Fire house and garage

[onemoretry]

Fire house and garage (winter projects)

So it begins...
As the wife says I have more money than brains and I don't have any money...
I have a couple of toys that I need to put under a roof.


Added:
www.geobarns.com
A great lot of pictures that are just great to look at.

(winter projects)

 

[onemoretry]

So I figure, why have just 1 garage, when I can have two. After looking through many of the builds here, I called George of Geobarns (thanks to member floyd) and have come up with two buildings. The garage is a basic 3 bay with a full up stairs, and the fire house or barn is a 48X30 building with a full upstairs.
The digging has started and footers in. Looks like the pad will be poured for the barn tomorrow and the block will be in the garage shortly thereafter.
The first three pictures are the footer for the garage. The next two show the barn blocks and pad steel mesh. The sixth picture, I just wanted to put in another picture of the fire truck. The last picture, if you squint real hard, you can see my patio extension and the excavation for both buildings.
I apologize for the low quality pictures, I will work on that in future postings. These things always take more time that one would think, but I will post updates as they happen.

EDIT
I should say thanks to Bull too, he is the one that started it all for me.
His thread http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10752

And floyd's
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17545

 

[Junkman]

I believe that everyone should own a fire truck at least once in their lifetime. I had a 1926 American La France ladder truck once. I had no place to keep it, and no one to act as a tiller man on a regular basis, so I sold it. Wish that I had in now, since it was really a sharp truck. I think it got about 3 MPG, but back then gas was about 25 cents a gallon...

 

[cyclopsblown34]

The members here with Geobarns have some danged nice structures so I would say you won't be let down. If I remember right, they won't give you much time for progress pictures, one day, the footers, next they have the roof on. Okay, maybe an exaggeration but from my memory they don't fiddlefart around like most contractors.

 

[onemoretry]

Mine is a 1972 American Lefrance pumper in pretty good working order. I drove it from my parents house where I was storing it for the last year to my house (about 7 hours in the fire truck) and it ran like a champ.

 

[Junkman]

From 1926 to 1972, they improved the suspension. Mine had solid rubber tires, and I don't think that it had shocks, but it did have huge springs, and a dual ignition, hand crank ladder, and a huge gas tank. It also didn't go very fast, but it did make a lot of noise, since the muffler didn't muffle much.

 

[onemoretry]

The members here with Geobarns have some danged nice structures so I would say you won't be let down. If I remember right, they won't give you much time for progress pictures, one day, the footers, next they have the roof on. Okay, maybe an exaggeration but from my memory they don't fiddlefart around like most contractors.

Yea, I have been surprised how fast he finishes, especially given the quality of building he puts up. I now get updates to his current builds and am amazed at the daily progress. I figure, I will have both buildings finished by christmas. Of course, I am usually overly optimistic, but with George, I'll bet we will be close.

 

[Bull]

I am so glad for you! Welcome to the Geobarn family, and thank you very much for the mention in your original post. I can't wait to see your barns, and I bet you are right, George will finish on schedule. He is such a good, and a talented guy. He was just here the other week for a quick visit.

One day, I'd like to build another Geobarn. I certainly have the space, just not the cash lol. Such a great experience.

 

[Junkman]

Don't know if I should ask the question, but about how much does a barn cost to build today, as in your picture??? Thanks Junk..

 

[Bull]

Don't know if I should ask the question, but about how much does a barn cost to build today, as in your picture??? Thanks Junk..

George told me last year that he builds for about $25 per square foot. But, that price can be brought down by contributing your labor, hospitality, choosing hemlock over Doug Fir, and not going crazy with windows.

 

[Junkman]

Does he do everything from the excavation, footings, and foundation, or is this done before he starts his work? I would love to have one built on my property. thanks

 

[onemoretry]

Does he do everything from the excavation, footings, and foundation, or is this done before he starts his work? I would love to have one built on my property. thanks

The excavation, concrete, finish work, and electric is additional and needs to be done by someone else. It will still end up being less than what a local builder quoted for a traditional stick built building with vinyl siding.

