Ever give someone advice, but have them not take any of it? This is a garage/”barn” I was asked to help with. They needed more garage space and didn’t know what to do. So they called me and asked what I thought they should build. They wanted lots of space, but wanted the new building to look like it fit in the older neighborhood they’re in. (The house is a 1.5 story about 80 years old)
I suggested they build something like a carriage house – Maybe 24X30, with a steep roof. Then they could build a loft upstairs for added storage. Trim it out to make it look old. They didn’t like that idea.
So I suggested something that looked more like a room addition, but add it to the back of the house and put the garage doors in the rear. But they absolutely insisted that it *NOT* be attached to the house. (To me, a detached garage is nuts)
They suggested making something that looked like a barn with a gambrell roof. I said they don’t have barns in the middle of town, but maybe it could work. But how could you get a reasonably maintenance free exterior? (I envisioned a red barn with white wood trim, etc.) Well, they’d just put vinyl siding on it. But barns don’t have vinyl siding. Well, they thought it would look O.K.
One other thought – They wanted a patio along the front of it. But barns don’t have patios on them. Well, it will still look O.K. That’s what they decided they wanted.
In all this mess, they did not take one single piece of advice I gave them, except to use the otherwise wasted space in the roof for storage. (Attic trusses, of course)
So now they have this ugly monstrosity in their yard, and everyone in town knows I helped design/build it. (Small town)
BTW – I did this for my Brother…………….(-:
I was thinking that women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans.
Replies
No good deed goes unpunished.
ya, you ought to buy him a palm nailer and load it up with oil.
Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
Edited 9/3/2002 11:28:07 AM ET by rez
Rez -
Palm nailer? Loaded with oil?
Pardon me fer being a little dense, but I missed your meaning.
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Theodora -
The house and garage aren't far apart - about 8' or so. The treated 4X4s will eventually be covered with something, they just haven't decided what to do with them yet.
To me a detached garage defeats one of the major purposes for having a garage in the first place - Getting into and out of your car without getting in the weather. But I also realize not everyone feels that way.
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Mad Dog -
I'm surprised at you - Accepting something with vinyl siding??? He thought he could do that without help, so it will likely have some problems. He'd never heard of undersill trim, so he face nailed the last row with finish nails. Guess I can help him fix that one of these days.................(-:
Employment application blanks always ask who is to be notified in case of emergency. I think you should write "A very good doctor." --
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=22835.10bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
Sorry Boss- Thought you might have read the then current thread under 'palm nailers' in the Tools forum.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
Boss, maybe you can get your brother on "This Old House" with Bob V., or you can 'vess up" and admit that Bob V is your brother.
"..you can 'fess up" and admit that Bob V is your Brother. "
Now that's just plumb insulting.
I'm writing an unauthorized autobiography.
Well, Boss, I don't think it looks too horrible, and I am girl who's sensitive to these style issues. I'd like to see the house as well, to see if there's a big dissonance between the two. It doesn't scream "I'm a vinyl barn in the city limits," to me, but I'd get rid of the ugly treated wood thingys (4 x 4s?) and get some more trim on there, like you said for a carriage house look. I like the carriage house idea. Something to soften that transition from concrete to grass, and some color, maybe a bright door, and I think it will look cute.
And besides, Boss, aren't the folks you want to impress the kind who will ooh and ah over the quantity of garage and storage space, and not worry about the cuteness factor?
I happen to like detached garages and think they look better with older houses. What this one needs is a nice covered walkway connecting it to the house, with vines growing on it. Maybe some chickens in the gutters and other roof beasts. I think attached garages look freaky on older houses, although you were on the right track to suggest it should go out back.
If it's really your brother, then the whole town knows how brothers take each others' advice and they won't hold it agin' ya.
OH, the beer can idea, no good, you guys would never turn each other in!
Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January.
- Hal Borland
Boss,
You had such a good setup, I was ready to see something really pukacious. I guess I 'm with Theodora. It doesn't look that terrible, and you probably know I hate vinyl siding as much as anyone else.
I liked your carriage house idea. That would've been cool.
Boss--
Don't know nuthin' about the artsy-fartsy stuff and don't dress all in black--but do appreciate good work, and the workmanship looks great. As to everyone in town knowing about it, think you already know the answer to it:
"BTW - I did this for my Brother................(-:"
Was interested, because my better 90% and me currently trying to plan the conversion of a one-story attached garage, into a 2 and 1/2 story living space (24'x24' we're calling "the barn", cause from the street we kinda want it to look like one (instead of a humongous addition). Attached to a N.E. Colonial (2 and 1/2 stories) we're thinking of steep gables instead of gambrel, your (or others) thoughts?..and I won't repeat the mistake...Just one other bit of info, the main house(24' by 32') has a 15'*22' kitchen addition set at right angles which connects it to the current garage. Backwall of kitchen even with backwall of mainhouse. Frontwall of kitchen 2 feet back from frontwall of garage.
