Doing more with less - 14' x 25' for 2 post lift

[jtotheizzo]

Preamble: (heavy on the ramble)

As we begin this journey I will also say that I like pictures so there are probably way too many in this post.

I wouldn't call myself cheap necessarily because I have no real issue spending money where I feel it should be. I would say however that I am value driven and to say my life motto is "do more with less" would be an understatement.

This is something that is helpful in understanding when perhaps wondering why I did some things the way I did.

I am a car guy through and through, while I enjoy drag racing I am not your weekend warrior bracket racer per se. I am more goal oriented, and it's the build that really drives me. I live in the PNW and like a lot of places the winter here is when the real car building gets done.

I had decided a few years ago that it was time to look into additional space for my automotive projects as I was running out of room and frankly the cold concrete was doing my body no favors while writhing around on the ground trying to complete the project d' jour. Therefore anything I decided to get and or build would need room for a lift.

After obsessing about this build for 3 years it was finally time to pull the trigger. I had already done basic renderings and a site plan. So I set out to find contractors to help with this project. Basically for my project there were three construction options; stick built, post frame, tube steel frame. I got at least three quotes for each, plus spoke with several realtors and appraisers with intimate knowledge of the area and housing trends. In the end I decided to go with a tube steel frame metal building. There are many reasons for this and perhaps I will break those down someday for anyone that was interested but here was the punchline:

Stick Built w/o electical or paint - $30k
Post Frame w/o electrical, metal sided and roofed - $18k
Metal building w/o electrical with same metal siding and roof - $11k

Here are the renderings and plan I came up with:

 

[jtotheizzo]

Groundwork day:

The house when we bought it in 2008 (place was like a jungle):

After a bit of cleanup a few years later 2012:

After some major pruning this year:

The Site:

Work Begins:

Trying to find good dirt. This whole area has about 2-3' of Lomy Sand before getting to good dirt:

As access will be an issue after the shop is built we decided to bring in 10 yards of fill to level the backyard. We had taken down 8 trees back there over the years and it was like a dirtbike track:

Crushed rock going down:

Pad leveled and ready for building:

New grass planted because I feared the backyard becoming a mud pit. The timing in which I decided to plant grass would later turn out to be a bit of a mistake but ehh live and learn:

This work was done through family and cashing in favors past, therefore I of course needed to feed my crew well:

 

[jtotheizzo]

Building day

These guys were super fast. They built this entire thing in one (long) day. It was unusually hot that day so I made sure to feed and hydrate my crew well, but I also believed it slowed things down a bit. Never the less if I turned my back for too long I missed a bunch of progress. I had certified plans that the crew never really looked at. I feel as though I had to be involved more than I had wanted to in order to make sure things weren't missed (this will come up later too) but this is the price you pay to save money in my opinion.

Frame going up:

Remember what I said about it being too early to plant grass? Yeah I didn't realize they would use my yard there to build the structure. In hindsight I still don't really see why it was necessary but meh, whatever.

I was trying to make this my view most of the day but as I indicated I did have to step in on a few things to save heartache later:

Siding time:

Roof Time:

A glimmer of hope the end is near:

At this time it was too dark to really take any pictures. So this picture was the next morning, standing on my deck, drinking my coffee. Mrs. Jtotheizzo came out and we looked on at the albatross that I had erected in our backyard and all I could say was...

"So that happened.":

I will take this time to say that even after years of planning, obsessing, more planning, and dreaming. I couldn't help but feel the release of finally pulling the trigger. Looking down at this thing I was reminded of the phrase, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should". Don't get me wrong. I was still excited for it but I did have that moment of "what have we done"

With that said here it is, 14' w x 25' L x 12' eaves. This gives me 12'7" to the roof just inside the frame going up to 15' ish in the middle. I also opted to put smoked polycarbonite panels at the top to add natural light as well as I think that it helps break up the height of the building. So far I like this decision. I will revisit this after the winter. Worst case I will get metal to replace it with.

Man door added:

Unfortunately this is where our story pauses for now. I had been holding off to start my build thread until it was don't but frankly couldn't contain my excitement anymore. The crew that installed the building put the anchors in the wrong place and the building will not pass inspection so I can move forward. Partially I blame myself. I was too busy during this time and I wasn't as familiar with the plans as I had been in months previous. While I did catch some other mistakes that were made and had them corrected I did not thing that they would put the anchors in incorrectly. I am hoping they will be out to correct these issues within the next 2 weeks and then we can move on to concrete.

