Above 1200 Sq/FT Overcoming Good-Deal-Itis One Project at a Time
- Thread starter SilverJimmy
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
You’ve not ridden the right sled. Get on a 1000cc turbo powered snow mobile, your mind will be changed.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Sorry Sterling, for some reason I forgot that you were relocating FROM Flagstaff and not to Flagstaff.
OP
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Yes, FROM! After 32 years living there I have to bite my tongue every time someone tells me how nice it is in Flagstaff. It was great but now it has lost it‘s small town charm. Now it is just like every other college town in America, and if you add in everything that comes from being at the junction of I-17 and I-40, it’s not for my wife and I any longer.
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Big day today, can you say….
First thing this morning I saw this beautiful yellow beast rise up out my bathroom window!
Concrete pump truck getting ready for action!
Then the concrete trucks started showing up, we got MUD!
First thing this morning I saw this beautiful yellow beast rise up out my bathroom window!
Concrete pump truck getting ready for action!
Then the concrete trucks started showing up, we got MUD!
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Pretty interesting watching the crew get the concrete into place, never had a pump truck on any concrete jobs I did with my father. These guys got it done and done nicely!
Pump truck operator had a wireless control to move the boom exactly where the crew wanted the mud to go.
All into place and vibrated down.
The lift pads also got filled today.
I kinda lost count, but I think it was 3 concrete trucks today, but it could have been 4!
Pump truck operator had a wireless control to move the boom exactly where the crew wanted the mud to go.
All into place and vibrated down.
The lift pads also got filled today.
I kinda lost count, but I think it was 3 concrete trucks today, but it could have been 4!
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
After lunch the guys came back with a trencher so they could dig the trenches for all my frost-proof faucets and the conduit for the 200 amp main lead coming into the building and to the panel.
Now we wait, plumbers won’t be able to do the rough-in till next week and then rebar and another inspection. Tentatively the monolithic pour will happen the week after that, hopefully sooner!
Now we wait, plumbers won’t be able to do the rough-in till next week and then rebar and another inspection. Tentatively the monolithic pour will happen the week after that, hopefully sooner!
Swanny1953
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Congrats, Sterling - won't be long now before it starts coming out of the ground!!
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Progress. Looks good Sterling.
I remember watching both the gravel truck operator as well as the pump truck operator when my shop was being built. Both used wireless controllers that were strapped around their necks and the skill level was impressive.
The gravel truck operator moved the high speed conveyor belt so smooth that the gravel landed about 50' away right where he wanted it and to the depth he was aiming for. The speed and velocity of the gravel compacted so well that very little post delivery compaction was necessary to get the correct compaction readings.
The pump truck operator used a similar wireless controller, and he moved the discharge tube so methodically that no one even had to hold it and it hardly swung. It was so smooth and seamless, very impressive.
I remember watching both the gravel truck operator as well as the pump truck operator when my shop was being built. Both used wireless controllers that were strapped around their necks and the skill level was impressive.
The gravel truck operator moved the high speed conveyor belt so smooth that the gravel landed about 50' away right where he wanted it and to the depth he was aiming for. The speed and velocity of the gravel compacted so well that very little post delivery compaction was necessary to get the correct compaction readings.
The pump truck operator used a similar wireless controller, and he moved the discharge tube so methodically that no one even had to hold it and it hardly swung. It was so smooth and seamless, very impressive.
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Been 70 degrees here so the plumbers got busy and got all the rough plumbing in. Also got the conduit for the 200 amp power run from the south end of the building into the mechanical room.
Inspection was called for, the steel should be going in tomorrow if we get the go ahead!
Inspection was called for, the steel should be going in tomorrow if we get the go ahead!
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Concrete crew got all the trenches filled and compacted before they put in all the steel.
All the plumbing trenches in the bathroom and mechanical room also got filled and compacted.
There‘s a lot going on in this corner, extra anchor bolts for the wall portal and plumbing for my outside BBQ area.
Today slab is getting termite pretreatment and then another inspection before concrete tomorrow! Pickle Ball tournament this weekend! LOL!
All the plumbing trenches in the bathroom and mechanical room also got filled and compacted.
There‘s a lot going on in this corner, extra anchor bolts for the wall portal and plumbing for my outside BBQ area.
Today slab is getting termite pretreatment and then another inspection before concrete tomorrow! Pickle Ball tournament this weekend! LOL!
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That's gonna be epic!
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Crew is supposed to show up @ 7:30 and mud is scheduled for 9:30! It’s all going to be pumped cuz the slab is “BIG”!
