30' x 50' Wisconsin Build

[Herschey]

Just like most of the other posters here I have been lurking for quite a while reading all of the great information that is here. We are just starting our 30' x 50' garage build. The name at our house fluctuates between the garage, the barn, the shed, and the shop. I don't know which one will officially stick. We are planning on heating the floor. I looked at adding an outdoor wood burner but after talking with my heating guy and not having great access to wood we are going to heat the floor using a tankless water heater. The slab is going to be a thickened edge floating slab.

Here is what things looked like before we started:

Here is some pictures of the excavation. We used our John Deere 1025r to do all of the digging. Our soil is a clay/sandy mix that can hold a lot of water. We dug all of that out and replaced it with a washed stone.

Then it was time for the forms and stone base:

Then we insulated the floor and had the in-floor tubes installed:

Now we wait for the concrete guys to show up. Hopefully tomorrow....

 

[GRN96WS6]

Nice, I sure hope this will be me someday posting about a nice garage/shop.

 

[dogmir]

Welcome to the forum from a neighbor in Madison.

 

[k5shaggy]

Looks great !!! How thick is your concrete going to be ?

 

[36truck]

Love that in floor heat. WOW that's a lot of work for the John Deere.

 

[Herschey]

Concrete is 4" thick in center. The thickened edge is 12" deep x 16" wide.

The John Deere was impressive. I was going to rent a bobcat but never had to. I started moving some dirt and it was up to the task. It took a little longer but I could work on the project when I had time.

Hopefully the concrete guys make it today. If not they will be here Monday.

Question for everyone, my original plan is for 10' tall walls. I'm not a car guy so I don't ever envision adding any type of lift . Would there be any reason to make the walls taller? I have no height restrictions where I live.

 

[amatouring]

Question for everyone, my original plan is for 10' tall walls. I'm not a car guy so I don't ever envision adding any type of lift . Would there be any reason to make the walls taller? I have no height restrictions where I live.

Resale is the first thing that comes to mind. Many of the people who would be interested in a home with a building like that are probably car guys to some extent, and a building with the ability to have a lift in it is worth much more to me than a building that can't have one. I would suggest 12' tall walls as a minimum.

 

[GRN96WS6]

12' tall minimum, for resale reasons as mentioned above.

 

[tomd]

Looks good from my angle (in Sun Prairie)

 

[tomd]

...Question for everyone, my original plan is for 10' tall walls. I'm not a car guy so I don't ever envision adding any type of lift . Would there be any reason to make the walls taller? I have no height restrictions where I live.

It depends a bit on your layout. For example, if you have trusses on 10' centers, and you also have an overhead door on the long end, you could potentially have the lift between trusses. Not ideal, but certainly an option and many have done this. It will also depend if you plan on finishing the ceiling.

 

[merc66rkm]

I can't imagine the price difference between 10' walls and 12' is all that much. I vote for 12'. Looks like a nice place you have there.

 

[noggs]

Welcome from Madison as well!

 

[sean Buick 76]

Welcome, and good job starting with a nice foundation!

 

[Herschey]

Finally concrete today. Between the weather and a busy concrete guy it took a little longer than I wanted but it is done and looks nice.

 

[Herschey]

More progress today

Before:

During:

After:

Trusses should be here soon

 

[James-W]

Looks really good so far. Too bad you couldn't have started the project a couple weeks sooner, when we had some really nice warm day. Right now the weather isn't very good, pretty chilly out, but it is supposed to be a bit warmer the next couple days. Hopefully you can get a lot done before it gets colder again.

 

[mikewatson]

how did you get concrete ???ive been trying to get concrete for weeks but since the concrete shortage there saying i might not be able to get any this year .

 

[Bookworm]

Concrete shortage ?

 

[77thor]

Concrete shortage ?

Oh yeah... Big time.

 

[Herschey]

Yes, there is a Portland cement shortage. My concrete guy has some big projects going on so he was able to sneak me in on what he has reserved.

James - I wish it was earlier in the season. Between my concrete guy being busy and me coaching football the last few months have been crazy.

A little more progress today:

Hopefully I can get the trusses set on Friday......

 

[dvo]

I don't see any anchor bolts sticking out of the concrete pad in your pictures. What are you using instead?

 

[Herschey]

I don't see any anchor bolts sticking out of the concrete pad in your pictures. What are you using instead?

We drilled in expansion anchors after the walls were set.

 

[Herschey]

Trusses set today

 

[racer1]

Holy ****, Your my neighbor.. just saw your pics. I drive by every day. I saw you putting up trusses today. I'm right around the corner on Lark rd. I just built a new house. I guess I need to stop by and introduce myself. What a small world. Jim

 

[Herschey]

Holy ****, Your my neighbor.. just saw your pics. I drive by every day. I saw you putting up trusses today. I'm right around the corner on Lark rd. I just built a new house. I guess I need to stop by and introduce myself. What a small world. Jim

That's crazy. What a small world.

I hired some guys to help with the trusses and to sheet the roof. I will be out there on Saturday (if the freezing rain/rain holds off). Stop by and say hello if we are out there.

Chris

 

[James-W]

Unfortunately, according to the television channel 3 weather (Madison) it is supposed to be warmer but it is rain both Saturday and Sunday. But they are wrong more times that they are right so who knows? It may turn out to be a great weekend. Let's hope it isn't raining and you can get a lot done.

 

[Herschey]

It has been awhile since I have posted an update. Slowly making progress:

Lower windows are in:

Here is the loft:

Some electrical is in:

View of the front:

Stairs are in:

 

[Red_Rattller]

Nice! Where is this I'm in Columbus too. Hopefully will be getting my 40x48 built this spring summer

 

[GRN96WS6]

Thread title says Wisconsin.

 

[Red_Rattller]

Yes I know, but he lives in the Columbus area as well...

 

[GRN96WS6]

Doh, my bad location doesn't show on my phone... My apologies.

 

[hutchmyster85]

Do you have any more information on your trusses? I am looking at going the same size, but everybody keeps telling me I need more than a 2X12 to span 30 ft like you are doing. Do you have plans?

 

[Carl_WI]

Hello from Sheboygan County. I wish I would have added a loft. Very nice.

 

[Herschey]

Do you have any more information on your trusses? I am looking at going the same size, but everybody keeps telling me I need more than a 2X12 to span 30 ft like you are doing. Do you have plans?

Send me a private message with your email and I can send you a pdf of the truss plan.

 

[hutchmyster85]

Send me a private message with your email and I can send you a pdf of the truss plan.

PM Sent, Thank you

 

[Red_Rattller]

How did this ever turn out? Any more progress?

 

[Herschey]

Here are some updated pictures:

Roof is on

Garage Door is installed

Some Electrical is in

Progress has been slow. Weather has not cooperated. Don't let the sunshine fool you. Temperature is 5 degrees with -18 windchill.

Siding is supposed to start this week.

 

[hemifalcon]

Great looking building.. I don't know if I missed it--but how tall are your walls for the lower level ceiling height?
Also--noticed your first few pictures are "no longer available"--issue with Flickr?

 

[Herschey]

Thanks. Walls are 12' tall.

Thanks for pointing out the picture issue. It must be a Flickr issue. It won't let me fix from my phone. I will try later from my computer.

 

[Herschey]

The weather warms up and finally some progress: