Let the fun begin! The official toybox thread.

[V-10 Killer]

Well, I get my building permit tomorrow, so I've spent a few hours every now and then for the last 2 weeks digging the footing trenches to get myself in shape for throwing blocks. I was going to pour the footings today, but it rained yesterday, and it's forecasted to rain today, so I'll have to wait until Saturday. After I finish setting ~670 blocks in the next 3 weeks, I should be ready for some arm wrestling contests. But here's a few pics of what I have done so far.

Sod scraped and blocks delivered.

Starting on the low side.

Yard slopes hard, the other side is ~3' down.

After all the block is up, I'll need about 250 yards of fill, including some stonecrete for a trailer parking area on the North (high) side, the approaches, and all the topsoil.
I'm doing everything myself, so I'm sacrificing speed for money. I'll be about done in December/January, so this thread will probably move slow. It's going to be a 30x36 detached garage. 10' ceilings, with a raised section 12x12, 12' high on the right bay to clear a 2-post lift. I'm installing 2-10x8 insulated doors in front, and a 8x7 insulated door for lawn tractors, bikes, etc in the back left side. 2 skylights. It should be insulated, drywalled, epoxied, and custom touches added by December. Here's some basic shots of what I'm shooting for (first is not to proportion):

Yes I know the pic shows 2 water heaters, one is actually placement for a 60gal air compressor.

I'm putting 3-4" steel pipes into the concrete in front of the wall with the furnace so nobody can drive thru it and rupture a natural gas line. And the 6' opening going into that room will be 2-36" double hinged doors.

Any ideas or comments are welcome

 

[SWA Guy]

That's a great beginning! I love the setting too. Looks like you have plenty of space on your property.

I'm going to steal your idea of the seperate internal garage for mowers, etc. I like the idea of keeping your compressor in there. Noise control at it's simplest form.

Please keep those pictures coming during construction.

Guy

 

[curlyws6]

Nice! I would do anything to have that kind of space to have built my garage (one day I will hopefully get out of a subdivision and have some space to stretch out ).

Keep us updated with plenty of pics... nothing like seeing progress!

 

[V-10 Killer]

I'm in a sub now too. I know we all want more land, but for what I paid for it, it's not too bad. My neighbors are pretty down to earth. Unfortunately, I'm on the outside corner of it, and have a funky shaped 5 sided lot. The only real downside I'll have to live with is that my septic field is around 36-40' in front of my main doors. It'll make for some tight turns in that left bay if I wanna pull anything long in there.

 

[The Hot Rod Grille]

Hey V-10 Killer,

Nice plan! I see that you are in Midland, MI. The company that I work for is headquartered there and I sometimes have to attend meetings in Midland. A buddy of mine that is a "car guy" recently transferred from WV to Midland and said that he hasn't seen too much of the "car scene", yet. He helped me with the massive job of staining the T-111 on the interior walls of my 1350 sq. ft. garage, The Hot Rod Grille, so he knows his way around garage construction. BTW, nice website!

Jim Winter
The Hot Rod Grille Garage

www.wvpinball.com

 

[duggie]

Lawnmower garage ... Good idea !!!!

Plus keeping all your "noisy" tools in there (compressor, furnance, vacuum for dust control, nagging wife).

 

[car-nut]

That is going to be really nice. Looking forward to following along with your project.

 

[Falcon05Dad]

Way to go, V-10 Killer. I know I'm a bit ahead of you, but you'll catch up quickly. I'm glad I didn't have to dig those deep footers like you. You're going to use more than twice the number of block I did.

Good luck with the build. Keep the pics coming.

Greg

 

[V-10 Killer]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I'll try to keep lots of pics coming. I pour the footings saturday, and hopefully will have the 7 rows of blocks and all the fill done in 4 weeks. Then the real fun begins.

 

[V-10 Killer]

Well, the redi-mix truck was out here yesterday, and had no problems pulling across my back yard to get to the hole, so we only had to wheelbarrel about 2 yards or so. We covered them up because it was forecasting rain yesterday, and I just pulled the tarps off. Yep, nobody stole my concrete It's a little overcast today so some of the pics might be a little darker.

I've been working 12 hour midnights every night so I only get a few hours a day to work on it. Right now I'm off to get something in my stomach, then maybe I'll start blocking the corners.

 

[shocksystems]

V10:

Nice progress. I am excited for you. Have you done block construction before? Nice work on the forms for the footer as well.

Cheers!

Jim

 

[V-10 Killer]

Thanks!
I've helped a blockmason put up the walls on my parents old house. Man was that a helluva lotta work. Running blocks and mortar pails for a pro. But anyway, I know how to square and start the corners. I know I can't do more than about 3 blocks high per day on something that small or I'll squeeze out the mortar from the bottom joints. I just picked up a 24" and torpedo level, and have a 48" level and masons string. I should be able to crank out at least 2 rows per wall per day once I get the corners up. I should have the blocks done in about 2 to 2 1/2 weeks.

