The RV Garage

[FTWingRiders]

Hello all,
I'd like to say Hello to everyone, and as a lot of guys, I've been a long time lurker here, drooling over all the awesome garages. I've got an attached 2 car with a walk up attic for storage on the house my DW and I bought a year and a half ago. Between her car, and my toys though, its pretty stuffed..
My wife works from home, and has been trying to make due with half of our finished basement, but it really isn't enough space for her. So pushing our schedule up a few years we're now drawing up plans to build a great room over the garage which would give her the whole downstairs. The problem, we loose any cold storage for our stuff, and who doesn't have stuff... The solution? You guessed it, and new garage for me and my toys!!! YAY!!
We just bought a new 5th wheel toy hauler,(Love it), and want to give it a nice home too, hence THE RV GARAGE is coming too! Now I'm not a serious tear-a-car down guy, just a tinkerer with my motorcycle and woodworker. Both my boys are in school for cabinet making, my oldest just graduated, and a nice wood shop would be a great space for us to hang out and have fun.
I'm meeting a local builder monday for initial site and plans. I've found some I like, and am trying to put thought on paper.



Now my idea is first, to flip it so it faces the right way, and add 3 overhead doors to the front of it with that side against my driveway, with a second fork going to the side door for the RV.



My first of many questions.. what to put the stairs for the loft with out sacrificing too much room. Not sure if that possible. Second where to close off to make a wood shop. Should I just close the whole front from back, leaving the 3 bays multi use as required? Maybe just one bay.. Leaving an overhead door for running long stock out. I could go with just 2 doors, but afraid it won't look right not centered on the front. I am hoping the budget will allow a bit bigger.. 44X44 maybe, if that won't make it look too square.

Thanks for letting me share, and any help is always appreciated!!
Forrest

 

[FTWingRiders]

well.. here we are 15 months later, and I'm finally in the home stretch.. we started here.



A blank slate.. After finally nailing down a design, the builder was ready to go. Now I'll take a minute and admit right here and now, I paid to have this built. Nothing I'm ashamed of, just more dollars than time right now. I wish I had both, don't we all, and would have loved to have tackled this myself..however.. This will be my sanctuary when I retire, and I'll have all the time in the world to putter and build and get my hands dirty in whatever fashion I want. I'm more of a tinkerer. Jack of all trades, master of none..lol.. Wanting a structure to cover the new 5th wheel toy hauler, I was looking into a metal carport. Not a real thing of beauty, but functional enough to keep New England snow and sun off. My wife, bless her, agreeing that such a thing would be "**** Ugly", said "I think you can do better then that".

Hence the past year has been a flurry of construction, because since I'm getting a Man Cave, she needed an addition to the house so her home office could have the entire lower room for her files. "Sure"' I said, "Why not?". So architects did their thing, cool.. a great room over the garage would work nicely.. "Wait.. what was that hon'.. you need a bigger closet too?".. Hmm... "OK.. why not?" I answer like any smart man would.. sigh.. Bids, and builders get involved, however now I've got 2 of each.. Uh-oh. Looks like 2 projects now in the works..Ok, I got this. "Um, wetlands?.. Kind of close I guess".. ****. Now I grew up on a working farm where my Father would have shot any local official telling him what he could do on HIS land.. but this is 2013.. gotta play nice... So 4 months of surveyors, conservation commission meetings and whatnots.. (and quite a few of those dollars) We get the green light!

Of course now we're in late November breaking ground.. Ironically both projects break on the same day! Heavy equipment fill the driveway, but everyone is working together to not step on each others toes. Now since this is "The Garage Journal" site, I'll just concentrate of the Man Cave with pictures and such, however because I somehow ended up with a Man Cave and a Man Town with the great room, I might throw a few pics of that too just 'cause I know you fine gentlemen will appreciate it.

So the Excavator shows and does his job..

 

[FTWingRiders]

Racing to beat a winter fast approaching, we get the footing down..



And foundation Poured.. now because of size and intended use, a full foundation is decided upon. Glad I did.







We literally backfill the day before a front comes thru that heralded in a cold snap and snow that didn't seam to end until May..



porch footing put down:



And first load of Beams show up!! Yup, going with a Timber frame Barn, 44'x44'.

 

[FTWingRiders]

So the crew of two are introduced.. Damon and Gerry, two of the finest craftsman a guy could ask for, to put this erector set of a building up. I'm psyched!! Now I'll give those two further accolades.. this past winter sucked for working outside. I know, because I do too, but these guys just kept on trucking. Quickly, beautiful beams of wood started to rise up out of the ground..











Damn.. I miss the old saw mill my Dad had on the farm, I need to get another someday.. this stuff sure was pretty..

