Above 1200 Sq/FT The Lone Beech Garage (60x46x16)

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Wednesday - November 18, 2015

Yesterday a couple of small bits of progress as we braced for today's weather.

The weather event that was predicted for today hit about 5 pm this evening. A tornado was reported by radar about 10 miles north of us. I just checked the rain gauge (9:30 pm) and we have an inch and a quarter. I think we are forecast for one more burst of rain around 1 am and then things are going to be dry for at least a week.

For whatever reason not much happened yesterday.



A couple of dumpsters arrived but it was late in the day and only one was filled.





Just before the sun was went down, the electrician showed up and started digging the hole to set a pole for the temporary electrical supply.





This morning, under cloudy skies and with a light rain falling, I checked out the pole. I suspect Coweta-Fayette EMC will arrive in the near future and run power from the utility pole to the temporary pole.

As mentioned in earlier post today, I think something will happen tomorrow or Friday to move things forward on this project.

Scott

 

[LutzTD]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

my experience with subs has been similar. They bid jobs as they come whether they have time or not, never pass on a job. Then when they start the jobs they will go at least far enough to set the hook in you. They will do this at all of the open jobs, then when all of the jobs are started and in process they will work the highest paying one first or the ones they can knock out quick. This is if they arent bidding and starting more jobs in the mean time. My guess is you may be low on the list. I would say its not very ethical, but I also would have a hard time faulting the guy for making sure he has jobs in the queue and that he can keep his guys on the payroll consistently. One thing I know will bring you up in importance is to call, and keep calling. When he is spending a lot of time on the phone with you he's not making money and he will send someone out.

all that said, the weather may just have his forms or equipment ******* somewhere else. Soon as one job slips they all slip for small guys without a lot of backup equipment. But they could at least give you a heads up.

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

...all that said, the weather may just have his forms or equipment ******* somewhere else. Soon as one job slips they all slip for small guys without a lot of backup equipment. But they could at least give you a heads up.

LutzTD,

Yes, that is understandable.

However the galling thing has been time after time - according to the Builder - there had been a promise to be on the site the next day and it hasn't happened. It makes it very hard to plan when you're having smoke blown up your hind end.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Thursday - November 19, 2015

This morning broke clear and sunny with 1-1/4 inches of rain in the rain gauge.

There was activity on the building site today!



The electrician was on site first completing the temporary electrical pole work.





Clint, the welder, showed up to replace the bent angle iron for the Tornado Shelter "Lip".
He removed the anchors off the bent piece and reused them on the replacement angle iron. Before he did any of that he came to my house and knocked on the door. He had picked up the angle iron from the Sable Steel in Newnan, GA without measuring it. When he arrived at the building site, he found it to be one inch shorter than it was specified to be. So he came to the door to ask what I wanted to do.

He could either have the builder order another piece - cut correctly this time - or he could cut an inch from the scrap piece that he had brought along. We discussed this and it sounded like he could repair the piece on site. I told him to go ahead and do the repair vs. ordering another piece of angle iron.




Clint did a very nice job of repairing the angle iron and reusing the anchors from the bent angle iron.


The builder sent an ultimatum text to the Foundation Wall sub. One way or the other we are moving forward with the build.





Using a small excavator, a cut was made for the north foundation wall footer. The concrete slab sub crew arrived and started setting up their batter boards.

Continued in the next post...

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

...continued.









Continued in the next post...

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

...continued.



Boards were attached to the foundation wall with a Ramset type tool.





This was particularly fun in the Tornado Shelter which still held about 6 inches of water from last night's rain.





After the workers had left for the day there were layout strings surrounding the building site so I couldn't get the generator near the Tornado shelter. I got a 50 foot extension cord and a 100 foot extension cord and ran them from the garage to the Tornado Shelter. I dropped the sump pump into the Shelter and began pumping the half a foot of water out of the bottom.


