Building a Shop on a budget...(My Shop Project Build)

[BRUISER]

First of all.. I will say Hi..

I am new here and figured I would show what I have been working on and what my plans are for long term.


The histroy:
I decided to stop paying money to someone else to have a shop away from the house...
I had a 30x30 shop that I rented and it is about 15 mins from my house but I had decided that I want to be closer to the house and have all my tools close at hand...

The bad news I have a very limited budget due to getting married last Sept and Jess wanting to due a bunch of work inside house..

So here is what I came up with..

The Plan:
Cut down trees in backyard (14 Pines coming out)
Tear out concrete parking pad to make driveway to shop area
sell shed and get it taken out of backyard
level backyard
pour concrete pad and then build building..

This may take me a few months/years to get done but hey I like build up threads so why not document it

 

[BRUISER]

Here was the 1st step in the process

I bought a metal building..

Good News: it is 26'x36' with 10'6" doorways and 13'6" roof line

Bad news: it was totally assembled and I had to go take it down and bring it to my house..

So I got 4 buddies and sunday we went up to location and dissassemled it and brought it back to my house on my trailer.

Took 5 guys, 24 Gatorades, 20 bottles water and 5.5hrs from start to finish..
NOt a bad day

Here are some pics of it on trailer back at my house

 

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Here are some pics of before.
here is front of house

some pics showing size of trees and also first load on truck

 

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more pics of trees

 

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Just a few quick pics of the backyard starting to open up..

They took down 10 trees yesterday and hauled them all off.
They only have 3 to go and then it is brush and stump time..

 

[BRUISER]

Well they are done


Here is the front
and the Back

 

[BRUISER]

Well I got one more item out of the backyard today..

I sold my 12x20 shed to a guy and man it was crazy getting it out..

 

[BRUISER]

Well with some help from Scott I got the backyard clean out. I still have some more things to rip out but I think Jess wants to move those to another part in the yard and since she was not home this weekend I had to wait to make sure.
Now it is time for the backoe/bobcat to grade it and level it..

1st pic is with the gate closed

2nd pic is open

 

[BRUISER]

this 1st pic shows the parking pad that is gonna get ripped out and that is where I will be making the driveway into the backyard to get to the shop

2nd pic shows more of where the shop will be

 

[BRUISER]

Well I have finally started work and Prep on shop again..

I had 300 Blocks delivered today for foundation walls

I am still shocked that the guy got this truck into my backyard and out.. it was challenging and fun to watch him navigate them into place

I have to do a Block foundation due to water run off, otherwise i would have done a turn down slab

 

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well have have made another step forward

Got the backyard dug out and level.. next is to build block retaining wall and then start forms for concrete

 

[BRUISER]

Well I have finally started working on the project again..

I rented a mini backhoe and got to work..

then I remembered I had to get it out of backyard

good thing my trailer ramps were around

 

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seems like life always gets in the way of finishing things..

but I hope I can stay on this until it is up..

 

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Well the rain sure did a job on my progress

 

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Well I got some sand dropped off more block and we got all the water out of the trenches.

going to be laying block today

 

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Lots of progress yesterday

 

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well got the backfill start yesterday.

only got outside done

 

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inside of block is now full of concrete and lag bolts are in

Just had to drive the Jeep into it for size comparison.. Jeep is a little more then half way back.

 

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Well got the inside filled with rock yesterday..

you can also see the bottom frame mounted to block wall

 

[BRUISER]

Well Today was a GREAT DAY..

had about 12 guys shop up at different times during the day.
Had Hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and drinks for lunch.
and Got the enitre building up in 8 hrs

We worked until it got DARK..

we used my generator to run power all day.. lasted all day and never ran out of gas.. not bad.

I still need to add some flashing and some extra stuff but for the most part it is up

Lots of pics..

 

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more pics...

 

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more pics:

 

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even more pics:

 

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more pics:

 

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more pics:

 

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working into the night.. I do not suggest anyone doing this..

 

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So 12 guys, 8 hrs, couple 8 packs of gatorde, case of water, burgers, hotdogs, chips, Great weather for outdoor work.. and what do you get

a HUGE building that when your neighbors see their jaw drops to the ground..

