Treated Lumber Cracking

Posted on by Tim Carter

Treated Lumber Cracking - STOP Cracks By Using Great Sealer Below

Treated lumber cracking happens because water soaks into the wood. The wood swells creating stress within the wood's cellular structure. When the water evaporates, the wood shrinks. This movement causes tension forces that start to tear the lumber apart.

The cracks you see are the visible signs of this tearing apart of the wood fibers. This is why wood is classified as a hygroscopic material.

How Can I STOP the Treated Lumber Cracking?

You stop cracking by keeping water out of the lumber. I do this using Cabot Australian Timber Oil. Please purchase it using the link below since I'm helping you save your treated lumber. Thank you in advance. You can also reciprocate by subscribing to my FREE newsletter.

boat dock sealer stain

CLICK or TAP HERE or the can to have this delivered to your home. This is the product I use on my boat dock that gets punishing sun and weather.

Why Do The Cracks Get Deeper and Wider?

The cracks get deeper and wider because they allow water to soak deeper into the wood. This acts like a wedge splitting apart firewood.

If the Wood is Cracked, Should I Fill It?

Yes, you should fill and sand the wood cracks before sealing the wood. Use this premium exterior wood filler:

 

Alta Norway Mudslide

Posted on by Tim Carter

Alta Norway Mudslide - Often Disaster Can be Predicted

The tragedy of the eight houses being swept into the ocean may have been prevented. Norway has quick clays and they are not very strong soils.

There could be historical data that told of other past mudslides in this area. Geologic mapping might identify them as you see below.

You can also look at geology maps like this and get a clue based on rock formations that have a history of landslides:

This is a copy of a United States Geologic Survey (USGS) geologic topographic map of the East End of Cincinnati, OH. The downtown area would be just to the left of what you see. The Kope and Lower Fairview formations are the light pink rock just above the magenta alluvium that's north of the Ohio River. (C) Copyright 2017 USGS and every US taxpayer that owns the maps. CLICK  HERE or THE IMAGE TO BUY GEOLOGIC MAPS FOR YOUR AREA.

How Can I Buy Land That Doesn't Slide?

Here's a checklist to use to help identify towns, cities, or land that might be susceptible to mudslides and landslides:

  1. Stop by firehouses and talk to older firefighters or the watch captain. Ask about slides.
  2. Do a simple search online using "your town mudslide" or "your town landslide".
  3. Call excavation contractors in the area. Ask about unstable soils.
  4. Hire a geotechnical engineer to render an opinion. CLICK HERE to get FREE QUOTES from one in your area.
landslides in sensitive clays

Order this book to discover more. CLICK OR TAP HERE.

June 4, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Welcome! You might have signed on as a new subscriber in the past few days. I reserve this space just for you. I’m so glad you’re here! Get ready to discover lots of great money and time-saving tips.

You, though, may be one of my older subscribers. Mind you, I’m not saying you’re extra crispy or a burnt cinder. I’m referring to the fact you might have been receiving this newsletter for so long that you remember my past video series about how easy it is to install a laminate floor.

I’m talking cave-man simple! CLICK or TAP HERE to watch a few short videos that will give you all the confidence you need to save hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

Song of This Issue

I feel music can really relieve stress. That’s why I listen to it while I compose this newsletter. I'll bet you'd never ever think a Philharmonic Orchestra would play this song! CLICK or TAP HERE and guess what kind of mood I might be in right now. You’ll not be disappointed!

Fog of Complacency - STORM Season!

As I write this, Tropical Storm Cristobal is swirling and churning in the southern Gulf of Mexico. You may be unaware and buffing your fingernails.
Tropical Storm Cristobal Weather Map

Here’s a question for you: How important is your home to your local fire department?

CLICK or TAP HERE for the sobering answer. You’ll regret not reading this short column, and I invite comments if you’ve suffered from a major storm at your home. What you share could help others avoid your bitter experience.

Can You Have a Cool Roof?

