Build A Garage...cheaply

[erkishhorde]

Your estimate is correct.     I just assumed it was high with out doing the math, my bad.   

Most builders either pin the bales on outside with 1x strapping or pierce the bales (how the rebar was used) with bamboo. 

I'll see if I have any picts of the projects I've worked on.

I saw a guy doing straw bale shear walls for his senior project at Poly but he encased it in concrete. Is this typical? I'd assume so since I can't think of any other ways to handle lateral forces other than to the make the whole thing into a shear wall.

[B.Rock]

I saw a guy doing straw bale shear walls for his senior project at Poly but he encased it in concrete. Is this typical? I'd assume so since I can't think of any other ways to handle lateral forces other than to the make the whole thing into a shear wall.

It's not usually used in CA due to the seismic provisions. CBC has no provision for straw bales, so you'd need to calc and spec the whole thing out.

As far is it being cheap, if you want to add a second floor, make sure you take that into account. Being in a non-seismic area, I'd consider crappy tilt-up type CMU construction.

[Bun-bun]

Economically does it make sense to build a course or two (cinder block) out of the ground so that i can used 8' 2bys? Or is it cheaper to just buy 10' 2 bys.

State of MD abides by IRC, so you'll have to use at least one course of cinderblock, or other nondegradable material to a height of 8" above level ground. This is for termite prevention.
We just pulled a permit for a 12x24 garage we'll start next week. There are a number of fiddly rules regarding garages, so make sure you know how to satisfy the code requirements in your plans.
In my garage, I ran 2x4x10s atop the press.treated sill plate, for a ttl height of 11' 1/2" with a doubled top plate.

[Capo]

Some of the oldest structures in the US are constructed from staw bales

[Jarvicious]

snip
It's more difficult for critters to gnaw their way into the garage, and it's also easier to use my grass trimmer around the perimeter of the building when I mow in the summer.  

Keep us posted on how the project shapes up!  Garages are fun.  

+1.  I'm going to live vicariously through you 

I'd forgotten about the mowing advantage.  It's a small perk, but it's a good one.  I don't remember how they built it in, but my rents poured a 4 inch rat wall when they poured the initial slab.  I don't know the pricing on square yardage of concrete nowadays, but you may look into that as opposed to cinder blocks.  IIRC they used 10' wall lengths on top of the rat wall. 

Since you've already planned on a welding hood, make sure to incorporate the vents and fans into your wall plan. Someone mentioned having steel beams along the cieling for chain winches which might be a good idea if you're planning on storing bikes.  Hell, done right you could use it to lift a car off of an engine if you don't have the lift by the time you and your boy start in on a project.  Also, check the local classifieds frequently for old bread ovens.  If you could get one of the big walk ins in addition to a smaller stove for smaller projects, you could easily start coating frames, tanks, small animals, anything that will powdercoat......

Plan early for pimpage.  After you have the $$, pimp away buddy.  Pimp away. 

[Monsterlover]

Anyone else a member here?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/index.php?

[RB]

all great points!

I actually plan to get a permit for a shed, outbuilding...not sure if that will make a difference in the code here in MD. thanks for the tips

RB

[DesmoDiva]

Not sure about MD codes, but it is much easier to get a permit for a shed than a garage, here in NY.  I know from experiece. 

There may, however, be size restrictions on a shed. 

[B.Rock]

Not sure about MD codes, but it is much easier to get a permit for a shed than a garage, here in NY.  I know from experiece. 

There may, however, be size restrictions on a shed. 

I believe here that caps you at 120 sf.

[RB]

In MD i need a permit for ANY structure over 120sqft.

I am planning a 720sqft structure.

[RB]

A request from my fellow dMFers...
I live in the Baltimore area of Maryland, if you come across a barn, large shed, garage for sale please PM me. After reading a few things online i have seen some amazing stuff done with recycled buildings...barns and metal structures primarily. So i suppose i could drive about 2-3hrs to dismantle a structure, or pick one up to use in my construction.

thanks,
RB

[ducatiz]

Very interesting stuff.

I have been planning to put up a garage for a little while now but I will stick to "conventional" construction, i.e. slab floor, cinderblock walls, etc.  I have been looking at the radiant heating options for a while too, but I am not convinced running hot water is the best way -- one of the solutions runs hot OIL and can use almost any heat source -- the oil system is sealed and a pump pushes the oil thru a coil which can be in a furnace fired by NG, LPG, oil, or even wood.  temperature control is set by a tempering mechanism (a reservoir of un-heated oil) and the speed of the pump.

[the_Journeyman]

Anyone ever tried the used auto-oil heaters?  My local quick-lube & inspection station has one ~

JM

[Howie]

Anyone ever tried the used auto-oil heaters?  My local quick-lube & inspection station has one ~

JM

They ain't what they used to be.  A buddy of mine heats a rather large repair shop, 10 bays on one side, office in the middle, large body shop on the other with waste oil.  Saves him a fortune.

For large spaces
http://www.lanair.com/Lanair2.0/

Cheap DIY
http://www.wasteoilplans.com/

Tons of stuff out there.  The catch for home use is how long will the couple of gallons from your family fleet last?

[ducatiz]

Anyone ever tried the used auto-oil heaters?  My local quick-lube & inspection station has one ~

JM

That is an interesting idea but you need a lot of oil, also all the ones i've seen are messy as hell.