 

[78fj40]

Looks great. I'm in the process of putting the finishing touches on my garage. (Also a 30x36 build) Don't worry about it taking longer than you would like because of money. I took my time and did what I could when I had some money. You won't cut corners and you'll make sure you get everything you need in place because you didn't think of it in the first place.

2 good examples:

1. I waited to start the insulation and drywall because I was broke. Then I came across a sweet deal on a new 2 ton Heat Pump. It delayed me about 3 months (so save up to get it installed) but when I fired up that thing lat weekend while sweating in the shop it made it worth it.....

2. In my haste I did the electrical rough in right away. Then I waited a few months to get the insulation in (see above). After reading up on the board here, I completely forgot about putting in ceiling fan and plug outlets for garage door opener/droplights/extension cords/etc, and was able to add them months after I did the initial rough in.

Take you time and enjoy yourself. You will take pride in your work.


Enjoy!

 

[V-10 Killer]

Got a little more work done the last few days. another 48 blocks today.
I might work on it a little tomorrow and see if I can finish the fourth row on that wall. I'm shooting for having 3 walls done four rows high by Friday.

 

[King-Suburban]

Very nice project!!! Will be a fine shop when it is done...

 

[Steve in Mi]

Coming along nicely. I imagine there might be a 'long weekend' report coming soon. Is it the photos, or me, or are you going to need a whole bunch of fill to get you to grade?

 

[V-10 Killer]

240+ yards

 

[toms73novass]

Looking good! Your way ahead of me on the block count... I just finished my first 100 this weekend.

 

[V-10 Killer]

I think I just crossed ~220 today. It seems that 48 is the magic number for what I can get out of 4 bags of pre-mixed mortar in an afternoon. A pro I'm not, but I'm stubborn enough to make sure it gets done right. I should have the third wall up by Friday night or Saturday, and hopefully be ready for some fill dirt early next week. We're going to leave the front open until we push the bulk of the fill in there, then I'll block it up and compact the last of it.
Gotta keep moving, I purchased the garage package today, and delivery is only about 3 weeks out for the framing and 4 weeks out for the roofing materials.
Will have more pics soon

 

[King-Suburban]

You will sleep good... I remember those nights... How many pairs of gloves have you gone through?

 

[V-10 Killer]

I'm on my second set. I had to throw the first set away when they got wet and stained my hands orange

 

[V-10 Killer]

Well, I think I got another 90 blocks or so done yesterday. The south wall is almost 4 complete rows. I need to have at least 5 blocks high on 3 sides plus maybe 2 rows dried and solid in the front before Wendsday when the dump truck starts bringing fill in. I should have some more pics up Monday night.

 

[Steve in Mi]

How do you plan to get the fill inside the block outline?

 

[V-10 Killer]

The guy bringing it doesn't think he could efficiently drop it with is backhoe from the outside, so we're leaving the front wall down and either driving it in via loader (with me running a walk-behind compactor), or pushing it in via bulldozer (letting the dozer be the compactor). We're going to have enough fill over the footings to make sure we don't crack them, but that means my shovel work isn't done yet. I'll have to put the front wall up afterwards and backfill it in a seperate step.

Anyway, we're alternating between backfilling inside, and outside the wall to keep from putting too much pressure on either side of it.

 

[Steve in Mi]

Good plan. I did it much the same. Left it 3 block short on the end covered with 2x's and poly. I got a bucket crawler for a day to distribute 220 yds. of sand and pack it inside and out. The sand digging will be a piece of cake compared to the clay you have been digging. I dug out the whole front wall to finish the block and rigid foam install both in and out. When I brought in power, water, and gas etc. much of the South wall had to be shoveled out again, let the fun begin, oh yaw!

 

[V-10 Killer]

Here's some updated pics:

I'm planning on having the fifth row completed on 3 walls tonight so backfilling can begin tomorrow. Then I have to figure out how to stack 6" block on 8" block until the mortar dries since they're not centered.

 

[King-Suburban]

Very nice!!! It will go alot faster once you get to the Shell... the foundation seems to take for EVER!

 

[V-10 Killer]

Well, we started backfilling today. That 72 yards of fill went WAY fast. only about 175 to go. Front, and high side are done, about on third of the center is done, and some of the South face is done. Ran into a bit of a snag though. We were digging the utility trench close to the septic tank, and found water leaking from the seam in the middle of the tank. Apparently, these tanks were made in 2 halves, and sealed together. I have to have the tank pumped tomorrow, powerwash it, mortar the crack, and tar the whole side of it tomorrow. Then, I have to move the trench over 10'. That I can handle, but that means I have to use more #3 copper than what comes on a 500' roll... Gonna have to splice somewhere.

