I figured I'd start a thread to photodocument the construction of my shop. It will be a woodshop where I can build boats, restore old woodworking machinery, make things for the family, and have friends over. First a little background information.
My current shop is an overcrowded 22' x 22' two car garage. I've simply outgrown it. My wife and I decided not to build a detatched shop at our present house because she wants to move. Given these facts and I have two duckboats, tractor, trailer, bush hog, sprayer, cultipacker, etc. there was no way we could move into a covenant neighborhood and take all these things along. So we opted to buy a lot in the county nearby where I could build a dedicated shop that would house the boats and tractor and woodshop, yet allow us the freedom to move when and where we wanted.
This fall we purchased a 1/3 acre lot about 10 minutes from my house. It's nice and flat and sits in a quiet community next to a church and surrounded by good neighbors. Site prep was an adventure in going over-budget right off the bat. The lot was built up several years ago with 3' of fill dirt that turned out to be water leaching topsoil. To provide for a good foundation the contractor dug out the topsoil and went back with red clay compactible soil and about 6" or gravel on top where the building and driveway will sit.
The building itself will be 40x70x12 with one entry door and two 12x10 overhead doors and a 8/12 pitch roof. It's being divided into two parts. The 30x40 workshop will have attic trusses for overhead storage and the 40x40 garage area will have standard trusses. I want a lot of natural light in the shop so there will be seven windows.
Rain resulted in a two week delay but the builder, Deep South Garages, showed up Tuesday with several bundles of wood and a bobcat with a auger. Talk about a sweet set-up. He had the holes dug in just a few hours. Today he poured the footings for the poles and tomorrow he sets the poles. Poles will be cross anchored with rebar and centered at 8'.
View from road looking up the driveway.
View of neighbors (Holiness Church) on one side.
View of other neighbors.
My current shop is an overcrowded 22' x 22' two car garage. I've simply outgrown it. My wife and I decided not to build a detatched shop at our present house because she wants to move. Given these facts and I have two duckboats, tractor, trailer, bush hog, sprayer, cultipacker, etc. there was no way we could move into a covenant neighborhood and take all these things along. So we opted to buy a lot in the county nearby where I could build a dedicated shop that would house the boats and tractor and woodshop, yet allow us the freedom to move when and where we wanted.
This fall we purchased a 1/3 acre lot about 10 minutes from my house. It's nice and flat and sits in a quiet community next to a church and surrounded by good neighbors. Site prep was an adventure in going over-budget right off the bat. The lot was built up several years ago with 3' of fill dirt that turned out to be water leaching topsoil. To provide for a good foundation the contractor dug out the topsoil and went back with red clay compactible soil and about 6" or gravel on top where the building and driveway will sit.
The building itself will be 40x70x12 with one entry door and two 12x10 overhead doors and a 8/12 pitch roof. It's being divided into two parts. The 30x40 workshop will have attic trusses for overhead storage and the 40x40 garage area will have standard trusses. I want a lot of natural light in the shop so there will be seven windows.
Rain resulted in a two week delay but the builder, Deep South Garages, showed up Tuesday with several bundles of wood and a bobcat with a auger. Talk about a sweet set-up. He had the holes dug in just a few hours. Today he poured the footings for the poles and tomorrow he sets the poles. Poles will be cross anchored with rebar and centered at 8'.
View from road looking up the driveway.
View of neighbors (Holiness Church) on one side.
View of other neighbors.