It was nice to get some work accomplished today. More slab preparation will be done tomorrow. We may even have some work done on Saturday. Early next week it is expected to get the footer inspected. I don't think we'll get the slab poured until after Thanksgiving.

Scott

 

[jbmatth]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Progress is progress at this point and I'm sure you are just thrilled the project is now moving forward. Hopefully the sub either decides to show up today or his replacement is more in-tune with your schedule.
JB

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Friday - November 20, 2015



Inspector showed up to bless the temporary electrical setup. I called the local utility (Coweta-Fayette EMC) and arranged to put this new service on my bill. The lady on the phone indicated that the temporary power's meter would be installed within 3 to 5 business days after they got their paperwork in order.





The prodigal sub (foundation wall sub) showed up today and poured a footer.



The slab sub's crew is supposed to show up tomorrow (on a Saturday!) and do more prep work. I don't think we can expect the slab to be poured until after Thanksgiving.


Scott

 

[C_F]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Glad you still have forward motion on this build. Looking forward to your excellent updates, too!

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Glad you still have forward motion on this build. Looking forward to your excellent updates, too!

C_F,

Thanks for the kind words.

It is nice to live in the age of digital cameras!

Best regards,

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Saturday - November 21, 2015

Three men that work for the slab sub showed up - on a Saturday! - around 3 pm today.





These gentlemen worked for on the batter boards for about 2 hours.


After these fellows left the site, I went out and tried to take a few pictures of their completed work but it was too dark to get satisfactory results. I'll get out tomorrow and take a few more pictures.

It will be brisk tomorrow morning. It's supposed to get down into the high 20's tonight!

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Sunday - November 22, 2015




A magnificent clear & crisp fall morning allowed me to get a picture of the site with some batter boards in place. The openings for the 3 garage doors on the west side of the building are visible.

Since I am going to be gone this coming week - visiting my family in Indiana for Thanksgiving - and we may be pouring a slab in a week or so, I had a project I needed to accomplish today.

When the workers completed the batter boards around the Tornado Shelter, I realized I needed to come up with a jig or measuring tool to ensure the angle iron "lip" was the correct distance apart. I had thought that just some accurately cut 2x4's would do the job but the batter boards around the top of the Shelter would not allow that.





I needed something like the above sketch to get the job done.
The "jig" or "measuring tool" is black, the angle iron is red and the batter boards are blue.





A couple of 2x4's with a 3/4-inch deep dado about 6 inches wide fastened together was the answer I came up with.





41-3/8 inches is the design distance between the inside of the angle iron lip to allow the grating to fit properly. In the above picture, the tape is on the "jig" and the tape-rule-case is on a piece of scrap wood.





The jig will need to be moved up and down the length of the Tornado Shelter in order to ensure the angle iron lips are the correct distance the entire length of the Shelter.

I measured the distance between the Shelter walls after they were poured and there is enough variation in distance that using the walls themselves as a reference point would result in a bad outcome. I hope this jig will allow the slab sub to provide a consistent 41-3/8 inch distance between the angle iron lip.

If I can make a couple more of these jigs before the pour it would probably work better [one towards each end and one in the middle] but this is all I had time for today.

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Monday - November 23, 2015

I had planned to be traveling to Indiana for Thanksgiving today but that didn't work out (for reasons that had nothing to do with this build).

So I was able to view today's progress with my own eyes.

While I think a lot was going on behind the scenes, very little happened on the building site.



The worker for the Slab Sub marked some of the areas that will be excavated under the perimeter of the slab.




This was my favorite... A delivery of crushed stone was delivered and a bobcat bucket was nearly buried.

More activity is anticipated tomorrow.

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Tuesday - November 24, 2015

Today we had a 3-ring circus on the building site! If we could get this sort of forward progress for a couple of weeks we'd be under roof!



The Foundation Wall Sub's crew was on the site forming the remaining foundation wall on the north side of the building.



Followed by the concrete truck and the pouring of the wall. The concrete truck was later than expected. He indicated that everyone seemed to be trying pour today to get it in before the coming holiday.