 

[Fast Orange]

I don't know where you're buying your wire,but most supply houses will cut wire to order-in other words,you can have them cut 3 legs at 200' each,if thats what you need.
Something to keep in mind-any splice must be accessable-no splicing in conduit.If you're using direct burial cable,you can splice it using UL listed and approved materials,but I would avoid doing so.

George

 

[shocksystems]

Well, we started backfilling today. That 72 yards of fill went WAY fast. only about 175 to go. Front, and high side are done, about on third of the center is done, and some of the South face is done. Ran into a bit of a snag though. We were digging the utility trench close to the septic tank, and found water leaking from the seam in the middle of the tank. Apparently, these tanks were made in 2 halves, and sealed together. I have to have the tank pumped tomorrow, powerwash it, mortar the crack, and tar the whole side of it tomorrow. Then, I have to move the trench over 10'. That I can handle, but that means I have to use more #3 copper than what comes on a 500' roll... Gonna have to splice somewhere.

What luck. I admire your attitude though, fix it and move on. Probably good that you identified the problem, I wonder how long it had been that way. Can't wait to see more progress.

Cheers!

Jim

 

[Falcon05Dad]

You're doing great, V-10 Killer! Keep it goin' !!!!

Greg

 

[V-10 Killer]

Well, here's a few more off the camera:

And the joy of my day...

I got it pumped today, now to let the water soak into the ground for a day. Then I'll fix it tomorrow.

I'm setting the 6" corner blocks today and I'll try to crank out a few rows tomorrow before it gets to 90 degrees again.

 

[shocksystems]

Good luck with the repair.

 

[V-10 Killer]

I powerwashed and mortared the joint yesterday, and tarred it this morning when I got home. We'll fill the hole back in here in a day or two. We'll also finish the utility trench while we're right there.
Spent the afternoon filling and compacting the inside of the foundation. We knocked out another 72 yards like nothing, but some of that got pushed around the low and back sides. Man this sand gets hard, it has some small stone and a little clay in it. When it dries out, it feels like stonecrete. We used a vibrating compactor, but pulling that frontloader in with a full bucket really packed it well. I planned on another 96 yards to finish up, but it looks like sometime this fall, I might have to spring for another 72 yards to have the grade I want, plus whatever I need for topsoil and stone. Oh well, one thing at a time.
I'm going to try to finish the 6" block on the 3 walls by Monday night so the mortar and anchors are solid for walls next weekend. The front wall, well, we'll see how that goes. It would help if it weren't 90+ degrees and me being on 12 hour midnights every night...

 

[V-10 Killer]

Well, here's an update.

Elevation perspective from the deck

After 144 yards of sand

After 216 yards of sand

Final sand grade around blocks, still need 8" (24 yards) inside blocks, coming tomorrow on 2 more trucks.

Here's were I come up shy on dirt. Probably another 72 yards to get it the way I want it.

This is all the loaded frontloader could push in after driving over it 50x and running the compactor.

Here's where my trench sits until I find out how far away from the septic I have to run it.

Spending time on the compactor slowed down my block work, but I still think I'll have 3 sides done (all of the 6" blocks) by tomorrow night. Then to dig up the front and finish that by Wendsday night. I'll probably have my brother do some coring and set the anchors in place. Gotta be ready, the lumber shows up Friday around 8 or 9 AM.

 

[78fj40]

Looking real good. What are you paying per load of dirt? I need some, and I keep getting real high quotes....lately I've been driving around to construction sites offering my services for free dirt disposal, but no takers so far....

 

[V-10 Killer]

I was told $6.00/yard delivered. I got a good price, as he told me his price went up and all his new quotes are $7.00/yard now.

 

[V-10 Killer]

At long last, the block work is DONE!!!
It took me just over a month, but its done!
I got 2 days behind finishing up the utility trench and doing some final dirt work before the contractor pulled his equipment.
But anyway, here's some more pics:
The fiance wanted a shot at blockwork before I finished, so......

And so did her son

And at long last,

The lumber truck showed up bright and early yesterday with everything but the custom trusses, so I think I'll set 3 walls tomorrow and give the front an extra day to dry.

More pics to come

 

[V-10 Killer]

Well, got a few of the walls up. Still got to put the top plates on 1/2 of it to tie it together.

I would have had the fourth wall up today but it was almost 95 and humid as heck before noon today. So we leveled and compacted a little until it got real hot. I should have it ready for trusses by Saturday morning. I start some more overtime at work this week so there won't be much more than 3 hours of work a day for the next week.

 

[shocksystems]

The build is coming along great. Keep up the pics.

Cheers!

Jim