Thanks for the great place!!

[rexpittman]

My name is Rex and I have been watching the sight for a year or so. What a great place. Some really great people in here!!I started my place about a year ago. I will get some photos up soon. I already started the inside a bit, but as with everybody, seems to not be going as fast as I would like. Anyway, thanks for having me and look forward to getting involved very soon!!

Rex Pittman

 

[ggielen]

Welcome! Good luck with your place. Persistence is key, a little progress every day. Will be looking forward to pictures!

 

[gahrajmahal]

You're welcome Rex. I look forward to reading of your escapades! Don't get in a hurry, it is much easier to do it right the first time than to rush through a project and then have to redo it later, or even worse, to pay someone else to redo it.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Hi and welcome Rex, looking forward to seeing your build..

 

[drivesitfar]

Rex: welcome to the forum and you sound like you will be a great addition. can you post up some pictures of your land or current garage or even your dog since this is your thread?

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

Hello Rex and welcome to the Garage Journal.

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I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

 

[rexpittman]

Thanks for the warm welcome!
Ggielen, I try to do at least a little every time I'm home. Working offshore gets in the way at times lol!

Gahrajmahal, I think I have this problem already lol. This being my first go at it, I ran into this with a very small plan at best. You will see what I mean when I get a chance to get some pics up. That being said, I think the plan going forward will have a better outcome cuz of what I have already learnt here!! I hope I will never have to pay someone to fix my work, as I take pride in knowing that I built it myself as it seems a fair amount of people here do!

1/2 cup, I'm sure you will see more than you wanted by the end haha

Drivesitfar, I feel like I will be here more than a few years with my first build alone lol. I'm kinda using this build to help me learn, so maybe I can learn enough to build my own home in a "barn house" after. It may be a pipe dream I know, but a man can dream right? Do I post my photos in here? Or start a new thread?

Again guys, thanks for the warm welcome and I will be digging in and getting this thing going. I'm pretty pumped!! Not being a carpenter, electrician or plumber I plan on doing more than a bit of reading in here lmao!!

 

[drivesitfar]

Rex: go ahead and post a few pictures on this thread because it will be good practice for when you start your own thread or post pictures on other people's threads. it's a great place to learn if you want to so pick your threads you like what the members are talking about and teach or ask questions and learn.

when you say off shore are you on an oil or gas platform? i know several guys all over the world that are members here that have the same situation that are building shops and garages so they can have a place to get things done on their days off. any pictures of the platform and views to share?

cheers

 

[rexpittman]

here is a pic of my home away from home for me and about 140 other people LOL

 

[rburke65]

Rex, Welcome to Tne Garage Journal.....from Ohio! I like the looks of your 'house boat'. Nice parking space beneath the house!

 

[steel 35]

Any truth that the fishing is great around those rigs?

 

[rexpittman]

The fish out here are HUGE!! and it does not matter what you are looking for, they are here. I tried to get my boss to sport a "team building" trip and get us a guide, but it seems the bill was going to be up around $5-8K, so he opted for caps to pass out on the rig LOL

 

[rexpittman]

Hello Fellow GJ'ers as I said, been watching the sight for a little while. I guess I started my project last October, just a project I was not planning on rushing. I really didn’t even know at that time what I wanted to build other than a building. I did know I had a 20x20 wood frame shack that I was going to use for my water well house and tractor storage. Trouble was, there was very little space for a tractor and by the time I spent money on getting the 20x20 structurally solid and a slab in it, I was going to spend more on the shack than it was worth (it was older already). It just seemed I would be money ahead to buy a new metal building and have more space in the long run.

I really had no idea of cost , but had a idea of what the shop had to do on a minimum. Which was keep the water well indoors and a place to store my tractor. I had just bought a new John Deere 5085M (about $55K) and was not going to be happy with it sitting outside. In some of the early pics, you can see the “old” 20x20 shed roof. that’s all that was left by the time I started taking pics.

I ended up buying a 40x50 Mueller bolt together, as I was not seeing myself welding that thing together. I took the bolt together for ease of assembly and to be honest, i was not sure I could trust my welds as I only ever welded on the ranch, never for a living or been tested/certified. The building was $13,200.00 and the slab was $8,400.00. It came with Qty 2 10'x12' roll up doors, Qty 1 walk through metal door, Qty 6 3x6 windows and the roof insulation.

I love the idea of the DIY but it seemed for a slab, this may be a better job left to the pros, at least for the first time, so I could see how it was done. Here is a few pics of the slab forms up, some dirt work done and the slab poured. I can tell you from a stand point of never doing a slab before, it was some long days for me.