Regards,
Rework
I don't know what all the fuss is about.
Those 4x4 posts look just fine to me.
: )Quittin' Time
Where are the cows? they hay? the extra implement parts with weeds growing around them? The tractor, and im not talking about a lawn tractor, is yet to be seen. The twelve cats that moved in to this barn because someone droped off and tom cat and momma cat and a huge cat family was created? The siding isnt peeling or faded and i see no missing sections.
Having said that, i dont see a resemblance to any barn im used to seeing out in the rural Midwest.
But if the craftsman ship is to your par, it seems ok. However there is no accounting for taste....
I think the courts are your best bet if yorue worried. Name changing is normal in courts.... heh heh
I liked Theodora's comments about chickens in the gutters. But I agree, ain't no barn w/o all you mentioned!Theresa Cowtown information junkie...
I can't take credit for it Theresa---Beckman will have to fess up about that one. Or else someone else will fill you in on the saga.Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January. - Hal Borland
1) To me a DETACHED garage is infinitely preferable----An attached garage is somehow reminiscent of serfs sleeping at one end of a hovel and cows and sheep at the other end.Plus most attached garages either rape the facade of a house or screw up a workable driveway manuever.
2)This garage doesn't look too bad,although the windows seem a little under scale for the size of the building in a residential setting.It would currently be extremely difficult to get that garage built in my town as we now have stringent codes relating the proportion of the garage,the house and the lot,plus a height restriction. my simple 24'x28' garage with a 7/12 pitch would not be allowed today( I squeeked it in under the deadline 3 years ago)
3) I roofed a large house with a nice "carriage house" (and what I am told was chauffeur quarters above ) surrounded by extensive perennial gardens,a few years ago. Wish I could post a picture.
Yeah, but how does he convince his brother to change his name ?Quittin' Time
....an whars tha mail pouch baccer sign?........
I dunno Boss.
It looks pretty 'faux mid western' to me.
;)
But I feel with you. One of my kitchens has some fantastic workmanship but the design sucks. I drew no less than eight layouts trying to please a lady until I gave up and let her go to HD. After it was built, her husband started criticizing all the bad points and she told him, "... you just shush, piffin and I worked hard to get this designed just right."
My mouth openned a mile wide (surprised me I didn't break my jaw on the floor) and my eyes bugged out before I caught my self and shut my trap. The blood could've flowed that day but The Lord saved me from my temper.
'faux mid western'
He heh heh--dat's pretty good.Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January. - Hal Borland
Nah, just caughtcha ina good mood - second glass of Chablis?Excellence is its own reward!
"faux mid western"
I think you've coined a new phrase here on Breaktime.
The design part of it, and not taking any advice were what burned my butt, kinda like your kitchen story. Might as well not have had my help at all.
One of his neighbors cornered me on the street one day and said: "What the heck is that thing your Brother's building" In a small town like this, that sort of thing will stick with ya for a long, long time.
Ex-wife for sale. Just take over payments.
Your initial description of this event sounds to me like grist for a Garrison Keillor monologue. Perhaps you could send it to him, along with a pic. Since it looks well constructed, I don't think anyone will hold it "agin ya" as a tradesman. I'm sure if you tell a few folks down at the local waterin' hole that it wasn't your idea, everyone will know in 24 hours.
"everyone will know in 24 hours"
Yeah! Including the brother!Excellence is its own reward!
Moot. He already knows.
Nothing a short trip across a few time zones, a couple of bottles of scotch and a month or two of therapy can't put behind you. If you can't afford that you might be able to blame it on your evil twin. It worked for Quail and your a lot smarter than he is.
OK. Its not going to make any calendars but it's not hideous. Not bad really. By southern standards it is quite nice in its own way. . Give it a chance. It might grow on you. Especially after the first bottle of scotch. I could live by it or even in it but then again my standards aren't all that high.
You think a little scotch might make it look better, just like a few beers make women look better in a bar ??? I might be willing to give it a try, and I don't drink..................(-:
Just for the record - My Brother knows how I feel about the thing. I refer to it as "the monstrosity", and he calls it "The Barn". I've told him I think it's butt ugly but he doesn't seem to care.
Guess you could look at kinda like some of the talk in the "best" thread form a day or 2 ago. If he paid for it, and he built it, is it the best thing for him?
Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot.