Alaskan Garage Mahal

Alaskossie · Aug 21, 2009

Alaskan Garage Mahal

I have been generally lurking on this forum, getting good advice but not passing much the other way. I finally have something to show off -- my dream garage is taking shape, where I can get my machines out of the long Alaskan winter and take them apart and put them back together again, without being forced to leave the daily drivers out in the cold.

We broke ground in mid-June, and today got the concrete poured for the main floor. The garage is designed to coordinate with our existing house in Anchorage (built 1981), a non-negotiable condition of my wife. It is built into a hillside with a 28% slope, so the architect (Steve Bull of Seattle) put a woodshop and “storage” (actually a guest bedroom and library) on the lower floor, and the drive-in garage bays on the main, upper floor.

We live on the hillside in south Anchorage, about 600 feet above sea level. So all spaces in the garage will have west-facing windows with killer views -- the Alaska Range, Mt. McKinley (Denali), the volcanoes down the Alaska Peninsula, and the whole city of Anchorage in the foreground.

There will be a mezzanine above the two car bays, and these bays will be deep and high enough to take four cars on two lifts, with space for two more drive-in/drive-out cars. The high bay, with high door and no mezzanine, will accommodate any one of my three ex-military trucks, where there will be a 2-post lift and space for a workbench.

There is a half-bath and a shop sink on the main floor, accessible from the bottom floor guest room via a wide stairway. (Due to the lack of gravity flow to the existing house septic system, there is no toilet, sink or shower on the lower floor).

The main floor is approximately 36 feet x 51.5 feet; the lower floor is 16 feet by 51.5 feet; and the mezzanine is 22 feet by 23 feet, plus a 20.5 x 6-foot leg. Total square footage is main floor: 1848 square feet; lower floor: 855 square feet; and mezzanine: 761 square feet, total 3464 square feet.

The foundation is block on concrete footings, the lower walls are block and 2x8s; the upper walls are 2x8s. Total building height of the main level above grade, with a shed-roof profile matching the house, is 22 feet.

I’ll try to post some photos of where the construction stands now. If I am not successful, I’ll try to post some photos later, after I get it right.

jonny01blaze · Aug 21, 2009

Another Bunker style! Nice work so far!

TRC51 · Aug 21, 2009

Wow... that is pretty sweet. I don't know why, but I have always liked hillside garages with functional "basement" or walk-out type spaces. Going to be a great space for sure.

Pointbock · Aug 24, 2009

Alaskossie said:
Alaskan Garage Mahal

We live on the hillside in south Anchorage, about 600 feet above sea level. So all spaces in the garage will have west-facing windows with killer views -- the Alaska Range, Mt. McKinley (Denali), the volcanoes down the Alaska Peninsula, and the whole city of Anchorage in the foreground.

he doesn't mention the frequently "breezy" conditions

looking good (from another guy in the 907)

petemarkey · Sep 21, 2009

Any updates? this looks awesome....

Alaskossie · Sep 22, 2009

An update? Things are moving along really well -- this has been a great summer for construction in Anchorage -- it has rained only a few days, not enough to slow construction at all.

The floors were cast, the walls are up, the steel I-beam over the high bay is in, the roof is closed in (the metal roofing is to be installed Wednesday), and the translucent plastic Polygal glazing is on site. The photos show where the Polygal will go -- at the front above the mezzanine, and along both sides. There is also a strip a the back, not visible in the photos.

The height and volume of the interior spaces still amaze me; I'm not sure I needed all of that height, but it gives a really nice-sized storage mezzanine, and the feeling of space in the high bay will really be nice.

i have attached some recent photos. Beautiful autumn colors up here, and you can get a hint of the views that the garage will offer when finished.

nate379 · Sep 22, 2009

They dug all the way to the frost line for your footings?

Alaskossie · Sep 22, 2009

The footings went below the frost line (which is about 5 feet). I have a lower floor on the garage, which is a "storage area" (actually a guest bedroom) and a wood shop).

We had to design it this way because the main floor of the garage rests on the crest of a ridge that slopes off at 28 degrees.

nate379 · Sep 22, 2009

How is your frost line that shallow? It is 10-12 feet here in the valley!