 

[Bull]

The excavation, concrete, finish work, and electric is additional and needs to be done by someone else. It will still end up being less than what a local builder quoted for a traditional stick built building with vinyl siding.

And that is what impressed me so much early on, when I first discovered George and spoke with him. I had assumed from the website that I would not be able to afford to hire him, since the buildings are so nice. But, the value he provides, and the passion he has for people who share his love of his buildings is wonderful. You end up with so much more than a vinyl, stick-built structure.

 

[Firetrucks]

Mine is a 1972 American Lefrance pumper in pretty good working order. I drove it from my parents house where I was storing it for the last year to my house (about 7 hours in the fire truck) and it ran like a champ.

onemoretry, where are you?
I too collect antique rigs. I currently have a '58 Maxim TDA (see below on left), '20 Stutz pumper (see below on right) & a '36 Dodge/Stutz pumper.

 

[Ramblur]

Man,who doesn't love a fire truck...

 

[onemoretry]

onemoretry, where are you?
I too collect antique rigs. I currently have a '58 Maxim TDA (see below on left), '20 Stutz pumper (see below on right) & a '36 Dodge/Stutz pumper.

I just moved from Lafayette IN to Frederick MD.

 

[onemoretry]

Well we got a little bit further today. The stone is done in the garage, nothing new in the barn.

 

[onemoretry]

I am going to try this with a little bit bigger pictures, sorry if it doesn't work out.

 

[gts340]

I work for a department that has a 1923 Stutz. We plan to restore it. I'll probably be dead and gone before it happens.

 

[firebird 97]

So geobarns will build anyplace you want them built one in MA now building in MD. Hmmmm sounds like a good company.

Seeing your pics made me miss home, may have to rethink the idea of retirinf and staying in FL and move back up to MD or VA. I love the view of the mountains in the back ground.

 

[Firetrucks]

I work for a department that has a 1923 Stutz. We plan to restore it. I'll probably be dead and gone before it happens.

Where are you? I am friends with the guy that wrote the book on Stutz (Rodger Birchfield) and we are still tracking all of them down.

 

[Bull]

So geobarns will build anyplace you want them built one in MA now building in MD. Hmmmm sounds like a good company.

If you check out their website, you can see pics of some of the builds. Quite a few, actually. George has different crews all over the place, and has built in the northeast, south, as far west as California, and probably some places in between that I am not aware of.

He is always on the road, meeting with clients and working with his crews, getting them started or guiding important parts of the process.

 

[trainer]

my fire dept had a 1939 Bickle that was Purchased from North York FD in 1949. we used to pull it out occasionally for parades.
We sold it back to them about 15 years ago.
They restored it and put in in thier museum
http://www.northyorkfire.org/0485-03.jpg

 

[onemoretry]

So geobarns will build anyplace you want them built one in MA now building in MD. Hmmmm sounds like a good company.

Seeing your pics made me miss home, may have to rethink the idea of retirinf and staying in FL and move back up to MD or VA. I love the view of the mountains in the back ground.

George will travel and seem to like to schedule to keep ahead of the weather. His designs really are interesting, and as Bull suggests, take a look at his website, they are beautiful buildings.

I love Maryland too, I lived in Indiana for the last 12 years, and although I enjoyed my time there, it was certainly nice to move back to hills and trees. I am an hour away from DC, Baltimore, three major airports, and have a backyard view that is incredible. If it weren't for the still crazy home prices, it would be perfect.

 

[PAToyota]

Since you are in Maryland...

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/895693490.html

Or is that you?

 

[onemoretry]

Since you are in Maryland...

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/895693490.html

Or is that you?

Although I live close to where that truck is at, it is not me. Wife has confirmed that she will kill me if I buy another. I bought the first one from my home town, and they have tried to sell me another one that I have wanted for quite some time. I have never seen the threat of violence so strong in my wife's eyes as I did that day...

