Building a new shop this spring.... hopefully

[Dagster]

I'm planning on building a new shop in the spring. I have some issues to deal with first. I have an acre of land and am on septic. The shop will be on the opposite corner of my piece of property as my house. This may pose a rather costly problem if the health department won't allow me to run a line 150 feet to my septic. I guess I won't know until I pay them a visit. I have my land plotted with elevation and the as-built is also laid out. I just need to take my ideas to the proper permitting authorities.

I'm also having trouble deciding how I want to position the shop. Decisions decisions...



Here is a rendering of the plan I'm considering.

http://www.houseplans.com/plans/e/23-438e-903.jpg

http://www.houseplans.com/plans/mf/23-438mf-903.gif

http://www.houseplans.com/plans/uf/23-438uf-673.gif

[Terry Mac]

Very nice Dagster. And good luck with the city permits.

I would just be careful with positioning of the new shop to allow for truck access to the septic tank. Need it pumped out or worked on occasionally, but that shouldn't be that big of a deal.

Wish you well with it, keep us updated. :)

[woodman43]

Man, thats gonna look nice.
Thats why I live in the country, I don't have to ask anybody what or how I can build on my own property. Shoot my guns when I want to and can make all the noise I want to (tablesaw, sanders, nailguns, etc.) without neighbors whining about the noise at night.
Sorry about the rant. So what are you gonna do with the upstairs? Gameroom?

[thekl0wn]

Thats why I live in the country, I don't have to ask anybody what or how I can build on my own property.

So you don't have codes? :confused:

Only thing that bothers me about those plans is that none of the common architectural drawing packages have a car/truck object that looks like it came out of this century... Wait... I don't have a vehicle out of this century... :D

[Dagster]

Very nice Dagster. And good luck with the city permits.

I would just be careful with positioning of the new shop to allow for truck access to the septic tank. Need it pumped out or worked on occasionally, but that shouldn't be that big of a deal.

Wish you well with it, keep us updated. :)

My septic tank is 150 feet away near the house so I should be good to go!

[Dagster]

Man, thats gonna look nice.
Thats why I live in the country, I don't have to ask anybody what or how I can build on my own property. Shoot my guns when I want to and can make all the noise I want to (tablesaw, sanders, nailguns, etc.) without neighbors whining about the noise at night.
Sorry about the rant. So what are you gonna do with the upstairs? Gameroom?

The upstairs will be a fully outfitted apartment for my wife to use as a craft area and for guests to stay in...family from out of town etc...

[woodman43]

the kl0wn
Yes we have the usual standard international codes. The only permits you need are for septic and water systems. But what I mean is I don't have to ask anyone if I decide to build an outbuilding or barn, or want to put up a carport. Building permits are not required outside city limits, at least not in my county.


Dagster
That will be nice, I'm sure your wife would like to have a place of her own for her hobbies. I actually offered my wife a corner of my shop for her hobbies, but she doesn't like the dust.

[bogydave]

Nice plan.
I just built a shop in Alaska.
12' walls are nice.
I wish I had ran some "under slab" conduit & air lines to various locations or from mid wall to mid wall & the corners. Saves wire distance from AC panel & is hidden & well protected.
Even 1" or 1-1/2" pvc conduit I could've pulled air hose through. Now I'm running in on the ceiling & around the walls.

Dave
Alaska

[bogydave]

One more thig I did that now I wish I hadn't. I put a drain in the floor & tapered the floor with a 2" drop to the drain. Imagine trying to level something or build a project on the floor. If I did it again I may still put in the drain but only taper about a 3' radius from the drain & use a squeegee if needed. The rest of the floor I'd make as level as possible.

Also if you're going to paint the floor. Do it as soon as you can. Wish I had painted as soon as the concrete was dry enough. I had to move lots of stuff around and do lots of surface-prep to get a good anchor profile for the coating to bond to. A little touch up later is easier than doing the whole floor.

[Dagster]

I think I may go with a gentle slope towards the garage doors kinda like a traditional garage. Not positive though. That is one of the many things I need to figure out.

[Don]

As far as the floor goes, make it known to the contractor that you want a trowel finish, not broom. You want that floor as slick as possible for sweeping. Mine's completely level.

I agree with the painting thing though, wish I'd done mine early.

[Dagster]

Yeah, I definitely want the floor smooth as can be. Not sure about paint though. I can't stand chipped paint.

[Dagster]

Ouch, just checked the shop plans website and the prices have tripled. The CAD file is now $1,500 :( Procrastination hurts.

[bogydave]

Prices tripled!
I know the Seattle area is one of the fastest growing areas in the US. Realestate prices are still good there.
If not paint, then consider a sealer. Oils & stains won't soak into the concrete. Also it will sweep easier. If you're planning to have a welder, no paint is the way to go for sure.
Concrete guys do what they call a "black finish", very very smooth.

[bogydave]

Hey Dag.
Did the shop get started?
I heard lumber was getting cheaper due to not many house being built.

[Dagster]

Hi Guys,

Been a long while. I took delivery of my Factory Five AC Cobra Replica, have been working on that and have also started building my shop. I purchased a different, larger shop plan and extended the first floor ceiling height to 10' (30 X 38 footprint). Permits took 6 months and a gazillion dollars so the construction was delayed a tad. So far I've had my trees removed, I then excavated, dug all my trenches for the foundation, septic, and utilities, and have poured the footings.

Pics below!

The new shop elevation
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/shopelevation2.gif


The back part of my property being cleared of fir trees
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/dsc_0108.jpg


That large excavator was awesome, mostly just tipped the trees over and ripped them out.
These are 100'+ fir trees mind you... not small at all.
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/dsc_0112.jpg


Initial clearing and stump removal done!
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/dsc_0115.jpg


Me and my little excavator doing final excavation and culvert install.
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/dsc_0022.jpg



http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/dsc_0027.jpg


Digging for the footings.
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/dsc_0045.jpg

http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/dsc_0049.jpg

[Dagster]

Footings dug on 3 sides, touched up the final grade.
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/dsc_0032.jpg


Footing forms and iron in place, nice and clean.
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/footings/dsc_0001.jpg


This is the front of the shop facing the street.
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/footings/dsc_0002.jpg


Septic trench which extends to the side of the house. The shop is 35' behind me at this spot.
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/footings/dsc_0009.jpg


Placing concrete.
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/footings/dsc_0038.jpg

http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/footings/dsc_0042.jpg

http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/footings/dsc_0068.jpg


Checking rebar wet placement
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/footings/dsc_0077.jpg

[Dagster]

Beer time
http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/footings/dsc_0080.jpg

http://www.garagehobbies.com/images/shop/footings/dsc_0091.jpg

[Dagster]

I've been building my shop for over a year now, many delays due to weather etc... but it is taking shape. I'll catch you up in this thread as time permits. For now, a few more recent pictures.



http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/dagmandt/Shop/DSC_0035-2.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/dagmandt/Shop/DSC_0036-2.jpg

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/dagmandt/Shop/DSC_0037-2.jpg

[Terry Mac]

Wow! It looks fantastic. Keep the pictures coming, Thanks.

[Dagster]

Wow! It looks fantastic. Keep the pictures coming, Thanks.

Thanks, I have pictures of the entire process including the Hydronic heating for the floors. I've hammered every last nail and made all the cuts for the entire project. My step father has been my saving grace as my grunt, helping lift and tilt etc...

TONS of pics, I'll try and update some tonight if I can find a minute or two.