In the past week, I conducted a test to show how the color of the roofing material you choose can make a significant difference in the surface temperature of your roof.

metal roof color temperature

I think you’re going to be stunned at the DIFFERENCE in temperature between certain colors. I know I was surprised.

CLICK or TAP HERE and prepare yourself. If you’re about to purchase a new metal or asphalt shingle roof, you MUST CLICK HERE.

Painting Vinyl Shutters

Do you have faded vinyl shutters like these?

painting shutters

The good news is you can paint them should you be in the mood for a color change. There are also vinyl-restoration liquids, but these have to be reapplied every so often to maintain the luster you see once the spray has first dried.

Painting the shutters can give you longer-lasting results, especially if you use the paint I’m about to tell you about. CLICK or TAP HERE and you’ll have the best looking shutters on your street in no time.

Start Small Engines, First Pull Each Time

Last week, I sold an extra chain saw I had laying around. The buyer and I got into a short conversation about how to make sure the engine would start first pull each time.

A few years ago, I had the good fortune to be invited to the world headquarters of Briggs & Stratton. They make quite a few small engines and if you treat them right, they can last many years.

I had a meeting with one of the top engineers and he shared what you have to do to make sure your small engine not only starts each time you need it, but starts on the first pull!

I decided I had to share this knowledge because I know I’ve been frustrated as the dickens in the past pulling and pulling and cursing like a drunken sailor at my old lawnmower.

CLICK or TAP HERE and you’ll never curse again - at least not at your lawnmower or other small engines.

Penny Wise Pound Foolish

A few days ago, I saw a comment at the bottom of one of my columns where I suggested using Grace Ice & Watershield over the entire roof of a home.

The person identified himself as a builder and said, “...that would cost at least $1,500 on the average home!”

I responded, “It’s a one-time expense. Tell me how much it’s going to cost to repair all the future water leaks that might happen because you decided to cheap out?”

Microphone drop …

That’s more than enough for a Thursday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Certified Organic Clean - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Man - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Do you want to clean your vinyl siding? Are you thinking of using a pressure washer?

CLICK or TAP HERE and see what can go wrong.

Newsletter Music Maggie May

Posted on by Tim Carter

Newsletter Music Maggie May

Maggie May was featured in the June 4, 2020, AsktheBuilder.com newsletter. It's a performance Rod Stewart did with part of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2019. CLICK or TAP HERE to read all past AsktheBuilder.com newsletters.

CLICK or TAP HERE to listen to all the music featured in past AsktheBuilder.com newsletters.

Maggie May by Rod Stewart

Stain Solver, the best and most powerful certified organic cleaner on Earth, is the sponsor of the Newsletter Music.

Show your support. Purchase a small sample size and behold its magic powers.

SS02 bottle of Stain Solver Oxygen Bleach

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.

How to Flash Siding Block

Posted on by Tim Carter
flash siding block

How to Flash Siding Block | This siding block is suffering from wood rot. One of the reasons could be it lacks proper side and bottom flashings. Look at the giant gap on the right where caulk is missing. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

How to Flash Siding Block - You Need Thin Stainless Steel

Watch this video to understand one correct way to flash a siding block for light fixtures, hose bibs, appliance vents, etc. It's much easier to install the special stainless steel flashing tape as you're installing the siding rather than to do a repair.

CLICK or TAP HERE to purchase the amazing stainless steel flashing you see me use in the video.

Why Must you Flash Siding Blocks?

Siding blocks require flashing because caulk almost always fails. Caulk is not a permanent weather barrier.

Look at the screenshot taken from the video showing how the caulk failed and you can see the brown water stain on the Tyvek house wrap. It's important to realize the photo below was taken AFTER the original smaller siding block was removed. It had no side nor bottom flashings.

how to flash siding block

The red arrows point to water stains on the Tyvek that happened on the right side of the old SMALLER siding block that was removed. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE QUOTES from local handymen that can use the stainless steel flashing tape on your siding blocks.