 

[onemoretry]

The pad for the barn was poured today. They are finishing with the power trowel now.

[/IMG]

 

[onemoretry]

Timber work started today. I am out of town on business so wife took the pictures. I can't wait to get home to see the progress and get to work.

Not bad for the first day's work. I will update as we go. Sorry for the long delay between concrete and lumber. Turns out the conrete had issues and had to be jackhammered out. During that process, the block wall was knocked down and needed to be replaced. Safe to say that I became reaquainted with my four letter word vocabulary.
Looking good now.

 

[onemoretry]

I should say that the concrete problem had nothing to do with Geobarns, it was by foundation guy. He laid the grade, the finisher followed the grade, and it was wrong. One day of rain ended up with about 2 inches of water in the back of the garage and dry in the front...

 

[jay11789]

That view looks all too familiar.....Blue Ridge Mountains, Culpeper?

 

[v8garage]

my fire dept had a 1939 Bickle that was Purchased from North York FD in 1949. we used to pull it out occasionally for parades.
We sold it back to them about 15 years ago.
They restored it and put in in thier museum
http://www.northyorkfire.org/0485-03.jpg

The truck in that picture looks much older than 1939. More like 1919.

 

[Junkman]

The truck in that picture looks much older than 1939. More like 1919.

what year were you born???

 

[v8garage]

what year were you born???

1954, but what does that have to do with it?

 

[NRChopshop]

I just moved from Lafayette IN to Frederick MD.

Seriously? Where in Frederick? Im in Frederick also on the outskirts of Ft. Detrick.

 

[Junkman]

The truck in that picture looks much older than 1939. More like 1919.

1954, but what does that have to do with it?

I asked because I had a feeling that you were young. Older folks have a better idea of what vintage a car or truck is from, since we grew up around them. I can tell the cars of the 20's, 30's, 40,'s, 50's, 60,s, and some of the 1970's, but I can't tell one of the new models from year to year or manufacturer to manufacturer. If that fire tuck was made in or around 1919, it would be an open cab, with narrow tires, and fenders covering the tire, just like the cars of the era. We are most familiar with those cars that we grew up with...

 

[onemoretry]

Nope the middletown valley near Frederick MD.
Beautiful place though.

Edit: In response to Jay

 

[onemoretry]

We are equadistant between Jefferson, Braddock Heights, and Middletown, about 5 miles west of Frederick. PM me I'll give you the details and you can come over and see it in the process.
Many pictures will follow shortly.


Edit: In response to Chopshop. sorry to keep doing that, I forget to hit the quote button.

 

[onemoretry]

Quite a lot going on now, sorry I am not responding faster. George of Geobarns has allowed us to be a part of the build process so the wife and I are having a great time. She gets all of the smart jobs, like running the nailer, and I get the grunt job of lifting the sheet up for the floor on the second floor (which went up on the second day of effort). Here are the pictures, I don't think any explanation is required. If you do have questions, feel free to fire away. I can't speak highly enough about the quality of the building and the people working on it (myself excluded of course). If you can't tell, that's snow on the second floor. Of course the 40 mph wind cleaned that off for us today for a long day tomorrow.

 

[autoist]

So, those beams are spanninmg 30'? What size lumber are they & what size are the ceiling joists?

 

[onemoretry]

So, those beams are spanninmg 30'? What size lumber are they & what size are the ceiling joists?

I think they are 1/10s but the buttresses apply the support. Also all of the framing is diagonal so it is an incredibly strong building. The middle of the building is a double set of sistered beams as well.
I hope the next pictures will show the roof support and the following set of pictures will show the framing better.

Edit for clarification.
The floor joists only span one bay so they are not that long. The main beams are made of 4 2x12s and are pretty strong. The same floor structure is rated to support having a car on the second floor...