Putting up the forms

Most of the dirt work done (and a little peek at then new tractor)

All ready for pour day (which took them over two weeks to do). By this point I was starting to get pumped!

It was a early start the day of the pour, and I thought for sure we would be done by lunch LOL, boy was I every wrong, that was a ALL day affair!

All the cement trucks are done, just a matter of making it pretty now!!

Cleaning up the slab, I was super pumped now!!

Now it was just wait on a building to get here!! (looks left and right) which again seemed to be a couple weeks out!

 

[rexpittman]

After they did the first slab and I had some wait time, I wanted to try and do one my self while the steps were still fresh in my head. So I picked a smaller project and put in a slab for a car port. The slab for the car port is a 25’x30’. Once I got it done, it did not seem so bad. I feel pretty confident I can do a slab from now on, or at least play a bigger roll to cut cost when I get to the “house in a barn” slab. After building my confidence on the slab, I went ahead and jumped right into the carport for another baby step in learning how to play with tin. I welded the frame from some pipe I had and ordered the tin, trim and purlins new. What a easy thing to do LOL. Below is some pics of the carport. I know its not a “building“, but it sure helped me to think I could tackle a metal building with instruction.

4" pipe in the ground, slab poured, framed up and welding up some purlin.

All ready for some tin and a little sneak peek at the welding trailer LOL

Bad phone pic, but it is done and ready to try my hand at a barn now LOL. And I snuck in some sage plants to keep the "natural" land scape of south texas

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b632/rexpittman/Shop/IMG_0429_zps955d143b.jpg

And it was just a few days after the carport and look what came sneaking down the drive way

Looks like its time to play!! (sighs in fear)

 

[1/2 Cup]

Nice, real nice and well done to you sir.

 

[drivesitfar]

Rex: great pictures of your cement work. so that is a 40 x 50 and pad for your new garage shop? 2000 squares sounds awesome to this city guy. just curious did you pour 6 inch floor or how thick?

so the framing is all metal that you or your contractor just bolt together? how are you putting the roof on or is that done by the contractor because that size steel is pretty heavy?

also your platform picture didn't show up so can you try to post it again maybe with some pictures of your big fish you are telling stories about?

Happy new year and looks like it will be a fun year for you sir.

 

[rexpittman]

The building is a 40x50 and yes the red iron across the roof had a heavy beam across the middle that we had to use a forklift to get it up there. The building had to be rated for wind of up to 160 MPH for South Texas as I live to close to the coast and may see hurricanes. I opted for the bolt together so I would not have to pay a certified welder. I wanted to make sure I was going to be covered on my home owners insurance and everything was going to meet specs. As I said earlier, I can weld and for the most part I trust my welds, but not being certified, the insurance was not going to let me do it.

The 20x20 (400sqft) would have been enough room to store my tractor and water well, but since I was going to buy a building, I figured I could get a little room to grow too. 40x50 (2000sqft) was not huge to me, but big enough to start with. Plus a guy only has so much cashola and after buying the tractor, the savings account was looking like it had been on a extreme diet.

here is all the uprights up and some purlins on the wall to help stabilize. You can see the heavy beams in the middle that give it the wind rating needed for the insurance.

This was as far as I could go with out the forklift for the center beam. seems I am always waiting on something!! MY front loader on the tractor would only reach 13' and I needed to reach the center of 16'. As always, I was coming up a little short..

All the red iron is up. I cheated and used the rental to get the purlins on the roof too

Now its just see if I can get this thing square and level then tighten all the bolting to spec, then I am ready to hang some tin!!

 

[rburke65]

You will love the new building, and I am drooling over the trator......that's really nice.

 

[rexpittman]

I do love the new barn and coming from a 40year old John Deere that I was having to work on every time I needed to work. I am super happy!! I still have the ole mule (John Deere 300B), but it is going to be a collector after I clean it up. Also, having cab and air is a dream when it comes time to spend all day on a tractor LOL.

Here is a few pics of the tin going up. I also stained the concrete before I put the insulation and tin up. I wanted to treat the slab before I closed the shop up. But the budget was getting slim, so I found a way to stain the concrete for about 10 bucks and a couple mops LOL.

Started installing the roof, and got to rent another piece of equipment LOL a 4x4 scissor lift

One side of the roof done!! My pile of toys is getting smaller LOL, but MY shop is coming together!!

Second half of the roof done and started on the walls!! When is someone going to ring the beer bell!!

All of the tin up and ready for some trim and doors!!

All the trim is up. They had told me that this was one of the harder parts, i didn't find that part hard at all LOL. The roll up doors on the other hand seemed to eat my lunch!! There is one roll up in front and one in back.

