I'm considering building another garage....something special

[Magnumcharger]

Back in 1995, I built (by myself, in two weeks) a 28' x 36' garage, on a slab.
I was on a really tight budget at the time (aren't we all?), so I scrimped on a few details....which now I regret.
After weighing the options, I think it'll be easier to just take this garage apart and salvage it for building materials for the next building.
Since I already have more vehicles than the garage can hold (another common problem!), I'm mentally preparing myself for something in the "gargantuan" realm.
I'd like to have at least one lift, and maybe even a car-stacking system. In floor heating is a definate too.
The kicker is this:
I love old gas stations, so I'd like to build something that looks like the old "ice-box" style of station, designed by William Teague.
You know, the Gulf-Texaco-Esso style of the '40's - '60's era.
I'm thinking of stick-framing it, but sheathing the outside in some vintage manner. The original cladding was enamelled metal (porcelin panels), which I haven't a clue where to get them.
Any thoughts?
My design would probably be a lot deeper than the originals were, but vintage appearing on the facade.
Pictures:
Here's what I've got,
my original renovation plan idea (now scrapped),
a vintage plan,
and an original gas station picture.

[Magnumcharger]

Oh yeah, here's a sketch I worked out, and another vintage picture.

[PocketThunder]

Now that is pretty cool.  Is there a roof height in your neighborhood?

[Magnumcharger]

Nope...I'm out in the sticks. We can pretty well construct any thing we'd like, short of a drive in movie screen.
My house is about 35 feet to the peak, and I can't anticipate the garage coming in close to that.
My biggest problem is with the wind, which is rather abundant as we're situated on a hill top.

[squeakfinder]

That sounds like a cool idea. Quite a few sites with images out there..



http://groups.msn.com/ToddsHarleyPix/oldgasstations.msnw

http://www.ohiobarns.com/othersites/gas/gas.html

http://www.vintagegas.com/

http://www.familyoldphotos.com/5c/gas/index.htm

[PocketThunder]

That sure is a nice wrap around porch you have there. 

[Magnumcharger]

That sure is a nice wrap around porch you have there. 

Thanks! I designed and built that house myself. Or I should say - I continue to build....it'll never be totally done!
As I live four hours away from my house now (for work), I only get back to it on the occasional weekends. 
So, I allot a day for working on the house, which may or may not include mowing, etc, and/or a day in the garage.
Which makes Charger restoration and Deora construction that much harder to pull off.

The porch is my favorite place to be. I built a gazebo into the corner of it, primarily as a bandstand.
I like to plunk myself down on my adirondack chair, plug my Strat into my amp....and scare the deer away!

[TeeWJay426]

Heck, I'd be happy with the garage you already have....      House looks great; like the porch as well!   

[moparstuart]

Nope...I'm out in the sticks. We can pretty well construct any thing we'd like, short of a drive in movie screen.
My house is about 35 feet to the peak, and I can't anticipate the garage coming in close to that.
My biggest problem is with the wind, which is rather abundant as we're situated on a hill top.

your house look alot like the house in the steve martin , goldie hawn movie house sitter

[dodgecharger-fan]

I'm thinking of stick-framing it, but sheathing the outside in some vintage manner. The original cladding was enamelled metal (porcelin panels), which I haven't a clue where to get them.
Any thoughts?

You could make your own panels and powder coat them. That'd probably pull off the same look.

[Magnumcharger]

Nope...I'm out in the sticks. We can pretty well construct any thing we'd like, short of a drive in movie screen.
My house is about 35 feet to the peak, and I can't anticipate the garage coming in close to that.
My biggest problem is with the wind, which is rather abundant as we're situated on a hill top.

your house look alot like the house in the steve martin , goldie hawn movie house sitter

I suppose....the color scheme is similar....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5ov3mBEFio

[Magnumcharger]

I'm thinking of stick-framing it, but sheathing the outside in some vintage manner. The original cladding was enamelled metal (porcelin panels), which I haven't a clue where to get them.
Any thoughts?

You could make your own panels and powder coat them. That'd probably pull off the same look.

That is an alternative I hadn't considered....

[hemigeno]

The original buildings that you're trying to replicate were porcelain-glazed masonry blocks.  A TON of schools, hospitals, gov't buildings, etc. built in the 40s-60s used that same look, even on interior walls.  It's harder than heck to get anything to match those old things. 

I think you can still get that style of material new, and it MIGHT be possible to add them to your existing walls as a veneer rather than a single wythe like they were normally cast.  Not a cheap proposition though...

Neat concept!   

[Back N Black]

Nope...I'm out in the sticks. We can pretty well construct any thing we'd like, short of a drive in movie screen.
My house is about 35 feet to the peak, and I can't anticipate the garage coming in close to that.
My biggest problem is with the wind, which is rather abundant as we're situated on a hill top.

