Skeeter, Ive been watching this thread and waiting for an update. I too am from Missouri, not too far from you, and was worried your build would be delayed because of all the snow. Hang in there, better be safe than sorry. I waited over 6 weeks for mine to start due to rain in 2013. Im surprised you have inspectors out there by you. Are you in Cass county?
30x60 pole barn build -
- Thread starter SkeeterZX200
- Start date
redheelerdog
Well-known member
Hi Skeeter, I just built a 30x60 shop at my place last year. I kind of did what you are doing but I did not tear down my old shop (30x22). It was in good shape so I had the same roof pitch built into the design and tied in the old shop to the new.
***** your water line got hit, at least you can get it fixed quickly.
It won't be that long and it will be dry and hot... more time to get in the plan details!
Good luck with your build.
John
***** your water line got hit, at least you can get it fixed quickly.
It won't be that long and it will be dry and hot... more time to get in the plan details!
Good luck with your build.
John
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Well, hopefully work will start on Monday. The building is going to come in, scrape off all the mud and water, and lay down another layer for gravel. They are then going to come in, build the building and then put a new top layer down.
I am hoping this works out and building gets mostly done this week.
(fingers crossed)
I am hoping this works out and building gets mostly done this week.
(fingers crossed)
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Well, another quick update. They tried to start the building again about 10 days ago. Once again they showed, drilled a few holes and there was just too much ground water.
I decided to pay my excavator to come out and install a french drain along south side of the building pad. This is the direction that I believe all the water is coming from. The drain has been in for about 7 days and has had a constant stream of water coming out since the day after it was installed.
We have had a lot of snow and ice melt, but the pad feels drier than it has since it was built. We are supposed to get 5 inches of snow tomorrow with more early next week.
The current plan is for the building to be back on Monday or Tuesday to try again. I can only hope they are successful.
I decided to pay my excavator to come out and install a french drain along south side of the building pad. This is the direction that I believe all the water is coming from. The drain has been in for about 7 days and has had a constant stream of water coming out since the day after it was installed.
We have had a lot of snow and ice melt, but the pad feels drier than it has since it was built. We are supposed to get 5 inches of snow tomorrow with more early next week.
The current plan is for the building to be back on Monday or Tuesday to try again. I can only hope they are successful.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Ok, another update. I think this is week 8.
They contractor tried to start again on Wednesday. I was very hopeful. The french drain has been working nicely over the last two weeks. There is a steady stream of water trickling out, I would estimate it might fill a 5-gal bucket every hour.
They showed up, drilled a test hole and once again there was water in the hole. They drilled a 4' hole and it ended up with about 12" of water in it. At this point we are all scratching our heads trying to figure out what to do. The builder agreed to come stack all the materials up and tarp it so we can try to keep it dry until the building can go up. We also decided that next week we are going to drill all of the holes for the building. This is in an effort to determine if we are going to have water issues everywhere or if it is a few isolated holes. We will then cover the holes with plywood and I will monitor them. When they dry out, they will send a crew out the next days to get the hole inspection and set the posts.
I am just not sure what to do to try and dry out. They are forecasting 1/2" an inch of rain tonight and tomorrow. That will do wonderful things for my project.
They contractor tried to start again on Wednesday. I was very hopeful. The french drain has been working nicely over the last two weeks. There is a steady stream of water trickling out, I would estimate it might fill a 5-gal bucket every hour.
They showed up, drilled a test hole and once again there was water in the hole. They drilled a 4' hole and it ended up with about 12" of water in it. At this point we are all scratching our heads trying to figure out what to do. The builder agreed to come stack all the materials up and tarp it so we can try to keep it dry until the building can go up. We also decided that next week we are going to drill all of the holes for the building. This is in an effort to determine if we are going to have water issues everywhere or if it is a few isolated holes. We will then cover the holes with plywood and I will monitor them. When they dry out, they will send a crew out the next days to get the hole inspection and set the posts.
I am just not sure what to do to try and dry out. They are forecasting 1/2" an inch of rain tonight and tomorrow. That will do wonderful things for my project.
VT JD
Active member
Skeeter,
I am not sure what type of soil you have down there but drilling all the holes with the water table that high may cause you more problems with holes filling with water and side walls caving in.
You mentioned being close to your pond. Is it possible the water level in the pond is causing seepage into your holes?
You may be better off waiting a few months for things to dry up.
Just a few thoughts but probably not what you want to hear as I can appreciate you are anxious to get your building up.