All the windows and doors complete!! One shop done!! my tractor and water well will be very happy!! LOL. Now where is my cold beer!! oh.. and on the trailor, you can barley see the 2x4s so I can start framing up the inside!! More work, just what I needed LOL

If you could see the concrete in the shots, it is the rough stain. It will need to be finished once I get done with the inside. I used a cheap copperas. It cost about 10 dollars to do the whole 2,000sqft.

and when I get done, I am hoping for a finish something like this.

But I wont finish it till I get done with all the work on the inside as I know I will just destroy it, like I do most things LOL

 

[rexpittman]

So just about the time I was going to start the framing on the inside, I realized that I need power to the shop 1st. I had to wait near a month to get them to come out to install one little meter. Those guys act they dont even need money LOL.

Here is my line going to the shop from the meter pole. Got to use my ole ditch witch. I had it sitting in the back for years (broken) and pulled her out, got her working again and back to work. She cuts 2ft deep, 8-10" wide and walks about 1ft per minute. Perfect for drinking beer at the end of the day LOL

Wouldn't you know it, about the time you think you have everything going your way, something blind sides you. Had a grounding issue with the house and had to rerun the line from the meter to the house. Not sure what happen, but I can only guess it was something I did while I was hooking up the barn.Still glad I got the ditch witch fixed LOL. Saved me a **** load of shovel work again. A shot from the carport I put in earlier.

Also in the ditch, while I had it open from the house to the shop now, I ran a coax cable for TV, a Cat 6 for internet and from the shop to the house, I ran a 1/2 pvc line in case I needed to air up tire there at the carport in the future.

 

[drivesitfar]

Rex: your thread is one of the best introduction threads and probably should be moved to the garage gallery. great progress this year. can you tell me if you found out the wiring issue before you filled the hole back in or did you have it filled in and then find out the problem?

nice thinking running extra wire and the pipe for future plans.

for a new member you are doing great and feel free to ask questions if you might have any. i'll keep checking in to see the progress and just a thought before you start filling up your garage is to maybe sit down and design the space on paper or an online program.

good luck

 

[rexpittman]

Thanks for the compliments drivesitfar!! As far as the wiring issues, I never found out what it was, just found that every time I would touch something metal at the house, it would give me a slight shock, almost a tingle. I checked the ground from the breaker panel in the house to the ground rod and it was fine. Not being an electrician the only thing I could think was it was a problem from the meter pole to the house. I will say when I put that house (double wide trailer) it was set up to live in temporary while I built my home. That was 7 years ago. I had a few set backs and the house got delayed. That being said, when I ran the wire from the meter to the house, I used buriable aluminum wire and since have been told that may have not been the best choice. When I reran the wire this time, I used copper and put it in conduit.

As far as running extra stuff in a ditch, I find it is always easier to exploit a open ditch or any path way while it's open. I may use it, I may not, but I know one thing for sure, I hate getting back into something once I get it buttoned up . I do this on the inside the shop as well. You will see it once we get in there lol. I got wires and plumbing run all over the place hahaha.

As far as questions, my head is exploding with them. This being my first build, I'm not sure how to do anything, so I spend a lot of time in here reading (again I have to give thanks to this great place for being my go to place). I have a shipping container in the back of my little ranch that is slap full of tools for the shop. I have been saving tools and equipment for near 20 years, but how to lay the place out is a huge question. How to do the inside I.E. Ceilings, benches,where to put the car lift,up right air compressor (puma), welding machine and the list just goes on. I have already split the building into two parts. The 40x50 is now Qty 2 20x25. I took the front half (20x25) and framed it out for a place for me and the boys to chill and watch the game. I love a good cigar while I drink, and the house is not a good place for those lol. The back half will be for the shop and store the tractor when I don't need it.

As far as laying the shop out on paper/software, I downloaded the smart draw software the other day. I agree, I need a solid plan going forward before I start on that side of the shop, but to answer your question, my head is about to explode and I spend about 2 hours on here every morning while I drink coffee looking for answers lmao!

I will post some pics of the inside progress today when I get some free time. Thanks again for the very warm welcome, I have to say I love this place. Oh.. Also, does this site run on donations or membership fees to help keep it going? I would love to help or give back for the help its been to me so far. I don't have enough experience in building yet to offer help that way, but plan to later, but I would love to help this site in anyway I can FYI..

 

[rexpittman]

. Oh.. Also, does this site run on donations or membership fees to help keep it going? I would love to help or give back for the help its been to me so far. I don't have enough experience in building yet to offer help that way, but plan to later, but I would love to help this site in anyway I can FYI..

