Replies

1. 
   FastEddie | Jun 08, 2006 07:54pm | #1

   Buy an architect.

    

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Jun 08, 2006 09:17pm | #2

   You could use something like Flexicore prestressed concrete flooring planks. See

   http://www.pittsburghflexicore.com/index.htm

   Or you could hire an engineer to spec a poured reinforced concrete floor.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

3. 
   BillHartmann | Jun 08, 2006 11:59pm | #3

   How much space will you have under the floor? Is it usable?

   I have a basement under mine and find it useful (workshop).

   You can do this with pour inplace concrete, preformed concrete planks, or IFC's.

   But unless the space is usable it would probably be cheaper to put in fill.

4. 
   JohnSprung | Jun 09, 2006 02:58am | #4

   It's hardly ever done because of the weight of cars.  Chatting with a soils guy on a high rise job, it turns out that the parking structure is the real critical weight problem.  A 20 story building full of offices weighs "practically nothing at all" per the soils guy. ;-)

   If you do go for a crawl space garage, consider making it accessible, with removable panels and a rat slab.  That way you could do your own oil changes without having to jack the car up.

   But the suggestion to bring in fill will likely be the cost effective way to go.  That or possibly excavate more and make room to put a usable upstairs over the parking, as is common for apartment buildings. 

    

    

   -- J.S.