The New Garage – the outside

I had to have help for foundation and slab as well as raising the structure of the new two-story garage. The new structure was up in early 2008. I contracted a mason and carpenter who gave me very good insights. Whatever I could reuse from the old garage, e.g. 2”x4”, 2”x6” I did. This picture with the building wrap shows the structure after I added windows and doors. The carpenter stapled the building wrap in order to minimize moisture intrusion because I did not know when I could work on the stucco.




Ultimately, I prepared for stucco by sheathing the building shell with asphalt felt paper. I used a 30 lb felt paper (one might read a 15 lb paper would suffice) and installed the lath with galvanized nails. I found some good hints for stucco on the Handy Canadian.

In terms of building style, the theme was to depict Alsace with timber framing. The timber framing style is partly made of salvaged 2”x4” and 2”x6” from the old garage and other timber from a “to be demolished” farm building. Windows are salvaged, some with upper and lower sashes and others as French casement opening inward. Doors are also salvaged and they are mostly pocket doors. I chose this kind of doors to maximize space. They are set on a rail exactly the way they were installed originally. Above all, I am glad I got to put this material to good use.
















Before starting the outside work, I salvaged almost 4700 bricks for the wall base and street blocks for the landscape. The bricks come a demolished foundation and the street blocks from PACA.















These last two pictures show the new building almost finished with landscaping. The grading of the yard had to be adjusted and leveled. I built a retaining wall with street blocks to delineate the yard on one side and a brick walkway on the other side.