BUILDING GARAGE BY MYSELF NEED HELP?

[Flutie Fanatic]

Hello folks

I have not been here in a few years, I was googling a question asking alternatives to concrete floors in garages, I came across a thread here from 2009 in my search, it was helpful but had more questions.

I considered resurrecting the old 2009 thread but was not sure of the etiquette of that?

Anyway I had my password resent to me along with forgotten username.

Anyway I live in the middle of nowhere on a big hill, I already have things that are built not exactly by the book, so for that reason I am not able to even consider a building permit, also the hill is 90% and almost impossible for cement truck to come up.

So I am buying a 24x24 garage package and am doing it myself.

I was thinking of renting cement mixer to make a 18 inch form for walls to sit on, and then just build on top of that? I have a pickup truck 4x4 so I can get cement sand and gravel up hill. Can also use my Deere to bring up in bucket with loads from truck at bottom of hill

What about patio slabs for garage floor? and help with ideas would be great.

Could I even skip the cement process?

A lot to ask for a guy that has not been active, but thanks for any help.

I have put up roof trusses and built mini barns, I can do it, just the footings etc no very little to nothing about.

 

[rockshaft]

Are you against building a pole barn/garage? I'm considering this for myself. I've worked with my fair share of concrete, and any amount is too much!

Hello folks

I have not been here in a few years, I was googling a question asking alternatives to concrete floors in garages, I came across a thread here from 2009 in my search, it was helpful but had more questions.

I considered resurrecting the old 2009 thread but was not sure of the etiquette of that?

Anyway I had my password resent to me along with forgotten username.

Anyway I live in the middle of nowhere on a big hill, I already have things that are built not exactly by the book, so for that reason I am not able to even consider a building permit, also the hill is 90% and almost impossible for cement truck to come up.

So I am buying a 24x24 garage package and am doing it myself.

I was thinking of renting cement mixer to make a 18 inch form for walls to sit on, and then just build on top of that? I have a pickup truck 4x4 so I can get cement sand and gravel up hill. Can also use my Deere to bring up in bucket with loads from truck at bottom of hill

What about patio slabs for garage floor? and help with ideas would be great.

Could I even skip the cement process?

A lot to ask for a guy that has not been active, but thanks for any help.

I have put up roof trusses and built mini barns, I can do it, just the footings etc no very little to nothing about.

 

[s219]

After I considered all the options for a barn on my new property, I decided to skip the concrete all together and go with a pole barn. It will be different than the footing/slab/stick building process I am experienced in, but avoiding the hassle of concrete in this particular location makes a huge difference.

 

[EddieWalker]

Are you against building a pole barn/garage? I'm considering this for myself. I've worked with my fair share of concrete, and any amount is too much!

I agree.

Why buy a package for a site that you have to modify to make it work?

With the package, you are getting all the materials (hopefully) but paying a premium for them.

If you build a pole barn, you drill the holes, put in the poles, install your purlins, install your trusses and cover it all up. This is the simplists building to make that is also the most forgiving with regards to the pad site. Then after it's all done, you can do what you want with the floor.

Eddie

 

[KennyG]

A concrete floor is a wonderful thing and I believe it is penny wise and pound foolish to go any other way. I've done almost everything construction related over the years and finishing your own concrete is one thing I would never recommend unless you are already experienced. (I've also found that it's probably worthwhile to hire out drywall finishing and bricklaying, but those things are great fun in comparision to finishing concrete.)

If you are going with a "garage", form up the slab where you want it, with penetrations, etc, and then hire a good finisher and bring in the concrete truck.

 

[rockshaft]

I certainly don't dislike the end result of properly finished concrete, but apart from being able to roll small casters around, why is concrete worth the investment for a place to park your equipment?

 

[dodge man]

I certainly don't dislike the end result of properly finished concrete, but apart from being able to roll small casters around, why is concrete worth the investment for a place to park your equipment?

Moisture. A good concrete floor in an enclosed building will keep moisture from forming on your stuff.

 

[crazyal]

My father built his garage himself. I was young at the time so I don't remember much but he used a cement mixer to pour the slab and then he made a row of cement blocks with cap blocks on top of them as the foundation to build on. The mistake he made was he put the blocks down after the slab dried but wished he only waited long enough for the cement to set up hard enough to support the weight and instead of using mortar he would have filled the blocks with cement (since there's only one row). It's a floating slab so it's about 6" think and moves with the frost. It's a 20x20 garage.

Mixing cement is hard work. 80lb bags get heavy and there's not a lot in a bag. I would see it as a chance to buy a 3pt cement mixer though. I like the idea of being able to back up next to the trailer with the bags of cement, slide them over and pour them in, mix the cement up and drive to where you want it and dump it. The least amount of moving the cement by hand the better.

 

[Western]

You can pour cement at a later time too, but easier to do now. I would rather have cement if it will be used for a shop, rainy day place to work. Plus some benefit keeping out mice and rats.

If your sure a cement truck cant make it, then it pretty much takes that out anyway. A footer will be whether you want to or not and how "tight" you want to make the building.

 

[rockshaft]

Moisture. A good concrete floor in an enclosed building will keep moisture from forming on your stuff.

Good point.
But if a heated space isn't required, why not achieve moisture neutrality in the space with just adequate ventilation?