New Garage

I've had a dream for a long time to build my own shop/garage. I wanted a place where I don't have to share bays with kids toys, bikes, or the dirt that comes with opening and closing the door multiple times a day. When looking for a new place to live a few years ago, one of my top priorities was to have room to do just that.

I've had plans for some time now, and started some "prep" projects in September. For example, since the garage addition will be attached, I had to move some A/C units to the complete other side of the house. I also had to move the natural gas meter, pool electrical lines, demo the old wall/gate, and build new ones. I'm doing a lot of the work myself, but am subbing out the big parts to different contractors.

Between obtaining bids, negotiating those bids, and actually keeping contractors to their word, it’s been a ton of work. Should be worth it though!

I thought I would throw some photos up here if you're at all interested.

Old wall in background – New in front:


New Gate:


Demolition of old wall, gate, and pavers:


Start of the footer dig:


Footer dug:


Footer poured:


Stem Wall forms:


Stem Walls poured:


Pre slab:


Pouring slab:


Finished slab:

nice

Nice!!!

nice.

looks like you might be able to live in it.

For the time I've been spending out there, I feel like I already do.

A lot of hard work, but it will be worth it when you are finished. Only one problem with a well planned garage like that, when you are finished you wil say "I wish I had did this also while I was at it" and then you will kick yourself in the backside. JB

I really have tried to think of everything I would ever want/need and plan for it. However, I agree. I'm sure there will be something that I overlooked and or plain out missed.

Impressive, I need to do something like that here- or just buy an old farm shop and build a loft to live in.

How many sq. ft. is it? It didn't seem very big in the footer pics, but if a concrete truck doesn't fill the floor space, then I think you may be doubling your A/C bill if you are going to cool that space.

It's 1250 square feet, with a 12 foot ceiling over 1/3 of it and a 14 foot ceiling over the rest. I won't keep the A/C on all the time. Just when I'll be out there working. It's going to be very well insulated, with a 15 seer A/C unit. Hopefully, it won't be too bad.

Looks very nice Buddy it will be out of direct sun that is a plus plus gives you room for working on a hoist as well. keep up the progress pics buddy

It's gonna be great!! And you sure put a lot of work into getting ready for it!

I plan on putting HVAC in the shop, so I’m building the entire building out of SIPs (Structurally Insulated Panels). They’re basically solid foam, sandwiched between two pieces of OSB. I went with 6” of foam for the insulation aspect. The walls have an insulation factor of R-24 which should come in handy in the Arizona summers. You provide the company with your architectural plans and they whip up a set of their own construction drawings for you to use during install. These things are like huge Lego blocks. They are all numbered and go together in a certain order per the shop drawings the company provides. Don’t underestimate the weight of the panels though…. Some were over 400lbs. They were a bear to move around.

Every panel has to be glued in place with a nailing schedule of 6" on center. We went through 40, 24 ounce tubes of glue and 6,000 nails.

It took the hottest Saturday of the year , 15 hours, 4 cases of water, and 24 Gatorade’s to install all the walls, but we got it done. Luckily my dad, and two buddies helped out. Without them, I would have been screwed.

Panels delivered: (They recommend having a forklift – I don’t! Manual unload it is)


First two panels installed:


Four panels installed:


Header for South garage door:


Six panels installed:


Eleven panels installed:


Thirteen panels installed:


Seventeen panels installed – Done!:

nice garage!! i wish i had one that big! love the arizona weather too, nothing better than sunshine and heat!

That is neat! Like putting together a Snap-tite model! Does that company service the entire USA or just a certain area?

BTW, what's with the gap above the garage door header?