Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT finally my 400 sqft shop build

The Cobbler · May 15, 2015

started my dig today for 400 sqft shop. unfortunate I can't go bigger without getting a variance,so I decided to stick with the max size I can build according to zoning. decided on 17' wide x 23'6" deep. 10'x8' overhead door with a man door at the front & rear so I can access the shed easily. in hindsight, I wish the shed was at the other side of the yard but since it's poured concrete & wood framed , it's staying where it is.

the first shovel

and another

and yes, that's the alarm wire conduit to the shed that I totally forgot about

more of the same. got about 2/3 done tonight, no more room until the truck arrives tomorrow to haul the dirt away.

dfiler2 · May 15, 2015

Looking good!

ADSR · May 16, 2015

Great start!

ultra limited · May 16, 2015

It always feels good to finally start a project after all the planning and waiting for spring. Keep up on the posts. Should be a fun build.
I'm going to try to break ground in a week or so, depending on weather.
Are you doing any of work yourself or have a contractor?

txvwnut · May 16, 2015

I know your passed that point but would the city have let you go with a second story?

When I built mine I was limited to 500sqft on the ground but could go 25ft high, so I basically ended up with a 1000sqft shop or two 500sqft spaces depending on how you look at it.

The Cobbler · May 16, 2015

I am doing most of the build myself . subbing out the pour & finish but I'm forming. A buddy is going to do most of the framing and roofing(for pay). I am his helper LOL

I am limited to 14'9" to the roof peak so a second story is out . good tip tho.

jonjon1 · May 16, 2015

Good luck with it, 400 sq ft isnt terrible, you can get a lift in there and do a lot in 400 sq ft, my attached garage is 23x23ish and I do a lot in there, you learn to make the most of the space, put the compressor in your shed and run the air line underground, use all the ceiling space you can, hang and mount as much on the walls as possible. I had BIG garages for a long time it didnt take me long to grow to appreciate working out of the small garage...

The Cobbler · May 16, 2015

Todays work. Finished the excavation, ready for forming now, just a bit of hand digging in a few places.

devoncoolman · May 16, 2015

yeah we all gotta make do with what we got. It's way better then what you have now. keep us up to date.

txvwnut · May 16, 2015

I did everything on mine too with the help of family and freinds. The forming of the slab was the part I enjoyed most. I don't know why but I quite enjoy doing form work before a concrete pour, just not a big fan of the next step that schnitt is hard work.

ultra limited · May 17, 2015

It looks like the dirt work is almost done so from now on out it should be more fun. That's a great idea to locate the air compressor in the shed. It'll save a lot of floor space and you wont have to hear it (bonus).
Just wondering how much you guys are paying for concrete finishing and cost of concrete up north of the border?

Cyberbear · May 18, 2015

Living where you do I suppose you need to consider the effects of Winter on the slab and footings. Whatever you decide be sure to not skimp on the re-enforcing steel, it's very important and the cheapest part of any build, if done properly. Since you seem to be following code, I always go better than code because I'm building it for me and I'll be living with it for some while.

The Cobbler · May 18, 2015

ultra limited said:
Just wondering how much you guys are paying for concrete finishing and cost of concrete up north of the border?

$200 to $ 250 per meter. a meter is 1.3 yards

The Cobbler · May 18, 2015

Cyberbear said:
...be sure to not skimp on the re-enforcing steel, .......

rebar , on a 12" grid probably ( or 16" grid) I can't remember what the concrete guy said actually .

The Cobbler · May 18, 2015

Yesterdays & Today's work. got all the batter boards in place and squared up to line up the forms.

ripped the plywood & started assembling the forms .

matt_i · May 18, 2015

Do you have to trench into the ground to avoid frost heaving?

The Cobbler · May 18, 2015

Yes. doing a monolithic pad.all one pour , the base has to be minimum 8" wide, then 45degrees up till it hits the bottom of the floor . there has to be minimum 18" below grade and minimum 6" above grade . I have to build up the one corner of the yard, thus the piles of dirt . my total depth of pad at the perimeter will be about 28"

The Cobbler · Jun 12, 2015

anyone have experience with Amvic Insulated Radiant PEX panels?
basically they are a styrofoam panel that houses the pex tubing for in floor radiant heat. I have access to a bunch for virtually free. ( well not free but almost)
link here http://www.amvicsystem.com/ampex

what they think they have is the AMPEX2020F 2" 45.5 psi compressive strength . if not that they have the AMPEX2015F the 28psi . They are letting me know what they have tomorrow

67ghiaTIV · Jul 9, 2015

Did you use the Amvic Panels? I am not to far from you in Brampton trying to plan my build.

Jamie

The Cobbler · Jul 9, 2015

67ghiaTIV said:
Did you use the Amvic Panels? I am not to far from you in Brampton trying to plan my build.

Jamie

I haven't decided yet. what was supposed to be a super deal turned out to be mediocre I think when they really thought about it & looked at the cost they had second thoughts. I can get it for about 60% of retail .

Had lota of rain here & am behind on getting forming done.
will post some pics in a few days

The Cobbler · Aug 6, 2015

has been a wet year and busy at work so my build has suffered .
anyway, the pour is planned for tomorrow morning.
shots of vapour barrier, 2" styrofoam SM and tying rebar .

