New 24x32 build in west GA

[z385488]

Been lurking here for a while, kinda a GJ ******. I finallly started my build. Actually the tree removal started in November of 2010. During the spring I saved up for the stump removal and grading. Thought I would get a home equity loan and have one built during the summer but the drop in housing values killed that idea. So I decided that with a couple of friends that are carpenters and laborers I would build it myself. I got my permit in July for a 24x 32 pole barn with 12 foot ceilings and started.

 

[discbrks]

Where in W. GA are you? I'm in the middle of a 32x36 build located in Columbus, GA.

 

[z385488]

I have made a bit more progress since my last post. Thanks to Bull for moving this from the test section. I got lucky and caught the crane operator working in the neighborhood and got him to set the trusses up for 2 bills. Every other one I called wanted a minimum of 5. After already having four back surgeries I was not looking forward to manhandling the trusses up there.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Looks like an interesting project. I spent four years at Ft Benning. It really gets hot down there. I recommend a white roof. It will make a big difference.

 

[Toolfool]

Looking good.

 

[z385488]

Bib Overalls- If you spent four years at Ft. Benning you definitely got a taste of the heat down here. You probably wouldn't recognize Benning now, they moved the armor school from Ft. Knox down here and thay have been building like crazy. I hear ya on the white roof but I am trying to match the house as much as possible so it will be green. I appreciate your service to our country!!!!!

Tool Fool- Thanks for checking out my project. Just about through with the framing. I got a few weekends of travel ahead when I get back I plan on starting the metal. I will keep the pics coming.

 

[z385488]

Well I finally was able to save up a few pennines and get back on the build. I picked up the metal for the roof last week. I was told by my husband inlaw that he had plenty of screws he could get for me so I didn't need to buy screws. Note to self don't rely on husband inlaw. Good guy, no hard feelings, just got alot going on in his life too. I did pick up a bag of screws when I got the metal, needless to say one bag wasn't enough. Won't be able to finish up the roof till next weekend.
I had a buddy give me a metal walk-thru door, so I can check that off the needs list. I decided to use all the windows that I had in my back room so I have to frame in two on the back. After the roof is finished gonna do the slab next. Thought it might be wise before the walls go up. I don't want to have to wheelbarrow the concrete to the back of the building. Here are the latest pics.

 

[z385488]

Finished the roof this weekend and starting on the prep work for the slab tomorrow. I have a lot of backfilling to do around the shop, Also I need replace some of the pressue treated 2x6 band at the bottom due to bowing. I am hoping that 2 dump truck loads of m-10 will be enough to fill and level out the inside. I picked up the sik and vanity off the side of the road on the way home today. It will look just fine in the bathroom with a coat of paint. Gotta luv that lwo cost no cost concept.

 

[z385488]

Finally made some more progress this week on the shop. I got the rough plumbing and electrical stubbed in. We poured the slab on Friday. Started unloading the first truck at about 10:00 am. The finishers stayed around untill about 11:00 pm and then came back Saturday morning at 8:00 am and burned it out. Fifteen yards in all about 5.5 to 6 inches deep. Probably should have added some calcium to it, but we sat around the fire barrel told lots of jokes and drank lots of coffee waiting on the cocrete to do its thing.
Gotta finish the soffits and walk thru door framing and then comes the walls!!!!

 

[Jawn]

Great looking building so far!

 

[Dickey]

Nice. I know it takes a bit longer but my friends and I always try to talk each other into building our own projects so the rest of us can help. I suspect you'll appreciate the garage more knowing exactly what went into building it.

 

[z385488]

just about ready for siding. Waiting on a friend to give me some window sashes that he is replacing this week. Going to put them on the left side near top to allow for natural lighting. Finished the facia and soffits, still need to caulk and paint. Maybe I can get the siding on during Christmas break.

 

[z385488]

Well I got the window sashes and put them in on the side that gets sun most of the day. After the install I really liked the look and called my buddy back and asked if he had anymore. Now I am going to put them on the back for late afternoon light. Two will go on the front for morning sun and I like the look of them.
I posted this in the heating -n- air site but I scored on a Marvair wall mount airconditioner with heat strips. Friend of mine gave it to me if I would come get it about 50 miles away. Brought it home and cleaned it up (been stored in his shop about 4 years) discovered it has never been used or installed.