Continued in next post...

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

...continued.



The Plumbing crew arrived on the site after the Foundation Wall crew had set up their forms.



After locating the correct positions for the shop bathroom plumbing, the under-the-slab pipes were set into place.



Then they moved behind the house to locate the septic tank.



The unpleasant task of cutting the current waste line to the septic tank was performed in preparation for running the waste plumbing to the Lone Beech Garage.



A trench was dug and pipe laid down from the septic tank towards the Lone Beech Garage.

Tonight my family and I will drive from Peachtree City, GA to Vincennes, IN to attend Thanksgiving with our families. I'm pretty sure the plumbing crew will be on the site tomorrow to finish running the pipe from the septic tank to the building. I would think the water supply lines will be run from the street to the Lone Beech Garage tomorrow as well.

Continued in the next post...

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

...continued.

In addition to the larger projects, a few odds & ends took place today as well.





A delivery of materials for the slab pour was unceremoniously dumped on the building site by the delivery truck.





A individual arrived and marked the utilities at the street in front of the building site. This could possibly have been for the temporary electrical - which I suspect will be installed tomorrow - or the plumber may have called for this.





I made 2 more jigs - for a total of 3 - which should allow the angle iron on the Tornado Shelter to be correctly positioned while the slab is being poured.






I don't think it will be an issue but I've set them on the front porch of the house where they would be accessible to the Slab Pouring crew should we not be at home when the slab is poured.





Last, and certainly not least, the two containers of debris were hauled off.



It will be interesting to see what happens while we are gone for Thanksgiving. I only plan to be gone for about 72 hours.

Although we have had a week of good weather, that is forecast to come to an end. Rain is forecast for Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

Scott

 

[shortykorte]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Congrats on you build even with the typical contractor/sub BS. How did they lay out the footings because I haven't seen batter boards until recently?
Look forward to seeing your progress.

 

[Motoman1100]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Bosecker as I read your thread I'm reminded of a saying an old technician used to tell me, "Steady by jerks...we'll get there." Ha! Slow progress is still progress none the less.

I'm enjoying the thread and will swing by in December to check it out for myself.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Safe Travels!

Cheers,
Alan

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Congrats on you build even with the typical contractor/sub BS. How did they lay out the footings because I haven't seen batter boards until recently?
Look forward to seeing your progress.

Shortykorte,

I'm trying to remember how that was done.

After the site was cleared, I went out and roughly established the corners of the building using a corner of the house as a starting reference point.

I'm pretty sure the pro's used those flags to get themselves in the ball park for where I wanted the building but as to how they precisely located the foundation walls, I don't recall at the moment.

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Bosecker as I read your thread I'm reminded of a saying an old technician used to tell me, "Steady by jerks...we'll get there." Ha! Slow progress is still progress none the less.

I'm enjoying the thread and will swing by in December to check it out for myself.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Safe Travels!

Cheers,
Alan

Alan,

Thanks for the kind words and Happy Thanksgiving to you!

You may have gleaned enough information from this thread to know my location. If not, shoot me a message and I'll get you the address so you can find it.

I look forward to giving you the 2 cent tour.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Wednesday - November 25, 2015

Today I find myself about 450 miles from the building site so I have no idea what, if anything, is happening there.





I am at the Lone Beech Melon Farm visiting my parents for Thanksgiving.





Since there had been some questions early in this thread about the Lone Beech, I took advantage of this brilliant November morning, the lack of leaves and the ability to get in the neighbor's field without damaging any crops to take photographs of the Lone Beech Garage's namesake.





Back at the start of this thread, there was a question about the size of this tree. Later in the day - as the light was fading - I got an assistant to help me measure the circumference of the Lone Beech. Looks like just under 18 feet around the trunk where I had the tape!

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Saturday - November 28, 2015

I returned from Indiana last night. I walked around the building site with a flashlight to try to get a feel for what tasks had been accomplished while I was gone for Thanksgiving.

