The Jalopy Journal

utah997 · 10-23-2007, 10:05 AM

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 · 10-23-2007, 10:08 AM

deleted.....

PAToyota · 10-23-2007, 10:20 AM

Very nice and quite the feat of engineering!

Welcome to the board!

joecaver · 10-23-2007, 10:27 AM

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 · 10-23-2007, 10:31 AM

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 · 10-23-2007, 10:48 AM

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

toxicz28 · 10-23-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utah997

The real PITA about this was that they had to set up a bunch of "shoring" crap 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 · 10-23-2007, 11:31 AM

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 · 10-23-2007, 11:49 AM

What a backdrop!

bmwpower · 10-23-2007, 12:09 PM

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

wally4232 · 10-23-2007, 12:17 PM

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 · 10-23-2007, 12:30 PM

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 · 10-23-2007, 01:06 PM

deleted.....

utah997 · 10-23-2007, 01:08 PM

deleted....

utah997 · 10-23-2007, 01:10 PM

deleted...

cdrewferd · 10-23-2007, 01:43 PM

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 · 10-23-2007, 02:28 PM

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 · 10-23-2007, 04:16 PM

YOUR THE MAN!!!!!!!!

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

utah997 · 10-23-2007, 05:20 PM

Deleted....

WolverineCoatings · 10-23-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

What a backdrop!

No Doubt! That looks really cool...

10-23-2007, 10:05 AM	#1
utah997 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 241	The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! 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) Last edited by utah997; 01-23-2008 at 04:09 PM.

10-23-2007, 10:08 AM	#2
utah997 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 241	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! deleted..... Last edited by utah997; 01-03-2008 at 09:36 PM.

10-23-2007, 10:20 AM	#3
PAToyota Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Central Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 4,064	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! Very nice and quite the feat of engineering! Welcome to the board!

10-23-2007, 10:27 AM	#4
joecaver Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Dallas, GA Posts: 212	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! 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.

10-23-2007, 10:31 AM	#5
utah997 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 241	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! 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: Last edited by utah997; 01-23-2008 at 04:10 PM.

10-23-2007, 10:48 AM	#6
jhchoppers Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maryville, IL Posts: 130	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! Awsome... Just Awsome. Great use of your space man. __________________ www.jhchoppers.com

10-23-2007, 11:31 AM	#8
bluesman2a Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 1,313	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! 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?

10-23-2007, 11:49 AM	#9
Matt2point4 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 74	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! What a backdrop!

10-23-2007, 12:09 PM	#10
bmwpower Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 12,373	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! What did you do to thwart water from coming into the basement?... water logged time capsule comes to mind. __________________ bmwcca 147895 \| 99 m3 \| 90 535i \| 89 325is \| 04 sienna le awd \| 88 f250 4x4 my garage build \| my wanted list

10-23-2007, 12:17 PM	#11
wally4232 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! I love this and am extremely jealous! I have always wanted tunnels and secret passages ways in my house! Please keep the pics coming!

10-23-2007, 01:06 PM	#13
utah997 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 241	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! deleted..... Last edited by utah997; 01-03-2008 at 09:38 PM.

10-23-2007, 01:08 PM	#14
utah997 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 241	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! deleted.... Last edited by utah997; 01-03-2008 at 09:38 PM.

10-23-2007, 01:10 PM	#15
utah997 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 241	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! deleted... Last edited by utah997; 01-03-2008 at 09:38 PM.

10-23-2007, 01:43 PM	#16
cdrewferd Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 354	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! 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.

10-23-2007, 02:28 PM	#17
WV Firefighter Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: WV Posts: 33	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! 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

10-23-2007, 04:16 PM	#18
strnge Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Millbrae, CA Posts: 497	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! YOUR THE MAN!!!!!!!! Way to get around the rules and figure out another way to get your "man Space"!

10-23-2007, 05:20 PM	#19
utah997 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 241	Re: The "Bunker" garage is almost complete! Deleted.... Last edited by utah997; 01-03-2008 at 09:38 PM.

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