The "Bunker" garage is almost complete!

utah997 · Oct 23, 2007

I started in May of '07 in building a garage on my lot next to my house.

Originally I wanted to put in a second story for some office space, theater room etc. The city nazis put an end to that with their height restrictions, so I decided to do the next best thing, build down.

First, we started by clearing out the RV pad that ran along the side of the house.

Then start digging a big hole

Here you can see the tunnel to the main house

AH! Found the gas line.. I'm sure this whole project is OSHA approved.

Footings

Can't find the pic with all the forms built up, it was a huge mess, here's the final foundation.

After a 2.5 month wait, we finally get steel delivered.

(I'm skipping all the drama here, and we were out of town for two weeks when the B-decking went down over the beams, and the rebar reinforced concrete was poured over the beams)

Framing

Ah yes.. the drama with the power. We had to completely destroy the front yard to run 400 amp service to the house, and then across the yard again to the garage. (wife was thrilled)

utah997 · Oct 23, 2007

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PAToyota · Oct 23, 2007

Very nice and quite the feat of engineering!

Welcome to the board!

joecaver · Oct 23, 2007

It's good to see a more in depth set of pictures then you have posted in CFOT. I have enjoyed watching the progress you've been making on this. And OMG the view behind your home is just beautiful.

utah997 · Oct 23, 2007

Getting a new driveway poured...

Inside garage sheetrock pics

Workbench area, wired for TV in the corner

Some of the work being done in the theater room (under the driveway)

Fast Forward.. here's how everything looks today.. all these were taken this afternoon

Out front

Side door.

Inside, paint job just finished...

Mofo t-5 lights man, way small but we have 7 banks of the six lights in there, it's like a freakin' operating room man.. very bright

Workbench area

Heater for the 5 degree days in Utah man <shiver>

And now.. downstairs in the "bunker" area, this is the door in the garage just to the right of the workbench area that leads downstairs. This is the door that I wanted to put a coke machine in front of. <still working on that>

Down the staircase...

A pic of the main area directly under the garage, all set up to be a home gym.

A shot to the left, room on the right is the office, on the left is a bathroom.

A look down the hall to the home theater room

Inside the theater

All the mofo home automation wiring. I seriously don't even know what half of it is for..

Storage room

From the main house, looking down the secret tunnel

Around the corner and down into the bunker

That's it so far..

About 1,200 sq feet of garage space, and about 2,350 of space underneath.

:thumbs:

jhchoppers · Oct 23, 2007

Awsome... Just Awsome. Great use of your space man.

toxicz28 · Oct 23, 2007

utah997 said:
The real PITA about this was that they had to set up a bunch of "shoring" **** up in the basement (about $8k worth if memory serves) Just a pain.

What gauge decking did they use? Was it welded to the beams, or shot with a nail gun? Did they shoot shear studs into the beams? What did they shore up, and why? I'm guessing it's temporary. Just not sure of why they did it. Nice build BTW.

bluesman2a · Oct 23, 2007

GREAT build!!!

I have a couple of questions though, if you don't mind?

1) Why go down? Did you truly want a "bunker" (which I think is COOL)? I admire the different approach.
2) Surely a second story would have been more cost effective, were there other considerations as to why not go that direction?
3) What's with the "windows" here?

Matt2point4 · Oct 23, 2007

What a backdrop!

bmwpower · Oct 23, 2007

What did you do to thwart water from coming into the basement?... water logged time capsule comes to mind.

wally4232 · Oct 23, 2007

I love this and am extremely jealous! I have always wanted tunnels and secret passages ways in my house! Please keep the pics coming!

boiler7904 · Oct 23, 2007

Looks good. Can't wait to see more pics.

I'm surprised they couldn't do directional boring or a less invasive trench to pull the power across the yard.

Aside from an understanding wife, you must have very understanding neighbors - especially the one on that side of your house.

utah997 · Oct 23, 2007

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utah997 · Oct 23, 2007

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utah997 · Oct 23, 2007

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cdrewferd · Oct 23, 2007

Awesome progress. I am very interested in how this turs out. I have always thought of doing a large garage over a basement as then you have a lot more space that nobody knows about.

