Building a Garage Pit

[pycoed]

Just read this thread! Gordon Bennett! What ever happened to "the land of the free"??? Just get on with it...

Some points when making the pit:-

It should be ventilated & have a water sump if groundwater is likely to be an issue.
It should be longer than any vehicle you'll work on, unless you have a walk in pit or an escape hatch (I do - mine is on made up ground, so I can walk into it ) so you can exit in an emergency.
Don't make it too wide & use angle iron edging for the garage floor & top of pit walls.
9X3" timber sections make a pretty good cover & can be used a a step up when you are working too.
Do build in alcoves below ground level for fluorescent lights each side.
Do have power outlets wired in conduit, ideally within the alcoves.
Do build in alcoves for tool racks - its a real pain looking for spanners (sorry - wrenches) on the garage floor at eye level when you are working.
Use a heavy channel section crossways, wide enough to take a small trolley jack - this & a bottle jack can be very useful when removing gearboxes etc.

 

[Zerk]

J What ever happened to "the land of the free"??? Just get on with it...

Agree.

 

[Zerk]

I know it is not allowed for residential here...

K

Who is going to stop you, if you do it yourself? Is the government going to stop contractors from doing it? If so move, because I bet this ain't the only thing they are over bearing on.

They probably would not. It is all up to the OP if he installs a pit but if he does it should be done properly for his own well being should it not?

o]

I think a box fan is going to be enough for ventilation. If he dumped a bunch of gas, I would get out of the pit. For normal use, I don't see it as a big deal.

People work in trenches. It is open above, and not that deep.

This isn't a confined space.

 

[ultrarunner]

Plenty of obstacles living in a city... even on acreage in the city limits... plus the added oversight of a HOA... in 1945 the HOA was a lose association of owners to maintain the road... I bought in 2003 from an original owner and in 2005 sweeping changes were approved by the CCR that cover everything... the shop on my place is grandfathered but has been topic for discussion at times.

In 2012 I thought I had my forever home in the county lined up... much cheaper taxes by 50% and much fewer restrictions... by far.

If I ever do make a move... it won't be in the city limits going.

Rural property has become just as expensive as city property... not uncommon for prices to double over the last 4 years... so, unless a person is loaded with cash or equity... staying put for now.

 

[leop]

I know it is not allowed for residential here...

What I do see is a lot of the oil change franchises using pits... there are not old buildings from another era... always wondered why they are OK

You know what, you are right - they do use the pits at those oil change places. You list three locations on your profile - and one of them is "SF B ay Area-CA". Is this where you would build the pit? For those of you not familiar with the SF bay area you should understand that most people who live here are crazy. It would not surprise me one bit if my neighbor's kid used a homemade drone to video record me building the pit and then turned it in to Cal OSHA in return for Facebook ultra eco nut points. Seriously.

Ultra - I say go for it. It sounds like you want it, - it's cheap so even if it gets shut down all you loose is some cement and labor, and most of the hazards and solutions for them have been covered by other members. I WOULD NEVER EVER SHOW IT OR SPEAK OF IT WITH ANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORS or you risk the homeowners association making a big stink about it. I don't know what it is about them, but petty politics seams to thrive in HOA's for some reason. Remember to post pictures when you get it done!

 

[bcp]

"That's not a service pit. It's a tornado shelter."



Bruce

 

[ultrarunner]

Bingo... SF Bay Area.

No one would care or see it in Olympia WA...

The SF Bay Area has regulations to cover just about anything... it was not always this way but what I have seen in Real Estate related ordinances since 1982 would make your head spin.

My immediate neighbors would not be a problem... it would just be someone driving by and seeing me working with the door open... which I'm sure is a violation.

Still remember the first day I brought home my little Kubota BX23... a lady from two blocks over followed me to my home and asked what I was going to do with my tractor... told her it was the most expensive lawnmower I could buy... never did get around to buying a mower deck.

As the crow flies... mom lives within eyesight... she was on her hillside with a shovel and wheelbarrow and someone actually called the police because they saw construction... she was digging holes for plants...

She has been there forever and her property tax is cheap... she pays 2k yearly and I have a home about the same value and pay 11k... at her age she is not going anywhere.

When I got a new neighbor... we introduced ourselves... he saw my Kubota and I told him it was for personal use... he told me he is a contractor and said he might drive his work truck home from time to time... told him what he does on his side is his business... said the same to me.

When he sold... the new couple had something to say anytime I was doing work on the weekend... they lost the home to foreclosure and the new folks I hardly ever see... which also works.

 

[Zerk]

You know what, you are right - they do use the pits at those oil change places. Y!

Never been done in one, but I always thought they were basements. I think they can walk between bays.

I think they are just a lower level with a hole in the ceiling. Atleast the ones around here. There are usually 2-3 bays. Maybe down south where they don't have basements its different.

 

[leop]

Bingo... SF Bay Area.

No one would care or see it in Olympia WA...

The SF Bay Area has regulations to cover just about anything... it was not always this way but what I have seen in Real Estate related ordinances since 1982 would make your head spin.

My immediate neighbors would not be a problem... it would just be someone driving by and seeing me working with the door open... which I'm sure is a violation.

Still remember the first day I brought home my little Kubota BX23... a lady from two blocks over followed me to my home and asked what I was going to do with my tractor... told her it was the most expensive lawnmower I could buy... never did get around to buying a mower deck.

As the crow flies... mom lives within eyesight... she was on her hillside with a shovel and wheelbarrow and someone actually called the police because they saw construction... she was digging holes for plants...

She has been there forever and her property tax is cheap... she pays 2k yearly and I have a home about the same value and pay 11k... at her age she is not going anywhere.

When I got a new neighbor... we introduced ourselves... he saw my Kubota and I told him it was for personal use... he told me he is a contractor and said he might drive his work truck home from time to time... told him what he does on his side is his business... said the same to me.

When he sold... the new couple had something to say anytime I was doing work on the weekend... they lost the home to foreclosure and the new folks I hardly ever see... which also works.

Okay now I understand. It's a bit better where I am because I moved to the top of a mountain 10 miles down a one lane road with two way traffic. Most people that will dare to drive the road could care less about what their neighbor does.

Make sure your mom puts the house in the name of a living trust so that you can keep the house at the current tax base when she leaves for a better place. Called the sheriff for digging holes. For the love of God why did these kind of people pick the bay area to screw up.

I would put up a driveway gate and fence. Make them solid where the garage can be seen and go for it. If someone says you need a permit then just fill it up with dirt and dig it back out after they leave - after which you will inspect the fence and gate to see how the snitch saw it.

Cheers

Leo

 

[ultrarunner]

I have good friends up in Boulder, Bonny Doon and Last Chance Road...

It really is different once out from the metro areas.

Still looking to make a move one day... with prices as high as they are the possibility of that is less likely... not to mention property tax that goes along with higher prices.

Not sure what would happen to the family land/home... I'm not an only child so things could get interesting.