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Passed inspection and the bug man did his thing so now we wait till the AM. Contractor said the pump truck has to show up @ 6:00 so the mud is coming by 8:00! Going to be a long day, hopefully it’ll be warmer and not as windy as it was today!
No kidding. Cold is one thing but windy and cold like it is right now ain’t good. I just looked and the wind is supposed to end tonight.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Hope all goes well Sterling. I remember when my floor was being poured, it was a huge day as far as seeing progress.
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
It’s on!
There‘s a crew of 12 working the pour today!
The power screed is pretty cool to watch work, last time I poured concrete with my dad me and a 8’ 2x4 was the screed!
Soon the iron will have a home! After the 3rd truck the first 25’ was poured, contractor said it’ll be about 100 yds total!
There‘s a crew of 12 working the pour today!
The power screed is pretty cool to watch work, last time I poured concrete with my dad me and a 8’ 2x4 was the screed!
Soon the iron will have a home! After the 3rd truck the first 25’ was poured, contractor said it’ll be about 100 yds total!
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Paging Dan, paging Dan, @Finallygotit . I see concrete being poured. 
Live from the silverjimmy mud bogPaging Dan, paging Dan, @Finallygotit . I see concrete being poured.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Seriously, how did I miss this thread. Won't miss it anymore.
Your concrete guy is doing an excellent job. I am amazed at how much fill was required.
Your concrete guy is doing an excellent job. I am amazed at how much fill was required.
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
So cool that Cam stopped by to check out my Maximum Security build! Today was a big day, almost 80 yards of concrete poured today! It was so intense I actually forgot to take pictures of the finished slab. The guys are coming tomorrow @ 8:00 to do the saw cuts, so I’ll take some then and get them on here, cuz, we all know….Live from the silverjimmy mud bog
Without pictures, it didn’t happen!!!
It’s ok brother, I got your back. I saw all of it except for the last three yards.
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Looking West from left to right….
Saw cutting the joints. Cuts are within the window of time but a couple cracks have already formed off the water lines poking thru the slab, hopefully they will not grow!
I also asked if they could clean up where the red iron will sit over the hold down bolts.
Guys are doing a great job, no complaints on my part. Kid tearing down the forms is putting all the duplex nails into the trash bucket, such different behavior than from the hacks that built our last home! Now we wait two weeks if not more for the slab to cure and the building erector to get my shop onto his schedule. His crew has been busy putting up an over 300,000 sq ft building at the airpark!
Saw cutting the joints. Cuts are within the window of time but a couple cracks have already formed off the water lines poking thru the slab, hopefully they will not grow!
I also asked if they could clean up where the red iron will sit over the hold down bolts.
Guys are doing a great job, no complaints on my part. Kid tearing down the forms is putting all the duplex nails into the trash bucket, such different behavior than from the hacks that built our last home! Now we wait two weeks if not more for the slab to cure and the building erector to get my shop onto his schedule. His crew has been busy putting up an over 300,000 sq ft building at the airpark!
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
For your viewing pleasure.
February 5, 2024
Today, February 13, 2025
Soon the view will change a lot more!
February 5, 2024
Today, February 13, 2025
Soon the view will change a lot more!
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Two things to remember about concrete Sterling, it's going to get hard and it's going to crack. No matter where you cut the expansion lines, it will crack outside at some point.
As **** as I was with the pouring of mine and no matter how good the contractor was, I have a few cracks outside the cuts.
As **** as I was with the pouring of mine and no matter how good the contractor was, I have a few cracks outside the cuts.
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
My dad was a concrete contractor and red iron building erector for most of his career, all around the San Jose and the Bay Area. I even worked with him for a bit right after I graduated from high school. Helped do a couple buildings, one at IBM and another at GE’s Nuclear Division. My dad always told me the only thing he would guarantee about concrete was that it was going to crack!
I don’t know how many of you ever worked for your father, but my career was very short. He fired me when I was on the GE job, told me to get off his job site. When I jumped into my work truck he reached in through the window, grabbed the keys and told me to get out of his truck cuz only his employees drove them!
My father and I laughed about that day for years, he told me many times that he was glad and proud that I went my own way and was successful on my own. Besides, I **** at construction, I absolutely can not see level! I actually thought that where my new shop is being built was only about 12” out of level!
I don’t know how many of you ever worked for your father, but my career was very short. He fired me when I was on the GE job, told me to get off his job site. When I jumped into my work truck he reached in through the window, grabbed the keys and told me to get out of his truck cuz only his employees drove them!
