34x26 shop build. Because Racecar.

[NoPressure]

34x26 Shop Build

Update 9/12/18 - first off if you read through the thread you’ll see that this turned into a clusterfudge which resulted in the builder tearing up the concrete, hauling it off, and refunding my deposit. Ever since then I’ve been on the fence about trying to build again because 1) we know we want to build a new house, which will definitely have a shop with it, in 6-7 years. 2) I sold the Cutlass and all but quit doing side work. So I didn’t have much need for a shop. However the last couple months we’ve been leaning towards building something and I’m about to get a couple quotes.

Not sure on the exact size, or wood frame vs steel, but trying to spend no more than 20k on the building + electrical so that will dictate the size.

Oh and I’ve since bought another car which partially lead to this decision.




Started talking about building a shop about 4 months ago. Finally got started this past Monday. It will be 34' wide x 26' deep. 10' walls + 5.5" curb. 24' will be scissor trusses the last 10' on the right side of the shop will be attic trusses. 6/12 pitch. 2 10' wide x 8' tall garage doors. Two walk through doors and two windows. Eventually the interior will get finished out but that will probably get put off for awhile. Right now I just want to get it up, electrical done, buy a compressor, and some other tools I've been waiting to buy and get started on my 86 Cutlass. I'll get a 2 post lift at some point but it will just depend on what the budget looks like after it's up.

Guys showed up around 11 Monday and had it ready to pour by 4:30. It's suppose to rain off and on for the next few days so I'm not sure when they will pour it.

 

[dirt_dobber]

Are you making foundation prep to support the future lift?

 

[NoPressure]

Yes. The lift only calls for 4" 3000psi. They are pouring 3500 psi and dug where the post bases will be out to about 6".

 

[vettex2]

Because Racecar.

Yes. The lift only calls for 4" 3000psi. They are pouring 3500 psi and dug where the post bases will be out to about 6".

In the 30+ years I built race cars I never once used a lift.
what kind of car are you gonna race?

 

[n20junkie]

If you built the kind of car in your avatar, we understand


Maintenance on my drag car will be a **** ton easier with a lift. The days of me rolling around on the floor pulling transmissions and running electrical, plumbing are over. My back is shot, it's a pain in the *** and so forth.

A lift is also nice to pick a car up to get it onto a rolling chassis table.

 

[vettex2]

I built dirt and pavement late models, offset modifieds, sprint cars , midgets, formula fords, IMCA Mods, and more. Never needed a lift.
I don't know of any race shops that use them either unless they are storing cars and those you drive up on.
Frankly, I don't know why. You are right, at times it would be easier.
As far as electrical goes, what , if any, goes under the car? Maybe a battery cable?
When we built cars one guy was under the car and another was handing him what he needed.

PS, that car in my avatar won numerous championships and "The Duel In The Desert"

 

[NoPressure]

Because racecar is in the title just because if it weren't for building this car I probably wouldn't have built the shop. The shop will serve multiple purposes including regular maintenance of daily drivers. Do I actually "need" a lift? No. Do I want one? Yes. Do I actually "need" a racecar? Wait don't answer that lol

Also I'm using the term racecar VERY loosely. If you're familiar with real racecars then you would probably consider what I'm building a streetcar. If you're the average joe not familiar with racing you might consider it a racecar. It will see a fair amount of street time and lots of tracktime. That's the plan anyway.

 

[NoPressure]

If you built the kind of car in your avatar, we understand


Maintenance on my drag car will be a **** ton easier with a lift. The days of me rolling around on the floor pulling transmissions and running electrical, plumbing are over. My back is shot, it's a pain in the *** and so forth.

A lift is also nice to pick a car up to get it onto a rolling chassis table.

Is that a gbody in your pic? I'm on my phone and the pic is kinda blurry.

 

[Dr Stan]

I originally built mine at 8', big mistake. This spring I will be raising it to 12' and really wish I had done so from the beginning. It's your shop, but seriously consider going with 12' walls as the 2' extra costs should be minimal.

 

[NoPressure]

I originally built mine at 8', big mistake. This spring I will be raising it to 12' and really wish I had done so from the beginning. It's your shop, but seriously consider going with 12' walls as the 2' extra costs should be minimal.

I've been planning this for about 3 months. Originally it was going to be a metal building with 12' walls. At some point I decided against a metal building and to go with traditional wood frame, stick built, whatever you want to call it. So the total cost jumped up about $5000. At that point I wanted to save money wherever I could and the price difference between 12' walls and 10' walls with scissor trusses was substantial enough for me to go with the latter.

The 10' wall + the curb + the scissor trusses will give me over 12' at the highest point. Obviously that doesn't mean that's how much room I'll have to lift because of the rafters running down, but I think I'll have enough room to live with.

