New Garage

I have a question, especially for the northern guys. In my area the frost gets down to over 4 feet in cold winters, so I was planning on going down to 5 foot with ICF blocks, but after talking to the dirt guy that will be digging my foundation, he said I will probably be in water before 4 foot down. How do you put in a foundation to protect against frost, when the water table is so high?
 
Insulate it. Other than that I'm not sure.
 
We build on a lot of insulated slabs. The outside of slab/ grade beam gets 2" foam (to keep heat in building) . Then lay sheets of 2" foam flat on ground around the building.(this is for frost prevention, not building insulation) Backfill on top or install sidewalk, approach, ect. Very simple and works. I was skeptical when I first delt with it but we do it often now. The frost will not move horizontal from 4' away from slab. We even build attached garages to homes using this method now. This is in north east Wisconsin. Our typical worst frost depth is about 40".

Don't forget to shrink your slab so outside wall sheeting is near flush to foam on slab. Then run groundbreaker or simular brand insul gaurd from below grade to behind your sidding.

I wouldn't mess with ICF unless I was building a storm shelter or something along those lines. They look impressive and easy to work with but not worth the cost imo.

If your wanting the walls off of slab I'd personally recommend pouring a curb with the slab. A corse of block works but won't stay as clean looking and it's easy to knock one loose while framing. Then your foam is damaged and you've lost that smooth thermal break.
 
The dirt guy was explaining to me about laying several sheets of foam insulation flat next to the slab, I never heard of it. Maybe I would be better off hiring out the foundation work, to make sure it is done correctly for my lot.
 
No Menards round here. Darn.
Got a quote tonight for a 40x60x12 with 5” concrete. $45k and that doesn’t include the dirt work to get the site level. I have sticker shock.
I just had a 40x50 put up 10ft walls for 29,500 concrete bid is $9500 that price you have sounds pretty fair to me.
 
The dirt guy was explaining to me about laying several sheets of foam insulation flat next to the slab, I never heard of it. Maybe I would be better off hiring out the foundation work, to make sure it is done correctly for my lot.
I would think you could hire a good Concrete guy to do an insulated slab for less than you would have spent doing ICF foundation/ slab yourself. And imho you'll be happier with the finished product.

What's your drain plan? Pitched slab with level curb or floor drains? The pitched slab way of doing it has grown on me. Although that's a large slab to pitch one way unless you have ohd's going in both ends?
 
I would think you could hire a good Concrete guy to do an insulated slab for less than you would have spent doing ICF foundation/ slab yourself. And imho you'll be happier with the finished product.

What's your drain plan? Pitched slab with level curb or floor drains? The pitched slab way of doing it has grown on me. Although that's a large slab to pitch one way unless you have ohd's going in both ends?


My plan was 2 drains going down the Length of the garage, lined up with the garage doors.
 
We build on a lot of insulated slabs. The outside of slab/ grade beam gets 2" foam (to keep heat in building) . Then lay sheets of 2" foam flat on ground around the building.(this is for frost prevention, not building insulation) Backfill on top or install sidewalk, approach, ect. Very simple and works. I was skeptical when I first delt with it but we do it often now. The frost will not move horizontal from 4' away from slab. We even build attached garages to homes using this method now. This is in north east Wisconsin. Our typical worst frost depth is about 40".

Don't forget to shrink your slab so outside wall sheeting is near flush to foam on slab. Then run groundbreaker or simular brand insul gaurd from below grade to behind your sidding.

I wouldn't mess with ICF unless I was building a storm shelter or something along those lines. They look impressive and easy to work with but not worth the cost imo.

If your wanting the walls off of slab I'd personally recommend pouring a curb with the slab. A corse of block works but won't stay as clean looking and it's easy to knock one loose while framing. Then your foam is damaged and you've lost that smooth thermal break.
Good to know...I've been thinking about going with a FPSF monolithic slab for a garage in Northern WI but wasn't sure how popular they are.
 