So the guest room is sort of below ground, is that correct?

Hillside is a nice place, but the roads getting up there and some of the driveways are just nuts. I'd rather not have to chain up everyday to get home or leave.

Alaskossie · Sep 22, 2009

Correction -- the slope I built on is 28 percent, not 28 degrees.

The drawings show the footings going a minimum of 3 ft. 6 inches below finished grade at the top and bottom of the slope; deeper in the middle where the back wall of the lower room is. The "basement" rooms are actually daylight basement, opening up to the lower toe of the slope. The natural soil is well-drained gravel, almost like D-1 aggregate. We certainly don't have to go 10 to 12 feet to get below frost line up on the hillside behind Anchorage.

Winter access up on the Hillside is not really a problem -- I have four 4WD vehicles, a 6WD, and an 8WD -- those are some of the reasons for the garage! For a number of winters, I made it up to the house and down with just front-wheel-drive. You just have to think ahead.

BigRed390 · Sep 22, 2009

Alaskossie said:
a 6WD, and an 8WD --

Pics? Never seen an example of that last one!!! :drool:

Alaskossie · Sep 22, 2009

BigRed,
Not to get too far off track, but attached are photos of my most heavy-duty 4WD (a 1980 Mercedes Benz Unimog 406 ex-German AF aircraft tug with 22-ton towing capacity), my 1975 Volvo 6WD, and my 1990 MWG Esarco 8X8. The Esarco is one of only 4 made (and 3 surviving), is Land-Rover based, and has 8WD and 4-wheel steering.

The high bay of the new garage will only be large enough to contain one of these at a time while undergoing restoration, so a covered storage area beside the garage is being planned for next year.

nate379 · Sep 22, 2009

!

If you are ever not busy on a weekend or something let me know, I'd like to see those rigs in person!

Does that 'mog have a plow setup on it? I have seen one in Anchorage before, I know there can't been too many of them around.

It is all gravel here too. I live about 2 miles from the big gravel pit off the Glenn (Granite Construction). Anchorage doesn't get as cold in the winter and no crazy wind so I wonder if that plays into it?

cyclopsblown34 · Sep 22, 2009

Cool build and even cooler toys.

NUTTSGT · Sep 22, 2009

cyclopsblown34 said:
Cool build and even cooler toys.

I have to agree with that post.

Old61 · Sep 22, 2009

That's coming along nice. Love the rides too.

Alaskossie · Nov 20, 2009

Latest update is that the interior insulation is in place, and the radiant heat has been on for 3 days and is gradually bringing the floor slabs up to "operating" temperature. Since it has been five degrees F or below here in Anchorage for the past 10 days, we had to run a 200,000 BTU "Herman Nelson" space heater and a big fan in the garage for a week, before we dared to fill the radiant heat coils with water and start them circulating. The carbon monoxide got pretty heavy....

The standing-seam metal roof is on, and the Tyvek exterior covering will stay that way until it is warm enough in the Spring to install the Hardiboard siding that matches the house.

As soon as we get some interior sheetrock done, the garage door motors can go in, and I will be able to store a few cars inside for the winter. The concrete floors are not finished with any type of coating yet; still trying to decide what would be best (and most cost-effective).

Anyway, there's some visible progress here, as the attached photos show. Much to my wife's chagrin, the garage sort of dominates the house....

BTW, that last photo (telephoto view) shows, left to right, Mt. Foraker (17,400'), Mt. Hunter (14,573'), and Mt. McKinley (20,320') in the Alaska Range, 175 straight-line miles away on our northwestern horizon. Not a bad view at all, from a garage......

Lippyp · Nov 20, 2009

You can see the landrover heritage in that Esarco, those look like standard defender doors and a defender roof!

jj3 · Nov 20, 2009

Oh my, what a view and what toys. #1 Jealous man here.

12valve · Nov 20, 2009

man those toys are awesome

OUNATE · Nov 20, 2009

Awesome garage, toys, view....

strnge · Nov 20, 2009

Nice! I grew up in Bayshore in Anchorage. When he says he has a view, he's not kidding. It is outstanding up there. I loved climbing flat top hill. Keep the photos comming.