 

[FTWingRiders]

It was a cold January, but finally got to see the 36' LVL's put over the 3 bay front, eventually there will be one bay separate from the 24'24' double bay. For now the floor for the upstairs is down..





As you'll see, it's essentially 2 barns in one. The back barn 20'x44' is for the Camper. 16' to rafter, 14'x14' door, plenty of clearance.



A few weeks, and rafters over the 3 bay, gives it some definition..



LOVE the custom brackets!





By now the ground is frozen solid with ice and sawdust.. it will take weeks in the spring to melt.. sigh



Rafters and plywood.. feels like it almost done!...haha, not even close.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Finally got the porch showing... now I know.. what a waste of space for the inside. But guys.. this was my secret weapon on my wife.. she thought it was going to be too big, but she really missed the porch on our old house. From fall to the new year, she decorates for the seasons like no one business!!
So I say.."How would you like a nice covered porch facing as you come up the driveway to put your decorations on?" "why yes.. she responds with a dreamy look on her face.. that would be nice".. Sold!!! LOL!!!!





The first layer of shiplap 1x10s start to find there way on. In one of these, you see the great room going over the garage at the house..took those guy weeks to just frame and plywood..



Followed by the Typar.. nice stuff..





Beauty might be in the eye of the beholder.. but c'mon.. this just rocks my world!





The second layer is pre stained with one coat. Some color for a white winter!

 

[FTWingRiders]

By now we're into April, and doors and window arrive, however the ground is a rock, and concrete must wait, and days go by.. grrr..







A quick shout to the door builders, all hand built, heavy, and just what I wanted!! Trim goes on, and a pic of Damon and Gerry doing their thing..





We finally get some warm weather, and the electricians are able to start their work. I put in a separate 200 amp service. One pole across the drive, then underground. I just didn't want wires hanging from it, and under was the only way to get them there.. worth it!!





It seamed a long time coming..(actually, it was), but the floor was finally poured. Rebared and insulated..Thank God...







I'll finish some more tomorrow.. Any Q's.. just ask.

 

[sean Buick 76]

I really like the project, and nothing wrong with getting a team of pros to build it!

Nice job on selling the "porch" idea to the better half!!! Very good!

I will subscribe to this thread so i can see all the updates!!

 

[Boosted1]

Looks great. Any plans for heat?

 

[Horror Business]

Beautiful building. Post more pics.

 

[Viper98912]

Incredible detail. Great writeup, must have taken you a while to writeup. I love this thread, keep it coming please.

 

[scab]

Congratulations, that place looks killer!

 

[3PedalMINI]

Spectacular! love the look of the post and beam construction!

More Pics!!!!!

 

[Rlastr]

Did you find those plans from Penny pincher barns (aka Uncle Howard's )? I built the same design using the 52'x56' dimension. I love the post and been look and black hardware. How is the RV door constructed and hung? I'm having problems with the 14'x14' opening.

Love your barn.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Thank you for all the great comments!! It's been awesome watching it all come together, while at the same time frustrating waiting for weather.. contractors.. etc to fall into place. A couple of contractors needed a real ! We had an 60'x80' post and beam barn on the farm growing up, just a thing of beauty, (tho it wasn't really to the average Joe driving by..I'm just a sucker for old barns!) those old beams you couldn't even drive a nail into.. Sigh...LOL

I feel damn fortunate to be able to build something that will last for generations.

There's definatly heat going in.. ended up upgrading from the Modines I originally planned..hehe..

I went back and forth about that 14' door, ended up with something custom which I think is perfect.. I'll reveal that laster tho.. gotta build the suspense and keep you all LOL!! Trust me.. reading here every night it's been killing me not to write this earlier, but wanted to wait until we're in the home stretch so I could lay it all out for you.

I'll be starting more pictures this evening, then we can all .

 

[KTB]

Great project! The craftsmanship is timeless.

 

[el Pedro]

Beautiful looking building! Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Well, it was a momentous moment.. Finally able to step onto a real floor!! Of course I walked like it was a thin piece of glass.. LOL.. (If you held a hot iron to my gentiles, I'd probably have to admit I giggled).. but thats just between us men now.. right? It just seamed like Now we're getting somewhere!! Boy, was I in for a wake up call.. but it was progress, and I was a'happy happy happy...





First thing was getting some stairs up to access that upstairs..



You'll notice the low headroom at the top, that was corrected, just before they did I do what I do best... Almost knocked myself out too.. Jeez, I'm an idiot sometimes..





This was going to be a useful space for all those boxes of stuff that you just can't seem to part with.. we all got them, don't need them, no use for them.. get rid of them?!!? What you crazy??