Robin, is that Magnum in your driveway? is it your?

[Magnumcharger]

It's a 1979 Chrysler 300.
I bought it in Brandon, Manitoba back in 1991, and drove it every day for the next 9 years.
Bar none, the best car I've ever owned. No mechanical faults what so ever.
I installed the t-tops while on course in Borden in 1998, and retained the mint original paint in doing so.

[BigRed66]

Really nice 300!! Those T-Tops came out perfect, it looks like. I did notice that it seems like you're never satisfied with the wheels, tho...

[Magnumcharger]

Yeah, wheels are like the shoes on a car. (My wife would love that analogy!)
Actually, I bought a set of Magnum GT wheels from a member here at this forum, and they're on the 300 now.
No pics of that as of yet.

[moparstuart]

they put a set of aluminun wheels on the 82 ?  style magnum seen them on alot of muscle cars , Nice looking wheel

[Charger_Fan]

Here's some pics I've got stashed. This is the only one I've got of the exterior.



This one's not really a gas station type of thing, but I love the way it looks.

[Magnumcharger]

The original buildings that you're trying to replicate were porcelain-glazed masonry blocks.  A TON of schools, hospitals, gov't buildings, etc. built in the 40s-60s used that same look, even on interior walls.  It's harder than heck to get anything to match those old things. 

I think you can still get that style of material new, and it MIGHT be possible to add them to your existing walls as a veneer rather than a single wythe like they were normally cast.  Not a cheap proposition though...

Neat concept!   

Have you, as a contractor, ever purchased these panels for a construction project?

[dodgecharger-fan]

Glazed block wasn't what I envisioned by your description, but they were used in gas stations as well..

Here are some sources I found.

http://www.spectraglaze.com/
http://www.premierblock.com/glazed.shtml

I remember the gas station across the street from my house when I was a kid. It was almost like sheet metal wrapped around the whole building - overlapped and riveted, I guess. I don't exactly recall. But I'm certain of the one continuous piece that flowed around the corners of the building.
And I remember how slippery the face of the building was because it was real tough to shinny up the vent stacks at the back if the walls were wet. 

[hemigeno]

Have you, as a contractor, ever purchased these panels for a construction project?

Just to be clear, these are not panels - they are normally either 6", 8" or 12" thick x 8" tall x 16" long masonry blocks with one or more glazed faces on them that need to be laid in place with mortar.  I'm wondering if you could get them in a 4" variety that would allow them to be laid up as a veneer - much like brick would be.  There's not a huge demand for this product line anymore, so finding someone who makes the stuff in very many sizes/color varieties could be a challenge.

We don't typically perform our own masonry work, but a guy that now works for me spent 26 years as a Mason.  I'll ask him tomorrow (if I remember, that is    ) how easy it is to scare up a glazed block supplier.  I do know they are easy to chip if they're hit on the edge while laying them and impossible to match very well if you have to infill a wall opening.  You also can't paint true glazed blocks, which was part of their low-maintenance appeal.

If you wanted to replicate that look somewhat, you could veneer the exterior walls with a 4" heavyweight concrete masonry unit (CMU) which is fairly dense and has small pores.  With a generous application of white epoxy paint, you might not be able to tell the difference from very far away. 

All of my ideas about masonry veneers are predicated on your shop either having: a brickledge on your foundation; or a willingness to anchor a galvanized angle to your foundation as a support for 4" CMU of any type.  The reason I brought them up is that I remember filling stations built in that fashion, and the Gulf plan you posted specifically called out "Porcelain Faced Masonry Building".  As dodgecharger-fan mentioned, there were lots of other materials used besides glazed block - and perhaps those are easier to find. 

I might have muddied up the waters unnecessarily 

[Magnumcharger]

Nah, its all good stuff.
Yes, I'd initially considered putting a brick ledge in as part of the foundation. That being said, I've been pricing the ICF method of foundation/wall construction, and I'm intrigued by the concept, and avaliability.
Originally, I designed my house to be built in this fashion, - but true to form, I let my Scottish nature overule my rational judgement - that time.
Prices for ICF have fallen roughly into the ballpark of stick framed buildings. That being said, I guess any kind of panel that simulates my objective would definitely be considered.
I'm not restoring a gas station, just simulating one.

[PocketThunder]

Are you going to bury a gas storage tank and have a working pump out front for your own use?  Something to think about eh?  Now's a good time to buy 500 gallons or so.

[moparstuart]

Are you going to bury a gas storage tank and have a working pump out front for your own use?  Something to think about eh?  Now's a good time to buy 500 gallons or so.

that would take a ton of stabil