I am not sure what type of soil you have down there but drilling all the holes with the water table that high may cause you more problems with holes filling with water and side walls caving in.
You mentioned being close to your pond. Is it possible the water level in the pond is causing seepage into your holes?
You may be better off waiting a few months for things to dry up.
Just a few thoughts but probably not what you want to hear as I can appreciate you are anxious to get your building up.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
No, its not the pond water lever, the pond is 6 or 7 feet below the grade we are drilling at.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
So we have a new plan, that I am hoping will happen this week. The builder is going to send out a 2 man crew to drill ALL of the holes for the building posts. The purpose of this is to determine how many holes are going to have water issues. I would like to know if all the holes are going to have water or just a few in the corner of the building where we have been drilling.
I spent today cutting some trenches to drain water around my property. With all the snow melt and rain things are pretty awful around here.
I will keep this post updated as to what happens this week
I spent today cutting some trenches to drain water around my property. With all the snow melt and rain things are pretty awful around here.
I will keep this post updated as to what happens this week
Pronk
Member
Good luck with the post digging this week. Hopefully you'll get some good results. But it's a tough time of year to build anything underground, just try to stay patient cause in the end it will be worth it.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
So here are a few updated pictures.
Building pad and house from pond dam.
Building pad from driveway. The line of gravel is where the french drain is.
French drain outlet and pond
Building pad and house from pond dam.
Building pad from driveway. The line of gravel is where the french drain is.
French drain outlet and pond
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Ok, so finally an update. The excavator came out and put another drain in and we also put a culvert under my driveway to deal with some standing water.
He started at the front of the pad where we have found a rock shelf. He then cut a trench starting about 6' deep and ended up about 7-8' at the other end. He then filled the entire trench with 2-3" gravel.
You would not believe the amount of water that is draining out of the rock shelf. I would say it equals 3 or 4 hoses running continuously.
The pad had pretty much completely dried out by Sunday.
QSI is planning on coming out on Thursday to start drilling holes and setting posts. I am very hopeful that we will be successful this time.
He started at the front of the pad where we have found a rock shelf. He then cut a trench starting about 6' deep and ended up about 7-8' at the other end. He then filled the entire trench with 2-3" gravel.
You would not believe the amount of water that is draining out of the rock shelf. I would say it equals 3 or 4 hoses running continuously.
The pad had pretty much completely dried out by Sunday.
QSI is planning on coming out on Thursday to start drilling holes and setting posts. I am very hopeful that we will be successful this time.
sleek98
Well-known member
We have had a lot of rain/snow this winter. Good to hear have the water under control finally.
Not too far from you either.
Not too far from you either.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Oh happy day! Construction started yesterday.
All the poles are up and they are starting the framing. I will try and post some pictures tonight.
All the poles are up and they are starting the framing. I will try and post some pictures tonight.
sleek98
Well-known member
Its the perfect day weather wise to start.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Well, here the the progress that they made on Thursday and Friday. They have been on site for about 18 hours now. Pretty impressive to say the least.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Well the building is complete up. The gutters will be on today and I am hoping concrete and garage doors will be along shortly. I will get updated pictures up soon.
kylefitz
Well-known member
It’s amazing how fast theses structures go up!
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
So they were out yesterday and got all the gutters put up. I did not get any pictures of the install with gutters because we had torrential downpours yesterday.
However, I do have some updated pictures.
I was also told that garage doors will be next week. He was not sure the timing of concrete, but should have a good idea on Monday.
However, I do have some updated pictures.
I was also told that garage doors will be next week. He was not sure the timing of concrete, but should have a good idea on Monday.
wasfast
Well-known member
Congrats on all your progress. It's rather ironic that the day the gutters are put on is the day of torrential downpours.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Ya, there will be concrete under this area. It will stick out 12" past the posts.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
I talked to the builder today. They are going to have the garage doors installed on Wed or Thurs or this week and will have the concrete complete by the end of next week.
WOOOT WOOOT!
Also, I have signed a contract for solar. I am going to put a 9.6kw system on the south facing roof of the shop. By my calculations this should take care of my power requirements for most of the year. It looks like July and August will be my only problem months.
I am meeting with their engineer on Thursday to go over the details of the system. It should be installed by the end of May.
WOOOT WOOOT!
Also, I have signed a contract for solar. I am going to put a 9.6kw system on the south facing roof of the shop. By my calculations this should take care of my power requirements for most of the year. It looks like July and August will be my only problem months.
