Air Con..... Actually building the right building, the right way, for the right price is a much better way to start. If you want it heated later and mains gas isn't easily available an "Air to Air" heat pump (AKA an air con system in reverse) is the cheapest way to go over a +8 year period. By that I mean it is cheaper than direct electric heating. A log burner and a beer fridge would a nicer feature.
Don't drill through the slab. If it has been laid with a damp-proof membrane you'll puncture it and ruin it. If you've got an existing oversite of unknown quality you can dig a test hole at the edge of it to see whether its got any decent foundations. If it hasn't don't think about building a masonry structure on top of it. Likewise, a slab laid straight onto the ground is no use for masonry. You might get away with a timber structure on top but you'll still have to build off it with at least two courses of brick to keep the timber dry. Again dig a test hole next to it to see what its like. If its two inches thick on mud, bin it and start again. If its at least four inches thick on at least another six inches of hardcore on solid sub-soil then you can use it as a foundation for a timber building. If there is no membrane or you cannot see if there's a membrane, assume there isn't and water-proof it from above either with bitumen aqua-proofing or tanking slurry and add a concrete screed over the top or use epoxy resin floor tanking.
I was hoping to dig a trench (foundations) round the edge of the floor I already have and build round it. I sure don't want to make it any higher as I live on the side of a valley and the garage is already higher than the service road to the garage and its already to high/steep to push up and I have to ride it up the slope which is a pain as you don't always want to start the engine to wheel it in. I was going to build the slope out a bit and hope to make it a more gradual slope. If I were to guestimate I would say its about 225sq/ft, so a good size. You can see some of it in my avatar. @Gimlet , where in Dorset are you? I was born and raised in Wimborne then Bere Regis through my teenage years. I'm planning on coming to visit the friends and family in the summer and hit Poole quay.
not quite true (although i agree with all you previous points) for a garage taking cars or other extremely heavy objects a concrete over site is pretty much essential but it is entirely possible and in a lot of cases far more practical to use timber foundations and timber bearers/joists/floors than masonry. Timber will last for centuries if treated and used correctly. In regards to rot again this is down to whether you use the correctly treated timber for your application.. Fire., timber framed buildings are at their most vulnerable to fire whilst in construction, when clad and lined the fire rating is very good. In NZ Australia, America, Canada and so on a huge amount of properties are timber and house fires are not common place...
Just thought I would mention that I used to be an architect and a technical director for a major developer.....
Blandford. Well, just west of. Winterborne valley, five or six miles from Bere Regis. Let me know when you're down and I'll take a ride out to Poole. I'm usually either at Hunters Lodge or Poole quay most weeks.
I used to work at IraCroft on the Blandford industrial estate about 18 years back and went to Blandford young farmers in my mid teens as it was a good source of booze. Used to manage to get to Blandford to home in Lulworth in 16 minutes
So, regardless of wood or block, how do I build a free standing garage to stop the water forming on me Duc? I'm not worried about working in there over winter/heat .
Iracroft formed the stainless pipes for my one and only custom build: Think it might have been before you time though, about 1993/94. Your garage: What exactly is there now? Have you got a concrete slab cast straight on the ground with a pre-fab building on top? Or a raised oversite like this:
Will take some pictures. I joined around 96 and was there to about 99. Some good roads down there if you go out early before they get full of tourists.
A reverse Air to Air Heat pump (AKA an air conditioner is the cheapest) was to generate heat from electricity. Allow £1200 inc vat for 4.2kW of heat....more than enough for most triple garages (if properly insulated). Also filters, dries and cools as required. PM me for more details.
buy the house next door and put the bikes in there or just do what a good majority on here do put it in the living room
I built this one about five years ago, the concrete base cost £200 and the log building 32mm log half lapped at the corners and a felt shingle roof, it cost £700 and measures 5m x 2.4m internal size. I keep bike parts, model helicopters, planes and joinery machinery in it and have no condensation problems. Steve