Yea part of the plan in the next two years is to do exactly that. I've done tiling, framing, some other woodworking, and other building projects but it was a few years ago. I'll make sure I can do quality work before diving into something this large.

 

Nice thing about a garage is things don't have to be perfect cosmetically, as long as they are good structurally (imo). Framing that isn't perfect and sloppy drywall are acceptable. For nice finished work inside the house that's not the case.

My only advice is to try and get things done BEFORE kids come along. I was finishing our last bathroom when the baby came and the wife was complaining because she needed a lot of help.

 

remodeling anything depends on the someone who comes along an buys it.. this house is old enough, a yellow cat 9 would be where to begin, just to remove the concrete.. except... modern housing, doesn't seem to well built.. and this place is, no flooding, over 40 yrs, hurricane proven... but not worth a penny to sink into kitchen nor bathroom ( for lack of any word to describe these 1960's looking OMG hire a re-decorator with a sledge )

we built most of 3 of our places.. didn't pour the foundations.. do the larger tasks, but my dad, brothers an I built our places bottom, sides, top and all the guts way back.. I'm doing Mom an Dad's place now, been changing the bathroom for elderly care.. a lot of plumbing an tile work, does return a value, cause it's an elderly care package.. destroys the house value with all the hand rails and various care mounted safety features otherwise.....

just finished up lunch, taken a break from the car.. you should see my current up an ongoing garage remodel for this build..

 

The more I research this and develop a plan, the more it is fitting exactly what I enjoy doing.

The most difficult part for me is determining exactly what I will need as a foundation. Granted, I don't have a home yet (waiting for my home in SC to sell before moving into another house so the wife and I are saving up some money while living in a 1 bd apartment) but apparently there are a lot of different ways to go a foundation.

I'm definitely thinking 4 ft frost walls (winters have been pretty brutal lately in this area) and a nice thick slab, but I don't want to go OVERBOARD on the slab. Concrete is roughly $80/yd^3 and every inch in depth is many more $$$ for no good reason if I go overboard. I will have a concrete buy come out and scope it out for me in the future but I'm hoping to gain some real knowledge before then, since the whole knowledge-gaining experience is more valuable to me than the actual end result.

Anybody familiar with foundations? I would definitely like to frame everything, mesh, rebar, plumbing, and drains myself, and just be ready for a professional to come in and pour, and to make it nice and smooth with a nice draining grade? I'm sure I'll need a building inspector to come in before the pour, but I'd like to learn as much as possible beforehand.

Thanks for the advice thus far!

 

I've got a 6 car detached garage I built at my house when I moved. Then again I'm car collector so I needed it. The home also has a 2 car standard garage attached

 

Fabulous! Any advice for the OP? What kind of foundation did you put in? Plumbing? Extras? Fridge for more beer (mmmmm. . . beer)?

 

That's awesome. 6 cars is going to be wayyyy more than I need lol. Even my initial drafts of a 3 car garage are a bit more than I need lol.

I'd be interested in knowing if you poured your own pad or knew of the details involved that the person who did it for you used. I'm sure if you'er a car collector that you wanted it done right. I'm even intending to do my own drawings to be submitted for a building permit (architects are just way too expensive and I don't agree with HOW they bill their clients). It may take me 10x longer to do but I have all the time in the world. I have some good experience in CAD as well.

 

You should do the floor plan in Auto CAD and a 3-D View of it using Google Sketch-up to get a good sense.

 

Dimensions etc for a pad are building code dependent. You will also have to sweat drainage, electric, plumbing etc. Once your plans are complete, you need to have the blue prints approved and get permits. Other things you need to decide is how you want the garage defined (garage? Second dwelling? ) for building code and tax purposes. So, you need to research these costs and add them into your planning. If you don't get building permits and just put it up, you will be fine until you go to sell the house. Then, your choice will be to tear it down or have an angry inspector approve your work and face fines, back taxes and otherwise have a bad day.

 

Yep I have everything in the plans for all of that except I did not know about defining the building as a garage or second dwelling. Thanks for letting me know. I'm sure that dictates what type of building codes and taxes are required for the property?


I actually just sold my house in Columbia so now my wife and I are looking for a new home here in NC so I'm hoping I can get her to love something that doesn't have an HOA and has a laaaarge backyard that would fit a nice size garage without looking out of place