Here's a progress update on the detached garage build.
I've been busy doing build site preparation while working with a draftsman on the plans. My goal for site preparation is to get a decently level area that includes the building footprint and in addition 20 foot concrete aprons in front of the drive-in doors. The vast majority of the building foundation will be set directly in the untouched rock that underlies the ridgeline. The NE corner and entrance aprons are on fill obtained by cutting away the rock and dirt that makeup the ridgetop. I only have a John Deere compact tractor but so far it has been able to breakup/cut through most of the rock.
The parking apron on the down sloping side of the build site is where the vast majority of fill has gone.
I've also been able to source fill material from the gravel drive leading to the build site. My objective there is to minimize the slope driving up the hill to get to the garage. So far I've lowered the crest by about 4 feet.
There is a natural rock formation/outcropping that I'm planning to retain for the character it adds to the landscape. It looks like I'll need to remove a chunk of the lower portion in order to be able to navigate long wheelbase vehicles to the big garage door. I'm slowly cutting away around the rock formation so it doesn't get damaged in the process. Then it's a matter of finding existing cracks in the portion to be removed and coaxing stone chunks to separate out with a large hammer and chisel.
Now for the plans. These are now ready for submittal to the building permit process. Fortunately, the build site is out in the county so the review is only for building code type stuff. There is no architectural review or neighbor approval involved. The biggest hang-up in getting the plans completed was the truss design. I wanted to run an "I" beam down the center of the structure for a chain hoist. We had to do a few rounds with the truss designer to get it done. The "I" beam will be supported every 24 inches from a truss and I'm confident none of my engines are heavy enough to put any real strain on the trusses.
The walls are going to be concrete blocks and the large doors will be rollups. I put an equipment room off the end of the building for keeping the air compressor noise down. I decided to do the mezzanine as a standalone structure within the building shell. That way if someone down the road wants to park a 45 foot RV in this garage, they can just remove the mezzanine and be good to go.
Now for the wait on the wheels of the government permit review/approval to turn. I'm told this part can be anywhere from 2 to 3 months these days.
I've been busy doing build site preparation while working with a draftsman on the plans. My goal for site preparation is to get a decently level area that includes the building footprint and in addition 20 foot concrete aprons in front of the drive-in doors. The vast majority of the building foundation will be set directly in the untouched rock that underlies the ridgeline. The NE corner and entrance aprons are on fill obtained by cutting away the rock and dirt that makeup the ridgetop. I only have a John Deere compact tractor but so far it has been able to breakup/cut through most of the rock.

The parking apron on the down sloping side of the build site is where the vast majority of fill has gone.

I've also been able to source fill material from the gravel drive leading to the build site. My objective there is to minimize the slope driving up the hill to get to the garage. So far I've lowered the crest by about 4 feet.

There is a natural rock formation/outcropping that I'm planning to retain for the character it adds to the landscape. It looks like I'll need to remove a chunk of the lower portion in order to be able to navigate long wheelbase vehicles to the big garage door. I'm slowly cutting away around the rock formation so it doesn't get damaged in the process. Then it's a matter of finding existing cracks in the portion to be removed and coaxing stone chunks to separate out with a large hammer and chisel.

Now for the plans. These are now ready for submittal to the building permit process. Fortunately, the build site is out in the county so the review is only for building code type stuff. There is no architectural review or neighbor approval involved. The biggest hang-up in getting the plans completed was the truss design. I wanted to run an "I" beam down the center of the structure for a chain hoist. We had to do a few rounds with the truss designer to get it done. The "I" beam will be supported every 24 inches from a truss and I'm confident none of my engines are heavy enough to put any real strain on the trusses.



The walls are going to be concrete blocks and the large doors will be rollups. I put an equipment room off the end of the building for keeping the air compressor noise down. I decided to do the mezzanine as a standalone structure within the building shell. That way if someone down the road wants to park a 45 foot RV in this garage, they can just remove the mezzanine and be good to go.
Now for the wait on the wheels of the government permit review/approval to turn. I'm told this part can be anywhere from 2 to 3 months these days.