa]

Holy cow, is that the same place? Well done.

 

[ct71rr]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I am definitely going to take it in the rear when the town reassess my property...Thank you Taxachusetts overlords!!!

I live in the Burbs, right near Framingham.

Got a call yesterday, the rest of my siding is in and should be delivered Wednesday. Hopefully I can start working on it again soon.

 

[readytobuild]

Got to love MA. I am planning a build for the spring