Saving an old garage - fixing the foundations (water ingress) - advice please!

[VNA]

One of the lads at work is a builder.
Works for himself, he seems OK.

I'll get him out for another look once I've finished the digging, have a chat about what I'd like done, and get a quote.

I'll sit down and guestimate, and if his quote seems OK, I'll just roll with him. 

A few others at work have had wee jobs done by him and they've been happy.

Taking a break from digging the garden side.  So far I haven't hit the ash I hit at the back (which made the dig easy), lots of roots mixed in with half bricks.  Slow going.  Switched to the micro shovel, it really helps in a trench.  Might get a few more barrow loads in today, but I'm just about done - again. 

One thing for sure the plastic sheeting fitted on this side has not worked. 

[VNA]

Had a good session on Saturday.
Struggled today but got a wee bit more done.

[Lazarus]

power of work there VNA - specially as it was a good day too.

[VNA]

Cheers Lazarus,

Had a good session on Saturday.  Dunno how many litres of water I drank, but it was many.

I was focced today, did a bit more.

Getting there, just that narrow side to dig.  Warned next door that the fence might come down.

[VNA]

A wee update.

Ended up installing a field drain and tanking it.  Once filled in again with peas, then stone (riddled several tones of earth!) so it doesn't hold much water, then some top soil for the last few inches.

Result is a 99% improvement in the dampness issue.  Still a little comes in between the bottom brick and the concrete base as I dared not under dig the base for the drain, plus the concrete forms damp patches here an there as there is no damp proof core in the base.  But it only happens during periods of heavy rain, it's dry enougth for a garage.  Massive improvement.  The brick work all seems sound despite having been damp for decades.

[VNA]

So that was last year.

This year I decided to get a cable out to it and wire it up.

Previously it had an overhead cable, lights and 13 amp sockets, which after a wee dig about in the loft came off a 6amp 1mm lighting circuit.  That got chopped shortly after I bought the place 3 years ago.  I had to rewire the house as the wiring really was shocking! :lol

So the garage is now supplied with a proper 6mm swa, to a RCB garage consumer unit, plenty of lighting and sockets installed.

[VNA]

Still more to do.

At the moment I can't really keep anything in there as the windows are feeble.
Thought about bricking em up, but it's nice to have a little natural light.
My joiner has suggested double glazed laminated frosted units.  Not yet got a quote of him though.

The garage door has already collapsed on me once.  I botched it back together.  The door and the frame are focced, and focced beyond repair.

Anybody know anything about garage doors?  Looking for a secure and durable door.  Thinking of another up and over.  Was told Hormann are the best for basic quality doors.

I could fit hinged doors, which would maximise space, look nice, but I'm not sure about em on windy days etc.

Was gonna leave the door to next year (money money money) but I'm itching to get it sorted now.  It's a pain having a decent sized garage and not being able to keep anything in it (the bike is in there but they can hardly get that oot the window!)

Appreciate any thoughts and comments as always.

[mirdif64]

Nice work on the damp issue, good to see it's resolved.
I fitted a 9' wide (manual) roller door to my garage about 10 years ago. No problems so far.
You can also park a car right up to door and still get into garage easy enough, which you can't do with up and over or hinged doors.

[bigbluebear]

VNA.....a Largs man eh....I was there earlier this week, not the usual amount of bikes though being a Monday

[VNA]

mirdif64, roller I think is more expensive.  Very secure apparently.

Was wondering if anybody has a Hormann up and over.  That's my favourite at the moment.

bigbluebear - Glasgow?

I had a wee run the other day.  Over to Dunoon, up to Inveraray.  Up the A819, then doubled back at Cladich to follow the single track alongside Loch Awe, through Ford and onto the A816 just North of Kilmartin, then back down the road via Lochgilphead and the ferry again at Dunoon.

Mad weather at the mo eh?

I have a wee habit of trying to hunt down these things;