 

[Shootinok]

I'm building mine now and am happy with 10' walls.
I also have a 24' span and went with scissor trusses. I did an 8:12 pitch so the inside bottom on the scissor is a 6:12. That gives me an extra 6' at the center that conventional trusses would not offer.
Also similar to yours, I used attic trusses on the first 8' since you loose the overhead space above the garage door anyway - might as well have it for storage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[vettex2]

If you built the kind of car in your avatar, we understand


Maintenance on my drag car will be a **** ton easier with a lift. The days of me rolling around on the floor pulling transmissions and running electrical, plumbing are over. My back is shot, it's a pain in the *** and so forth.

A lift is also nice to pick a car up to get it onto a rolling chassis table.

Oh, and, just how many championships have you won?.....LOL
Don't put down what you don't understand

 

[n20junkie]

Is that a gbody in your pic? I'm on my phone and the pic is kinda blurry.

Yessir it is. 87 regal/GN clone with a SBC twin turbo.

 

[n20junkie]

Oh, and, just how many championships have you won?.....LOL
Don't pit down what you don't understand

it's a "circle track cars are rough" joke.


Its obvious that different cars need different equipment. Some motorsports are a team sport, some are more of a solo affair as well. I crewed sprints for a bit. They don't need a lift, and there is always 3 guys standing around to help. My drag car is all worked on solo it seems.

 

[aka Larry]

I don't 'need' a lift for my race car, because I raced for several years w/o one, but is sure is nice having one now. If you have the room and can afford one, I can't imagine why any car guy wouldn't want one.

 

[chaosracing]

Oh, and, just how many championships have you won?.....LOL
Don't pit down what you don't understand

Must you always be smart *** towards others? Every topic I see you post in your like that.

 

[NoPressure]

So I came home to this today.

 

[coldh2o]

Wow, thats got to be one of the crappiest concrete jobs I've ever seen!

 

[69gp]

So I came home to this today.

i'd be pretty pissed if I came home to that. Better think about ripping it out and installing a new floor. better hold back on payment. was this someone you hired or was it through a GC?

 

[flyin99]

Wow....Yeah, I'd be more than unhappy about that.....smh

 

[nikfleisch]

following, best of lucking getting the pad sorted out!

 

[NoPressure]

This is a reputable builder who basically only builds garages. I told him on two different occasions before I signed the contract that if we got any substantial amount of rain, do not bring a concrete truck out here until it had a couple days to dry. It's been raining off and on for the past two days. My neighbor told me they got a pickup stuck first thing this morning and then still tried to bring a concrete truck out. Then the Concrete truck got stuck for probably two hours she said. AND THEN THEY STILL POURED IT. I didn't find any of this out till I got home this afternoon. I didn't know they were pouring it today. So after all this ******** he didn't even call me to tell what happened or that the slab was a **** show. I called him when I got home, he said he would be out here first thing in the morning to talk about it. I don't know much about concrete but my initial thought is that this garbage needs to be ripped up and they start over.

 

[n20junkie]

What in the blue **** is that!

Anything but a jack hammer and complete removal is not acceptable IMHO. That pad flat out got away from them because the mix cooked off in the truck while they were dealing with it being stuck.

You have a real mess on your hands, sorry to hear about that. I would lose my damn mind if I came home to that.

 

[-Brent-]

Wow. I feel for you, man. That *****.

 

[NoPressure]

What in the blue **** is that!

Anything but a jack hammer and complete removal is not acceptable IMHO. That pad flat out got away from them because the mix cooked off in the truck while they were dealing with it being stuck.

You have a real mess on your hands, sorry to hear about that. I would lose my damn mind if I came home to that.

Like I said I don't know much but that's what I expected. The mix went to **** while they were stuck. I'm surprisingly calm about it at the moment because all I know is if they don't fix this correctly they are gonna have bigger problems than some garbage concrete.

 

[vettex2]

I've built road racers and circle track cars but only 1 drag car, well, er, Ranchero. Ran 13's with 2 YZ490s in the bed.


<-------- is that car cleaner ? We won the state with it.

it's a "circle track cars are rough" joke.


Its obvious that different cars need different equipment. Some motorsports are a team sport, some are more of a solo affair as well. I crewed sprints for a bit. They don't need a lift, and there is always 3 guys standing around to help. My drag car is all worked on solo it seems.

Yup, with a sprinter 2-3 guys can pick it up at least one end.

 

[vettex2]

is your **** sore ?

Must you always be smart *** towards others? Every topic I see you post in your like that.

what? ?

 

[chaosracing]

I would stop all construction on it immediately. But then if you look at the 3rd picture of the foundation, I see some bad spots on it as well.

They should just tear the whole slab out and start over again.

You were right to be cautious with wet ground and concrete trucks.

 

[NoPressure]

I would stop all construction on it immediately. But then if you look at the 3rd picture of the foundation, I see some bad spots on it as well.

