Tiny and tall garage paradise

[r_sherrer29]

I have been lurking for awhile and finally decided to make my own account...and start a thread of my garage build and the very slow progress I am making.

To start off, I am a car guy that also likes to build robots. This space will function as storage, fabrication area, car restoration area, machining area, and robot space.

It is a 24' wide and 36' long shop with 15' walls that allow for an 8-9' loft coming off the left side of the shop. The loft is what will make this shop for me...the extra 300 square feet of loft storage will allow me to free up floor space.

Lastly, I have never attempted and/or helped build something like this. Bathroom remodels, hunting blinds, sheds, etc but nothing this large from the ground up.

The Garage:
24x36x15 residential pole kit from Menards
8.5x36 loft that is clear floor/supported above
5" Thick 4500psi floor with 12" Thick lift pads. Wire mesh and fiber added.
4x12 Pitch with 24" on center trusses
17 6x6 treated poles
2x6 girt used
Water, Electrical, Gas, and drainage ran
100amp service from house
Vinyl Siding (undecided in brand still)
7/16" OSB exterior walls
Interior finished with 2x6x14 16" on center between poles

 

[r_sherrer29]

First, the existing 12x20 shed that was removed/sold before I could start on the new garage. This was built with 4x4 at 16" on center...she was a beast to move.

After removal, I had to take out a decent amount of roots/stumps that had been previously cut down flush and left. This would be compacted and then I did a decent grade to start with in a skid.

 

[r_sherrer29]

I enlisted my dad and his buddy to get our lines up, grade shot, and poles up. The 24ft poles were the real killer. Everything within 1/8" besides the bent/warped poles in spots but overall happy with how it went!

The poles were put up in a long 14 hour day and then girts followed through the next week. I decided on 2x6 girts instead of 2x4...extremely happy I made that decision.

 

[r_sherrer29]

After the poles and girts, we moved onto the header/truss combo. I opted to face nail a 2x6 to the truss and then nail between the inside and outside headers. We did the outside header, trusses, then the inside header, and finished with hurricane straps on the outside. Rented a mini sky trak with a Truss jib which ended up being a extremely good idea. The backyard is small and would have been a nightmare to maneuver a large machine. My dad and co-worker from Italy came over for another long Saturday.

Mattia, my co-worker from Italy, Left. Myself on the right.

 

[Jacko264]

Very nice keep up the good work
Graham

 

[r_sherrer29]

With a lot of framing done, I needed to run electrical, gas, water, and drainage before I could do final grade for cement and call the guys to come pour. The yard is a low point around the block so I opted to bring in 25 yards of material to fill and prep for concrete. The floor is about 5" thick and then I have two lift pads that are 3 feet wide and 5 feet long with a depth of 12". This allows me to have a couple feet of freedom when I put my lift in this winter. I opted for 4500psi mix with no additive, 10ga mesh, and fiber. There is also a 24'x10' sitting area out front and another 10'x20' drive piece attached to that. Next spring when I have a little more cash, I will finish of the last few feet of gravel and redo 30ft of cracked cement. It wasn't in the cards to spend another 3k on cement at the moment.

To prep for cement, I ran drainage around the entire structure that connected to my existing drain system, 175' trench for my gas line (heater), a sleeved water line run(3/4") and three other conduit runs(100amp electrical service, ethernet lines for server, coax lines for TV). This took a ton of time it seemed like; a few nights after work during the week and a full Saturday/Sunday. That's enough explaining, here are some pictures...

 

[captain14]

Very nice start to the garage.

What’s going to happen or live inside?

 

[r_sherrer29]

Double post withdrawn.

 

[r_sherrer29]

Very nice start to the garage.

What’s going to happen or live inside?

Thanks! It will serve as a place to restore square body trucks, keep my cars safe/clean, and machine parts on my CNC. Some of the loft will be used to store inventory for my business, car parts, etc. I will have a TV, mini bar, and possibly couch but no direct plans to live in it as the house is ~120ft away.

 

[r_sherrer29]

Until now, there have not been many issues but Monday brought a few to the surface..
For starters, my inspector came by and told me that I need to have a water barrier or ground contact approved OSB/sheeting the bottom 8" of the walls for code. Although I understand the reasoning, I am still a tad upset with myself I didn't catch it till now. He said that some people seal the OSB and others use ground contact plywood. My issue is two things: I have already spent a decent amount of money on OSB to do the whole thing and I can't find ground contact plywood in 7/16" thick. It seems that the ground contact only comes in the common size of 1/2" but my remaining walls OSB is already 7/16". I would prefer to seal the bottom of wood and maybe use a water/ice peal and stick barrier on top of that before using tyvek on entire structure and then the vinyl siding. I need the journals input on what is recommended here. And if a sealer will work, what one do you like?

The second issue, probably the more disappointing one, is that I have had these white marks/spots show in the picture below. The concrete was sealed after the pour and it looked great at first. After 2 weeks, I noticed these white marks all over that seemed to be roller lines, marks, etc...after investigating further, it is actually where the sealer is popping off/coming off and exposing concrete to the normal atmosphere where it dries and turns white. I have a call in with concrete guys and am waiting for a call back but it really *****. The only way I can think of to fix the whole thing is to grind the entire top and re-coat something; a huge setback on the timeline. I am trying to get the sides on and vinyl on before the end of October. The temps are already low here in Michigan and I don't want to do the vinyl siding in too cold of weather.

