Underground garage?

[brendaninnh]

I first got this idea watching Bob the Builder, then actually drove by one this weekend... Has anyone ever built a garage into a hillside, completely underground and covered with dirt/sod?

The one I saw was on a steep lot close to the street and must've had a tunnel going into the house. The garage door and a couple feet of stonework on either side was all you could see from the outside. The top was covered with a few feet of soil and was essentially their front yard.

I have spot where one of these would go perfectly. Other than condensation what would be the drawbacks? I assume construction costs would be higher?

 

[comp]

did you get pics

 

[V-10 Killer]

There's one in the garage gallery right now. Look for Bunker Garage.

 

[JDMopar]

I've thought about it a lot. If I were ever forced to move into a subdivision ( which I detest),that is the kind of garage I would build. Most subdivisions have restrictions that state "No outbuildings" That type garage wouldn't be an outbuilding.....it would be an UNDERBUILDING !

 

[gesoffen]

Condensation probably wouldn't be a major concern (maybe only if you live in a really warm/humid area). Your real enemy would be soil drainage in the yard above the garage. However, with proper drainage control, this shouldn't be an issue.

Besides an insulated door, you wouldn't have to worry about insulating or cooling/heating. Just remember to leave enough room to fir out for sheetrock, cabinet fastening, electrical, shelving, etc.

 

[1320stang]

In England, they make a container with a lift that you bury underground that is a garage. Press a garage door opener button and the grassy plot lifts up out of the ground (you can plant grass on the roof) and you drive in, get out of your car and lower it back into the ground. You can even have a car parked on the roof when you do this as I understand.

 

[MXtras]

Imagine trying to get a permit for that in the States.

 

[JMURiz]

In England, they make a container with a lift that you bury underground that is a garage. Press a garage door opener button and the grassy plot lifts up out of the ground (you can plant grass on the roof) and you drive in, get out of your car and lower it back into the ground. You can even have a car parked on the roof when you do this as I understand.

You mean something like this?:
http://www.aclifts.com/parking/pss-7.asp

 

[NOMAD]

I hear a guy out here has one, his name is Bruce Wayne and he's pretty rich.

 

[Yotaforce]

Plus it would make a great bomb or tornado shelter. All the while keeping your valuble tools, equipment, and cars safe!

 

[Dan10]

I built a two story shop in 2000. I live on a hill overlooking the mississippi river. It is 32'X28'. The bottom is surrounded by earth on three sides, with retaining wall out the sides. The ceiling was done using spancrete (used in bridges) which means no supports to hold it up, and I can park a tank on top of it with no worries. The top is finished the same as my house with 9' ceilings and sheet rocked and insulated. I have had no water issues and it stays between 50-60 degrees year-round with no heating or AC. I have a drain and run a dehumidifier in the hot summer months. I is kind of hard to describe but the driveway is an S shape. You enter the bottom shop on one side, follow the S to the top shop and enter it 90 degrees from the bottom. Total cost without sheetrock, insulation, wiring was about $40K. I'll try to find pics and post them.

 

[dxdexter]

You mean something like this?:
http://www.aclifts.com/parking/pss-7.asp

I wonder if our tool chests would go through the roof or just get squashed each time you raised the elevator. I guess high ceilings would be in order.

 

[Miltons Bells]

This is something that I have thought about. There might be certain benefits for thermal lag due to the insulating properites of the earth. I am from New Orleans and this option is not an option there or in Houston where I now live.

 

[brendaninnh]

This is the closest thing I could find to show what I'm talking about:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/6/10054160_778f896aa5_m.jpg

The one I saw was sorta like this, but with an actual garage door, less stonework, and overall more finished looking. Wonder what a two car version of this would cost.

 

[Aahz]

http://www.pflow.com/vlRV.html

Check this one out.....

 

[mhoffm911]

Jerry Seinfeld put in a lift type system in his garage.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0527041jerry1.html

 

[comp]

This is the closest thing I could find to show what I'm talking about:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/6/10054160_778f896aa5_m.jpg

The one I saw was sorta like this, but with an actual garage door, less stonework, and overall more finished looking. Wonder what a two car version of this would cost.

that does look cool

 

[Motonut]

I’m new to this board, Could you post your photos as I have had this idea for a long time and just starting the process any and all help with this will be appreciated I live in the golden triangle of south carolina

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I hear a guy out here has one, his name is Bruce Wayne and he's pretty rich.

He also goes by the code name "Batman". Keeps his car in a cave, though...

 

[HOTFR8]

I first got this idea watching Bob the Builder, then actually drove by one this weekend... Has anyone ever built a garage into a hillside, completely underground and covered with dirt/sod?

The one I saw was on a steep lot close to the street and must've had a tunnel going into the house. The garage door and a couple feet of stonework on either side was all you could see from the outside. The top was covered with a few feet of soil and was essentially their front yard.

I have spot where one of these would go perfectly. Other than condensation what would be the drawbacks? I assume construction costs would be higher?

A common practise here in Australia with Homes. Called a Terradome. Easy to heat and cool.

I would like to do a Gargage the same way.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Victoria/Balmoral/2005/02/17/1108500206202.html
The Underground House
This terradome house is an unusual construction designed to maintain a constant temperature all year round. As this kind of house is usually built into a hillside, and there was none on the property, the owners had a hillside constructed by the importation of large amounts of earth. It is an interesting structure which can be inspected by appointment.

 

[rwhite692]

Potato barn.

 

[airrj]

How about an underground fire station...

Checkout: http://unofficiallexfire.com/firestations.html It is Station #16

 

[rsanter]

I always thought it would be cool to have a house where you just see the basic 3 car garage but one of the bays has the lift/elevator so you can have the entire footprint of the house underground as a workshop and nobody would know.
hard for thieves to scope your tools when they cant see them

bob

 

[scofo]

Hello Dan10, did you find any photos or anymore details you'd like to share? Anyone else? Very interested in this topic of partial or fully earth covered construction for garage space. No code concerns here or neighbors to complain, just tryin' to beat temperature and taxes.

 

[HOTFR8]

How about an underground fire station...

Checkout: http://unofficiallexfire.com/firestations.html It is Station #16

WOW That is something. Very similar to the way a Terradome place is built. Would love to see inside.