 

[JimVonBaden]

There is something very cool about your build, though I can't quite put my finger on it. Might be the green roof, the woods, or the simplicity of it.

Jim

 

[z385488]

There is something very cool about your build, though I can't quite put my finger on it. Might be the green roof, the woods, or the simplicity of it.

Jim

Thanks Jim, the build is defintely a slow build/work in progess. I get most of my ideas from here. Every time I think I'm ready for siding I decide to add something else. I am fortunate with the woods, I have 3.4 acres with a pond right in the middle of town, with a couple more acres around me. I try to keep the edges thick and natural to hide the neighbors, but during the winter I can see a few.

 

[z385488]

Well I got the upper windows in the front and back framed up. Waiting on the weather so I can pull the out and prime everything. Gonna start the framing to hold that air conditioner next.

This website/forum is definetly becoming addictive!!!!!

 

[Darryl2]

Subscribing to this thread, looking great so far. Am building s similiar size soon I hope and I love the windows under the soffit!

 

[z385488]

Subscribing to this thread, looking great so far. Am building s similiar size soon I hope and I love the windows under the soffit!

Thanks, Construction has slowed a little bit, trying to recover from Christmas and having to buy car tags this month. Once the weather warms up for a few days I gotta prime and caulk all of the window openings. Next step is to build a lean to room off the back for the compressor and hang the air conditioner. Then I can put the siding on.

 

[z385488]

Been a while since my last post. I started installing the siding.

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[GTO_442]

Looks great, I hope to build something similar on my land in Columbus someday.

 

[z385488]

Looks great, I hope to build something similar on my land in Columbus someday.

Thanks!, where do you have land in Columbus? If you need someone to help you with the build I can hook you up with the carpenter that helped me.

 

[GTO_442]

Thanks!, where do you have land in Columbus? If you need someone to help you with the build I can hook you up with the carpenter that helped me.

Thanks! I live in Florida now, so it may be a while, unfortunately. I really like your build though and I'd be interested in getting the builder's info for when the time comes that I can build something. I'm looking for something similar to yours to help me facilitate my old car habit, lol. My land (~3.5 acres) is in North Columbus not too far from Harris county.

I talked with my Dad the other night and he said it has been really hot in Columbus this month. It sounds like it might be a long summer - good to see you're getting close to finishing up the outside before the really hot days get here.

 

[z385488]

Finally got the siding on the front. Still need to tweek a few areas,paint and trim the doors, but overall I'm happy with it.

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[z385488]

The finish line is in sight. I still got to hang the air conditioner and siding on the back. The windows and doors need finish paint, but I'm close.

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[chilly_moose]

awesome... Looks like your gonna have a lot of room in there.

 

[z385488]

awesome... Looks like your gonna have a lot of room in there.

Thanks, I hope to have plenty of space, but you know you never build it big enough. Gonna slow down after the outside and electrical service is done. Need to rebuild my savings. I am looking forward to the finished interior and will hope to get alot of ideas from the GJ members.

 

[z385488]

It took a while and a few phone calls but I am finally getting the power company to work with me a little. When I first called them about power, they sent an engineer out and he looked at my site. He told me no problem we can set a pole about halfway down the drive and another at the shop. I explained to him that the service to the house was underground and I wanted the same for the shop. He then asked me why I didn't just sub-feed it off the house. I want to have a true 200 amp service to the shop. He said he would have to run some numbers and get back with me.

After a couple of days he calls me back and said they could run the service underground but it would cost me $3800.00. He said I could save a little if I dug the trench and buried the cable myself. I have a cousin that owns a electircal line contracting business and asked her if she could run the 500 ft line and set the meter any cheaper. She said she could save me a few dollars. Haven't got a final quote yet but I would rather pay her than GA Power.

I called G/P back and told them I would run my own line and meter, they told me that I would have to put the meter at the pole by the street and that they would only be responsible to the meter. Fine no problem, then he informs me that if any of the neighbors on that same transformer start having voltage drop issuses then I would have to absorb the cost of a transformer upgrade. I told him I would call him back.

