Framing a garage what is best? DIY or contract it out?

[bironacad]

Framing a garage what is best? DIY or contract it out?

I drew up plans for an attached garage and bedroom a couple of years ago, got the permit then had heart troubles and bypass surgery, then a heart attack and hence have slowed down. I did the foundation this past summer and was looking at ways to do the concrete floor. I must be thick as I was looking at doing it with a pump truck to minimize the slugging for me at an extra cost of $700.00 then had a local price for someone to do the placing and finishing $750, what? yes I am going to have someone do it. This leads me to ask should I have someone do the framing as well? So I guess I am asking for your experiences with doing verses having someone do it?

Thanks

 

[EddieWalker]

Framing is one of those things that starts out easy, but gets harder the higher up you go. With heart issues, can you work on a ladder to get the roofing done? Are you going to buy trusses already built, build your own trusses or will you go with rafters?

Do you know how to frame? In every case that I've seen a do it yourselfer do his own framing, it's always a mess. I bite my tongue and try not to say anything when members on here post pics of what they have done, but it's always really bad. The sad part is that they just don't know any better and could have easily done it right if they had known.

A crew can get a garage framed in a day or two. How long will it take you to do it and will you do it as well as a pro will?

How will you tie into the existing house? The second big mistake that I see is how an addition is just nailed to the existing house regardless of what they are nailing to. Rafter tails and siding are not designed to hold an addition. I've seen additions pulling away from existing houses, or tearing apart the existing house because the load was put onto areas that where never designed to support a load.

Be sure to know about ledger boards, headers, span tables and the proper fastners. Nails are great for holding things in place, but NEVER used to support a load!!!!!!!!! They are also terrible at tying structures together. No amount of nails will replace a bolt.

Eddie

 

[bironacad]

Thanks Eddie, I am using Engineered trusses designed for local snow loads -21 degrees Celsius in Apsley this morning when I got up. I built a 1500 square foot garage in 2004, 15' to the bottom of the truss, did the plans got the permits and did everything except the commercial overhead door including almost thirty yards of cement, four foot block foundation wall, metal siding, pony panel and drains, lol, that was prior to the heart deal. Things ten years ago that I would not even have thought about now give me pause. I am leaning to having someone do the framing as what use to take me a week takes a month, go figure, just looking for TBNs thoughts, ideas and approaches, thanks.:thumbsup:

 

[wcampbell47]

This is a no brainer with your health issues and if you can afford to have it done professionally.

Eddie is spot on with his points.

Sit on your tractor and watch the pros do it!

 

[radioman]

You always can do the rest of the finish work now inside at your pace. Just let pros do the building, esp the roofing. it just takes time and huffing and puffing...


The finish work is where pataince comes in to make it look good and done right, and many pros just tack stuff on or pull wires and leave in twisted mess. I'd much rather do that myself.

 

[slowzuki]

Not sure about there, but in Atlantic Canada, framing is one of the most competitively priced aspects of building. I'm always amazed at how good a price they can give compared to the foundation, or finish work guys. For a simple floor plan, I'd hire it out. They will have the walls up and trusses set before you would get your first wall tipped up.

 

[dixstir]

my garage gas station antique shop and senior day care center

 

[bironacad]

You always can do the rest of the finish work now inside at your pace. Just let pros do the building, esp the roofing. it just takes time and huffing and puffing...


The finish work is where pataince comes in to make it look good and done right, and many pros just tack stuff on or pull wires and leave in twisted mess. I'd much rather do that myself.

That looks like the plan I will have a carpenter in day after tomorrow to get a price.

 

[EddieWalker]

That looks like the plan I will have a carpenter in day after tomorrow to get a price.

Get multiple bids!!

Never tell each one what you know, or that you know anything. Set traps and ask question that you know the answer to in order to see if they BS you or if you are getting somebody who does things the way you want them done.

Ask about header size, span tables, sheething, brackets and how they will tie it into the existing building.

Aks the same questions and you will be shocked at the variety of answers you get. Find out if the person you are talking to is the actual person who will be doing the work, or if they are just a salesman who represents those he will send out. Know what the payment schedule will be and never give any upfront money.

Either pay for the materials directly, or make sure that you have some proof that they where paid for by yout contractor. If things go bad, and the supplier was never paid, they will come after you for payment, regardless of what you gave your contractor.

Most important, never make final payment until it is 100% done to your satisfaction. Never trust them to come back, or to make the changes you want after you have paid them.

Never trust a reference if it's from family.

Be nervous of anybody who is ready to work right away. The good builders are busy and you will have to wait for them. The duds are out of work for a reason. With the economy being slow, those who have burned bridges are out of work, those who have done a good job are busy!!!!

Eddie

 

[crbr]

Good framing thread...