Now.. not naming names, but the owner of the business that built this beauty, he's a gentleman, but I've no interest doing business again with him. He would pul my guys off my site to start another project, (or put out fires since my two seemed like the only ones on his payroll that knew what the F they where doing), for WEEKS at a time. I had to show up at his door a few times to get this ball rolling again.. Long story I won't get into, but after my contract with him ended, my two guys came to work for my builder on my house project, and we couldn't be happier about that.

anyway.. Good to see walls going up..

 

[FTWingRiders]

And more walls... Notice it didn't take me long to start putting things into my barn..lol





Here is my single bay, going to be a motorcycle/atv shop with a lift. My main bench will be along the back wall.



This was a time that I screwed up trying to push things along by having too many contractors here at the same time. My house project ended up causing me to have to expand my leach field. Too many rooms for the septic, so my house guy and his mini excavator digging for that and to dig a trench to the 2 100# propane tanks I had put behind the barn for the whole house generator and for a gas stove (hate electric range), plus water down to the barn, plus to heat the barn.. meanwhile I get the nice gentleman that did the barn excavating to come back and finally do final grading.. oops.. too many pots on that fire.. (sorry again Rich)..



Heres another confession.. I didn't plan as well as I should for how I really wanted it finished. I knew I'd like heat, didn't plan for it. Knew that if I did that, should insulate, didn't plan for it. So.. before they did the first layer of shiplap around the three bay, I switched with the builder to put OSB as the first layer, and saved the 1x's to finish the interior with. Also last minute before the floor went down, realized I wanted it insulated too. Luckily the sub for the floor was great, and was accommodating to an uneducated dufus when it came to that stuff..lol.. I guess the problem, ( if it was one), was that I thought my wife and I had a budget we wanted to stick too.. we are now so far over on everything I can just hope that when the day comes we sell, we might make most of it back.. but this is our home and there is no value to having it as we want to enjoy now and until we're gone. We didn't want to always be working on it, and never get there.

So here is a start to insulating the ceiling..



Gas and water..





And the Cougar 325srx in it's new home..



Rough electrical starts, and I go crazy with plugs everywhere, and lights.. but now it the time to do it. Realized that with the house.. as they started running wires in the great room, NOW was time, not later, so the electrician spent days, (and miles or wire), getting all we want in. We ended up insulating the house with spray closed cell, so if not now, not ever!



sheet rock for the ceiling.. nice and white plaster to help with the shadows.. I find I'm need more light to see than before.. I'm sure it has nothing to do with getting older..





I don't even know what some of those outlets are for..lol You'll see an I-beam up there too, another last minute addition to have a trolley and chain lift on. Didn't think of it until the LVL's and roof were on. Had to hire a crane and slide the damn thing in from the side.. Again, Damon and Gerry came thru for me. Alway a smile for my hair brained schemes..

Ahh.. just what the doctor ordered..

 

[colt zantop]

damn....awesome build! I love all the detail with black brackets....etc.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Once again, they get pulled off my job. Only a week I'm promised.. Always chasing new money, that guy, how about taking care of the customers you already have. grr...
5 weeks later, another office visit with less than veiled threats, work progresses again. I think I was actually too nice by this time, but my wife finally beat it into my head that more honey, less vinegar might actually get me further in life. who knew?!?

A mahogany deck goes down, and the big door that I was promised for months show up.







Yes, They're a beast..400#or so apiece. Now I knew i wanted roll up for the three bay, but this door is the first thing you see as you come up the drive, and I just knew they wouldn't work. So credit where credit due, they did agree to make these beauties up to my design. They have a fab shop in-house, and they designed the hinges one-off for me. Fully adjustable, and strong.. after they shims were pulled away, they didn't drop a 1/4".. and so smooth to open and close..







The three roll up doors are installed, all insulated Garaga doors with LiftMaster. Not cheap, but solid and so quiet..



Pat the Painter shows up, good friend of mine, and one of the best painters you could ever need. He and his cousin Bull are just awesome. You have to see it in person to really appreciate how good it looks.



This just highlights the door, the main body still is only the 1 coat pre finish.

 

[tadder52]

Awesome build. Love the red and white barn.

 

[FTWingRiders]

THANKS!! I've always believed red and white where the only true colors for a New England barn. Just can't get enough of them. I take a week or two a year vacation on my bike, and just love to explore lost rural America looking for these beauties. Don't care the condition, ( tho breaks my heart to see one that if they only replaced the roof it would still be standing strong), or vintage.. just think they're awesome.