The Cobbler · Aug 10, 2015

Here's a few updates/ Pad is poured finally. ( this past Friday)

The Cobbler · Sep 23, 2015

Pictures showing progress. I ended up hiring a framing crew to build, I just don't have the time or energy. 3 guys from 8 till 3, 5 guys from 3 till 5 and they were done. no wasted steps and they are obviously used to working together .

The Cobbler · Sep 23, 2015

more from today

98XJ · Sep 24, 2015

looks good

LutzTD · Sep 24, 2015

It was good to see the pace picked up, I was thinking you guys get snow up there in October

Second the compressor in the shed, never mind the foot print, its the noise that will do you in

The Cobbler · Sep 24, 2015

I supplied all of the wood . they supplied the nails and everything else. It was $1k for their labour, worth every cent in my opinion. I had a bunch of cull plywood that they had to work with , but there was no issue with them at all. they were very conscious of material too, and weren't wasteful in any way.
5/8" ply for roof, 1/2 ply on the walls. no OSB on exterior at all. Hey, the price was right on 75% of the plywood I used, either free or half price . the OSb pictured earlier lining my driveway was free . just had to go pick it up and the deal was I take it all,. after I was done with it it went to trash.

GDPossehl · Sep 24, 2015

Great deals on this one. Looking forward to the rest of it. What are the plans for the existing shed it's now blocking?

The Cobbler · Sep 24, 2015

GDPossehl said:
...... What are the plans for the existing shed it's now blocking?

moving the man door for the shed to the end wall.shed will still be used , the garage just means I can get rid of a couple of storage units and have a shop again.

crooklyn · Oct 17, 2015

Any more updates? Looks great!!

The Cobbler · Oct 17, 2015

crooklyn said:
Any more updates? Looks great!!

Thanks for the comment.
Updates? ask & you shall receive LOL
Snapped some pics today to update this evening, you must have ESP!

anyway, shingles were done last week, I installed the 2 man doors & window this past week.Along with a friend/ colleague started the soffit today & will finish tomorrow, will also case out the windows & doors ready for aluminum capping tomorrow. Hoping we get the siding done within a week or so so I can move inside & get that wrapped up asap.
Garage door being installed this coming Wednesday .

The Cobbler · Oct 17, 2015

By the way, the doors & window were pulls from jobs, so free and saved them from landfill ( plus, I'm cheap LOL)

Techie1961 · Oct 17, 2015

The build is looking great. It's so rewarding to see the dream come together isn't it.

The Cobbler · Oct 17, 2015

Thanks Techie, yes, I'm pleased, it's been a long time coming.

crooklyn · Oct 19, 2015

It's looking great! Congrats man

The Cobbler · Nov 1, 2015

keep forgetting to update with pictures, but the vinyl siding is almost done. I have run 1/2" l copper through the studs for compressed air plumbing. WIll get some pictures in a day or so and post here.
Everything has been going well , other than a small hiccup that I'm now dealing with.
Hired a guy that is the brother of one of my suppliers to move some dirt. been trying to work with the guy for about a month. Finally we commit to SAturday (past) at 9 AM . at 10 am I call him and he says " I drove by at 7:30 am and you're not ready for me" There is a dump trailer & 2 box trailers in my driveway that need to be moved, but I figure I'll move it when he comes by as no sense blocking up the roadway etc with my **** scattered all over the place for longer than need be. Anyway, he says "well I have to go cut a lawn at 11:00 so I'll come after that" fark, OK but I want this done! 12:00 he calls me and says well he has to go to the dump with a load of garbage from a customer & he'll be there by 1:00. keep in mind he figured he would be a full day taking dirt & getting the area prepped for seed. He gets there at a bit after 1:00 and then remembers he left his rake & shovel at the other customers house, so he goes & comes back in about 45 minutes. I offered him my stuff but he wanted to get his stuff so he doesn't lose it! He gets a load onto his dump box and says. a good start eh? I have to go unload, can I get a $40 advance? fark again.... anyway, I feel sorry for this guy as he struggles to make ends meet. I reluctantly give it to him and then he announces, well, I'll see you MOnday at 9:00. OKAY? fark. I am pised off but I know his brother and he is a really nice guy, I don't want to cause upset but I am ready to tell this guy to take a hike and make other arrangements.

rant over....

BBSkylark · Nov 2, 2015

Looks like its coming along nicely! Good thing there is a warm spell coming through this week (one of your Niagara neighbors) for your dirt guy to finish up.

Techie1961 · Nov 2, 2015

It's so hard to find good help isn't it. I have had no end of frustration with stuff like what you describe.

The Cobbler · Nov 2, 2015

I have been lucky with this project , all has gone smoothly for the most part. Today was another day, He called to say he was done, when I looked at what he had called done, shocked me to say the least.
Called him and told him I don't think he's done as to what we talked about. He's apologizing like crazy , I feel bad for him but we're in the real world... Why is it that these guys can't see level, a mound and dips , and when asked to blend this to that you end up with a 1foot berm?
I should stick to my guns & not pay him till he has done what he was supposed to. I know I'll end up paying him and not being happy with the job. I know my own heart.

The Cobbler · Nov 3, 2015

He was supposed to call me around 10 am to come & make me happy, No calls from him as of now. I took an envelope with 2/3 of what his quote was to his brother. Explained to him all that had gone on, that I figure he has done 2/3 of the work and I think I'm being fair. His brother commented " there's a reason why he can't work here, thanks for giving him a try & sorry it didn't work out for you"
Oh well!

Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT finally my 400 sqft shop build

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