Building a Shop
I purchased my building from EVERSAFE.
Please click the logo to link to their website. www.eversafebuildings.com |
The zoning laws will allow a 600 sqft accessory building, so that's what I'm building. The shop will be a tubular steel building 24' wide, 25' long with 12' walls at the eaves. There will be two 10' X 10' roll up doors in the front and a 17' X 28' apron in front. The shop floor will be a monolithic slab with footings, #4 rebar, and a thicker section where the automotive lift will be. Follow my progress on this page.
2/4/17 - The crew arrives at 8AM.
The pine tree stump needs to come out. This turned out to be more difficult than it first appeared.
They gave up on the stump and started digging for the footings.
The blue lines and rebar posts outline the thicker area to give extra support for an automotive lift.
Stump removal resumed while the form boards were prepared.
That stump was 5X bigger than I expected.
That's me down in the stump hole.
The stump and most of the roots.
The footings will have #4 rebar.
The stump hole was filled and tamped down.
I have some trees that provide shade from the afternoon sun.
Work is done for today. My concrete man estimates this project will use 23 to 25 yards of concrete for the shop and apron.
2/6/17 UPDATE
More form boards were added today. They are not in the final position yet but you can see how they outline the walkway and the front apron.
More form boards were added today. They are not in the final position yet but you can see how they outline the walkway and the front apron.
This front apron corner will be widened to the right (not yet outlined by form boards). The wider front edge will allow a direct approach to the right garage door without driving over the apron corner.
2/7/17 UPDATE
The front apron form boards are almost finalized. The sharp point at the front corner will be squared off because it would probably break off if it remained as is.
The front apron form boards are almost finalized. The sharp point at the front corner will be squared off because it would probably break off if it remained as is.
The shop floor area and apron area was compacted in preparation for the first pour in two days - Thursday 2/9/17. You can see the 7' X 15' rectangle where the concrete will be 7" thick for the automotive lift.
2/8/17 UPDATE
The last footing board was added today. The walkway was also finalized. A vapor barrier will be added beneath the shop floor concrete.
The last footing board was added today. The walkway was also finalized. A vapor barrier will be added beneath the shop floor concrete.
The 24' X 25' monolithic pad will be poured tomorrow.
This conduit will be buried 18" deep and then come up through the floor a few inches from the side wall.
2/9/17 UPDATE
Make sure you watch the video at the end of this update.
The concrete truck showed up today with 16.5 yards of pump mix concrete.
Make sure you watch the video at the end of this update.
The concrete truck showed up today with 16.5 yards of pump mix concrete.
Work started early. Notice the keyways, vapor barrier, conduit for future electrical service and rebar.
Rebar was placed in the automotive lift area.
The workers have a mantra - "Why hump it . . . when you can pump it?"
Watch the video!
2/10/17 UPDATE
Watch today's video.
The apron for the building was poured today. I'll wait 28 days for the concrete to cure.
Watch today's video.
The apron for the building was poured today. I'll wait 28 days for the concrete to cure.
Waiting 28 days to allow concrete to cure.
3/2/17 UPDATE
Watch the video. I worked late today. It was dark when I got home but I was determined to test a small area of concrete with acid etching. So I tested it in the dark. The Quikcrete Epoxy coating I plan to apply to the shop floor needs a way to grip to the concrete. The smooth finish needs to be etched with acid. Instead of acid, I could rent a grinding machine to roughen the surface. I'm pretty pleased with the results from the acid etch test.
Watch the video. I worked late today. It was dark when I got home but I was determined to test a small area of concrete with acid etching. So I tested it in the dark. The Quikcrete Epoxy coating I plan to apply to the shop floor needs a way to grip to the concrete. The smooth finish needs to be etched with acid. Instead of acid, I could rent a grinding machine to roughen the surface. I'm pretty pleased with the results from the acid etch test.
3/6/17 UPDATE
Watch the video. The shop floor has been etched.
Watch the video. The shop floor has been etched.
