Above 1200 Sq/FT My Retirement Shop, Pole Barns, Old Truck and Questionable Decisions Thread

[SouthernIllinois]

Brief synopsis:
Did 25 years on submarines in the US Navy, Retired from that.
Commercial fished for about 14 years.
Dad passed away the day after Thanksgiving last year.
December 2023, my wife and I decided to retire early (me at 54, her at 45), buy the property from the estate and move back to our hometown in Central Southern Illinois.

The nearest town is about 2 miles away and has a population of 400. The nearest stop light is 14 miles away. Primary means of transportation around here is a side-by-side. Big change moving from the east coast.

15 acres, cabin style house, pond and when we bought it Dad had a couple of garages and out buildings.

My first priority was a pole barn for a garage, shop, hang out spot.

Based on the topography of the land, I only had one spot to build on which limited me in the size.

First step was getting the existing buildings out of the way.

Instead of tearing them down, I gave them to a friend for use on his farm.
It took some redneck engineering and I'm sure a few local and state laws were broken but we got them moved.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Next up was getting rid of the existing concrete



Once the concrete was gone, we started the dirt work today.
14+ trees have to be knocked down.
These is a 6' 4" elevation change from one end to the other that needs leveled.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

As far as the building goes, over all it will be 68' long, 36' deep, 12' ceiling, three 10'X10" overhead doors.
Dark gray building, black roof, black wainscoting, black windows, doors, gutters and trim.
Insulated and finished with white metal on the inside. The ceiling of the carport/patio will be black.

The carport/patio will be an outdoor kitchen, Smoker, Flat-Top & Grill with SS sink and plumbed propane and running water.

We went with a local, family owned builder with a long history for quality work.
Based on their schedule, they hope to start in Sep or Oct.

The plan is to have a urnial (made out of a beer keg) plumbed to a French drain but no toilet.

6" six bag mix concrete floor and apron.

240V/200 amp service.
Running the electrical exposed in metal conduit.

100 or 150 watt High Bay Lights. Either 8 or 12 - haven't decided yet.

Liftmaster garage door openers.

Propane tube ceiling heat.

Plumbed for air with Quincy 2-stage, 5 HP compressor.



A couple drone shots of the property

 

[Joemctag]

You sure did good moving those buildings, especially the big one. On the slab, did you saw pieces like 2” deep cut and keep trying to lift the sections and see if they’d break loose? Never seen a slab sawed up like that. I have re-used sections of slabs. Is there room to have a future lean-to shed on the long side? Always good to keep “ junk” and building materials out of your shop. I like the building’s size and door layout and “porch”. It’ll be nice!

 

[SouthernIllinois]

You sure did good moving those buildings, especially the big one. On the slab, did you saw pieces like 2” deep cut and keep trying to lift the sections and see if they’d break loose? Never seen a slab sawed up like that. I have re-used sections of slabs. Is there room to have a future lean-to shed on the long side? Always good to keep “ junk” and building materials out of your shop. I like the building’s size and door layout and “porch”. It’ll be nice!

Thanks!

The slab was about 3 1/2" thick we cut all the way through it.

Original plan was to cut it into four pieces, then cut it again into six pieces.

Come to find out it was pretty junky concrete - like a 3 bag mix - very little rock, wire only in the corners and no rebar.
The garage was one of those Bullock Garages you buy as a package including the concrete - not necessarily know for their quality.

Only got a couple pieces out intact. The rest was used at a friends farm to fill in a wash.

No room for a lean to on the long side but I may be able to have them add a lean to on the short, far end.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

No dirt work getting done today - it has rained >3" in a couple hours and it just started raining again.
Nashville, IL has been evacuated due to a dam collapse.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

We had 3" of rain Monday - It finally dried out enough, the guys could get back to work.

 

[racecougar]

Looking good. Reading through your plans, the one and only suggestion I have is to alter the lighting plan. High bays in a 12' ceiling is a long way from ideal. Low bays are semi-okay at that height, but I'd suggest LED tubes to get better distribution.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Looking good. Reading through your plans, the one and only suggestion I have is to alter the lighting plan. High bays in a 12' ceiling is a long way from ideal. Low bays are semi-okay at that height, but I'd suggest LED tubes to get better distribution.

