Car lift and vehicle storage... (Page 2/3)
82-T/A [At Work] FEB 01, 01:59 PM
Thanks guys for all the responses.

It's a big NO GO.

I just measured my ceiling, an I don't know what I was thinking. I literally have 8 foot ceilings in my garage (which is a detached garage), despite the fact that inside my house, every room has 10 foot ceilings both first and second floor. Go figure.


Thanks for the responses though... ugh.
Jake_Dragon FEB 01, 03:54 PM
Grow some and put it in the living room.
82-T/A [At Work] FEB 01, 04:39 PM

quote
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:

Grow some and put it in the living room.




When I was driving through Naples, I was driving through some of the new developments... or I guess I should say, plotted out neighborhoods that aren't organized, where the individual lots are selling and people just build houses as the lots ocassionally get sold from one owner to the next (so you may go three years with only two hosues in a neighborhood).

Anyway, I was driving around and saw this guy... clearly single and middle-aged. He had a decent house, with a carport, a garage in the back, and an enclosed patio (like a lanai) as part of his house.

He had two cars on the side of the house, two cars in his two-car garage. Three cars in the driveway, one in the car-port, and one actually parked in the lanai with the doors closed (and air conditioned I assumed).

They were all some level of 1970s cars, some dodges, some Fords... nothing like super amazing, like Ford Grenadas, or a Ford Torino, or a mid 70s Chevy Malibu or Pontiac LeMans. Hahah... I was like, damn... do I want to be that guy? I'm not sure... I don't think the cars would give him sex, and it would probably get a little bit lonely. And I'd get a little stressed having so many projects with likely none of them running.

They all seemed to be complete, but I'm sure most of them had not been started in days.
At one point, I did have 9 cars. I got rid of half of them before my daughter was born. My weekend was basically spent starting them up, moving them around, and washing them.

It was cool on Monday because I only worked like 4 miles away at the training camp, and I would just pick whichever one I wanted to drive to work that day. But seriously... it got stressful.
blackrams FEB 01, 04:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

Thanks guys for all the responses.

It's a big NO GO.

I just measured my ceiling, an I don't know what I was thinking. I literally have 8 foot ceilings in my garage (which is a detached garage), despite the fact that inside my house, every room has 10 foot ceilings both first and second floor. Go figure.


Thanks for the responses though... ugh.



You do realize that where there's the will (and the money) there's always a way.

Get some contractor to come in a give you a quote to put your garage up on 2, 3 or 4 foot stem wall. IOWs raise the building to get the interior height you want for that lift.

Rams
82-T/A [At Work] FEB 01, 05:13 PM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:


You do realize that where there's the will (and the money) there's always a way.

Get some contractor to come in a give you a quote to put your garage up on 2, 3 or 4 foot stem wall. IOWs raise the building to get the interior height you want for that lift.

Rams




I've thought about it, but I'm not sure the effort would be worth the return... but it is something I'm considering. The long and short is... the home is in a unique neighborhood that has a bunch of craftsman, plantation, arts & crafts, and Queen Victorian style homes. Any changes to any of the homes are unlikely because the homes have to conform. I could probably get it through, but it would actually just be cheaper for me (at this point) to buy one of the townhouses down the street that has a separate 2-car garage. Use the two car garage for myself (which is detached) and then rent out the townhouse... lol.
blackrams FEB 02, 09:27 AM
Your choice. This I know. The last thing I ever want to do is to become a landlord.

Rams
82-T/A [At Work] FEB 02, 09:45 AM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:

Your choice. This I know. The last thing I ever want to do is to become a landlord.

Rams




Yeah... it can be frustrating. I have a rental already, and as long as I allow myself to not have any emotion towards the house, and think of it strictly as an investment, it definitely makes it easier.


I'm honestly not sure what to do. Family doesn't particularly like Tampa, they really miss Texas, but I love Florida, and they're both from Florida. They either want to move back to Fort Lauderdale (in our rental), or move back to Texas (and buy another house).

But this house we have now is pretty awesome, and the neighborhood is fantastic. I think it's probably just getting used to the new area for both of them. Infrastructure isn't great... and if I'm being totally honest... everything else going on right now in the country is kind of depressing everyone. All the shelves are empty, inflation is skyrocketing, and all of this started happening right after we moved, so even though I know it's happening in Texas too... it's associated here to them.

But I finally have a 3-car garage, which is nice.
blackrams FEB 03, 09:06 AM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:






After seeing your garage (taken from another thread), I can definitely see how you would benefit from more room and I would think it wouldn't be all that hard to raise that building onto a block stem wall appropriate to putting a lift in there. Any plumbing to/in that building? If it's only electrical, this is not all that hard of a project. Although, you would also need to do a garage door adjustment. I would encourage you to seriously consider such a project before investing in another rental unit. Do, what ever makes the most sense to you

Rams
82-T/A [At Work] FEB 03, 09:13 AM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:

After seeing your garage (taken from another thread), I can definitely see how you would benefit from more room and I would think it wouldn't be all that hard to raise that building onto a block stem wall appropriate to putting a lift in there. Any plumbing to/in that building? If it's only electrical, this is not all that hard of a project. Although, you would also need to do a garage door adjustment. I would encourage you to seriously consider such a project before investing in another rental unit. Do, what ever makes the most sense to you

Rams




Honestly, I had the idea of adding a second floor to that room. Maybe on one half, like... a small loft / workshop. It would allow me (at that point anyway) to raise the roof of the other half. Right now, the third garage (one on the left) is where I keep my tools, bikes, lawnmower, and exercise equipment.

I am like 75% positive the HOA would not allow it... though in order for me to get approval, I'd have to spend the money for technical drawings first... which can be upwards of $10k just for that. I think you're right... but either way, I was looking for a cost-effective approach... not sure I really want to go through with that cost just to save money on storage for one of my cars. It just seems cost-prohibitive... and I just don't feel good about where the economy is going right now. I also don't know if in 4 years I'll still be in this house. So that's another thing. But do I want it? Absolutely...
blackrams FEB 03, 10:43 AM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
Honestly, I had the idea of adding a second floor to that room. Maybe on one half, like... a small loft / workshop. It would allow me (at that point anyway) to raise the roof of the other half. Right now, the third garage (one on the left) is where I keep my tools, bikes, lawnmower, and exercise equipment.

I am like 75% positive the HOA would not allow it... though in order for me to get approval, I'd have to spend the money for technical drawings first... which can be upwards of $10k just for that. I think you're right... but either way, I was looking for a cost-effective approach... not sure I really want to go through with that cost just to save money on storage for one of my cars. It just seems cost-prohibitive... and I just don't feel good about where the economy is going right now. I also don't know if in 4 years I'll still be in this house. So that's another thing. But do I want it? Absolutely...



I understand your dilemma. This is something I have had to decide on the last three homes I've owned. I always want a shop and storage. The number one rule of such buildings always build it (at least) twice as big as you think you will need. You will fill it up. Don't ask me how I know this.

This I will say, the fact that my last home had a 30 X 48 garage with a lift in it was the determining factor on why the buyer came up to my asking price. Every property has it's own attractors and distractors. One couple walked away from that house because she didn't like the idea of her husband out there in the shop doing whatever. At least that's what the realtor told me. Shrug.

All I'm really trying to say is, think about how much more room you'll have if, you can stack those cars.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-03-2022).]