The red arrows point to a water leak along the right side of the OLD siding block that was in place for the original faucet. This water could have caused severe rot in certain situations.

Proper flashing of the edge of the opening as the siding is installed would ensure that should the caulk fail, the water will flow out under the siding block and out onto the siding below the block.

 

Storm Damage Help

Posted on by Tim Carter
Double Wide Trailer

Storm Damage Help | You may have to install large tarps to stop further damage until help can arrive.

Storm Damage Help - You'll Probably Be On Your Own

AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you have a story to share about how you got no, or little help, from local agencies in a major storm, PLEASE SHARE it with me so I can post it here at the bottom of the page. Share it using the form at the Ask Tim page and mention in the first sentence: "Add this to the Storm Damage Help page please." PRO TIP: Write your story using a word processing program on your computer. Then copy and paste in into the Ask Tim page.

After a bad storm, be it a hurricane, tornado, severe thunderstorm, etc. contractors and public emergency agencies become overloaded. It's the same reason roadways get clogged with cars during rush hour. Too many people want to use the same thing.

I know you need storm damage help, but the facts are you could be waiting in line for hours, days or weeks.

This is why you need a storm preparation checklist. I urge you to read about what happened to me during and after Winter Storm Gail.

Why Doesn't the Fire Department Respond?

You and your home are the least valuable asset in your community. I know you don't want to hear this, but it's true.

When a major catastrophic storm hits your area, your local fire department already has a priority list of the things they want to save or restore for the greater public good. Your home, and every other one in the town, is at the bottom of that list.

Hospitals, fuel depots, food stores, nursing homes etc. are normally at the top of the list. Once those things are protected and restored, maybe you might see a fire truck come to your home.

How Can I Prepare For Storm Damage Help?

There are two things you can do:

  1. Develop a great relationship with a remodeling contractor and give him periodic work. When you need help, you'll be on his shortlist.
  2. Plan ahead to secure your home from further damage by doing the work yourself or enlisting the help of others. Make these arrangements before the storm, not hours after bedlam strikes.

What Kind of Supplies Should I Have?

Here's a list of some things that might come in handy to secure your home:

  • waterproof or water-resistant tarps to cover roofs or window openings
  • a small 2000-watt portable generator that's easy to move around
  • temporary lighting - use LEDS that sip electric power from generators
  • cleaning supplies

There are lots of other things you might want to have, but just start to think of what you might need to secure your home until such time as you can get professional help.

True Homeowner Horror Stories:

Tim,

You are absolutely correct on this!  In late October 2011 storm Alfred hit our part of central CT really hard with about 18" of heavy, wet snow in a short period, followed by high winds.  We could hear trees snapping and falling all around our 1-acre suburban home.  Then, the worst happened:  a 90-ft oak with a 'Y' in its trunk about 25 ft up split down the middle.  One half fell across the power lines on our side of the street, but the tree had so many upper branches, it settled in the road without felling the lines, but blocking the road completely.  But, the other half fell directly on the front of our house, severely damaging the front porch, roof, and smashing open a skylight over the stairs to the upper floor (it's a front-to-back split level).  When this happened, I was on the phone with my 93-year-old great aunt, and I was right near the falling glass from the skylight - I said the "F-word"!  She, as a former Air Force commander's assistant, said, "Oh - I know something serious happened - I could hear the crash on the phone!"  And then she told me she was used to hearing such talk from AF personnel and it didn't really bother her.  So, anyhow, we hung up and after seeing the extent of the damage and having snow falling into the house thru the broken skylight, I called the Fire Dept. to see if they could help - we couldn't even open the front door because of the fallen tree.  No answer; left message, no call back.  Called the police, they said something like 'the whole town's a catastrophe' - find some friends to help.  So, I called a contractor who'd done many jobs here for us over the years - he was on his way home from S. Carolina, but promised to visit as soon as he could upon arriving home to CT. Which he did.