In other words PRICELESS

I do want to say Thank You to everyone that helped all day.. I could not have done it without everyones help

 

[BRUISER]

A few more pics:

I decided I would take a few pics of it up since it is not to dark tonight to see them.

Oh ya I can see the shop over my neighbors house when I am driving home

 

[BRUISER]

Well Jess and I had a nice discussion and we have decided to halt the shop progress until the spring..

Our First Born Boy is due in 15 days and I have some more house things to get finished.. so the Shop progress will get halted but will start again.

So this weekend I moved a few of my toys into it as a BIG Carport

The first pic shows what it looks like coming in threw the Gate.. the driveway will go where the parking pad is now..

This pic shows the height and size of the building.. I have Bed camper, 16' car trailer, Jeep, and my chopped Bug inside and still have room for atleast 1 more vehicle

 

[skullhead]

Great job on the shop and even better job on the documentation. I look forward to the spring update.

 

[Matt2point4]

10/10 for effort and documentation!

 

[BRUISER]

Oh I forgot... I found out the Inspector signed off on Final for this Phase.. now I am considered Grandfathered in for my area
so this building is not going anywhere..


*History*
I was a little worried about neighbors and my area.
We currently have no HOA but the trend for my area is to rip down the older homes and build $500K and up houses.. and I have heard talk of starting an HOA.. oh they are gonna hate me now

Sometimes it is fun being the redneck of the neighborhood..hehehhe

 

[burger]

Solid! Looks like you'll have a nice place to build stuff once you get it finished in the spring. Until then it's a good way to keep the weather off your toys.

 

[M. MYERS]

Bruiser,

Nice project and photos.
Like the vw, wish I had $100.00 for every one I cut up while growing up to build a dune buggy out of.

I'm starting like you, just doing it myself with what help will show up, slow but sure??

Check out my build

mel

 

[Bull]

Awesome thread and project.

You are lucky to have all those friends to help you.

I don't even KNOW twelve people, much less have twelve good buddies to come over and help me build something.

 

[wilbilt]

Awesome thread and project.

You are lucky to have all those friends to help you.

I don't even KNOW twelve people, much less have twelve good buddies to come over and help me build something.

Yes, a nice build and great photos. That type of building is becoming popular around here. They seem to be pretty affordable.

I wish I had the help, too. My wife's relatives keep asking me if they can use my lift. I keep telling them they can use it as soon as they help me pour a slab to set it up on. So far, no takers.

 

[DynoDave]

Awesome work BRUISER. And I love what you've done budget-wise too! I stick built a 26x36, and am very happy with the amount of space. Oh I could use more, but it's a nice size.

And congrats on the upcoming baby!

 

[Kevin54]

Nice build and documentation. And I am like the others....I don't know twelve people either. And the ones I do know can come up with other plans at the drop of a pin. Or before the pin hits the floor. LOL!!! How about a few more pics of the V-Dub? From what I see it looks great. I have had a few in my time and other than in the winter they were always a blast to drive. Now it is a rarity to even see one going down the road anymore. Almost a thing of the past. But when you do see one, they always seem to make heads turn and thumbs go up.

Kevin

 

[Bigger Hammer]

That is pretty cool to have that many people show up to help and not want to just stand around and drink beer all day long.

One question though, it is hard to tell from the pictures of the siding going on, but did you tuck the lower sheets under the upper sheets? It is normally put on from the ground up but since you were rebuilding it I can see the need to start at the top and work down due to reused sheeting not working out quite right with the roof line.

 

[BRUISER]

Bruiser,

Nice project and photos.
Like the vw, wish I had $100.00 for every one I cut up while growing up to build a dune buggy out of.

I'm starting like you, just doing it myself with what help will show up, slow but sure??

Check out my build

mel

Thanks...

History of VW:

I built a chopper for myself from a bike my brother gave me (95' KAW 1500)
started like this:

end up like this

was a great bike had a lot of fun until I found out I have 2 Herniated disc's in my lower back.. so Doc said NO More rigid bikes for me

So the bike sat for a few months and just as I was getting ready to list it for sale. I found this VW chopped for sale.. I contacted the guy and we traded Bike for VW and some cash..

Best part of this is my Wife Grew up with VW's and loves them so this will be a keeper for a long time..

It needs a lot of work but it is an ok platform to start