[roundel]

Years ago when searching for houses, my wife and I found that houses with garages that suited my tastes were always attached to houses that were well beyond my means. Finally, we had the idea of finding a house that we liked with a good situation for adding a garage. We found our house but did not realize that it came with a nosy neighbor and some weird property line details.

Fast forward about 7 years to navigate through thieving builders, property line confusion, variances, and of course lots of garage fund saving. In early March we finally broke ground.


It is a big step after so much to finally cross the point of no return. Money is gone on drawings, variances, so any hiccups now could devastate the sharply calculated budget.



But it is nice to get the footers approved.


Then like a flash brick walls start sprouting.


The rear of the garage is 4' below grade. I'd a like it further back, but that added extra layers of engineered drawings and of course $$$ despite being what we discussed in the contract negotiations. At a certain point I just had to succumb to forces acting against me


And then with some parging.


I stuck to my guns and held that blocks filled with concrete be FILLED with concrete!

At about this point I went to Sebring. It was great to drink like a fish with my phone turned off and just forget about all my battles.

I came home to this:



Now we are starting to look like something.



Early stages of the deck from the house to the loft are visible.



From inside, the reason for all the struggles begins to become apparent.



These shots are from the "super bay" where the ceilings are so high, I dont know how high they are looking up to the loft where the ceilings are a tad low to appease the regulators, but fine for storage and manlodge stuff.





And looking into the Super Bay


I suspect a Bendpac of Rotary will fit in there OK

The exterior gets a wrap.

The fiber reinforced cement planks (aka hardiplank) are progressing here.



The bricks match the face of my house.



Soffits start making things look sharp.



We still need to details wrapped and lots of work on the deck.



Well this is as things stand today. I hope in the next two weeks to have the deck complete, 4' concrete apron poured, asphalt layed, doors installed and all the site work done. I cannot believe how stressful doing this on my own property is. I have been the superintendent building the wing of a hospital with less stress.

Help me by praying for good weather and I will update this thread as Manor Motor Werks progresses. There is still lots to do including aircraft hangar epoxy floors, electrical with tons of light, painting, and landscaping.

[Trak Ratt]

Nice! When will it be ready?

[LPM911]

drool! one day i hope to have something like that

[markwemple]

OK, now I hate you. (OK now I'm just very jealous!)

[Dr K]

Wow!

Peter

[roundel]

Originally Posted by Trak Ratt

Nice! When will it be ready?

I hope by months end to have the exterior stuff done. Next month, my father is coming up from FL to help me run elec. Once I have lighting and outlets, I will block fill the walls, green board the walls above the block, and paint the floor. I hope to minimize the need for heat and cooling by going nuts on insulation. Then I need to build a compressor cubicle in the loft. So it will be in process for some time. I plan to park in it after the end of this month and move out when I need to blast the floor for painting.

Also, extras cut right to the limit of my budget, so I will need to scrape loot together for each new step. When I have a "rain proof structure" I plan to do the rest myself.

I guess the short answer is is won't be totally done for months.

[aelred]

Bob,

I have some excellent whisky just crying out to be consumed in a manlodge!

[turbo23dog]

Will cigar smoking be permitted in your palace?

J/K but it seems it'd be the perfect place to relax in such a man lodge...

Best of luck with the remainder of the project.

[roundel]

Originally Posted by aelred

Bob,

I have some excellent whisky just crying out to be consumed in a manlodge!

Aelred, You will know what I mean when I say I am selling my EZM2 to fund the electrical.

Cigars in the manlodge should not be a problem. Fuel will be downstairs. Some day, internet and a big fat Play Station setup would aid relaxation. I am toying with the idea of a brass pole to the super bay. I put the stairs outside to increase interior space so the pole would allow for immediate access to the super bay should a fit of mechanical inspiration take place in the manlodge.

[OldTee]

When is the engine drop party?
ARF