My wife and I spent a terrifying night downstairs in the family room  (all the time hearing large trees and limbs snapping and falling, as they still had all their leaves on which coated with the wet snow) That was after I put plastic sheeting and plywood underlay up from inside the skylight well, about 20 ft up.  Dropped my cordless drill, nearly hitting my wife.  But, it kept the water out.  Next day, outside, it looked like a war zone - thousands of trees and major limbs down on our street alone - you could not drive on it (even if there was no snow).  Our power was out 12 days; I had a small 2-kw genset as you recommend and it saved us.  Taking turns, I could power the fridge or the hot-air gas furnace, plus a few lights and the TV. Since then, I put in a 20-kw genset powered by natural gas, which we have for home heating and cooking.  Don't ask how many times it's been called into service (answer: very few).  The cleanup took months, but by the next Spring, the incident faded from memory until hiking on trails that had many fallen trees you had to clamber over.  Anyhow, good advice in your column!

Thanks for all you do, and stay safe!

Ray

P.S. - the damage to our home was nearly $40k, insurance picked it all up, but raised the rate by 25% the next year.

 

May 31, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

If you’ve just become a subscriber in the past few days, this spot is yours! Newcomers to my newsletter family deserve a friendly welcome, right? I’m so glad you’re here!

You, on the other hand, might be a very seasoned subscriber who I’m always happy to see. I may have dusted you with so much chili pepper that you remember when I shared the news about how my composite decking was growing mushrooms! CLICK or TAP HERE to see some unbelievable fungi photos.

I love to listen to music while writing this newsletter. I think you’ll really like this week’s song. It’s a wistful tune that was part of a touring show about 20+ years ago. This particular song and performance introduced the third person in a sultry love triangle within the show. Take a few minutes to enjoy this amazing song and video. Then we’ll get back to work.

CLICK or TAP HERE and turn up the volume on your dream machine.

Two Sets of Young DIYrs

I’ve had the good fortune to help two young couples in the past few days. One couple lives in Connecticut, and the other in Indiana. I admire their energy and desire to tackle home improvement projects. It reminds me of my own early building and remodeling adventures.

These two projects are as different as night and day. The CT couple plans to install all new plumbing in an older home. They were really stumped on how to install vent pipes.
How to Vent Plumbing

CLICK or TAP HERE to see how complex plumbing vent pipes can be. I recorded this video in a brand new home here in NH.

I did an hour-long live video call with them explaining how I’d do the piping if I was there. This is a big project that might call for a professional, but this feisty young woman is bound and determined to try it herself.

She did, however, remind me at least twice that it’s just a four-hour drive from my house to hers - hint, hint! I had mentioned that just last year I’d installed all the plumbing in my daughter’s new home. “You can adopt me! I’m your long-lost UK daughter,” she chortled with a thick London accent.

I have a strong connection with the other young couple. The wife was just a little girl when I remodeled her mom’s kitchen. During the remodel, the young lass got sick at school which was two blocks away and I ended up carrying her home in my arms. I sometimes wonder if it’s a tale oft-told at their holiday table. I’d not seen nor talked with her for over thirty-three years.

It turns out she and her husband live in a wonderful Craftsman house in an Indianapolis suburb. The covered concrete front porch is showing some wear. But this is no ordinary concrete porch.
Craftsman House - Indianapolis

They’ve gotten bids from some trusted concrete contractors who’ve indicated that they could replace the porch and do a great job.

There are two issues, in my opinion, worthy of serious consideration:

  • the one-of-a-kind stone piers and support walls adjacent to the porch could easily be damaged by removing the existing slab
  • there’s no real structural issue I can identify

It turns out this young couple can save thousands of dollars by just applying a cement stucco coating over the porch. This is a project they can do themselves. But it’s critical they use a time-tested bonding agent so the new stucco adheres permanently to the existing concrete.

What’s this magic material? I thought you’d never ask. CLICK or TAP HERE and behold a secret shared with me by an old concrete mason when I was but twenty-three years old!

Fun Quiz!

