RE: Garage and Drive

From: Bill Gegg (billgegg(at)ci.antioch.ca.us)
Date: Mon Jan 12 1998 - 12:23:36 CST


Regarding the garage on top of the bomb shelter, there are a couple of avenues to follow. The first is to contact the local building department. Many jurisdictions have minimum requirements concerning size of garages and you can also ask questions regarding setbacks from property lines, pits in garages, electrical, fire, ventilation, etc. Interestingly enough, the code also has restrictions on the maximum size of a private garage, the limit being 1000 square feet. If you want a garage over 1000 square feet, then it mysteriously becomes a workshop(wink...wink)

You should also ask if a building permit was taken out for the bomb shelter. If there was a permit, you might have access to plans or failing that, access to the firm that designed the shelter and they still might have the plans.

If the building department says that you can build the garage over the shelter, then contact a structural engineer. The structural engineer will be able to incorporate your ideas into his plan.

Regarding the garage slab, although code says a 3.5" slab is acceptable, usually with welded wire mesh, go for a minimum 5" slab, gravel underneath, with a rebar mat and have the concrete finishers score the hell out of it.

 



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