Above 1200 Sq/FT Finally building the shop!!

[Juiced06GTO]

I finally signed on the dotted line to have my dream shop built. I hired Circle B Barns out of Lancaster, Ma to do the build. I did all the site work after having a bunch of large trees removed last month. They just sent renderings over for what it will look like when done! It will be 30x40 with a 14x40 loft above. Clear span with attic trusses. I really wanted to just buy their kit and erect it myself, but with 3 kids 5 and under and a job that keeps me going 10-12 hours a day I just didn't have the time. I will however be doing all the utilities and finish work once they erect the shell. Thanks to everyone for all the ideas I have been able to pick up from the site. I'll do my best to keep this updated with pictures once they get rolling!

 

[Kaizen]

Congrats. How much is their kit? Hard to see print. Just one garage door?


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[manwithtools]

Only one door is not a good idea in a shop that size. You will have a project in the way that will prevent use of the door and then you are screwed.

Try to do a drive through setup if possible; a door on both ends.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, A " Man Door " in addition to the vehicle door will prove to be very convenient.

 

[ItsNemo]

IMHO, A " Man Door " in addition to the vehicle door will prove to be very convenient.

Looks like there's one on the left in the drawing.

That said, having a second garage door wouldn't be a bad idea...even if it's just a small one to get the lawn tractor in/out.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

Unfortunately a second garage door isn't really feasible where the unit is located on the property without some major fill/excavation to make getting to another door work. That being said that door is going to be 12wx10h so it should allow easier access in and out. This will only be workshop/vehicle projects, I have another barn already on the property that stores the kubota and all the other lawn type equipment/pool supplies. There is a man door on the left front, there will be stairs and a walkway from this that lead down to the house.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

Congrats. How much is their kit? Hard to see print. Just one garage door?


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

Their kit, with everything pre cut and color coded to bolt together was 34k not including the screw piles it is going on.

 

[ItsNemo]

Unfortunately a second garage door isn't really feasible where the unit is located on the property without some major fill/excavation to make getting to another door work. That being said that door is going to be 12wx10h so it should allow easier access in and out. This will only be workshop/vehicle projects, I have another barn already on the property that stores the kubota and all the other lawn type equipment/pool supplies. There is a man door on the left front, there will be stairs and a walkway from this that lead down to the house.

Is there a side facing your yard or anything? If so, I would still throw in a small 8x7 or something. At very worst it will make for a nice cross breeze but might just afford you some options moving things in and out.

 

[72Camaro]

Sweet and Congrats! The spending has only just begun

 

[sberry]

I could do this with one door but move it over to the side some. Put the walk door in the front.

 

[keithb7]

Looks good. Please show us some photos as the build progresses.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

So progress has been extremely slow, it took my town forever to issue permits because of the COVID lockdown. We then went to put the screw piles in and I was told they couldn't do them because of the ledge on my property. At that point I was pretty discouraged, but I procured some equipment from work and started digging. We are doing footings pined to the ledge and the posts will rest on those. I trenched the entire thing so we could see the extent of the ledge and make sure it was possible to pin to it. Hoping things move quicker now.

I enlisted the help of my two oldest, my little guy (2) couldn't be out there helping as he casted up for a broken leg!

 

[ConCretin]

We are doing footings pined to the ledge and the posts will rest on those.

Congrats on overcoming all the obstacles and getting started! To be honest, I've never heard of footings with posts on top supporting a structure. It would be more common to place a footing and wall. Maybe posts are less expensive? Looking forward to seeing how this comes together.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

It will be a traditional pole style building like most built here. Most of the time there is just a 2' diameter hole dug, a precast footing dropped in, and the post set on top of it, then it is back filled. In my case, since we can't get down below the frost line, we had to get down to the rock, they will drill it, epoxy in rebar, and pour the 2' diameter footing to put the pole on. It saves the expense of doing a full footing and frost wall, although, I may have them price that out at this point since I dug the entire thing out anyhow.

I excavated so much because we had to make sure it was actually ledge and not just some big boulders they were going to anchor too. Once I got down there I can safely say it is just one giant piece of rock, which is pretty typical for this area I guess. I should have known there was a reason they placed the house where they did on the property and not on the giant mound in my front yard...

 

[ConCretin]

For some reason I completely missed the fact that you are building a pole structure. I think the reference to screw piles threw me. Carry on.

 

[Tduby]

It will be a traditional pole style building like most built here. Most of the time there is just a 2' diameter hole dug, a precast footing dropped in, and the post set on top of it, then it is back filled. In my case, since we can't get down below the frost line, we had to get down to the rock, they will drill it, epoxy in rebar, and pour the 2' diameter footing to put the pole on. It saves the expense of doing a full footing and frost wall, although, I may have them price that out at this point since I dug the entire thing out anyhow.

