Any accomplished welders or concrete workers in the NJ area?

[deevergote]

I'm planning on a big project. Step #1 is to put a garage in my back yard That's where the concrete comes in... I need it done right, but I want to get it done as cheaply as possible. I have one connection, and it might be my best bet... but I figure I should ask! I want to pour a slab wide enough for 2 cars, then get one of those 2-car-wide carports over it. Find some walls (either sheet metal or cinderblock), create a door, and boom... instant garage. The slab is the first part of that project though!


Then comes the welding. I don't know how long it will be before I need help here... I'll reveal more of of the plan in the near future... but let's just say I need a GOOD welder to help me, teach me, and guide me in finding the right equipment. I know torch is cheapest, Mig is easiest, and Tig is strongest... I'll probably need tig welding for what my plans entail.

[mayberry]

remember, if you want lifts in this garage at a later date, it'll be cheaper to have teh mounting points for the lifts pre poured 24 inches deep instead of the normal 12.

[deevergote]

Nah, I don't think I'll do a lift here. Good thinking though! I won't be in this house for all that long... When I finally get a lift, it'll be at the house that I plan on living in for most of my life!

[ACCLUDE91]

24"?!?!?! That's some thick stuff!!!! I installed a brand new 2 post lift in one of my old shops and they recommended 8-10" and required no less than 6". Lift was good for up to 3 tons.

[deevergote]

I have a friend that said he and his brother could pour the concrete for me (not the previously mentioned source). I think he said 12"... but his brother is the one that knows the most, so he'd have to talk to him. I'll see what the price is! A lift would be awesome... but probably way more than I need! I just need shelter for my hideous projects, a safe place to put the car on jackstands, and a cost that won't kill me!

[mayberry]

24"?!?!?! That's some thick stuff!!!! I installed a brand new 2 post lift in one of my old shops and they recommended 8-10" and required no less than 6". Lift was good for up to 3 tons.

really? cause in an old shop we had to dig through 8" of concrete in a 2ft square. then dig down another 16" to pour fresh concrete in for the studs to mount the lift on. The guy that helped us do it had been in construction for years so I just assumed he knew what he was doing. (I was 17 at the time)

[ACCLUDE91]

read about the lifts here... http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Ve...Lifts_s/37.htm

some recommend more than 6" and some can mount to as little as 4" of concrete. Maybe the lift you guys were putting in was freaking massive and meant to pick up semi-trucks and stuff like that....or maybe the guy who installed it just wanted to be extra careful.


Mike, in the near future I should have some vacation time and travel money so I'll be in touch with you to check on your progress. When the timing is right, I don't mind taking a trip up there to help you with some of your plans.

Also, I'm going to suggest that you get a 3 car garage. 1 for the car you're working on, 1 for the car you're pulling apart, and 1 for the parts to sit in so that you can have everything laid out in full and still have some working room. For your plans, a 2 bay shop will work, but a 3 bay (or larger ) would be much better for you and should keep things from getting too crowded.

[deevergote]

Very true. My yard is only 50' wide, though! 2 car is going to be massive enough for my little lot!

When I move, I hope to get a house with at least a one car garage... and then I'll probably build another in the back yard.

I was looking at pre-fab garages. For about $5000, I could have a decent 20x20 installed (including the slab price, estimated, hopefully high, at $1000) I might go that route. It'll look better, and I can justify getting a home equity loan to pay for it, since it'll be improving the property.

And seeing some of those $1500 lift prices makes me consider that!

[ACCLUDE91]

Look in your local paper. I'm sure you can find a used pre-fab building for $2k or less. Maybe even less than $1k. Add $100 for paint and make it look nice. A used lift usually goes for $400-800. You could get this done for much less than you're thinking

[deevergote]

I'll have to see! I just started looking, so I'm sure I'll find some good options.

[ACCLUDE91]

I think I want you to have a garage more than you do!

[deevergote]

I just don't want to get my hopes up for something too cheap, because if that doesn't pan out, I won't be willing to spend the money for the more expensive stuff!

A prefab carport around here is $900 installed... but my idea of building walls around it might be pretty ghetto. As I'm looking at it as a home improvement, I should probably make it nice! Now if I can find a REAL prefab garage, installed, for $2000... I'm on it!


I'm thinking 20x20 for the garage... I was looking at the cheapest of the 2 post lifts... and they're 134" wide or something! That'll definitely have to wait until I get a bigger yard, so I can put a bigger garage on it! If I get a 20' wide garage, and install that beast, I'll have about 8' left to work on another car (not a whole lot, considering)
So yeah, no lift this time around... but the garage HAS to happen before I can even consider my RWD plans (since you two are the only ones in here now... I suppose there's no secret to keep... you both know the plan )