The Shop #2: A disaster waiting to unhappen

The garage measured about 22’ wide by 20’ deep. The outside was covered with old asphalt shingles that were supposed to resemble brick. The right door (and hardware) was missing, and the windows were mostly broken out. The entry door on the side was faced with old plywood. On the inside, the walls were made of 10” wide planks, and the roof was a simple truss system. What I found interesting was that the horizontal pieces of the trusses (bottom) were all made of full length boards – a mix of 2×4 and 2×6 (really 2” x 4”, not the modern dimensional stuff).

There was also a partition running down the center – more 2×4s and plywood. The studs on the walls were 2×4, spaced whatever-we-feel-like inches on (off) center.

Several people recommended that I just tear it down, and put up a steel building. Believe me, I was tempted. But, if I did that, I’d have a much smaller shop. The garage was built before the city had any codes about how close to a property line, or alley one could build. So, it was “rehab” time.

The first task was to strip off the old, nasty siding…

It took quite awhile – everything had lots of nails and tacks. Not to mention that some of it had become “tar-glued” to the wood. In the end though, I got it all off.

I did have to replace a few of the planks, but overall, it wasn’t too bad.

I decided that I only wanted to keep one of the large doors, so the other one (left) had to be covered up.

Once I pulled off the plywood, there were swinging doors inside. Sadly, they were beyond salvaging. Notice my new “high tech” door on the right!

Now I was ready to make the outside of the shop more presentable. Note: stripping the siding off magically transformed the building from a “garage” to a “shop” – and that’s how I’ll refer to it from here on. I wrapped the outside in Tyvex, then started on the siding.

I decided on some T&G panels. Look like plywood, but they’re actually a hardboard exterior product from the BORG.

I also decided that I wanted a sliding door, just like Naaahm. So, back to the depot for some hardware, and voila! A door.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not overly fond of Primer Gray as a color, so, when choosing the exterior color, I did what any sensible man (is that an oxymoron?) would do. I put the question to SWMBO:

According to the label, the color is “butter”.

So, now I have proper siding, a nifty sliding door, what’s not to love.

Up next: Trim and windows and a new side door!

-- To do is to be