I excavated so much because we had to make sure it was actually ledge and not just some big boulders they were going to anchor too. Once I got down there I can safely say it is just one giant piece of rock, which is pretty typical for this area I guess. I should have known there was a reason they placed the house where they did on the property and not on the giant mound in my front yard...

Boy you did a lot of work for a full proper foundation at this point I would look the budget over really good and look at doing a traditional framed garage that will last a life time instead of post style but I never liked pole buildings so I am very biased

 

[Juiced06GTO]

Boy you did a lot of work for a full proper foundation at this point I would look the budget over really good and look at doing a traditional framed garage that will last a life time instead of post style but I never liked pole buildings so I am very biased

A full foundation has been taken into consideration. Waiting to see what numbers look like. I really like the timber/pole style framing that this company does. There are a bunch of old barns in my town and I really want to make it fit the area, so we'll see what they come back with. Still waiting on them to get here.....

 

[imjustdave]

A full foundation has been taken into consideration. Waiting to see what numbers look like. I really like the timber/pole style framing that this company does. There are a bunch of old barns in my town and I really want to make it fit the area, so we'll see what they come back with. Still waiting on them to get here.....

you can make it look exactly the same regardless of the foundation

 

[matt_i]

Its going to be tough now but all of those roots sticking into the trenches is something I'd want to scrape out of the center. That organic material decaying isn't going to make a good under-base for your slab.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

Its going to be tough now but all of those roots sticking into the trenches is something I'd want to scrape out of the center. That organic material decaying isn't going to make a good under-base for your slab.

Good call. Once they do what they need to in the trench I can backfill and peel that top layer back. The grade has to come up about a foot total to the top of the slab, I had planned on laying down 6" of crushed stone compacted on what is there, then 2" of foam, and 4" slab. I can peel that top layer back and just add more stone to get back up to where I need to be. Thanks!

 

[Juiced06GTO]

Progress....its been a long week off around turkey day. Posts are back filled, I need to bring in a few (50 or so) tons of crushed stone to spread and compact to bring the grade up. I scraped down the organic material that was still in the center as best I could and compacted around the posts in roughly 6" lifts with the rammer. Lumber gets dropped Monday and they start the rest of the building. I won't be doing the slab until next spring at this point as I dont want to rush trying to plan around the weather here. We got 6" of snow in October and then it was 70 two weeks later!

My boss was nice enough to come up and help me by running the Dingo while I moved the piles with the excavator and ran the rammer. Was nice to have some help for a change, but I still ran well into the night a few times over the course of the week.

*Edit* I guess this should have been posted in the gallery not the general forum. Not sure if a mod can move it?

 

[Evilcactuar]

Looking good man! Everything is taking longer and costing more right now, glad to see you were able to get past the ledge issue and make it happen.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

These guys are moving quick now that they are here. I didn't get home until late, so most of my pictures stink, but hey its something! I'll get better pictures in daylight as soon as I can. One thing I didn't quite grasp while planning this out is just how big this actually is haha! My wife is thinking that we need an addition on the house so the barn doesn't dwarf it now! I keep telling her it took me 10 years to get this built, she'll have to wait another 10!

I had my first load of stone dropped in the barn before they get the header up. I am going to need a few more once i get this spread and compacted, hopefully I can get one more dropped in the barn before the header goes across the front, but my progress is going to slow a bit with everything going on in life. (Stop reading now if you don't care!)

So far this week my oldest sons elementary school was closed due to COVID, my stores branch across town was shut down for two positive cases, my daycare provider tested positive and her facility was closed leaving my other two boys without a place to go, and first thing Monday morning after a week off I walked into an audit at my branch right in the middle of all this. I swear my company watches when I take time off and plans a major inspection of some kind for the day I come back. My wife and I are just waiting for her school to get closed at this point and her to go full remote which will be fun while helping my 6 year old with remote learning and taking care of our 4 and 2 year olds and me still working full time.

I keep telling my kids that they are going to learn about this period in their history books someday. Hopefully things get better for everyone soon. Stay safe and healthy out there everyone!

 

[Juiced06GTO]

Late start tonight after getting the kids to bed. My youngest spiked a fever today and is awaiting an appointment to go get tested for COVID. The pediatrician doesn't think it is, but my wife and I were told to stay home from work until we can produce a negative test, so off to the soonest appointment which is Friday!