This morning my wife and kids left the house around 9:30 AM to get some breakfast and then go to the Georgia Tech - University of GA football game. Before we departed I stepped outside to get some pictures of the building site.





The plumbers had finished laying the pipe from the septic tank to the Lone Beech Garage.





This looks like a problem. The plumbers have put in a cleanout access in the pipe from the building to the septic tank. However, it looks to me like this is placed where concrete will be poured for the driveway and parking area. I'll be sending an email to the builder about this tomorrow.





The temporary hose bib that was placed at the water meter was removed and the permanent water line was ran to the building. A hose bib was placed temporarily where the water will service the bathroom. shop sink & upstairs sink.

I need to talk to the builder about this as there had been a discussion with the plumber about having a water hydrant between the Lone Beech Garage and the existing well house. I'm also concerned that the water line on the north side of the building will make it difficult to allow a proper trench for drainage on that side of the building. Another item for tomorrow's email





The forms for the north foundation wall were removed while I was gone. This is a major milestone. We are now much closer to getting the floor poured.

We had been expecting rain today and tomorrow. That forecast has been pushed back to Tuesday & Wednesday. We'll see what happens. I wouldn't mind getting the north foundation wall backfilled and then getting a good rain to help settle that area.

Scott

 

[1949 caddyman]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Where does the air ventilation for the Toronto shelter end up when all is done?

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Where does the air ventilation for the Toronto shelter end up when all is done?

1949 Caddyman,

The ventilation pipe will run up the wall on the outside of the building to a blower. I'm going to build a housing for the blower and tuck it under the eave.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[jbmatth]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Glad to see you were able to make a good amount of progress over the holiday week, do you have any estimates on when the slab will be pored? Also I can't recall but are you planning in floor heat? If not what is the plan?
JB

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Glad to see you were able to make a good amount of progress over the holiday week, do you have any estimates on when the slab will be pored? Also I can't recall but are you planning in floor heat? If not what is the plan?
JB

JB,

Hoping to get the slab poured by the end of this week. The weather forecast is for 100% chance of rain on Wednesday. I do not know what the expected amount is.

I will not be using in-floor heat. The building will be heated and cooled with 3 ductless systems.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Monday - November 30, 2015

I remarkably quiet day on the building site today. Not what I expected.

The electrician showed up in the afternoon and did a bit of work.





The conduit that had been imbedded in the Tornado Shelter wall was trimmed and pieces added to extend it towards a future wall.





A length of conduit was placed into position on the south wall.






Plenty of material is on the site in preparation for more conduit to be placed before the coming slab pour.



I think we are waiting for the inspector to arrive - that was supposed to happen today - and bless the plumbing that will be under the slab. Once that inspection is complete, I expect the plumbing will be buried and the electrician will be able to place the conduit that will be under the slab.

Rain is forecast to begin tomorrow evening and continue Wednesday. Weather is supposed to be good on Thursday and Friday. The plan is to pour the slab at the end of this week.

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Tuesday - December 1, 2015

Activity on the building site began at a reasonably early time today.





The inspection of the plumbing had been completed so the plumbing crew showed up to bury the waterline and the septic plumbing.





Coweta-Fayette EMC (local electric utility) showed up with 3 trucks and at least 6 men. They sat off a new 40-foot utility pole to replace the existing - fully depreciated - pole that was erected in 1975.

Some prep work was done and then the men departed. Depending on the weather tomorrow, they will return either tomorrow or Thrusday to set the pole and run temporary electrical service to the building site.

I expect to see them Thursday as it is supposed to start raining about 10 pm this evening and continue until early afternoon tomorrow.

The slab pouring schedule has changed a bit. Plan now is for the slab sub to perform whatever backfilling and other excavator prep work on Thursday.

Friday the electrician will do his under-slab-conduit prep.

Monday is scheduled to be slab pour day.

Scott

 

[shortykorte]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

You will probably benefit from the Monday pour. When I built my house, the driveway was the last thing done and that was a Friday. I think the crew was more interested in drinking and going fishing than quality.