Thanks - I do appreciate the input.
I am not completely committed to the high bay lights - I will look into LED tubes.

 

[trashauler]

Man does that guy that took your garage want another one??? I have one in good shape but unfortunately it is also in the way or where my new building will be going.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Moving dirt today.

Down to rock hard clay.

In the backside of that picture, toward the top of the hill they will be putting in a rock lined slough/ditch to divert water away from the building into the ditch alongside the road.

Construction to start Sep / Oct - the builder is backed up that far even though I signed the contract and paid a deposit in February. I am more than willing to wait for the quality he is known for.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

View from the other end

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Nice!! Look forward to seeing your progress.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Done - ready for the builder who unfortunately is backed up until Mid-October.

19 trees removed.

Two dump trucks of concrete rubble hauled off.

6’4” elevation change leveled to make 70’ X 40’ pad.

Back part of circle driveway moved 15 yards east.

80’ drainage swale dug out.

Solid 5 days work with two bulldozers, a big high-hoe, a skid loader and a drive-able compactor.

$11K total.

 

[Mezz2006]

Done - ready for the builder who unfortunately is backed up until Mid-October.

19 trees removed.

Two dump trucks of concrete rubble hauled off.

6’4” elevation change leveled to make 70’ X 40’ pad.

Back part of circle driveway moved 15 yards east.

80’ drainage swale dug out.

Solid 5 days work with two bulldozers, a big high-hoe, a skid loader and a drive-able compactor.

$11K total.

Site looks great! Dang, that seems like a pretty good price for all that equipment and 5 days of work. I had less then 2 days of work for a ~60x80 space, 1 excavator (for 5hrs), skid steer, and a compactor and it cost me $10k! And that included 1 persons free labor!

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Builder dropped off some equipment Friday afternoon.
Work starts Monday.

The reddish poles leaning against the shipping container are parking bollards I am putting in the concrete next to the doors to keep my wife from hitting the barn.

Now to keep the electrician, plumber, concrete, HVAC, garage door and black top guys all on schedule. Really want this done before it gets cold.

The parts pile in the basement keeps growing

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Been waiting on this day for 7 months!

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Tuesday evening update

A blown hydro hose slowed them down a bit




Submitted my request to have the utilities marked so we can run water and power.
Farm Service guy just left - decided I am going with propane, tube, infrared heat.

 

[trashauler]

Let me know how you like the radiant tube when your are done. That's the direction i am looking to go but my building doesn't go up until December.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Friday afternoon progress pics

 

[CraigStu]

How does your cat like the project?

 

[SouthernIllinois]

How does your cat like the project?

She doesn't like the equipment much - hides on the porch all day

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Tuesday afternoon progress pics


The "parts" pile keeps growing as well

 

[Dutchmanaz]

great progress but wanted to comment on the striped bass. WOW! Quite the lunker. Where'd you catch that one at?

 

[SouthernIllinois]

great progress but wanted to comment on the striped bass. WOW! Quite the lunker. Where'd you catch that one at?

Thanks.

My Dad caught that a couple years back.

I was a commercial fisherman and charter boat captain out of Maryland for the past 15 years before retiring and moving back to the Midwest.

 

[CraigStu]

She doesn't like the equipment much - hides on the porch all day

I believe it. We have 2 indoor cats. One would dang near let the robot vacuum run into her. Just doesn't care and is pissed he has to get up and move. The other gets up somewhere as soon as the robot makes the first sound.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Today’s progress pictures.

There isn’t any miss-colored metal on the north end, it’s just the way the sun is hitting it when I took the pictures.

Should be done with the exterior shell tomorrow.

Saturday putting in the new electric meter base.

Wednesday we are boring in the water line and ditch-witching electric from the new meter.

Hopefully we will be pouring cement the first week of November.

 

[Mr onetwo]

That is one good looking building!

 

[FLA918]

Looks great. I have been thinking of going for the narrow and long shop rather then a 40x60 or 50x52. Do you work on cars for a hobby or is this just a maintenance/storage shop.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Looks great. I have been thinking of going for the narrow and long shop rather then a 40x60 or 50x52. Do you work on cars for a hobby or is this just a maintenance/storage shop.

I recently retired and moved back to the Midwest.
The building will be part garage, storage and hang out spot.