I went out and looked at the tranformer at the end of my drive and started following the lines and realized that there were 8 houses already on the transformer. Walked down the street to the next pole with a transformer and it was feeding only one house. I called G/P back and informed him of what I found and asked if they would do a load study and voltage drop on the 8 meters hooked to the transformer. He agreed and called me back about a week later and said that they would upgrade the transformer down the street and take 3 houses off the one at the end of my drive. Hopefully this will balance out some of the load and adding the service to my shop won't cause any problems.

I believe they knew that they had an issue they just wanted to pass the cost on to me. They still want to charge $750.00 to come off the transformer to the meter at the base of the pole.

 

[Need4racin]

Nice! How much has it cost you so far in materials?

 

[z385488]

Nice! How much has it cost you so far in materials?

Thanks! Just under 10 grand so far. I didn't do all the labor myself so there maybe about 5,000 there but that is from the clearing of the trees, digging stumps, grading, concrete work, framing help, and sheet metal guy. I try to do as much as I can but I know my limitations.

 

[Bruce4310TX]

Nice build got any pics of those big doors ?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

You have a VERY nice build going but, like you, I am having "issues" with Georgia Power. Make SURE you check your bill once everything is hooked up. I kept thinking mine was high but last month, an $83 electric bill when I was out of town for a good portion of the month made me go over the bill a little closer.

They had me down for "commercial" service as a garage, not residential service. I have now been down to the local office 4 times and they are supposed to send a guy out to take a look and make sure by checking on a "few things they look for" that I am not running a business here.

If you have 2 bills going to the same address (from two meters), they assume the second one is a commercial account and charge accordingly. I just wanted a separate, 200 amp service for the garage and not screw around hooking it into the house feed. Dealing with Georgia Power at times is like dealing with the IRS.

 

[domecreek]

Nice Doors - Where did you get the door design ? Do you have any pics of the door's construction ? Great looking shop with all the windows.

 

[z385488]

Got the airconditioner hung today. That was a job!!! The doors are made of 2x6's ply wood and screws. They are 5' wide by 10' high. I got a quote of $1,400.00 for an insulated garage door but it wasn't in the budget, so I built my own. I should finish the siding this week and call for a final inspection. Hopefully I will have electrical service by the end of the month, wire in a few lights, receptacles and the air. After that I will have to pull off for a while and start working more overtime. Thanks for all the positve comments I really enjoy this forum.

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[z385488]

Inspector comes Monday, hopefully to sign off on my shop. Picked up a set of cabinets at a yard sale today. Nothing fancy but cheap $10.00, also picked up a pump last month. It wasn't cheap $500.00, should saved the money but I had to have it! Also included a pic of my shop dog.

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[BuickFarmer]

Lookin good!!! I see lots of planning and hard work. It's all paying off though. Congrats. Well done.

 

[2frank]

You have a VERY nice build going but, like you, I am having "issues" with Georgia Power. Make SURE you check your bill once everything is hooked up. I kept thinking mine was high but last month, an $83 electric bill when I was out of town for a good portion of the month made me go over the bill a little closer.

They had me down for "commercial" service as a garage, not residential service. I have now been down to the local office 4 times and they are supposed to send a guy out to take a look and make sure by checking on a "few things they look for" that I am not running a business here.

If you have 2 bills going to the same address (from two meters), they assume the second one is a commercial account and charge accordingly. I just wanted a separate, 200 amp service for the garage and not screw around hooking it into the house feed. Dealing with Georgia Power at times is like dealing with the IRS.

What happen to the "A Citizen Wherever We Serve".......?

 

[z385488]

Thanks Buick Farmer, that is a mighty fine set up you have. I love that it looks like it has been there a 100 years.

2frank, seems to me that if the power co is not getting 2-3 hundred a month in usage there going to get as much as they can in the installation.

 

[z385488]

I passed inspection woo hoo!!!!!!

 

[Bruce4310TX]

I have been thinking of doors like what you built, but wondering the best way in trying to secure them any ideas ??

 

[GTO_442]

The building looks great. I really like the exterior colors and all the windows.