I am meeting with their engineer on Thursday to go over the details of the system. It should be installed by the end of May.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Garage doors were installed yesterday. They really look great. I am glad I went back and added the windows in the front doors. They add some more natural light and allow me to see if anyone is coming down the driveway.
Also, I signed a contract to have a 9.6kw solar panel systems added to the south facing roof. This should be installed by the end of May. With the current federal and utility rebates I could not say now. They paid for half of the system.
This will be a grid tied system, with no battery backup. By my calculations I should be able to produce enough electricity to cover my usage 10 out of 12 months (July and August we might not quite produce enough)
We have quite a bit of rain coming in. I hope this does not slow down the concrete. It should be done by the end of next week.
Also, I signed a contract to have a 9.6kw solar panel systems added to the south facing roof. This should be installed by the end of May. With the current federal and utility rebates I could not say now. They paid for half of the system.
This will be a grid tied system, with no battery backup. By my calculations I should be able to produce enough electricity to cover my usage 10 out of 12 months (July and August we might not quite produce enough)
We have quite a bit of rain coming in. I hope this does not slow down the concrete. It should be done by the end of next week.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
They started forming for concrete on Friday. The current plan is to pour the garage slab on Tuesday and form the porch and then come back on Wednesday to pour the porch.
I spent all of Saturday running conduit in the gravel layer. The put in around 180' of 3/4" conduit. These runs will serve the walls opposite and adjacent to my panel.
I spent all of Saturday running conduit in the gravel layer. The put in around 180' of 3/4" conduit. These runs will serve the walls opposite and adjacent to my panel.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
I am a little behind on pictures so I thought I would start getting conduit. Below are the pictures of my conduit installation. I was able to get conduit in before the slab was poured.
Deezler
Well-known member
Sweet!
Good call on the PV array. It will pay for itself in no time. Thats a big system... time for an electric car, I'd say (free fuel!). Do you have any gas appliances or are you all electric?
Good call on the PV array. It will pay for itself in no time. Thats a big system... time for an electric car, I'd say (free fuel!). Do you have any gas appliances or are you all electric?
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Thanks. I am excited. I need to get electrical done. The PV guys are on my tail.
We have gas heat and water heater.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
I order lights today. I ended up order 6 of these.
https://www.primelights.com/shop/it...ray-6-highbay-fixture-108-watts-pl-6srhbld108
I think I will need more, but I would like to install a few of them and see how things look.
https://www.primelights.com/shop/it...ray-6-highbay-fixture-108-watts-pl-6srhbld108
I think I will need more, but I would like to install a few of them and see how things look.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
Here are a few pictures of the concrete that was put in a couple weeks ago.
kylefitz
Well-known member
Its good to see that you got dried in before all this rain we have been having! Looks great!
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
I was able to get quite a bit more work done over the weekend.
I trenched in all of my downspouts and drained them into the pond. I think trenched in 2" conduit for the feeder from my house to the shop. I then started pulling wire and doing some framing so I could put in junction boxes.
Here is a picture of the lights I bought. I ended up buying 6, but I think I might need 2 more. These things are REALLY bright.
Finally, a picture with the boat and truck backed in!
I am hoping to finish the electrical rough-in and get lights hung this weekend!
I trenched in all of my downspouts and drained them into the pond. I think trenched in 2" conduit for the feeder from my house to the shop. I then started pulling wire and doing some framing so I could put in junction boxes.
Here is a picture of the lights I bought. I ended up buying 6, but I think I might need 2 more. These things are REALLY bright.
Finally, a picture with the boat and truck backed in!
I am hoping to finish the electrical rough-in and get lights hung this weekend!
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
My electrical rough-in inspection has been passed. I am hoping to get the final electrical inspection Friday.
My final grading will be done tomorrow and they are going to bury conduit for my solar system tomorrow.
My final grading will be done tomorrow and they are going to bury conduit for my solar system tomorrow.
Garvdog
Active member
I have a very similar building 30x56x14. How did you settle on the lights? When I used their calculator they recommended the Stingray4 qty 10, would be curious to know your thoughts on the lights as you get them up.
OP
SkeeterZX200
Well-known member
I went with the 6 bulb because I wanted to install few lights. I am really have with the 6-bulb, they are very bright. I think I am going to add (2) more over the garage doors. I am going to try this out for a while before I do this though.
The fixtures are well built and I really like the bulbs.
The fixtures are well built and I really like the bulbs.