My 40x40 shop

[mkbrower]

I was a little reluctant to post because there are some really great garages/workshops here that I can only describe as works of art and my is not amish crafted or custom built, but built by someone who has never constructed a building before (me). I started out wanting a 40x40x14 garage and had a budget of $20k. I found out rather quickly that 20K doesn't buy nearly what it used to so I was forced to either go smaller or figure out a way to build it cheaper. After a heated discussion with my wife, I decided I was going to build the building myself and contract out the concrete work. For the record, my wife thinks I'm an idiot and will end up hiring someone to build it anyway. For four months I studied everything I could about pole buildings, and studying the construction technigues of several buildings in my area that were similar to what I was building. I started building in May with the hopes of completing the project in 2 months. I had a heart attack the day my trusses went up that sidelined me for few a weeks. I'm nearing completion of the framing now in August and I hope to have this thing completed sometime in October.

This is a great site and with all the ideas and inspiration found here I may still be building years from now.

Mark

 

[DIC]

Looking Good.............

 

[VRP62]

Looking real nice. will you be taking out the cross bar on the trusses.Scott

 

[mkbrower]

Thanks for your kind comment. I took out the cross braces on the two end trusses because they will be supported by the framing on the end walls. I will leave the braces in the remaing trusses as I believe they help prevent the trusses from bowing over time and from the extra weight of snow. I would love to have the additional head room but don't want to take the risk of the roof collapsing.

Mark

 

[Boyd Who]

Very nice!

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Congrats on doing the build mostly all on you own. It looks like you know what your doing, and I bet that makes your wife even madder.LOL! keep us posted on updates!

 

[JC23]

MK,

Looks good so far. Congrats on YOUR work. Can't wiat to see more.

I do have a question. Where did you get those metal trusses? I am researching that very system; metal over wood and have not found a lot about it. Can you elaborate?

Thanks

 

[12valve]

I read your comments, but you are wrong about posting here. This is exactly the place to post this build. Most of us on here are do it yourselfers. These builds give great info and will eventualy save the next guy money or frustration. Love the green roof what color are the sidewalls gonna be? Take care glad to hear you are doing well.

 

[mkbrower]

Thanks for all the positive comments. The trusses came from armour metals in Augusta Ga. They were the only place I could find them. They were very challenging to put up. With out bracing, they are very flimsy and will buckle from their own weight when trying to lift them. On the poles, they wanted to lean every which way. I also had a hard time finding any information for the steel trusses and so I learned by trial and error mostly. If anyone is interested in using these type of trusses, I will try to help all I can. The colors I picked out are green for the roof, tan side walls and white for the trim and doors.

Sorry about the slow responses. I'm out of town and the Internet here is sporadic

Mark

 

[Stargeezer]

Like the looks of this one. post updates please.. Hope you make the budget. Doing the work yourself is something I appreciate and respect..

 

[what have i done]

looking good.. Bad timing for the heart attack!

Would you recomend the steel trusses after its all up or would you go with wood trusses the next time?

 

[mkbrower]

If I had to do it again I would still go with the metal trusses. The open span gives you about 20 feet of clearance with a 12 foot side wall. The cross support brace does cut down clearance to about 15 feet but the trusses are designed for ten foot spacing. If your doors are in the side wall, the cross brace are out of the way. I needed the extra room for an rv so I put my doors in th end wall with the intentions of putting in a 14 foot high center door to accommodate my fifth wheel. I changed my mind and decided to put the rv under a lean to I plan to put on the side of the shop. I didn't want to give up so much floor space just to store my rv. I plan on putting at least one lift maybe two in the center stall.

Mark

 

[mkbrower]

Hi, hadn't updated in a while and thought I would share where I'm at with may garage build. I'm just about done with the building except for the doors (on order), eves, gutters, and the driveway/ landscaping. Everything is going well but just slow since I am doing all the work myself.

Mark

 

[Zengineer]

I would love to see some updated photos. Be proud that you've done so much yourself!

 

[BUGTHUG]

where did you buy the outside light fixtures? Did you use 2X6 on the sides?

 

[DARK AGE 53]

I was a little reluctant to post because there are some really great garages/workshops here

Why? You have a great start and I'm sure it's going to look great once it's completed , keep those pics coming......also, by the looks of the soil I take it your in the south...maybe Alabama .

 

[mkbrower]

BugT, I bought the lights off ebay for around $150.00 and made the shepards hook from 1/2 inch ridgid conduit and a hand bender from lowes. I used 2X4 purlins with 2X6 between the posts and behind the 2X4's

Alabama is a good guess, but I live in the foothills of the blueridge Mountains of NC. Cliffside NC to be exact.