No Menards round here. Darn.
Got a quote tonight for a 40x60x12 with 5” concrete. $45k and that doesn’t include the dirt work to get the site level. I have sticker shock.
Mine was 40x64x13.5 with 2 12x12 overhead doors and openers and 2 mandoors. Overhang gutter and wainscoating 48k with concrete. No insulation. stick built with 2x6.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Mine was 40x64x13.5 with 2 12x12 overhead doors and openers and 2 mandoors. Overhang gutter and wainscoating 48k with concrete. No insulation. stick built with 2x6.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

We are nearly finished with our new building. Put in a 40' x 90' 5" thick concrete pad. We put 2" pink foam done first and then laid the plastic tubing for the in floor heat. Around the perimeter there is a 4' in ground wall with a 20" footing. The building walls are 2" x 8" x 17'. The footing wall had 2" insulation attached to it before being back filled. We also had 2 - 12' box floor drainns installed, really helped this with with snowy vehicles dripping off. Total cost was $32,000 which did not include the site work excavation.

IMG_20170722_102611.jpg

There was an additional rear and front footing wall for the front and rear roof overhangs. This was back filled and a 8' full length cement porch was put in.

IMG_20170816_183236.jpg
 
Last edited:
We are nearly finished with our new building. Put in a 40' x 90' 5" thick concrete pad. We put 2" pink foam done first and then laid the plastic tubing for the in floor heat. Around the perimeter there is a 4' in ground wall with a 20" footing. The building walls are 2" x 8" x 17'. The footing wall had 2" insulation attached to it before being back filled. We also had 2 - 12' box floor drainns installed, really helped this with with snowy vehicles dripping off. Total cost was $32,000 which did not include the site work excavation.

View attachment 16657

There was an additional rear and front footing wall for the front and rear roof overhangs. This was back filled and a 8' full length cement porch was put in.

View attachment 16658
Dang Tree, that is a hell of a deal for all that you got. Good job, that's a nice shop!
 
We are nearly finished with our new building. Put in a 40' x 90' 5" thick concrete pad. We put 2" pink foam done first and then laid the plastic tubing for the in floor heat. Around the perimeter there is a 4' in ground wall with a 20" footing. The building walls are 2" x 8" x 17'. The footing wall had 2" insulation attached to it before being back filled. We also had 2 - 12' box floor drainns installed, really helped this with with snowy vehicles dripping off. Total cost was $32,000 which did not include the site work excavation.

View attachment 16657

There was an additional rear and front footing wall for the front and rear roof overhangs. This was back filled and a 8' full length cement porch was put in.

View attachment 16658
Do you have any current pictures? Is it a pole type shed?
 
40x90x17 for 32k. With stub walls that seems like a very good deal. You got about double the building for half the cost of mine. I shopped mine to 4 different pole barn builders and the stick built guy beat them all.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Do you have any current pictures? Is it a pole type shed?

Here are a couple of pics ... still finishing up ... you are going to really like the in floor heat. We have have multiple nights where it hit minus 16-18 deg F and inside temps have stayed stayed steady.


southside 1 IMG_20180204_132411 (002).jpg

west view 1 IMG_20180120_161609 (002).jpg
 
Spud is that your residence and shed all in one ?
 
Spud is that your residence and shed all in one ?

No, it is our transformation building. We have a 110 year old farm house that has lots of great space, we hope to retire there someday, but only 2 bedrooms. A barn that was built in 1875-1880 which every critter has invaded to chew & shit on everything we have.

Had to make the wife happy with a real shower and toilet ... happy wife, happy hunting life ...:emoji_wink:

lower bath IMG_20180204_111820 (002).jpg
 
Last edited:
Absolutely beautiful looking building there Spud.
 
Absolutely beautiful looking building there Spud.

Bueller ... thanks! A long time in planning and saving.
 
Morton Guy coming out in the AM. Had another builder price a shop. 40x60x12 with 5” concrete. Gutters and also the thin insulation throughout. $47900.
 
No, it is our transformation building. We have a 110 year old farm house that has lots of great space, we hope to retire there someday, but only 2 bedrooms. A barn that was built in 1875-1880 which every critter has invaded to chew & shit on everything

You can use traps and poison. It should be a year or two to get pests under control.
 
Top