Where's the general FAQ for the complete noob?

[sac02]

Hello all,

I've been lurking for a while, this is my first post. Lots of great info here; I'm spending lots of time reading about all sorts of details that go into building a dream garage.

The problem is, I'm pretty much a noob, and I'm struggling to absorb/understand the details. I could really use a thread aimed at someone like me - never built a garage, or even done a real remodel project. I'm buying a house right now, and my plan is to build (or have built) a decent garage that I can use as a shop for my automotive hobbies.

Is there anything out there that starts at square one, and walks me through the basics?

The BIG first question is cost. I assume the obvious answer is "Call a contractor and get an estimate," but the few I've called aren't interested in giving me even a ballpark figure until I've picked out and closed on a house. The catch being, the price of the garage I want to build plays into which house I want to buy (afford).

Help a fella' out!

Thanks

 

[NUTTSGT]

First of all, Welcome to GJ.

Contractors don't what to even give you a ball park price because there is too many variables in the mix. You don't have a house yet and did not know what you want. As far as they know, you are somebody fishing and wasting their time. Don't take any offense to that, it's just they feel their time is valuable.

I'd advise not buying a home in a HOA, if you want a garage or have automotive hobbies.

Find some property that has enough space to build a garage on it, asssume it will be atleast 24x32 in size.

If you're getting "your" garage, make sure the wife has a house she likes, or you will never hear the end of it.


There are others that will chime in.

 

[Lkdelta]

Hello all,

never built a garage, or even done a real remodel project. I'm buying a house right now, and my plan is to build (or have built) a decent garage that I can use as a shop for my automotive hobbies.

Thanks

Welcome to GJ

Might be easier to just find a house that has a decent garage already set, and some land area for future expansion, just get by for a few years?

 

[scott37300]

Welcome to garagejournal.



A contractor won't be able to give you a price until he can see everything, even a ballpark. You should be able to figure out a very rough price depending on what you want. Should be able to call a few concrete companies and ask them "how much for a garage foundation and slab A'xB'?" You need to have a plan for a contractor to give you a bid, I know a garage sounds pretty simple to bid but all sorts of things play into it. Like 2x4 or 2x6 framing, insulation, electrical, windows, doors, hip or gable roof, siding type, height of walls, type of truss', just to name a few variables. Then there are things like site access, is the contractor going to be able to get a bobcat and mini hoe in there, concrete trucks going to be able to pull up or are you going to need a pumper truck. All of these things come into play so that is why no one will give you a ballpark, just to many variables.

What some contractors might do for you is if you call them up and ask them about the prices of the last couple garages they built and the size of them. This might give you a very rough ballpark to start from. Also on here isn't the best place to ask, prices can vary greatly by region. So someone on here might say concrete cost them 3000, but then someone might say it was 5500 for the same size slab. You can get a ballpark figure but unless someone is in the same area it could be way off.

 

[sac02]

Just how problematic is an HOA? Are they all awful, or is it a case-by-case thing? Any way to tell before we buy a place if the HOA is awful or OK? Does the HOA's level of resistance depend more on the HOA or the project?

The place we're eyeing actually already has a detached 3car. I don't know if it could be modified or if it is easier (cheaper) to tear it down and start from scratch. My idea would be to keep it simple, not garage-mahal, but something that can at minimum house a full size (walk-under) two post lift.

 

[dude67]

All HOA are how do I say. Control freak Nazis. Some are worse than others, but all are terrible. Do a google search on HOA. You will find horror stories.

 

[Steves32]

Don't know where you live-
But here- to hire a contractor to build a turn key garage will run $50-$75 a square foot.

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

I received a cease and desist letter from my old HOA for running an illegal motorcycle chop shop.

... I was doing a full resto job on a motorcycle in my garage and someone thought I was chopping it up. I even did all the work with the garage door closed, but someone on the association board saw my bare frame in varying states over the course of a few weeks when I was coming to/from work and made an assumption. No questions, no knocks on my door to ask whats up, just a cease and desist note on the HOA letterhead.

The whole ordeal was such a nightmare for us that I never finished the project, it still sits as a bare from on my stands. I moved soon after and will never live in an HOA again. They are fine for some people but the group I dealt with in my old one was a total nightmare. If you plan on doing more than just BASIC maintenance I would highly suggest reading through the covenants to see what they allow. Also be mindful of wording that can be interpreted in different ways or is unclear.

 

[MyKingdom]

HOA= They no love you long time...

 

[Lkdelta]

Just how problematic is an HOA? Are they all awful, or is it a case-by-case thing? Any way to tell before we buy a place if the HOA is awful or OK? Does the HOA's level of resistance depend more on the HOA or the project?

You might find a "decent HOA" and then there is a leadership change at that organization and "little god" takes over..now there is trouble.....
why even risk it with a property covered by HOA

No way I'm getting into an area where someone else has that much control over something I bought for my use

 

[scott37300]

I would never live in a HOA, ever. I don't want my neighbors telling me what I can and can't do. I mind my own business and let my neighbors do what they want and I do what I want. I don't worry about little things like what my neighbor is doing in his garage or yard as long as it doesn't affect me.

 

[ZRX61]

Avoid HOA at all costs! Seemingly every HOA has some miserable old ***** with her *** in the wringer about something you want to do.

 

[modeltford]

Yep - what most said - times 10!! We were one of the first in a small HOA - about 45 1-acre lots. Was great for the first few years - large private park - had great July 4th partys with fireworks - then the worst happened. One of the owners died & his wife sold their house to a retired couple. He was great - she was the nightmare - had to control EVERYTHING. SHE decide I had run the home improvement committee too long & had me forced out - no more open guidelines. SHE raised a ***** about the fireworks and having friends & family enjoy the party - NO MORE PARTY..... we sold, moved closer to work on a lot with NO HOA. I agree NEVER AGAIN!

Rich

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Its a lot of work to author FAQ's to the point where they are factual, clear and concise and make sense to 99% of the people reading it. I've thought several times that GJ needs a FAQ section where moderators can place files submitted by others to them. A file on the facts surrounding why PVC is not a good air plumbing, including statements from persons who have experienced pipe explosions, and FAQ's on various types of hammer drills and why some are better than others, or a FAQ on certain basic wiring issues that continually crop up (#2 AL is NOT OK for a subfeed to a detached garage when breakered at 100 amps), and a whole host of other commonly asked items.

But, its a lot of work.

I've been creating such FAQ's for the Cessna 150-152 aircraft club's tech forum, and while I have a fair number posted now, its been a lot of work, too much for one person.

Charles