They should just tear the whole slab out and start over again.

You were right to be cautious with wet ground and concrete trucks.

I definitely won't let them do anything else. You're right I only took a few pictures but there is plenty more that's messed up. There are bad spots on the foundation all the way around. You can chip the curb apart with a pocket knife. There is about a half inch groove where the floor meets the curb almost the whole way around. I could go on.

I use to deliver drywall from a boom truck. I've had more experience with heavy trucks in soft yards than I care to lol.

 

[NoPressure]

Builder came out today. Long story short he told me it was structurally sound and a pour over would be fine. I told him I would not accept anything other than it being tore out and redone. He said why don't you take the weekend to think about it and we'll talk again. I basically said that's fine but it sounds like you need to take the weekend to think about the fact you're going to have to tear this up and redo it. He was here for about an hour and a half. I recorded it all on my phone. I also told him in writing (per HIS contract) that I did not accept the concrete. He acted offended that I put it in writing. I also made a copy of it for me to keep. I asked him to sign it and he refused. I did get him to acknowledge thst I was giving him written notice on the recording. I'm also going to send it to his office via certified mail. He did say that if we can't come to an agreement he will tear it all out and fix the yard and the driveway and give us our money back.

 

[theundermount]

wow that's just unbelievable I'd be sick if I came home and saw that. good for you for standing up for YOU! sounds like you took some very good legal steps to make sure this guy does the right thing good luck

 

[sean Buick 76]

I am so sorry to hear about this and see the photos what a huge disappointment! Best of luck with this it sounds like you know how to force them to make it right...

 

[Chateau Slate 66]

I'm sorry for your situation, but I applaud you for taking the appropriate steps to keep your **** covered. "Good enough" is simply not good enough.

 

[chaosracing]

He did say that if we can't come to an agreement he will tear it all out and fix the yard and the driveway and give us our money back.

Right there pretty much sums it up. He will take the loss, refund your money, remove concrete and repair the property. Then walk away. Add in his suggestion of an over pour and that tells me he in not a good contractor, but doesnt want any bad publicity. Its guys like that that ruin it for everyone else.

Good thing you recorded it.

 

[Nighttrain]

I hate to see this. I would start to look for another contractor. I'm guessing he is going to bail. Hope he tears is out at least so you are not stuck with it. Hang in there though you will be in your new shop this summer!

 

[n20junkie]

There are more cold edges than I can count in that pour. It's far from meeting any structural spec.

Just have him remove it and find someone else who knows that the hell they are doing to pour another. The fact that he thinks that is structurally sound work is just too big of a red flag to ignore.

 

[iagsxr]

There are more cold edges than I can count in that pour. It's far from meeting any structural spec.

Just have him remove it and find someone else who knows that the hell they are doing to pour another. The fact that he thinks that is structurally sound work is just too big of a red flag to ignore.

Yep, they need to be off the jobsite.

Just let me tell you from personal experience the guy who thinks that's OK or "we'll fix it" it never gets better.

As far as a lift for race cars. Every shop I'm in has a two-post for weekly maintenance if they have the room and most guys take a pneumatic mid-rise to the track. I wouldn't think twice about having one.

 

[NoPressure]

Thanks for all the support and advice guys. My gut feeling is to have him tear it out and fix everything and refund our money but I've had an extremely hard time finding a builder that will even return my calls. I've been trying to get this shop built for four months.

But like y'all said this is just a sign of things to come. Plus now I'd be afraid of what corners he would cut on everything else to try and cover his losses.

 

[chaosracing]

Thanks for all the support and advice guys. My gut feeling is to have him tear it out and fix everything and refund our money but I've had an extremely hard time finding a builder that will even return my calls. I've been trying to get this shop built for four months.

But like y'all said this is just a sign of things to come. Plus now I'd be afraid of what corners he would cut on everything else to try and cover his losses.

Go with your gut. I definitely would just have him remove everything, repair everything and then leave after you get your money (DO not let him proceed with demo until you get your money back). Like you said, what corners would he cut to re coop some of his losses. I know its hard to find a good contractor, but I would not trust this guy.

 

[Dougy]

Damn -

Sorry to see that, the GC should have know better. Sometimes the subs are in too much of a hurry to "get it done". I finish my new garage/race shop this spring. I was really worried when they poured the slab on one of the hotest days of summer. The concrete crew sealed in well after power troweling it smooth and we kept it wet while curing. I have a few cracks, but nothing unuasual for the size. The lift is a must if you have the room. I moved from a 18'x20' single car "model T" garage in my former 1909 craftsman style home, so I designed my new shop to have room for a lift and space for storing finished projects. The best decision was the in floor radiant heat. With the snow storm we just had, the shop was the warmest space we had. Made wrenching all weekend pretty easy. Good luck on your garage.

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