New garage, just have to tell someone!
12-27-2005, 08:27 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
New garage, just have to tell someone!
I'm pretty excited today! I closed on the purchase of a new-to-me workshop.
It's just a few miles from my house. The main structure is 40 x 60 with a 10 x 17 front addition. There's one large overhead door, a small bathroom, and perhaps the best feature of all, A PIT!
The building was originally built in 1933 as a gas station. It's built of brick, steel roof trusses, has a pitched steel roof, a combo oil/wood furnace, and no insulation. During the 60's and 70's it had many different uses, then from 1983 to the present it was owned by a good friend of mine. He used it for his business repairing foreign auto's.
I've consulted with an environmental engineer, done a title search, checked with the town on various issues, and everything checks out fine.
I ended up purchasing it for $100K, just about what the tax value is on it, and the seller is holding a mortgage for me.
I can't wait to get in there and add some insulation, a new floor, some dividing walls, etc... This will be the perfect building for my storage needs, woodworking shop, and auto repair/storage. Having heated "guy space" like this in Maine is a real luxury, I'm very lucky.
I'll post a pic sometime.
It's just a few miles from my house. The main structure is 40 x 60 with a 10 x 17 front addition. There's one large overhead door, a small bathroom, and perhaps the best feature of all, A PIT!
The building was originally built in 1933 as a gas station. It's built of brick, steel roof trusses, has a pitched steel roof, a combo oil/wood furnace, and no insulation. During the 60's and 70's it had many different uses, then from 1983 to the present it was owned by a good friend of mine. He used it for his business repairing foreign auto's.
I've consulted with an environmental engineer, done a title search, checked with the town on various issues, and everything checks out fine.
I ended up purchasing it for $100K, just about what the tax value is on it, and the seller is holding a mortgage for me.
I can't wait to get in there and add some insulation, a new floor, some dividing walls, etc... This will be the perfect building for my storage needs, woodworking shop, and auto repair/storage. Having heated "guy space" like this in Maine is a real luxury, I'm very lucky.
I'll post a pic sometime.
12-27-2005, 08:34 PM
#2
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pics, pics....
Good for you. Now, listen to the
Rennlist Garage-shop consultants !
(wonder what it's like working indoors, no
slush trickling down ones back ?)
G'luck.
Good for you. Now, listen to the
Rennlist Garage-shop consultants !
(wonder what it's like working indoors, no
slush trickling down ones back ?)
G'luck.
12-27-2005, 08:40 PM
#3
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Wow....sounds great! How far is Benton from the Northport area? Have an uncle who owns several properties there....it's a fantastic place/state!
best
Joe
best
Joe
12-27-2005, 10:04 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
Greg.............thats excellent. If you require some 'advice' on the retro let me know.............we coverted the horse barn 36x60 into a full insulated shop.
Search for a previous thread on lifts and concrete thickness; could advice there!
Search for a previous thread on lifts and concrete thickness; could advice there!
... now, just wait and see the 928 guys flock in for beer time 
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12-27-2005, 10:17 PM
#8
Racer
Thread Starter
No slush as long as I let the car dry off before I climb in the pit!
Joe - Northport is on the coast just South of Belfast. Benton is just about due West of Belfast 40 minutes and a beautiful drive on curvy, hilly roads through very rural areas.
Malcolm - I've got a pretty good handle on the construction/renovation end of things, but thanks for the offer. I've been in the construction business for 18 years now. Cutting edge stuff, super-insulation, radiant floor heating, monolithic slab foundations, frost-protected foundations, heat-recovery ventilation systems, etc...
I'm planning on adding 2" of polystyrene and a new concrete floor over the old concrete floor, and radiant floor heating. I'm also planning to pitch the concrete to drains around the pit so I can have my own car wash (I have to keep it hush hush though). There's a secret drain out of the pit to a underground tank out back.
I'll try to get some pictures soon.
Joe - Northport is on the coast just South of Belfast. Benton is just about due West of Belfast 40 minutes and a beautiful drive on curvy, hilly roads through very rural areas.
Malcolm - I've got a pretty good handle on the construction/renovation end of things, but thanks for the offer. I've been in the construction business for 18 years now. Cutting edge stuff, super-insulation, radiant floor heating, monolithic slab foundations, frost-protected foundations, heat-recovery ventilation systems, etc...
I'm planning on adding 2" of polystyrene and a new concrete floor over the old concrete floor, and radiant floor heating. I'm also planning to pitch the concrete to drains around the pit so I can have my own car wash (I have to keep it hush hush though). There's a secret drain out of the pit to a underground tank out back.
