Raising the garage
- Thread starter bryan
- Start date
We used to rent a house that the garage had been jacked up and set on top of a footing built out of cinder block. Footing was 3 blocks tall and the doors had an extra piece added on to the bottom. The owner started driving big trucks after he built garage high enough to get his motor home in so raised it to be able to clear the stacks and do his own PM. He never covered the block since it was on his own land in the country and function was more important than asthetic(sp?)appeal to him. Might have to check zoning laws where you live to make sure you are within allowed specs for building height if you raise it. Tim
If you have a detached garage it should be relatively easy to hire a company to jack the building, lay two courses of cinder block on the sill, lower and secure the sill plate to the cinderblock base. you'd need a new door section and rail extension If your garage is attached to the house you'd spend half as much.
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
My guess is that while it would probably be relatively easy to find someone to do it (raise it) you're going to find it fairly expensive ...... I could be wrong tho'.
I dunno that I'd rip anything down (can never have too much storage space) .... but like Greg says putting up a polebarn might be cheaper in the long run overall, as long as it isn't huge or too fancy (my downfall.) You could probably get a polebarn shell (small garage-sized) put up for under $10K .....
Here's what around $28K will buy ya:
42' x 72' x 12' 6" clear ceilings (3024 sq. ft), basic shell only, with three 12' (W) x 10' (H) commercieal insulated overhead doors.
I did all the site prep and grading myself, as well as the wiring (200A service), plumbing, interior finishing, etc. Walls are insulated to about R28 with sprayed cellulose ....... still haven't poured the floor or put in a ceiling yet.. I have a about $50K in it so far.
I dunno that I'd rip anything down (can never have too much storage space) .... but like Greg says putting up a polebarn might be cheaper in the long run overall, as long as it isn't huge or too fancy (my downfall.) You could probably get a polebarn shell (small garage-sized) put up for under $10K .....
Here's what around $28K will buy ya:
42' x 72' x 12' 6" clear ceilings (3024 sq. ft), basic shell only, with three 12' (W) x 10' (H) commercieal insulated overhead doors.
I did all the site prep and grading myself, as well as the wiring (200A service), plumbing, interior finishing, etc. Walls are insulated to about R28 with sprayed cellulose ....... still haven't poured the floor or put in a ceiling yet.. I have a about $50K in it so far.
EASYTRADER
Expert Expediter
If you don't want to Jack the whole building, you can convert your trusses into a stacked roof, Depends on how your trusses are built, anyway you place Jacks on the truss roof supports, rip out the bottom of the trusses, Tilt up a ridge beam size depends on how big a span your working with and live loads etc. then you cut the front of the garage to height put in your door header, add a support piece for the new ridge beam. You will have to build a similar support on the back end of the garage. The trick is placing your jacks so the roof doesn't fall in on you head when you chain saw out the truss innards
You may have to install 2x6's also because the 2x4' will sag like mad.
You could use steel or wood for the new roof support. I don't think it would be cheap, good luck finding a carpenter whose not afraid to redo
your roof from the inside but it could be done.
Maybe somebody experienced in major termite repairs will know how to do it for you, I suggest getting a steel building why collapse your house
You may have to install 2x6's also because the 2x4' will sag like mad.
You could use steel or wood for the new roof support. I don't think it would be cheap, good luck finding a carpenter whose not afraid to redo
your roof from the inside but it could be done.
Maybe somebody experienced in major termite repairs will know how to do it for you, I suggest getting a steel building why collapse your house
Lower the floor for way way less cost?
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
Lower the floor for way way less cost?
It's a possibility - but depends ...... if the garage floor is already concreted getting it up and repouring a new floor could be pretty pricey.
The other problem is if lowering the floor puts it below grade ........ you'd want to be sure you had a plenty big drain in there.
A third issue is the frost line - unless the garage is heated all the time you are reducing your foundation depth .... probably not a problem in Texas but in central/southern Ohio it could be an issue.
It's a possibility - but depends ...... if the garage floor is already concreted getting it up and repouring a new floor could be pretty pricey.
The other problem is if lowering the floor puts it below grade ........ you'd want to be sure you had a plenty big drain in there.
A third issue is the frost line - unless the garage is heated all the time you are reducing your foundation depth .... probably not a problem in Texas but in central/southern Ohio it could be an issue.