Think/dreaming of building a shop w/house reno's

[Donair]

Howdy,

I think this is something some us probably daydream about somewhat regularly ... or maybe I'm alone ...

We live in a really small house (1.5 story) in Dartmouth on a corner lot that I feel is large enough to accommodate some reno's including a shop sized comfortably enough for whatever I'd ever get up to. We've talked to mortgage guys and occasionally scan MLS, but for where we are (and like being) there's not much out there, in our price range that offers what we want (a workshop space, a bit more living space). We had a home designer do up plans for a reno that increased our living space (basically the plan was to add a full second story) but the mortgage folks wouldn't approve because they felt the finished product would be not worth as much as what it was to cost to do the reno.

So, I'm exploring what can be done on our current site. You guys seem knowledgeable on the subject with some of you being in trades and some of you having build your own shops. I'd love to hear any thoughts/suggestions any of you might have. I'd like to do as much of it on my own as possible.

I do have a few preliminary questions;

How can I find out how close to our property line I am allowed to frig with?

What are the pro's & con's of attached garages vs. detatched garages?

How early/late in the day am I allowed to swing a hammer?

Thanks!

[mostheman]

www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Check here for Garage ideas and good info.....nothing local but lots of good build threads.

[T-Dogg]

To give advice on this we would need pics of the house and property.

As for the property line, I believe it is 3' you have to be back,there maybe some written consent fourms you can get to go closer Im not sure.

Give us more information and we will give more suggestions.

Da
DOgg

[Ken McIntosh]

When I built my garage a couple of years ago, I needed to leave 8 feet between any outbuilding and the property line.

I went down to alderney gate to get my building permit. The folks there can answer any question regarding convenances , placement and the amount of your property that can be covered by dwellings and outbuildings.

Outbuildings in Dartmouth downtown cannot be taller than 15 feet from floor to outside peak. There are exceptions to most of the rules that involve canvassing the neighborhood for permission to go beyond written rules.

[bandit4114]

A few years ago, but I think my setbacks were 1meter from line if no windows on that wall or 2m with windows.
2 or 3m minimum from dwelling
I would prefer detached but my small yard dictated that a 2 bay garage must be attached to fit within these rules

[chevystroker]

I think Lake Echo where I am and Dartmouth are the same for height: It was increased from 15 foot max to 21 feet back in April 2010.

Aldrnay Landing is the best place to ask all your questions. They are very helpful.

[eastcoastcam]

Dec 29, 2010 10:17:06 GMT -4 Donair said:

I do have a few preliminary questions;

How can I find out how close to our property line I am allowed to frig with?

What are the pro's & con's of attached garages vs. detatched garages?

How early/late in the day am I allowed to swing a hammer?

Thanks!

- 8ft from property line is the norm in HRM, but sometimes you can get a variance approved. You can only have so much building (house, garage, sheds, etc) on your lot, check it all out at Silly Hall in Alderny Landing.

- Attached or Detached? What are you planning to do in YOUR garage? Your wife will expect to park during the winter (at least) in an attached garage, leaving less winter workspace.(trust me I know). If its to be a workshop i'd go detached. She won't want to park there so much if she's got to walk through the yard to get there. It may depend on access to such garage on what you can do as well, another thing to check out with Silly Hall.

And you can swing your hammer and make all sorts of noise from 7am - 11pm mon-sat, not sure for sundays (I gave my neghbours a break and only worked 10-6). When I was building my house, a cop stopped and told me it was getting late @ 10:45pm. I told him I'll stop when I'm done. I was sheeting my roof in late February so I was not about to come down with a row and a half left and snow in the next day's forecast!

[76jeep]

i am in bedford and i can be with in 4 ft of the line.

[Creepy]

you can go to the HRM site and search around, they have lots of info on-line. the map section, check on property lines and zoom way in to look at your yard for free. you can see zoning and stuff too. check out the side menu's to turn layers on.

[The Garagemahal]

Dec 29, 2010 20:35:24 GMT -4 Creepy said:

you can go to the HRM site and search around, they have lots of info on-line. the map section, check on property lines and zoom way in to look at your yard for free. you can see zoning and stuff too. check out the side menu's to turn layers on.

Hmmmmmmm got a linky ? I am lazy and find their sites overwhelming and hard to navigate

[Creepy]

map - maps.halifax.ca/website/ExploreHRM/viewer.php

if it doesn't work - start it from here and check the disclaimer box
halifax.ca/giss/Disclaimer.php

[Donair]

This is all great info, links and perspective folks, I really appreciate it. I think I need to take a trip down to Alderney Gate early next week ... the hangover and beer breath should be gone by then

I will try to find some time soon to embarrass myself with a Paint rendition of our existing property (my Paint kung-fu is weak). I do have the actual survey filed away from when we first purchased our place ... I seem to remember it having some pretty precise numbers on it. I'll snap & post a jpeg or two too.

I'd love to see any other suggestions any of you would do if you were in my steel toed shoes ...