Team Seacats

I believe it’s time. Though it’s certainly time for another post on here, that’s not what I was referring to. It’s time for a new project space for Bonnie and I. Lord knows I like to build stuff and I have in mind a new 4′ x 4′ winged R/C trimaran but I’ve already had to put tools and equipment on “extended loan” to friends so I would have space to build the projects I’ve built thus far. There’s no way I can build (or store) a trimaran with an 96″ wing. That’s also not to mention trying to work on a real boat in the winter time can be tricky with picking weather windows. Bonnie also runs a graphics business that is bulging it’s in-home space as well and is in need of more room….so I believe it’s time for GARAGE MAHAL! {insert evil laughter}

We’re just breaking ground today on what will be a 24×36′ two story garage with an upstairs studio. I would really enjoy building the structure myself but I do have to work and there’s just not enough time in the day for me to build it in under 5 years. So, I did the next best thing and with the input of experienced friends (Tim, Mark, and Ted), I’ve designed and drawn up my dream garage – which is a pretty simple, but roomy, structure. I’ve been through five bids and selected a contractor, Vicars Construction (www.discountgaragesc.com), who is tasked with getting the structure in the dry with a finished exterior. I’ll take over at that point and work as my time allows and contract out finishing tasks that I can’t afford the time to complete . The bid process was long and wrought with tough decisions – but I feel very good about the value and the contractor we’ve selected. I’ll chronicle the experience of building this sucker here to share with you and to function as my own personal scrap book (as I’ve always done).

First, a few basics about the structure. I want it to be large enough that I can roll in a Nacra20 catamaran (or my A-cat), on the trailer with the 32′ mast horizontal, and close the doors. The doors have to be 8′ tall which then means the lower level ceiling must have 10′ clearance (for garage door / opener clearance). Because the garage will be situated close to the side of my property, I’m putting in a garage door on each gable end. One 12′ door will open into the backyard and one 18′ door will open to the side of the property. A considerable amount of concrete will go in to and will provide ample parking space for one or two boats (one may or may not live in the garage) and my RV. I can’t wait to be able to cut the grass unimpeded by trailers! Eventually (if not immediately) the downstairs will be heated and cooled so things like insulated garage doors and the like are a must now. The structure will connect to my existing shop so the existing shop can become a compressor tool room – a place to keep things out of the dust of creation. There is a bathroom already in that shop so it will be very handy downstairs and provide the plumbing tie in for an upstairs bathroom. The upstairs is to be a full 8′ wall / ceiling and both upstairs and downstairs areas will be unimpeded by posts or columns. The staircase to the upstairs will be external – that was a bit of a compromise to make but, if they were internal, it would eat up a good bit of real estate. Besides, with the current small shop (12×19) attached to the house only by an open carport, I figured you would have to go outside to gain access to the upstairs anyway.  The yellow part of the structure below (which is NOT it’s final color BTW), is the new building.

So in an effort to get things caught up here, I had a jungle in that corner of my yard.  There were two significant sweet gum trees (70+ feet tall) and one large Maple (50 feet) that needed to come down among some other smaller trees.  “Lupe” with Trim All Tree Service made short work of them on one of the hottest days of the year and they were all gone and ground up in a day.

The Jungle

Jungle Removed

Currently, there is a subcontractor working to remove the large remaining stumps (four feet of the trunk was left so they could grab it with a backhoe) and dig the footers.  In my rather inexperienced opinion, I think these guys are a little outgunned by these stumps with their small track hoe – but…I’m no expert.   The worked for about 2.5 hours on site today.  They made pretty short work of an old telephone pole and spent most of the time digging around the maple tree stump.  They disappeared around 2pm or so and the hood on the backhoe was open as if something happened to it.  They should be able to dislodge these stumps from the ground with that equipment – but it’s going to take some time and I’m not sure it will be able to lift the stumps – so I’m wondering how they’ll remove them from the site (and glad I’m paying by the job and not by the hour).  I don’t want to sound like I’m second guessing these folks though.  I don’t have much experience with this other than some mild research and some moderate intern experience as a residential gas service installation supervisor a couple of decades ago.

I think I can!

No worky.

And no, I’m not sure what’s going on with the images in this post…my image plugins don’t seem to like this newly updated version of WordPress.