Of course right after I ask this question I see the banner across the top lol. I'm a new member now

 

[drivesitfar]

Rex: having more members like you is what this forum is all about. you give up your time to make the site better with your posts and positive attitude and you are also wanting to make sure this site is able to stay in business.

I've been a member for over a year now after googling my way onto this site looking for information for years in the past. i'm still learning something or several things daily which keeps my old brain from shutting down.

for most of the first year or two that I've been a member hanging my hat in the general tool section because i wanted to learn more and because if i stayed away from new tools i could sort of stay on a budget so to speak. i'd stay away from looking at all the garages and shops because i still have 2 of our kids living at home going to college and everything is just too cool and too expensive. i'm moving over there now and doing research because i do want a big shop and a neighbor more than 10 feet from my house in less than 5-10 years.

i have to say this site is awesome if you stay out of the petty discussions where some of the members just want to complain about being alive that day or at all because there is a ton to learn and teach if you might know a little more than the next guy.

if i can make a suggestion would it maybe be better not to divide the shop up in half and maybe have it 2/3rds for shop and 1/3 for man cave? you'll find that even as big as your space is you might always want to add another machine, toolbox or car in there and hard to do with less than 30 feet. i know guys that do fine with a regular 2 car garage and some that have a 40 x 120 and need more space.

if you want a little more input especially when you get to asking questions may i recommend starting a new build thread in Garage gallery that gets a ton more viewers than this section. just pick a catchy title like Corpus Christy 50 x 60 garage, shop and man cave or you put in your own and start a thread which i'm confident with what you've shown so far you will do just fine.

before you go can you re post your picture(S) of your work place that didn't show up and some of those huge fish you are talking about?

take care and all the best.

 

[rexpittman]

I am going to try and post the pic again, see if it loads up

As far as fishing off the rig, those days are long over with in deep water for the most part. These rigs out here run about 1.2M - 1.5M per day. At those rates they dont want people fishing over the side and run the risk of damaging the gear and or themselves. But we do get guided fishing boats out here all the time. I do get to see their catches too LOL.

Here is a pic of me at work, or getting paid to work, not sure I really work at all anymore these days LOL. Seems every time I try to do something these days, I have some young kido taking the tools out of my hands.

As far as the shop size/dived up, If one was to ask me today what size to get, I would have to say, go as big as your budget/property will allow LOL. I picked the one I have thinking I was going bigger than the 20x20, so I should be golden and then I got to thinking I wanted to have a play room LOL. On the other hand, once I build my house, I will be able to move the bar there and have this 1,000sqft back for a wood shop or whatever it may be at that time. I have already entertained the idea of adding on to the back and sides for more room and I am not even done with what I have now hahaha.

Below you can see what I have done with framing walls and running some of the 12/2 wire and plugs. I did speaker wire for a 5.1 system, HDMI cords, coax cables and some other stuff while I was there and had the gear.

This is the wall that splits the shop into qty 2 20'x25'. I wired it for a big screen TV over the double walk though door (I have a 60"/48" and a UHD Projector and screen). It is also wired with part of the 5.1 system for the speakers (center, right/left front and the sub). Towards the top left and right of this wall has the plug boxes for neon lights and also the light fixture boxes that are hooked up on a dimmer next to the front door, so I can add mood lights for night time bar activities.

Framed up a small bathroom here in the corner. I rough plumbed in the drain here, but put it in the wrong location but I can work with it like it is.. I think... more to come on that later. As a matter of fact, im sure this will be one of the topics I ask about in the general discussion area LOL

And then the other wall that has the front overhead door and walk though door. again, this wall will be in general discussion with a few questions too. LOL

I do have a pile of rusty corrugated tin for the ceiling and R19 fiberglass rolls of insulation for the walls along with some cedar I been saving for a few years. I am sure with a bit of drywall and the cedar and tin I can finish this up pretty fast.

I also have already bought an antique bar that comes with a bar back and the front bar. It is 12' long and needs to be restored. but with the bar, pool table, shuffle board and foosball table, im not sure I can give up the space in here just yet LOL

Thats pretty much my barn all caught up to date. The stuff from here will go to the general discussion in hopes of getting some help to see what steps to take next. I get just a bit lost in a few things LOL.

 

[drivesitfar]

Rex: it's coming along nicely. i do some plumbing, but if you are like me you'll go to the hardware time 3 or 4 times in the middle of doing a normal few hour job for the pros. good in life to have a good Dr., Lawyer, and a plumber right there behind a great wife. an electrician to call on is a good thing to have in an emergency too.

cheers and wishing you the best.


also the off shore platform picture worked this time. thanks