3/12/17 UPDATE
It rained on Moisture test #1, so I tested it again. Moisture test #2 was a total disaster as well. Watch the video.
It rained on Moisture test #1, so I tested it again. Moisture test #2 was a total disaster as well. Watch the video.
3/16/17 UPDATE
A great 3 man crew showed up today and worked nearly 14 hours to construct my shop. Watch the time-lapse video! More pictures too! Terrific workmanship and very hard workers.
A great 3 man crew showed up today and worked nearly 14 hours to construct my shop. Watch the time-lapse video! More pictures too! Terrific workmanship and very hard workers.
I purchased my building from EVERSAFE.
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3/20/17 UPDATE
Take a walk around the shop with me.
Take a walk around the shop with me.
3/25/17 Update
Three gallons of Quikcrete Epoxy Garage Floor Coating was applied to the shop floor. I'm pretty happy with the results. Cleaning up spills will be easier and the shop floor will have less dust.
Three gallons of Quikcrete Epoxy Garage Floor Coating was applied to the shop floor. I'm pretty happy with the results. Cleaning up spills will be easier and the shop floor will have less dust.
4/11/17 Update
It's starting to look like a real shop. Tool boxes and trucks have been moved inside.
It's starting to look like a real shop. Tool boxes and trucks have been moved inside.
8/18/17 Update
I intentionally left room between the shop and the fence so I could pour additional concrete for either a lean-to or at least some additional parking. Workers poured 7 cubic yards of concrete today. A pad was poured at the opposite back corner for a rain barrel.
I intentionally left room between the shop and the fence so I could pour additional concrete for either a lean-to or at least some additional parking. Workers poured 7 cubic yards of concrete today. A pad was poured at the opposite back corner for a rain barrel.
9/3/17 Update
The shop walls are going up. I'm using 2" foam board insulation inside the walls. Then framing the 1/4" plywood with 1X4 pine strips. I used TREX composite decking to make a base board so any spills will not wick up into the plywood.
The shop walls are going up. I'm using 2" foam board insulation inside the walls. Then framing the 1/4" plywood with 1X4 pine strips. I used TREX composite decking to make a base board so any spills will not wick up into the plywood.
9/17/17 Update
The first wall is up and I've started to go around the corner. The white primer coat will help once the lighting is installed.
The first wall is up and I've started to go around the corner. The white primer coat will help once the lighting is installed.
10/20/17 Update
Lean-to added
A little over a month ago I had additional concrete poured so I could add a 9' X 25' lean-to. I was very happy to see the same crew arrive that put the main shop building up. The lean-to took about 6 hours and turned out really nice. Now the boat will have a better place to stay out of the weather. I plan to hang a heavy canvas curtain at the front. These pics tell the story.
Lean-to added
A little over a month ago I had additional concrete poured so I could add a 9' X 25' lean-to. I was very happy to see the same crew arrive that put the main shop building up. The lean-to took about 6 hours and turned out really nice. Now the boat will have a better place to stay out of the weather. I plan to hang a heavy canvas curtain at the front. These pics tell the story.
11/18/17 Update
The walls are going up slowly. The back wall is done except for the gable. I recently purchased two pallet rack shelving units. They are 9 feet tall and 9 feet wide with a depth of 42". The units fit very nicely along the back wall and will provide much needed storage space.
The walls are going up slowly. The back wall is done except for the gable. I recently purchased two pallet rack shelving units. They are 9 feet tall and 9 feet wide with a depth of 42". The units fit very nicely along the back wall and will provide much needed storage space.
1/22/18 Update
The interior shop walls are done. The electrician says he'll have power in my shop within a month. Watch the video.
The interior shop walls are done. The electrician says he'll have power in my shop within a month. Watch the video.
2/2/18 Update
Closed cell foam insulation was sprayed onto the shop ceiling . That should help the shop stay cooler during the summer. Watch the video.
Closed cell foam insulation was sprayed onto the shop ceiling . That should help the shop stay cooler during the summer. Watch the video.
Cabinet doors will be installed to hide items on the lower shelf. I added some lights over the work bench.