I'll try to get some pictures soon.
12-27-2005, 10:32 PM
#9
Racer
Thread Starter
Heinrich - any and all 928 owners will be welcome in my shop. We'll pull the MB out and bring the 928 right inside to warm up beside a brother. Beer will be in the fridge.
12-28-2005, 08:03 PM
#10
Race Director
Greg
Be careful of the pit when cars are running....I've heard storys of non vented pits holding enough CO to cause CO poisioning.... Its probably fine since it was used as a repair shop...but just be aware!
It does sound sweet! Have to post some before and after pics to see when your done!
Be careful of the pit when cars are running....I've heard storys of non vented pits holding enough CO to cause CO poisioning.... Its probably fine since it was used as a repair shop...but just be aware!
It does sound sweet! Have to post some before and after pics to see when your done!
12-28-2005, 08:45 PM
#11
Racer
Thread Starter
Funny you should mention that . . .
My friend who owned the shop for 23 years came down with CO poisoning. It's what took him out of commission and the reason he's selling!
I've talked to him about it and he said that he was very careful to always have a hose on the cars when they were running. He's sure that most of his problems came from working the pits at the races and not from his shop.
But CO poisoning is something that I'm keenly aware of. I suppose while I'm renovating that I could provide some ventilation to the pit?
My friend who owned the shop for 23 years came down with CO poisoning. It's what took him out of commission and the reason he's selling!
I've talked to him about it and he said that he was very careful to always have a hose on the cars when they were running. He's sure that most of his problems came from working the pits at the races and not from his shop.
But CO poisoning is something that I'm keenly aware of. I suppose while I'm renovating that I could provide some ventilation to the pit?
12-28-2005, 11:32 PM
#12
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by greg928s4
Malcolm - I've got a pretty good handle on the construction/renovation end of things, but thanks for the offer. I've been in the construction business for 18 years now. Cutting edge stuff, super-insulation, radiant floor heating, monolithic slab foundations, frost-protected foundations, heat-recovery ventilation systems, etc...
Require all thoughts on conversion to a full 'modern' insulated shop.
thx.................Malcolm
12-29-2005, 07:42 AM
#13
Racer
Thread Starter
Malcolm, glad to.
The key to any good building, especially in a cold climate, is in two things, the foundation and the roof. That's where I would pay the most attention.
What type of foundation does the building currently have? What are all the dimensions of the building? Spacing of posts? Roof structure? Detailed answers please.
Feel free to email me gregroberts@adelphia.net
The key to any good building, especially in a cold climate, is in two things, the foundation and the roof. That's where I would pay the most attention.
What type of foundation does the building currently have? What are all the dimensions of the building? Spacing of posts? Roof structure? Detailed answers please.
Feel free to email me gregroberts@adelphia.net
12-29-2005, 11:37 AM
#14
Rennlist Member
Greg.............thank you, I'll be emailing soon.
To answer the immediate questions; no foundation...dirt, dimensions are 36'x60',roof structure metal over 'A' frames (I think).
If I get this project complete in the spring perhaps I can get the S4 a brother..............GT!
To answer the immediate questions; no foundation...dirt, dimensions are 36'x60',roof structure metal over 'A' frames (I think).
If I get this project complete in the spring perhaps I can get the S4 a brother..............GT!
12-29-2005, 11:45 AM
#15
Race Director
Originally Posted by greg928s4
Funny you should mention that . . .
My friend who owned the shop for 23 years came down with CO poisoning. It's what took him out of commission and the reason he's selling!
I've talked to him about it and he said that he was very careful to always have a hose on the cars when they were running. He's sure that most of his problems came from working the pits at the races and not from his shop.
But CO poisoning is something that I'm keenly aware of. I suppose while I'm renovating that I could provide some ventilation to the pit?
My friend who owned the shop for 23 years came down with CO poisoning. It's what took him out of commission and the reason he's selling!
I've talked to him about it and he said that he was very careful to always have a hose on the cars when they were running. He's sure that most of his problems came from working the pits at the races and not from his shop.
But CO poisoning is something that I'm keenly aware of. I suppose while I'm renovating that I could provide some ventilation to the pit?
If you just use the shop as a hobby and aren't driving cars over the pit multiple times a day...I'm sure a simple vent will work...it doesn't take much CO to fill a conventional pit....its pretty easy to get a CO meter down there too...