Are you interested in holistic Italian wrinkle-removing face cream? Do you know anything at all about plasma ejection? Do you have any insight into diseases that afflicted European Neanderthals?
what is miasma

If so, then you’ll LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this week’s FUN one-question quiz.

CLICK or TAP HERE to enhance your little gray cells!

Father’s Day Chainsaw
echo cs 3510

I had the good fortune to test a new Echo chainsaw a few days ago. This model is brand new. It’s a sweetheart saw for any homeowner.

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover why this particular saw would make a great Father’s Day present.

Heck, you don’t have to be a father to get one as a surprise prize gift! Ladies, you REALLY WANT TO see how little this dandy saw weighs!

Front Loader Washing Machine MOLD

Do you ever have mold on the gasket of your front loader washing machine? Does your top-loading machine SMELL MUSTY?

Do you want to know the BEST way to clean it?

Better yet, would you like to know how to ensure the mold and mildew NEVER COMES BACK once you clean the gasket?

I thought so! Do I have a prize for you!

CLICK or TAP HERE and listen to something I’ll bet you didn’t know.

DANGER! Electrical Panel Water

Did you know water can leak into your electrical panel where all the circuit breakers are?

It’s actually somewhat common.

CLICK or TAP HERE and listen to what might be happening and how you can stop it. This is a DIY fix that can save you BIG $$$.

Blistering HOT Garages

Is your garage HOT?

garage ventilation

Mine can get stifling hot. CLICK or TAP HERE to see how you can keep it as cool as possible.

That’s enough for a Sunday, don’t you think?

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Clean ANYTHING - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Code LIVES! - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Is the water pressure in your shower low? Do you know how to save well over $100 and fix it yourself?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you were right.

Restore Old Deck

Posted on by Tim Carter
saving deck framing

Restore Old Deck | Can you believe the size of the cracks in the top of these treated lumber deck joists? They were hidden by the deck boards that were removed. Get your FREE deck repair parts list before you start the job. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

Restore Old Deck - Flip Over the Joists

DEAR TIM: I’ve got a nine-year-old treated lumber deck on my home that’s showing worrying signs of decay. I removed some of the deck boards to discover some of the 2x12s are rotting at the top and there are huge cracks running along the top edge of each joist. Should I replace the entire deck and start over? Is there a way to salvage what I have? If you were here helping me, how would we make it so the deck would last thirty or forty years? Jeff Y., Upton, MA

Nine years old!!! I know this really dates me, but I can clearly remember the first time I saw an in-store marketing piece for treated lumber. I was fresh out of college and had just started my own remodeling business.

I was at the sales counter of a local full-service lumber company. This was four years before the orange major big box store was even a glint in the eye of its founder. There on the counter was a color cardboard placard that introduced treated lumber with a LIFETIME GUARANTEE. I marveled at that and took it hook, line, and sinker because I had yet to have enough life experience to know better.

I’ve since come to realize that some marketing managers for manufacturers live in a world populated with unicorns, rainbows, and glitter. Some also distort the English language and make a play on semantics. Rhetorical question: “Who’s lifetime?”

Here’s the truth. Treated lumber can and does decay. It can and does crack. Water is its enemy. Let’s do an autopsy on Jeff’s nine-year-old (gasp!) deck hoping that you can avoid his pain, his upcoming labor, and possible expense.

Treated lumber is a magnificent material when you think about it. It used to be treated differently decades ago when I first bought it, but the EPA decided that the heavy metal chromium was not such a good idea in your life. Today’s treated lumber that you see at the home center and lumber yards contains lots of copper, a very good natural biocide.

But the core issue with treated wood is it’s hygroscopic. This means it changes its shape and size in response to the presence of water. If you have a piece of older treated lumber you can do a fascinating experiment. Set the piece of lumber out in the sun and allow it to become dry as a bone. Once dry, drop a small amount of water on it. Look closely and you’ll see the water soak into the lumber. Therein lies the problem.