 

[jtotheizzo]

*picture hosting issue resolved*

 

[Stuart in MN]

*Resolved* for now

so it looks as though, my method of linking pics from Google photos is not functioning as intended. I will need to rehost my pics and update these posts. Stay tuned.

I can see the pictures OK.

 

[jtotheizzo]

Good news, we past our final inspection so I can move on with fence building and pouring concrete.

 

[jtotheizzo]

Forms up and digouts for thickened footings near the lift complete. Next up rebar!

Also got my fence posts up. Weather is turning to rain here so I am going to let those sit a week or so before putting weight on them.

 

[jtotheizzo]

Rebar is in:

Concrete is done:

And got the gate frame up:

Now we wait for the concrete to cure and start nailing pickets.

 

[jtotheizzo]

Fence and gate are up:

Concrete is drying out pretty good. Thinking about hitting it with a densifier and then time to move in.

 

[readhead]

Looks great. Just wondering why you didn't pour the slab first and erect the building on the slab.

 

[jtotheizzo]

Looks great. Just wondering why you didn't pour the slab first and erect the building on the slab.

Good question. There were a couple of reasons:

1. We get a lot of rain here. I wanted the edge of the siding to extend past the side of the concrete. None of the companies I tried working with (even local) could seem to understand this. They wanted a 6" extension so as not to crack the concrete which was inevitably going to let rain water get in. One company I did discuss L brackets with (I believe this was your suggestion) wanted to charge $800 for those and "extra siding". All companies suggested caulking the rails down but then wouldn't guarantee the work. It was becoming super frustrating.

2. If the concrete was poured before then it was going to require a 12" by 12" footer as well as extra engineering on the plans that was going to equal big $$$$.

This suggestion came from the local company I ended up ultimately purchasing from. The building itself passed inspection with the mobile home anchors and then the concrete was poured as a separate non structural entity which doesn't require a permit.

In retrospect I am not sure I would do it again this way. It did cause a little heartache here and there but it also did solve some of my other issues.

Subsequently the way I am reading the electrical code I don't think I will need UFER ground for this building due to the amount of structural metal that is in contact with the ground. That seems to be a win as well if that stands true.

So far so good on water intrusion. We have been having some ridiculous weather with 60 mph gusts and driving rain. The only water that has gotten in is a little under the door seal, and I think also along where the rollup part of the door connects to the bottom metal piece. I intend to hit that with some sealer at some point and probably will add one of those lower thresholds across the door to help with that.

 

[Falcon67]

Subsequently the way I am reading the electrical code I don't think I will need UFER ground for this building due to the amount of structural metal that is in contact with the ground. That seems to be a win as well if that stands true.

If code is any concern, you should have include the UFER. At this point, I'd place two 8' copper rods. I'd not trust the metal resting on ground business at all.

 

[tdott]

Looks great, have you decided on a lift?

In for updates.

 

[jtotheizzo]

If code is any concern, you should have include the UFER. At this point, I'd place two 8' copper rods. I'd not trust the metal resting on ground business at all.

Agreed but also dont forget that not only is it in contact with the ground it has 22 metal mobile home anchors securing it almost 3' deep and another 22 5/8 pieces of rebar driven through the bottom rail also 3' deep. Even then I likely will go with copper rods when it's time.

In the foreseeable future I am living that extension cord life. We will see what shakes out when it's time for real electrical out there. Unfortunately the house needs a panel upgrade in the first place and especially to support a sub. Sounds like a next year or beyond project.

Looks great, have you decided on a lift?

In for updates.

Thank you. In fact I have I just put a deposit down on the ATLAS 10k certified unit. http://www.atlasautoequipment.com/products/two-post-lifts/apex-10-plus

I will be picking it up sometime in the next couple weeks.

It should far exceed anything I am planning on doing. My heaviest car is under 5k lbs.

 

[jtotheizzo]

Picked up the lift this weekend and unloaded it. There were many non OSHA approved moments getting it off the trailer and standing the columns up but I will say that it can be done by two people.

Starting to actually look like a shop.

 

[jtotheizzo]

Lift is in and lifting...

That about sums this build up for now. Sometime over the next year I will likely bring electrical in and insulate some more. I may even finish the walls too. Right now I am living fine off of extension cords and will wait until it's warmer to tackle anything like that.

It's time to just enjoy the new toys by tearing apart my old ones.

 

[jtotheizzo]

Well it's been a year. That Firebird is still not back together but I am loving this shop. Wish I had done it long ago. There are some trade offs with it being that small but I often remind myself it's this or no lift.