Time for a little HVAC.. Was going with just simple Modines for just the 3 bays down.. propane fired with simple thermostats.. however.. My wife will be using some of the upstairs to store files and whatever for her company, and mentioned that in the summer, she didn't want to be sweating looking for something. Hey.. How is a man to argue with your wife over something as important are her well being..right?! "Well, if you insist Hon, maybe I can come up with something"..





So central heat and a/c, three zoned, the singe bay, double bay, and upstairs.. Wait.. upstairs isn't finished..









Insulation, sheetrock, and plaster takes care of that.. Now I figure half of that space should cover storage.. hate to waste it, so I picture t.v. sofa... you know, a place a guy could just sit back and relax.. you know?





Carpet goes down next week.. The electrician has done some of the lighting.. everything is turned on at the panel, until the interior is finished, then they can come do their thang..







Have 3 more of those to get hanged, including a 27"er over the big doors. Plus the porch is getting lights too, all on timers. There's a LED on a motion detector over the three doors, and a pair of 400watts on the pole on the drive. Can't wait..

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

Congrats on a GREAT build.
I'd kill to have that much space for my radio collection

 

[Munich77]

What a great build. I love the attention to detail. Congratulations!

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Wow... everything about this build is a dream!

 

[AZ Pete]

Great looking shop

 

[FTWingRiders]

The paving Co came last Tuesday, real top notch out fit. Two layers, really tight stuff. Done right, done fast..









Here are a few random as we stand today..The interior shop lights..












the double doors that lead between the 2 halves..



Looking over the big bay from the landing..





As you can see, insulation done.Waiting on shiplap, which will leave the reveal around the big posts inside, as shown in the upstair pic. Don't want to cover those up. The place is really a disaster right now as I wait.Can't put stuff where I want, all over the place, it's driving me crazy.

The ac compressor and tanks.







Looking down from the new master closet at the house..



As I mentioned earlier, Damon and Gerry finished this job for the Company I hired for the barn, then signed on with Peter who is building the addition on the house. Couldn't be happier to have another pair of very competent hands on site. As you probably noticed, we're not afraid to add extras as we go along. The vision for our dream home has really been a work in progress, sometimes to everyones horror..lol. I truly believe Peter has given up on us on just letting him finish without us adding something else..
Hence, since the house, at this time, must be priority, interior work on the barn is a bit of a standstill. I steal them for a day or two as I can, but with October flying by, the outside of the house must come first.

 

[CT2012]

that there is friggin' nirvana.

godspeed!

love it. absolutely love it. that last photo with the changing leaves, barn in background, it just doesn't get any better.

i'm showing this to my wife and telling her this is what we need to do someday.

for insulation, are you sheetrocking over that plastic (which i presume has spray-in something?), or will it be exposed? it's too bad you couldn't just leave the interior wood exposed, that was beautiful stuff (it was opposite side of the red exterior, right?)...but of course it'd be COLD in there without insulation no doubt.

 

[FTWingRiders]

CT2012.. Thanks for the words.. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to let me know its real. I'm just beside myself on how it's all turn out, and I couldn't ask for more. As to the interior, it will be 1x10 shiplap pine, leaving the reveal around the framing beams. It will look like this..



I need to figure out a finish that will really make the beams pop.

 

[Yamaguy]

Wow that is an amazing building!!!

 

[CT2012]

shiplap eventually goes over the plastic-wrapped walls?

how about danish oil on the wood, either straight up or after a nice stain? will create a nice patina with age, is good for the wood too. i just did a bunch of bare wood trim in our house with it.

 

[budmanm3]

Love what you have done with the garage/barn. Perfect amount of space. It's nice to be able to pull the RV in and set it all up to keep it fresh inside and everthing ready for use.

Is there a way to hook up to the sewer to dump the tanks? It would be great to have the option to pull in hook up and do a fresh up/clean on everything once you return, a one stop shop.

Look forward to the future updates.

 

[MacTexas]

What a beautiful garage. You keep mentioning your house project. I wouldn't mind seeing some pictures of the house too.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I really like the "post and beam" style that is obvious on the interior. The metal joining plates are nice ! Are the corner braces mortised and tenoned to the post and beam or nailed ?

 

[billspit]

What an incredible build! I tip my hat to you sir. The cost of the raw wood gives me the shivers.

I'm stingy old SOB and would have a hard time leaving so much un-used open space in the trailer bay.

 

[Sunbimmer]

Looking down from the new master closet at the house..

FANTASTIC place

 

[fastev]

Really spectacular place! I love the post and beam with the exposed bracketry.

I'll second the request for some pics of the addition on your house...

 

[b4z]

Love this! Though I'm unable to see the later pics due to photobucket.

 

[sunsation288]

WOW !!!! speechless , many thanks for sharing so many picture !! , keep them coming please
amazing built !!