The water causes the lumber to swell. As the wood dries, the lumber now shrinks. This back and forth movement causes tension within the lumber and micro-cracks start to develop. After repeated wet/dry episodes, the cracks grow to where you can see them. These are called checking cracks. These cracks allow the next rainfall to penetrate deeper into the wood causing even greater tension forces. The cracks grow bigger and bigger.

Rot can happen for any number of reasons. When you purchase the treated lumber, you hope that the chemicals used were the right proportion. You hope the pressure vessel the lumber was in was working right. You hope the pressure gauges were accurate. You hope the operator didn’t have a fight with his wife or boss that day. Hope is something you should reserve for things you can’t control like the weather and if you might get rescued from a deserted island.

If I could help Jeff rebuild his deck, here’s where I’d start. First, I’d buy my lumber from a true lumberyard, not a home center. You can get different grades of treated lumber and I prefer #1 if I can get my hands on it. All I ever see at the home centers I visit is #2.

I’d be sure to use the absolute best metal framing connectors and fasteners that have been rated for use with modern treated lumber. Remember, today’s treated lumber has a very high concentration of copper in it. Once treated lumber gets wet, a chemical reaction begins and the iron loses this battle. Many a person has been injured or killed in a deck collapse caused by the corrosion of the fasteners.

Once the undercarriage of the deck was complete, I’d cover the top of all the joists as well as the tops of any beams with the newer joist tape meant for this purpose. This tape seals the top of the joists and beams and minimizes the chances of water entering the lumber. It’s important to realize that when you drive a nail into the top of a treated lumber joist you create stress points that eventually result in cracks around the nail shaft. The cracks allow the wretched water into the lumber with the above-mentioned ill effects. The tape is designed to seal around the shaft of a deck nail or screw.

Jeff might be able to salvage all his current lumber. He may be able to flip the joists over. The issue might be that he’ll have to trim the lumber ever so slightly in case the joists are crowned. A crowned joist has a hump in it much like bridges you drive over. Crowns should point skyward. If you flip a crowned joist over, now it has a dip in it that can cause water to collect on the deck. You need to snap a chalk line and cut out the dip.

I’d purchase some liquid copper naphthenate and brush it on any of the joists where the rot is less than 5 percent of its overall width. Joists with more rot than this should be replaced in my opinion.

Deck maintenance is very important and necessary. Read Tim's September 15, 2019 AsktheBuilder Emergency Announcement regarding a deck failure.

Column 1357

Garage Planning Ideas

Posted on by Tim Carter
Garage Planning Ideas

Garage Planning Ideas | This is an expensive lake-front house sporting a very common mistake - a cramped garage. There’s no room for the pedal boat in the winter! They should have come to my website for garage planning ideas before goofing up. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

Garage Planning Ideas - Make it Bigger

DEAR TIM: I can’t tell you how many thousands of dollars I’ve spent on remote storage facility fees. I want to put all my stuff on my own land in a dream garage. I realize a garage can be detached as well as attached to my home. Have you built the dream garage for yourself or a client? Would you please share with me what your dream garage would be like if you could wave a magic wand? I want to get it right this time and am so very tired of banging my car and truck doors against things when I have to squeeze to get in and out of my car. Amanda G., Westport, CT

I’m not really a betting person, although I did bet my son years ago I could make a basket and lost, but I’m willing to wager you have the same frustration Amanda does with her garage that was probably built for gnomes or hobbits. My own garage, it’s important to realize I didn’t build the house I’m in now, is too narrow. I see narrow garages all the time and for the life of me can’t understand how this mistake is perpetuated.

Is it Hard To Build a Dream Garage?

It's easy to build a dream garage. I’ve built several garages for myself, my daughter, and clients that have gotten pretty close to the dream level. It’s not hard to do, but it does require a little more space than you might realize.

Is There a Simple Planning Tool?