Mark

 

[v6sctbird]

Nice building. Some day I will build something to park my 'Bird in also.

I see three in there. An SC and a V8? What's the third?

 

[sids04]

Wow you are building an awesome shop ! Keep the pictures coming.

 

[mkbrower]

Good eye, I actually have 5 tbirds: a 93-V8, 94-V8, 95 SC 5 speed, 96 V6, 97 LE V8. The 94 is "retired" and I am just holding on to it in case I need parts for the SC.

Mark

 

[fastzr1]

Can you fit your camper in there for winter storage? Or is this a T-Bird shop?

Either way, it looks great.

 

[bighammer]

I think I saw an Ultra in one of the shots too?

 

[mkbrower]

I had briefly thought of using the building to store my fifth wheel, but I decided I would rather have the floor space. I also thought uniformed doors would look better. My plans are to build a lean to off one side to cover my RV.
The motorcycle in the picture is a 09 Ultra. I love to ride it especially in the mountains. This is my favorite photo from the dragon

Mark

 

[bighammer]

Good pic!!! It looks like you were draggin on the dragon. I had a 08 about that same color and now have a 2010 Limited that's a merlow and a bright red. Haven't been on the dragon in years. Now that I'm retired maybe I'll make it next year.

 

[mkbrower]

I would have bought the limited had it been available. Love the chrome wheels along with the other options. Will add the chrome wheels when I change out the tires. The dragon is a blast to ride but its getting more dangerous. Seems every time I'm there some rider gets killed either there or in the surrounding area.

Mark

 

[IONH]

How is the $20k budget working out?

Looking great so far!

What part of the country are you in (roughly)?

 

[Rick98Z]

Building looks great! I wish I had learned of this site before I began my pole barn, probably would have saved me alot of headaches! I too opted to build it all myself to save money. I think I am somewhere around $25,000 for my 40'x60'x12' so far. You can now truly take pride in your building and enjoy it more knowing that you saved money doing it yourself!!!

 

[IONH]

Building looks great! I wish I had learned of this site before I began my pole barn, probably would have saved me alot of headaches! I too opted to build it all myself to save money. I think I am somewhere around $25,000 for my 40'x60'x12' so far. You can now truly take pride in your building and enjoy it more knowing that you saved money doing it yourself!!!

Pictures Rick? How far along at $25k?

 

[jktruck150]

Mark,
Looks great man! You have really come along with it! I like the two tone metal on the front, and those lights are great too! Keep us updated as you finish the inside!

 

[Rick98Z]

Pictures Rick? How far along at $25k?

I have a thread started on here that shows called my 40 x 60 experience. Building is up and concrete is done and elec is trenched but not wired yet. I dont have any insulation yet or elec run through bldg. If I hadn't gone with a kit from a local pole bldg I probably could have cut the price alot but I had never done one before and figured working with a company to design what I wanted with blueprints would help me with the building process. Plus I had oversized windows added for my wife's photography studio...

 

[mkbrower]

I'd like to say thank you for all your encouragement! It really helps me to stay motivated. I'm over budget by about 5k dollars, mostly due to the concrete work and the doors. When I started I had no intention of insulating the building, the concrete or buying insulated doors. A shell to put my cars in if you will. Once I started building, a problem came up that I wasn't sure how to proceed. Like most people these days I "googled" it and it led me here. Once here I just couldn't stop reading (and dreaming) of what people were able to accomplish with just a little imagination, perserverance, and elbow grease. My wife thinks I'm about done but, I'm just getting started.

Mark

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

Keep up the good work Mark. I admire you for not letting anything get in your way. Good luck with your build and your health!

 

[Domel]

please update this thread with new pics

 

[porsche]

I set my trusses a little different. I had problems with the first one but Armour Metals helped me out. I set 2 braces at the end of the truss with 2x6's and drove a stake into the ground and connected them to tie the two together. Once i got the first one right the rest fell into place. I put in all the lumber as i put up each truss. We had an old Lull forklift and used a strap to hook the trusses up and lower them onto the post. it was a little wobley but not any more than a wood truss. You have a nice looking building. How do i post pictures on here?

 

[porsche]

Here's mine . See the brace at the far end . That stayed up until the job was complete

 

[robdjones]

The shop is really nice and exactly what I'm looking for. Since I doubt that I could get you to come to Yakima, WA and build mine, do I have you permission to use some of your photos so that I can get a quote from a local builder?

 

[bigcreek]

You built one might fine looking shop there. Does your wife also now think it looks pretty good?