WV Firefighter · Oct 23, 2007

This is about the coolest thing I've seen in a while!

One question: Did you consider the use of pre-stressed concrete instead of all the steel?

Andy

strnge · Oct 23, 2007

YOUR THE MAN!!!!!!!!

Way to get around the rules and figure out another way to get your "man Space"!

utah997 · Oct 23, 2007

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WolverineCoatings · Oct 23, 2007

What a backdrop!

No Doubt! That looks really cool...

Jay H 237 · Oct 23, 2007

I would vote this one of the coolest builds I've seen on here! :bowdown:

What are your plans on finishing the interior of the tunnel? How far will the roof of the tunnel be under the grade (lawn) ?

You might be able to make a nice wine celler under there too!

utah997 · Oct 23, 2007

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Namocsid · Oct 23, 2007

DAMN! It's a shame I didn't see this before I started my build! Now I want a tunnel!!

Too cool!

Stig · Oct 23, 2007

Very cool ideas & execution.
Please keep the pictures coming

bmwpower · Oct 24, 2007

utah997 said:
There will actually be a basketball court/patio over the tunnel. It will be poured directly on top of the exsisting concrete ceiling of the tunnel.

From the house, there is going to be a bookcase that you can open by pulling down on a book. As soon as the book is pulled, it will turn the lights on in the hallway/tunnel. It will be framed, sheetrocked and painted just like any other hallway in the home. Ideally you wouldn't even know you were underground except for the lack of windows in there.

Didn't know you could ACTUALLY buy a bookcase like that. Why so secret?

wythors · Oct 24, 2007

bmwpower said:
Didn't know you could ACTUALLY buy a bookcase like that. Why so secret?

Because he can. :bowdown:

sam2145871 · Oct 24, 2007

Ok, so where in the heck do you get a bookcase like that...I want one...even if doesn't go anywhere, lol.

David Ferguson · Oct 24, 2007

Why at hiddendoors.com of course.

BlueEyeDevil · Oct 24, 2007

I saw a show on the home and garden channel that was nothing but secret passageways and hidden doors in various houses. Some were pretty crazy and well laid out.

Bubbles · Oct 24, 2007

dam thats cool

CRAZYASTRO · Oct 24, 2007

OMG that project is awesome!! God, would I love to have a secret tunnel into a floor underneath my garage....

Very NICE!!! I'll keep checking ths thread...

Chris

utah997 · Oct 24, 2007

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Jononon · Oct 24, 2007

Will there be a ground level concrete wall between the spiral staircase and the garage ? Sorry to be a naysayer, a secret lair is a very cool idea, but I would want to be really sure there was no possibility of flammables making their way from the garage to the living area :shocking:

There's a reason garages have steps from them to the house, and it's not to ensure your wife trips on her way to the dryer...

Matt2point4 · Oct 24, 2007

"I will be able to pull into the garage, down the staircase, through the tunnel and into the house without getting in the weather."

Changing out of your Batman costume on the way, I assume

utah997 · Oct 24, 2007

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utah997 · Oct 24, 2007

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noyu · Oct 24, 2007

WoW! What a masterpiece!

I think the cost on building that is not far from building a house of the same size! LOL!

Anyway, its a dream to have such a garage and keep the pics coming.

I have a question: when you mean you have to have some windows to comply the code how did you finish the outside of those two windows?

I see galvanized window well in those poics but looks like the windows are about 8 to 10 feet below grade do you have to build something to support the soil around the winodw well or this is fine the way it is?

I can't imagine what's looks like when its finished! :thumbup:

Jononon · Oct 24, 2007

utah997 said:
The spiral is completely encased in concrete, and there will be a firewall in an "L" shape around the entrance to it in the garage. Once you see the final pics you will understand that it won't be an issue.

Great project !

utah997 · Oct 24, 2007

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utah997 · Oct 24, 2007

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The "Bunker" garage is almost complete!

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