To solve any planning problem, you must start from the inside and work out towards the outer walls. You can do this with simple 1/4-inch graph paper. A simple sheet that’s 8.5 inches by 11 inches will accommodate your perfect garage. Each block can represent one foot in your plan.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE QUOTES from local dream garage builders.

How Wide Should a Garage Be?

I suggest we solve the garage width issue first. The biggest thing that goes in most garages is a car or truck. My neighbor once tried to get his powerboat and trailer in his garage at an angle and got frustrated in a hurry. He was fuming but that’s a story for another day.

Cars are bigger than you think. My 1969 VW Beetle was over 13-feet-long. My current pickup truck is almost 21-feet-long. My truck width with the side view mirrors out is almost 9 feet. My car’s width is close to 7 feet 6 inches. Most car and truck doors swing out about 3 feet. Do you see where this is headed?

What Size Should the Doors Be?

You’d be wise to incorporate 10-foot-wide garage doors that are 8 feet tall for starters. If you’re going to have two doors, make sure there’s 4 feet of space minimum between the two openings. This allows you to open the car doors and not bang them into the one in the other bay.

How Much Space Should be Next To the Car?

Let’s talk about the sidewalls of the garage. You already know you need 3 feet of space to open a door, but now you need to think about what’s stored on the wall. Garbage cans can be 30 or 36 inches deep or in diameter! Go out into your existing garage and see how cramped it is between the side of your car and whatever is stored along the wall.

You’ll quickly come to the conclusion that you need at least five feet of space from the garage door opening to the inside surface of the sidewall. You may get by with 4 feet, but you’ll eventually shake your head at not going for the five feet. Add all these numbers up and you’ll discover your garage foundation should probably be 36 feet wide!

How Deep Should the Garage Be?

The depth of your dream garage is simple. Once you do some math, you’ll see that it should be no less than 30 feet deep. This gives you lots of space for a workbench, bikes, garden tools, etc. A garage 34 or 36-feet deep approaches dream dimensions.

What Else Should the Garage Have In it?

Here’s a list of other things that will make your garage one that friends and neighbors will salivate over. Install radiant floor heat. You can create the needed hot water with a simple water heater in almost all cases. Be sure the ceiling height is no less than 10 feet. This allows you to put in a small storage loft that hangs out over the hoods of your vehicles.

Consider a narrow 6-foot-wide overhead garage door for the rear wall to give you easy access for lawn equipment going in and out. Install floor drains under each vehicle and slope the concrete floor so snow-melt runs into the drain and doesn’t pool against the garage doors. You’d be surprised how many building inspectors will permit these floor drains. Install on the house wall a hose hydrant with both hot and cold water so you can hose things off with warm water and wash your car indoors in the winter.

Don’t let the space above the garage go to waste. Build the roof using full attic trusses. These create a massive room above the garage. With creative planning, you can easily incorporate a full regular staircase leading up to this room rather than the steep pull-down staircases. This is where you’ll put all those things you’re storing offsite.

Don’t skimp on electric outlets, for goodness sake! Think about where you’ll have a workbench and provide for plenty of power there. Be sure to put an outlet on the wall in between the two front garage doors. This outlet will come in handy when you’re working on something in the driveway. Think about 240-volt outlets in case you like to weld or have other heavy-duty electric needs.

Author's Note:

This column generated fond memories for Gil Stubbert:

"Hi, Tim,

I had the ideal dream garage. I didn't build it, but what an awesome garage it was. The garage was a 5 car, workshop, and had a rough-in area for a toilet and sink, and a floor drain in the single garage. The garage had a double garage door that faced the street going by the front of the house. The back of the garage has access to an alley behind with a double and a single garage door. The front of the garage also had a single 36-inch walk-in door going into the workshop. There was also a second floor with a regular stairway for access. The outside was brick and stucco that matched the house. When I had to have the roof re-shingled I added 3 skylights. We moved out of state and my awesome garage is no more. I miss having that garage."

Column 1356

What is Miasma?

Posted on by Tim Carter

What is Miasma? - Remember, Just Guess

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