So I got a good deal on some trusses...

We moved into a new house not too long ago, and I've been missing my storage barn ever since. The new 3-car garage is jammed with junk and because I hate clearing the snow and ice off the cars, shuffling 'em around to plow, etc., I knew I'd have to do something before winter set in. So I've been keeping an eye and ear open for some cheap trusses at the local lumberyards; hoping some builder's mistake would be my gain. I just 'happened' to have a few hundred in pocket and my trailer behind me when I spotted these, so my excuse to start a new project was born...

The trusses are (16) 6/12 pitch cantilevered plus (2) gable end trusses, pretty fresh, and rated to meet the new 50psi snow load codes in force this year. Came with all the design spec sheets and drawings, so the local building inspector will like that! That makes for a 24' x 34' footprint and it looked to me like the best place to build it was right off the 22' wide driveway turn-around.

Just so's you know, I was 'constrained' by the 'boss' from putting up a nice, big pole barn. "Wouldn't look very good next to the house." she said. So, I will have to make do with a more traditional 'residential' looking garage/shop on a monolithic slab. Here's the Komatsu 31EF dozer breaking ground.

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Just so's you know, I was 'constrained' by the 'boss' from putting up a nice, big pole barn. </font>

I am constrained by land covenants that limit the size of additional structures on the property. Sounds like your project is very similar to the one I am building now (actually having built for me, I've not swung the hammer yet). Ours is a copy of our house, same design, same look as house but I will have to repaint it as soon as the contractor leaves. I picked the wrong color and that is my mistake, it doesn't match! I also wanted bigger, but I solved my storage problem by raising the ceiling in the center of the building so I can accomodate a 4 post car hoist to lift vehicles for restoration and for storage too. Good luck with your project and keep the pictures coming.

Have a bit of a grade to deal with, there was a slope and a drainage swale running thru the slab location. There will be a 2nd overhead garage door 9' x 8' in the right rear side for workshop access and inside tractor parking, which means we have to cut into the slope a fair amount. Need the side overhead to gain easy workshop access without having to move inside vehicles. Standard 16' x 8' overhead door on the turn-around gable end... both 8' for ROPS and pickup ladder rack clearance!

Here's a better view if the dozer starting to cut back the slope. Thankfully, we have great soil at the new house, real easy to push, not the rocky mess we had just a few miles up the road at the old house. The Komatsu hardly broke a sweat, and made short work of this project!

Bob - yep, I've been asked to match the house the best as possible too, but that's ok. Still undecided about siding options, the house has 6" cedar and that gets pricey pretty quick if you don't have a good source. Also priced the cement Hardee Plank which would come the closest in looks and also allow the garage color to be changed down the road if we decide to change the house stain color. I did have one small permit hurdle to get around - we have an 'end-load' garage on the house and, because of the roadway and positioning of the house on the lot, I almost had to apply for a variance because the garage was very close to technically being in my front yard! I just extended the apron by 1' to get around that issue. As they say, more than one way to skin a cat.

Here's the finished rough grading. I can use the dirt for a couple of other projects I've been working on so I just told the operator to leave me one big pile in the rear and a smaller pile up near the driveway. Pay to haul it away?! I don't think so, I want the seat time!

Ever since we moved in and the moving van cracked the edge of the driveway, I knew I'd need to do something about building the adjoining grade up. Didn't take long to move the small pile of dirt with the new 7610. "See Honey, I told you this new toy, er, tractor would pay for itself!"

<font color="red"> As they say, more than one way to skin a cat. </font>

Yup, I had to find a way too. Mine is being build on a vacant lot and the county plan commission doesn't like storage buildings like this on vacant lots. As luck would have it, I own 2 lots side by side, so to get around the county regulations I simply asked them to consider the 2 lots as 1 lot for the purpose of this building. They did.

Then I had another hurdle. My land covenants and my neighborhood regulations require that outbuildings on my lot, when they exceed 200 square feet, must match the house in terms of look, roof pitch, etc. That presented another problem because I have a low roof pitch on the house (4/12) and wanted 5/12 on the garage/shop with sissor trusses in the middle so I could accomodate the car lift. For the purposes of the neighborhood regulations I was able to get the lot considered as an independant lot so I could technically build it to any design that would meet the land covenants.

I ended up getting the same lot declared as BOTH and independant lot and as part of my main lot, at the same time, but for 2 different sets of governing bodies!


BTW I used Hardee Plank on my daughter's playhouse and that is pretty nice material as long as you can keep it from flexing too far (it will break). It looks good, was easy to work with, and matches cedar siding very well. Daughter's Playhouse Exterior and Daugher's Playhouse, Interior