Mike

nate379 · Nov 20, 2009

Not too many places in Alaska that don't have a nice view... even in "Los Anchorage" :lol_hitti

jj3 said:
Oh my, what a view and what toys. #1 Jealous man here.

sasquach · Nov 20, 2009

Why not make all the doors big enough to fit your cool toys ?

Alaskossie · Nov 20, 2009

Sasquach wrote:

--Why not make all the doors big enough to fit your cool toys ?--

One main reason: I would have had to eliminate the large mezzanine storage area above the shorter garage doors. I need the storage area!

As it is, I will be able to store four cars on racks, plus two more cars, in the two shorter-door areas.

(There is a garage door on the lower, downhill level where my woodshop will be. This is not for cars, but for large projects like bookcases, sheets of plywood, pianos, etc.)

There was no way I could afford a garage big enough to hold all three of my big trucks (my original plans showed two tall bays, but one was eliminated to reduce the overall cost of the garage).

I have future plans for outside covered storage for two of the trucks adjacent to the garage; the third will live inside.

sasquach · Nov 20, 2009

Got ya . I didn,t even notice the storeage area , sorry about that. I agree ya definately need that. Post pics of projects when you get started .

NUTTSGT · Nov 21, 2009

Still looking good.

embludenslob · Nov 15, 2010

Any updates on this garage build? It's been a year since last post, would like to the the finished product if you have one. great view and good looking build.

PAToyota · Nov 15, 2010

Alaskossie said:
Not to get too far off track, but attached are photos of my .....

Alaskossie · Aug 10, 2011

I apologize for turning into a recluse on this thread. It's been nine months since someone asked how my garage project was going, and I failed to respond until now.

My 3500 square foot hillside garage/woodshop/guest room was closed in in late 2009, and the exterior siding and interior work were finished by April of 2010. What has taken me so long is to actually move into the garage, getting all of my tools and car parts (and cars) out of the existing 2-car garage and the basement, putting up lots of storage shelves, hanging pictures on the wall (still haven't done that!), installing the 2-post lift and the two car-storage lifts (ditto), finishing off the downstairs guest room with shelves and a wood stove (working on that now), installing basic sound systems in four rooms, getting the woodworking room set up, installing a central air compressor and air lines, installing work benches upstairs and downstairs etc. etc.

It really has surprised me how little free time I have had to get these move-in tasks done over the past year, with work and travel competing for my time. It is not so stressful to be able to take your time and think things through before starting off in one direction or another with the garage, but this trait can be taken to an extreme, i. e., no action at all.

Here are some photos of my garage as finished and empty, and in its present, partly-moved-in condition. I'll be happy to answer any questions (without a months-long wait).

Alaskossie · Aug 10, 2011

I exceeded the limit on number of photos. Here are two more that I intended to send.

Scuderia-F1 · Aug 10, 2011

Thats an impressive shop, and big thumbs up for the Volvo! :thumbup:

JMURiz · Aug 10, 2011

Fantastic inside and out, great looking building that works with the house.

fergus · Aug 10, 2011

Unimog, Caterham, old Volvo, 8x8, 6x6 and a Porsche in the same place? :drool:

Do you need to adopt a 30-something son?

Alaskossie · Aug 10, 2011

Scuderdia-F1,

That Volvo is a 122S with B-20 engine (last year of production), a one-owner car with 35k miles on it..thanks for the compliment.

Alaskossie · Aug 10, 2011

fergus,

Don't neglect the 1995 Ford ****** Cosworth 4X4 rally car (with a 2.2 litre turbo engine tuned to 378 hp) ..... seriously, though, I've already got two 30-something sons....

scott37300 · Aug 10, 2011

Amazing shop and even more amzing toys!

green.bubbly · Aug 10, 2011

Ummm... can I say that you ****.

I just removed all the pictures I had posted of my little 24x24.

I love the design and layout. Not sure if I missed it but what are you doing with the area above the garage door overhangs?

Munich77 · Aug 10, 2011

Wow that is an awesome garage with a great number of toys!

pontifex4 · Aug 11, 2011

Nice 951. And 7. I was beginning to worry that you didn't like wheel spin.

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