Although I am on 15 acres, the size and shape of the building was dictated by where I could put it.
To make room for it, I had to move a flimsy 24X24 garage, a carport and a 12 X16 Amish shed.

Once we are done with house renovations and the building is done, I'd like to get a project car or truck. Prior to a career in Submarines and Commercial Fishing, I worked at a body shop for 3 years and enjoyed it - just didn't see a long term future in it.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Exterior is done.

New electric meter box and guard posts are in.

A neighbor I went to high school with saved the day with his skid loader with a post hole auger. The hand operated gas one wasn’t cutting it - literally.

Cutting the bollards landed me in the ER. Despite wearing safety glasses, I ended up with a piece of metal in my eye.

Tomorrow the water line and the conduit for electric go in the ground.

 

[Mr onetwo]

Fantastic! Glad your eye is ok.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Ready for plumbing and electric service tie in.

Boring machine broke down so we didn’t get the waterline ran - that will have to wait.

That keg will be a urinal. That back corner will be a utility room / closet / bathroom. Water heater, breaker panel, urinal, frost proof hydrant for water and an air compressor.

The double deep sink on the carport is just there to determine where to put the drain line in the cement.

With any luck and some cooperation from Mother Nature, we will have concrete next week.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Plumbing for sinks, urinal, and outside spigots should be done by the end of the day.

The weather may end up delaying the concrete.

 

[Hooked]

The shop looks great! I wish I had added the overhang on one end of mine originally. Been 'considering' the addition ever since.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

The shop looks great! I wish I had added the overhang on one end of mine originally. Been 'considering' the addition ever since.

Thank you.
The plan is to use the carport/overhang as a patio / outdoor kitchen.
Plumbing in a SS double deep sink with hot and cold water out there today.
The grill, flat-top, smoker, and table and chairs will all go out there when it's done.
Putting barn lights and ceiling fans out there as well.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Ready for concrete contractor to get started when Mother Nature allows.

Frost-proof hydrant inside the utility room will be the supply line to the rest of the building.

Should I need to, I can close the hydrant, disconnect the jumper hose, drain the water heater which will be plumbed to the main drain, drain the lines, shut the heat off and walk away.

Framing a 2’X2’ square around it and filling it with gravel, that way if I ever have a problem with the hydrant I won’t have to bust the floor to replace it.

The hydrant is set 42" deep. The water line in the picture is just a pig tail. The boring machine broke down so they just put a pig tail on it so we could proceed with the concrete (weather permitting)



Hot and cold water and drain for the outdoor kitchen deep sink. The PVC is just sleeves for PEX to run in. That way if there is ever a problem, I can pull out the PEX and replace it without busting up the floor.

The gray PVC is the electric feed.




Drain for the inside deep sink. Hot & cold water to this sink will run in the wall. The gray PVC will feed the breaker panel.



Hot and cold water supply to a spigot which will be just inside the overhead door. To wash car, truck, Gator, etc just run the hose out the door. This way it keeps the exterior “clean” without the spigots showing. Again, PEX goes in the PVC sleeves.




This 7’ X 17’ corner will be a utility room / closet. Water heater going on the metal stand in the corner, the keg will become a urinal, the main water feed hydrant, air compressor, hanging closet for coveralls, work clothes & boots. On the opposite wall will be the breaker panel and more storage. The ceiling on it will be 8’6” which will leave me with storage space on the “roof” of it for stuff like holiday decorations.

 

[CraigStu]

Would the larger radius bends in the grey pvc be better for feeding pex through?

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Would the larger radius bends in the grey pvc be better for feeding pex through?

I believe you are right - I actually hired the plumbing out and that is the way they did it.

Long story short - My Dad passed away in Nov 23. I decided to retire early, bought the place and moved back home. We have completely gutted and remodeled the house, moved three out buildings to make room for this pole barn. I am using the same plumber that we used for the house since we were very happy with his work. I am putting faith in that he knows what he is doing. I suspect, they used regular white PVC since that is what he had on the truck. Fishing the PEX through the PVC is on him...lol

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Instead of building a form around the hydrant, someone gave me the idea of cutting the bottom out of a sump well.
I plan to fill the sump well with gravel that way if and when the hydrant needs replaced, I won't have to bust up the floor.