Garage Addition, how to make the connection

ERAlaska

Going to undertake a substantial DIY project and need a piece of advice. I am attaching a 2 story garage addition to an existing home. The home has a block foundation with half the lower level below grade, the garage addition will be at ground level, monolithic slab. Garage door will be perpendicular to the outside wall of the home.

Existing home is 2x4 construction and I do not want to mess with placing any additional weight on it, so I intend to construct a 2x6 wall adjacent to it to support the addition (2 story). My question is, what is the best way to marry or attach these two walls together? I am in an area subject to siesmic activity so i need something with a little give, but also something that would not allow the two to seperate and slam together. Any suggestions?

Garage dimensions are 22x30 with the connectionpoint being 17 feet of the 30 foot side on the garage door end. Addition will approximately 3 feet higher than the existing home at the very top, although the majority to roof line will be seamless. Still deciding whether to fun the floor joists(20-22 feet) parallel or perpendicular to the house.

Any comments, suggestions or advice?

cortell

Excuse me for stating the obvious, but that's no DIY project--substantial or otherwise. That's a get-an-engineer-and-architect project. For the DIY-ness, you can do the actual construction. The kind of question you're asking simply cannot be answered on this kind of site or any other internet site. There's far too many things that have to be taken into account, by engineers who go on site, inspect your home, the building site, and sit down with you to take in all your requirements. Engineers that are schooled, experienced and licensed to do exactly that. And if you respond, as others have, with "well, of course I plan on having an engineer", then my question back to you is "why aren't you asking them this question?"

Sorry. I'm not trying to be a jerk. It's just that we see this thing all the time.

AndyGump

Cortell is completely right in this, you are in a highly active seismic zone and you should have professional help in the planning stages of your project.
After getting the proper engineering then by all means do the actual work on the project yourself.

And as a note to Cortell, everyone here kows that you don't have to try to be a jerk...uhh...that didn't come out quite right...

Just kidding, I couldn't help myself.

Andy.

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cortell

Careful, Andy. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

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ERAlaska

Thanks for the info, think I knew that all along but it never hurts to ask.

On a side note, we actually have a very favorable government over us that has the majority to the infomration needed to construct. The garage is not unique with the exception of the marrying joint. Standard sheer wall designs, and the majority of the stuctural connections are already in code and approved. I did a 40x40, 10 foot ceiling two story, 12:12 metal roof garage several years ago, only it was detached, it is just this shared wall that has me in a quandry this time.

Have friends inthe A/E field, guess it is time to call upon one of the structural guys for some drawings.