 

[r_sherrer29]

Well it's been a week of pretty slow progress around here...but I have all my roof sheeting up, half a roof shingled, and all 6 LVL beams up for my loft!

I am using 24' long and 14" tall (deep?) LVL's in a 2 ply configuration every 9 feet. Then there will be a 36' long and 14" deep LVL also in a 2 ply configuration that will be the header for my loft. I will then have it supported via vertical supports coming down from the top LVL's to the 36' header.

I hope to get other side of roof shingled before end of the week but its currently storming like crazy here in the mitten. Mad rush to get the outside shell done before it gets super cold.

 

[r_sherrer29]

This weekend started on a good note when we were able to finish the roof but then it was off to my side hustle of cutting lawns on Sunday to make a little money for this thing...figured you guys might like these Scag stripes too

Scag Cheetah with 35hp EFI

Finishing last of roof side

Only the ridge event left...

Entire roof complete (FINALLY)...probably the last thing I roof

 

[r_sherrer29]

Man am I glad that the sheeting is almost done! 15ft walls **** to sheet...never again. But I have everything done besides the back top. Until I get the garage door on, I am keeping the rear sheeting off. It is a windy stretch right through the front.

-Ronnie

 

[wout]

Nice build! Would love to have that hight in my garage to.

Wout

 

[PugetDude]

Great build, subscribed!

 

[r_sherrer29]

Nice build! Would love to have that hight in my garage to.

Wout

Great build, subscribed!

I appreciate the kind words guys! It is nearing completion and I can finally see the light! Pictures incoming.

-Ronnie

 

[r_sherrer29]

It has been a long fall and a good end to the year around my parts. We went late into December doing leaf clean ups and then even did our first snow push of the year. I decided to take a little time off to do some riding before it gets too cold so that delayed the build a little. Enjoy the dump below of a little siding work, some gas line finishing, and some riding pictures!

After the sheeting was up (I am never sheeting again without a man lift), we did the house wrap and then began to side. Had the help of my dad again getting it up and going. Our first time but started to turn out very well!

We then moved on to hanging the garage door, a temporary lighting setup, and getting my man door installed. The original plans called out wrapping my two 6x6" posts in sheet metal but I wanted a cleaner look. So we did 2x12 around the garage door opening to give a nice spot to wrap the sheet aluminum for a more finished garage look.

These are from a few weeks ago. The siding is 75% done on the sides and back. I was able to get the soffit done and boxed in. All facia sheet aluminum is done. My dads buddy had a 10 and 14ft brake that I am super thankful for...I can't see doing this kind of work without one. I took the day off yesterday and finished my gas line to the meter, routed my line into the back of the shop, and ran it up the wall to connect with my heater soon! I still had 2 hours of day light left so I bent the sheet aluminum for around my garage door and got it all up! I forgot to take pictures of most of it but I will get more this week. For now, you are stuck with this very lame picture of the trench I had to dig yesterday in our lovely 30 degree Michigan weather.

Did I mention that I took a break from working on the garage to ride? Well I also took one to work on my daily driver. My buddy loaned me his garage and lift for a few hours so I could do my DSG and engine oil service. It also provided a perfect opportunity to take a picture next to a project him and his dad are working on! The late November riding trip was a blast but I managed to burry the side x side in the first 10 minutes, putting my winch to the test early.

I have a decent amount of work on the garage left but here is my short "Get done before February" List:

• 
  Finish the exterior siding (30-40% left)

• 
  Nail my garage seal to the garage area

• 
  Hang, vent, and finish plumb gas to my new to me Reznor heater

• 
  Pass final building inspection

• 
  Pass my gas inspection (after heater is up)

• 
  Run wire through my conduit and mount sub panel. Single light and outlet wired to pass final electrical inspection. Also furnaced blowers wired.

Some of the other things planned to be done before summer are getting the loft built, outlets installed, garage door opener, work benches, car hoist installed, water line finished and connected to my sink, all my lights installed, insulation, fans installed, and finally get my CNC rebuilt and running again.

-Ronnie

 

[1Garageman]

I am subscribing. Very nice tall garage you are building, with heat, electricity and water. Escape from wife place!

 

[givemethewillys]

Garage looks great! Well done

 

[cobia23]

Very nice! Have you come up with a resolution for the peeling floor?

 

[r_sherrer29]

Hey Guys,

Its been a minute since my last update but progress has been slow. I now know of two things I will never do again; roofing and siding. The siding trim, soffit, etc eat so much time.


I was able to hang my furnace, get all of the trim/sheet aluminum done around the doors, all gas plumbing relatively done, and the weather stripping around garage. Since these pictures I have also got my second level of vinyl corners up. Its hovering around 20 degrees here in Michigan so my interest to work outside has been at a minimum.

 

[loganb]

Coming along great!

And you have a furnace now, so you can work inside till it thaws out and have the interior ready to go when it's finally suitable to go back to the outside right?? Lol

Sent from The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[r_sherrer29]

Coming along great!

And you have a furnace now, so you can work inside till it thaws out and have the interior ready to go when it's finally suitable to go back to the outside right?? Lol

Sent from The Garage Journal mobile app

One would hope! I am staying inside it to soon have my last LVL up so I can start to do the loft I need to get stuff off the floor. We are getting closer everyday.