My father and I laughed about that day for years, he told me many times that he was glad and proud that I went my own way and was successful on my own. Besides, I **** at construction, I absolutely can not see level! I actually thought that where my new shop is being built was only about 12” out of level!
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks for the story about your dad Sterling. Sounds like you had a great relationship with him.
I worked alongside my dad on our dairy farm daily until I got married at age 20 when I moved out of my parent's house. I still continued to work alongside him several days per week after my full-time job as an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic for another 5 or so years. My dad was a quiet man and I learned more by his actions than his words. Loved and admired the man, freakin' hated farming.
Never had the opportunity to really talk to him about my career choice. He knew that I didn't want to farm but I can only hope he would be proud as he's been gone for quite some time now. Still miss him every day.
I worked alongside my dad on our dairy farm daily until I got married at age 20 when I moved out of my parent's house. I still continued to work alongside him several days per week after my full-time job as an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic for another 5 or so years. My dad was a quiet man and I learned more by his actions than his words. Loved and admired the man, freakin' hated farming.
Never had the opportunity to really talk to him about my career choice. He knew that I didn't want to farm but I can only hope he would be proud as he's been gone for quite some time now. Still miss him every day.
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Got home yesterday evening after running errands in town. Crew had finished saw cuts and cleaning up afterwards. All the anchor bolts, nuts and washers are clean and ready for the red iron. They swept up all the dust from cutting the expansion joints and loaded up all of the form reinforcements. Concrete contractor said he’s going to leave the forms on till Monday to protect the edge until it’s gains a bunch of strength. While we were out it rained a bit, my slab looked a little like a mirror!
Boostingaz
Well-known member
Nice! Looking great!
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That's pretty dang flat! 
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
QST indeed! First beer in the new shop!
I luv it bud!QST indeed! First beer in the new shop!
When I got my first boat (big block squirter) I’d kick back in it in the driveway and cocktail away. Then every once in a while I’d fire her up and give it a few rev’s just to soothe my need for that glorious sound of a lumpy cam n over the transom headers…
To this day I’m surprised no one ever came over to kick my ***. I suppose it must have been because no body wanted to get out of bed and dressed around midnight
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I would kill to have that much flat area let alone concrete.
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
If you’re like me I have to hang out in my shop for about an hour after I’ve been welding, doing the sniff-sniff-sniff for the telltale smells of smoldering material. Perfect time for a beer or two!
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
I’ve said this before, but I coulda sworn that the area I picked for the shop was fairly level. 30 or so dump truck loads of fill says otherwise! The West side of the pad is almost 4 feet above the original dirt! I’m very excited about getting this thing done. Building erector says that he’s 30 days out. That‘s not as soon as I’d like, but it will give the concrete plenty of cure time, it’s supposed to take minimum 28 days to achieve maximum break strength.
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SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Had to resist another case of “Good-Deal-Itis” yesterday. The contractor building my shop called and told me about another shop build he’s involved with. A body shop that burned down has finally gotten all the permits to rebuild and there’s a four post lift that is in the way and needs to go! It is a BendPak 9K lift that was setup outside behind the building for miscellaneous jobs. Owner said it was there when he bought the business and he had never used it because of where it was at wasn’t very convenient. He was asking $2500 for it, new is around 6K. Sounds like it could be a “Good Deal”! So I went and looked at it.
Before I went I did call my buddy who works for NAPA and sells equipment. He verified that all the parts are still available for this older lift. Also I think by law the manufacturer has to be able to supply a manual for lifts they made if they are still in business.
Met the owner at the shop site and looked it over. After checking it out I decided to pass. The fact that it was next to a building that burned down and had been outside since new in 2008 was just to much of a risk for even me. The hydraulic hoses, an air release cylinder, and the air lines all needed replaced and the steel cables were pretty corroded. It probably is a good deal, but I really don’t need another project!
I am happy that by researching this lift I found out that BendPak supports their products, that’s great info going forward!
Before I went I did call my buddy who works for NAPA and sells equipment. He verified that all the parts are still available for this older lift. Also I think by law the manufacturer has to be able to supply a manual for lifts they made if they are still in business.
Met the owner at the shop site and looked it over. After checking it out I decided to pass. The fact that it was next to a building that burned down and had been outside since new in 2008 was just to much of a risk for even me. The hydraulic hoses, an air release cylinder, and the air lines all needed replaced and the steel cables were pretty corroded. It probably is a good deal, but I really don’t need another project!
I am happy that by researching this lift I found out that BendPak supports their products, that’s great info going forward!