Finally getting my shop built

[cpederslie]

I've been waiting 5 long years to start this thread. Wife and I bought our current place almost 6 years ago, 2.5 Acres with plenty of room and plans to build a shop. Since the day we moved in I've been planning, staking, getting bids, re-planning, etc. I was beginning to think this dream was never going to happen. If ever there was a silver lining to the great recession, it was that building prices in our area dropped enough to where I could finally afford to proceed. I did have to scale back on my "dream" building, but not going to complain. Completely greatful that things worked financially and that I have an awesome wife, even though she won't let me forget that the shop is now larger than our house.

Building is 40x48x16, 1 14' door, 2 12' doors and 1 8' door. No windows, one man door. Pretty simple and straight forward.

Pictures to follow of the progression, starting with an early clearing of the possible building site 2 years ago.

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The same week that I paid my deposit and signed the contract with the builder I was somewhat reassured that the building site and building was good.
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[cpederslie]

First I had to have our septic pumpline re-routed as it was running directly under where the building was going.
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A long wait from February 2010 when we signed the contract to September when the permits were finally issued. Let the dirt work begin.
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Materials getting delivered
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Construction begins the week of Christmas. I have to hand it to the crew building this. Through snow, freezing temps and heavy rain they busted their butts.
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Trenching for Septic line from bathroom in shop to tanks, power and water
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More pics in next post.

 

[cpederslie]

After trenches covered and dirt work finished in the building it was time to lay insulation and pex.
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Finally today concrete was poured
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A little extra concrete so had them pour a pad out back for the boiler and compressor to go.
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Now I have to recover financially before proceeding with electrical, framing the bathroom and finishing the circular driveway and parking skirt. Currently the driveway comes off my current driveway alongside the house behind a storage shed to the building. The plan is to circle that back around between the storage shed and the back of the house and connect to the new driveway. Will make it easier to pull and RV in and out or circle with the car trailer.

The bay with the short door will have a loft over it for storage and "rec-room". Future plans to create a sliding wall or collapsable wall that will allow me to close off that bay to do body/paint work and keep the rest of the shop clean.

Will update as things progress, but will probably be a while before I proceed. Just excited to get this far and wanted to get my "build thread" started.

 

[Garage5.9]

damn looking good. If you dont mind me asking what did you pay for the land ? For something that size in hawaii would cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Nighttrain]

Very nice, You are going to enjoy having that RV under cover. Looks like a pretty thick slab.

 

[cpederslie]

When we bought our place in 2005 it cost us $394,000. House was 10 years old at the time, 1800sqft, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. With housing market right now I'd be lucky to sell it for $340K.

Slab was supposed to be 4", but ended up being closer to 5".

 

[bluesman2a]

When we bought our place in 2005 it cost us $394,000. House was 10 years old at the time, 1800sqft, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. With housing market right now I'd be lucky to sell it for $340K.

Don't feel bad... It could be worse. We didn't buy in at the top of the market, but based on Zillow, we're currently valued at HALF of what we bought it for. Fortunately, we're not planning on having to move any time in the quasi near future.

 

[cpederslie]

So it has been 19 months since I first posted. A few updates to post. Electrical is done and bought off. Compressor room got built and new compressor in.
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Picked up a Rotary 2 post lift a few years ago for a song when Dealerships were closing down. Got it installed. It was a bit gross and grubby, but sanded it all down and got it repainted.
View media item 23594First real use was lube and chassis check on a friends Jag.
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Just about everyone gave me a ration of **** for taking up space with a bathroom, but no one complains when they have to pee!
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Insulation up, walls sheeted, and painted.
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Still have to get the loft built. Been working on the "Dirty Room". This is the entrance to the building, it will be under the loft. Building an L shaped workbench to go against the wall and divide the space a bit. This is where all the sanders, grinders, chop saws and drill press will go. I wanted to do metal on the walls, like the outside of the bathroom, but decided I like the cost of paint better. My wife picked out the color, appropriately named "Man Cave".
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A few years ago my company moved our production facility out of its current location and they surplussed the tool cribs. I was able to get a 10 drawer industrial cabinet, ball bearing slides which I am using for all of my hardware and electrical supplies. Also got a matching single door cabinet I am using for all of my cased tools and saws. They were gross production beige so I sanded them down and rolled them with black Rustoleum. Also did the same treatement to a storage cabinet. The ******* table is going to be my welding table. Waiting on the steel top from the fab shop. Will have the Miller type x pattern on one side for clamping, each front corner is open to slide a mounted vise in so I can move it to either side. Will also be on casters so I can roll it out into the shop to work on something if needed.
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That's about it for now. Still trying to get the yard and around the building cleaned up and landscaped so my place doesn't look like such ****. All in time.

 

[jr2]

Nice job. You've been VERY busy I see! Nice job!