At any rate I needed to get my mind off things so I headed out around 830 and put a few hours in on the Kubota spreading my 22 tons of stone around. I'll probably end up with another load inside and one around the perimeter. More night pictures because that is the only time I can seem to get anything done. Luckily my neighbors are far enough away to not get pissed at me working late all the time, although I am sure they are excited that I'll be confined to the barn once it is built!

 

[Disney]

Looking great so far! I see you moved the man door to the front, I prefer that. If it's not too late, maybe see about a man door in the back? One of those "rarely used, but when it's needed it's nice to have" things.

Don't sweat this other stuff. Take care of your family and use your wits instead of your bits. Hopefully the kiddo don't gots the covid, but I seriously doubt it. My 3yo went in for some thing and the Wife asked about kids and covids. He said that he's tested easily 1,000 kids and none have been positive. It's almost like the kids are immune. I know they aren't as some kids have had it and the media LOVES it when that happens, but 99.9999999% of the kids can't catch it for some reason.

 

[PWC Repair]

Around here nobody would have blinked an eye on something like that. You start digging through rock around here after 6-10 inches! Hammers on the front of skid steers is a VERY common sight.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

We are at a bit of a standstill until the trusses show up. They are scheduled to be here the week of the 21st. In the meantime I can't get much done with the snow we just got over the weekend. Looks like its going to be 50ish this weekend so i'll get some more stone spread and maybe get it compacted.

 

[Evilcactuar]

You still have somewhere to lay those trusses? We got hammered with snow here.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

Ha! Funny you mentioned that. I got the call Friday that the trusses were showing up on Monday (tomorrow), at least I think that is what he said, I had been up moving snow for 48hrs on 2 hrs of sleep at that point. I have pretty much plowed my entire front yard at this point. Hoping they can make it work and have a spot to drop them. I guess we'll see tomorrow. I also got the inside of the barn cleaned out as best as I could so they can get around without trekking through the snow. We ended up with about 14 or so inches, so not the dumping that some other places got, my wifes uncle up in Alton,NH got about 34".

I never got the rest of the stone spread or compacted as we have been completely ravaged by COVID quarantines at work and the 8 days of vacation I had planned this month have all pretty much been cancelled as I just don't have the coverage at my shop. Luckily only a few people have actually come down with it, most have just been possibly exposed.

I'll snap some pictures once I make it back out there today. Trusses won't go up until after Christmas at this point.

 

[FrancisJ]

The entire 4-man crew I have working on a new 24 x 48 just came with COVID -- one just got rushed to the hospital (couldn't breathe). Man this is getting ugly. Frankly glad I stocked up on N-95 and P-95 masks before the pandemic -- was paying less than a buck each back then, now the THIEVES are charging much higher.

 

[Evilcactuar]

We got 18ish, and same deal with covid, one of the guys on the crew ended up with it but they all quarantined for a while.
Good luck with the trusses!

 

[Juiced06GTO]

So we have trusses up! A few days later than I thought they'd be up, but they banged out a lot today! I'll get better pics in the daylight, I haven't seen it in the daylight either. I spent until 230 this morning working on my damn furnace and then missed getting up for work at 530 today, so not much motivation to go out in the cold to look at it now haha!

 

[LVIIIR]

Congrats man! That's gotta be exciting!!

 

[Juiced06GTO]

Some more night shots, still haven't seen it during the day! A couple small issues I need to address with them, but all in all it looks pretty good!! One cool thing is all the lumber is sourced locally, mostly NH.

 

[firebirdparts]

That's going to be a nice looking building.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

Backtracking a bit, I realized I never put up any pics of what the area looked like before. I had a tree company take down 6 of the big trees, but I handled the rest.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

And more...lucky enough to have access to some pretty sweet equipment from work too

 

[Juiced06GTO]

I thought I had put these all in at the start, but this all started back in March or so. Once these guys get done with the framing and trim work I'll be working on the finish. I have reached out to a couple concrete guys and waiting to hear back on quotes to do the floor in the spring. If anyone has any recommendations in the Central Mass area feel free to chime in!

 

[PhilJohn]

I coudnt imagine having to build through covid. My OCD would give me fits having to wait on things. Congrats for pulling through. Everyday is a day closer to enjoying that space!

 

[Juiced06GTO]

The covid stuff has been just plain stupid. They shut down all construction in Worcester, MA in April of 2020 for about 3 months which killed my shop for 3 months. We managed to recover and ended the year only slightly down from 19, but it has just gotten crazier since then. It seems like everyday someone else is exposed or testing positive and we need to shut a branch and send people home. Dealing with all that at work plus trying to do this project at home has been stressful to say the least!