 

[akdiesel]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

sbosecker

Wow. That will look great when finished. I like the addition of the safe room / storm shelter.
The interior layout looks ideal too.
Good luck with the weather.

 

[C_F]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

I don't know why those utility guys brought a new pole, all they needed to do would be to strip all the branches off one of those trees in the background & use that!

Good luck for your slab pour day!

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

You will probably benefit from the Monday pour. When I built my house, the driveway was the thing done and that was a Friday. I think the crew was more interested in drinking and going fishing than quality.

ShortyKorte,

I've always heard one doesn't want to buy a car that was built on a Friday or a Monday. I suppose the implication is that at least part of the work force is thinking about the weekend on Friday and recovering from the weekend on Monday. Ha!

I do think Monday is preferable to Friday. If for no other reason that they are back on Tuesday and it's a couple of days if it is a Friday pour.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

sbosecker

Wow. That will look great when finished. I like the addition of the safe room / storm shelter.
The interior layout looks ideal too.
Good luck with the weather.

AKdiesel,

Thanks for the kind words.

I stayed in a bed & breakfast in Wasilla with my family 12 years ago. Hard to believe it's been that long ago.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

I don't know why those utility guys brought a new pole, all they needed to do would be to strip all the branches off one of those trees in the background & use that!

Good luck for your slab pour day!

C_F,

Thanks for the good wishes!

The slab pour strikes me as the end of the beginning. Framing is always great because you can see the progress so clearly.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Tuesday - December 2, 2015

The rain event predicting as much as 1.5 inches turned out to be a non-event at my house. I had 2 tenths in the rain gauge this morning. The weather, though overcast, dreary and with falling temperatures as the day progressed, produced no more precipitation after last nights brief downpour.

This pleasant surprise was followed by another.





Coweta-Fayette EMC were back this morning at about 10:00 am to finish installing the new utility pole and hook up the temporary power.





The crew rolled the wire from the utility pole to the temporary electrical pole and began hooking up the wires.






A hole was dug for the new utility pole and it was set into place.





The transformer was prepped for installation.


Continued in the next post...

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

...continued.





The transformer was raised into position.





The workers had some pretty neat tools. One was an electric powered Tamper-On-A-Stick that they stuck down into the hole they made for the new utility pole and compacted the disturbed soil. The other was the tool in the above picture. This thing drove the ground rod into the hard red clay without a lot of effort.





The transformer was attached to the pole.





The circuit breaker was closed sending power to the Temporary Electrical Pole/Panel.





The meter was installed and we now have (convenient) electrical power on the building site.


Continued in the next post...

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

...continued.

But wait, there's more!





I purchased some Craigslist mid-century Youngstown Metal Cabinets for the Upper Room of the Lone Beech Garage.

They will require quite a bit of clean-up and I still need a sink cabinet but I thought these looked pretty cool. I've been watching my local Craigslist for a while and these are the first I've seen with this sort of top and backsplash. I'm pretty sure it's the original set-up. Most of these cabinets - that I've seen - all seem to have a new countertop installed on them.



Despite the dreary weather, it was a pretty good day!

Scott

 

[Motoman1100]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Cool! I love the cabinets, nice find.

 

[sbosecker]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Cool! I love the cabinets, nice find.

Alan,

Thanks - they look better in the picture than up close. Ha! There's some work to be done to the rust & paint. The Formica looks way better in the picture than up close. It has a pattern in the yellow that looks to be late 60's/early 70's to me. I like the basic color - I think it suites the piece - so will probably try to replace the current Formica with a straight color if I can find something appropriate.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[classicJackets]

Re: The Lone Beech Garage Build Thread (60x46)

Scott, looks like good progress at least on the electrical front! You inspired me to get on CL and look for cabinets as well. I'm now going to check out a pair of ugly but complete (and TALL) Youngstown cabinets Saturday. Going to blame it on you when I bring home another winter project..