New garage build.

[RayBob58]

I've been planning a new garage for the last few years. Getting ready to retire and need a place to tinker with my motorcycles. Thought I might post here daily when construction actually started, and maybe someone might learn something. Maybe even me! I was planning to start this thread in June, having signed a contract in May contingent on the building being finished by Oct 1st. Well, they haven't broken ground yet. First lesson. Contractors lie. Which I already knew, hence the contingency. But they promised yesterday to start next Monday morning. Not a huge job, 28'x36', one 8'hx12'w roll-up, 3 windows and a man-door. Radiant in the floor. Shell only, I'll insulate and finish the interior myself over the next couple of years. I'll try to post a daily picture when they start.

Edit: Contractor called Saturday and promised they were coming Monday morning armed with a backhoe. Looks like this may finally happen. Pics coming Monday night.

 

[RayBob58]

This is where the garage is going. About 25' from my house shown in the picture. Going on a full concrete foundation.

 

[RayBob58]

Lesson number 2. Contractors lie. They actually did show up, but without the backhoe. Marked off the ground, said "We'll be back tomorrow", and left. I'd be more upset, but it hasn't cost me a nickel yet. I'd fire them, but I'd be back at square one.

 

[RayBob58]

Well, they made it back bright and early this morning.



This area is thick with sandstone.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Congrats - progress! Groundbreaking is always an exciting day. Can't wait to see the progress!

 

[captain14]

Congratulations on finally getting started. When do you think they will have it finished? Before winter weather affects the work I hope?

 

[RayBob58]

Builder says he's ready to go. Been waiting on concrete all summer. He says there's only 2 days work on the shell. I ain't buying that. I figure I'll have a garage by Halloween. Couldn't resist an aeriel shot. Setting forms tomorrow.

 

[Chris705]

Is each step in the footing equal to 2'? Looks like 6' of fall from high point to low point? Setting forms means poured foundation walls? Was a building permit required? Do you know if they will remove the rest of the topsoil & grass before they fill in the foundation walls? How deep are your footings below grade and is there any rebar in them? Sorry for all the questions just like to know what I am looking at. Looks like a good start, look forward to seeing the progress and I like the aerial shot, a photo a day from there would be cool.

 

[RayBob58]

It's more like an 8' drop. Not sure what code is here for the depth of the footings, but it'll be back-filled on both sides. There's 2 runs of 1/2 rebar in the footings. It's a full concrete pour foundation. Permit required, but it was cheap. I doubt they will remove the grass, but it's a good point. That organic stuff will break down over time. There's not that much of it, though.

 

[RayBob58]

The guys were here bright and early and started setting forms.



Finished setting about lunch.



Started pouring after lunch.



Finished pouring about 3pm.

 

[RayBob58]

I'm going to insulate the walls before they fill the foundation. Possibly just the two tall (exposed) sides.

 

[Bib Overalls]

What side of the river are you on? Lived on the side of a hill in Caseyville for about ten years. After that, I said I would never live on the side of a hill again. Assuming you use roofing trusses a good framing crew can have your garage/shop up and ready for the roofers in two days without breaking sweat.

 

[RayBob58]

Dang them concrete guys get up early. Pulling forms at 7:30am.



You can really see the drop here. A lot of fill has to go in there.

 

[RayBob58]

Moved some insulation in, but the guy suggested I wait a day or two for the concrete to dry out. No hurry. It'll probably set for a week or so before they do much else.



I've been sitting on this cool old light fixture forever. Can't decide whether to use it inside or outside.

 

[KULIWOBBY]

Great progress on the foundation. One thing I have read in the last year on here and saw pics of was backfilling the inside and not touching the downward side of the outside and the foundation bursting open and a junk foundation. Are there plans for backfilling outside downhill on the two tall sides?

 

[RayBob58]

After the concrete cures, it would take alot to burst open that tall side. It's pinned to the footings with rebar all around, plus there's plenty of rebar bent around all 4 corners. I'm sure it could happen, but I'm not losing any sleep over it. The guy on the bobcat would have to try really hard.

 

[jasonz]

Is that a porcelain light fixture? I'd love to have a couple of those on the outside of my shop... but I'd be afraid of hail busting one up.

Looking good so far!

 

[RayBob58]

The shade is porcelain. 25+ years ago, when I found it, it was in alot better shape.

 

[jnkpile]

Looks like some great progress. Good call on insulating those walls, might as well do all four especially if you're planning radiant in floor heat.

Great progress on the foundation. One thing I have read in the last year on here and saw pics of was backfilling the inside and not touching the downward side of the outside and the foundation bursting open and a junk foundation. Are there plans for backfilling outside downhill on the two tall sides?

Crazy! Those must of been bad pours or possibly back filled before cured, I see no difference between filling the inside of this foundation and back filling a house foundation.

 

[RayBob58]

Now this is funny. The concrete guy makes me wait all summer, but he wants paid the day after he pulls the forms. Sorry buddy. You'll have to wait a day or two. I'm out of town.

 

[Chris705]

jnkpile...backfilling the inside typically puts plenty more uncontrolled outward pressure on a foundation wall. Usually no one secures the floor slab to their foundation walls, so nothing prevents outward thrust of compacted gravel/soils. Typically home foundations (basements) are not backfilled until the floor joists are installed...once that takes place then backfill isn't usually a problem when pushing inwards. THe fact that the inside of these foundation walls will be insulated help prevent that backfill from freezing and putting more pressure on the walls is a good thing. However I am glad to hear that there is plenty of rebar within these walls as I didn't see any signs of it in the photos...8' of fill is an awful lot. During the backfilling there really isn't any way to secure the top of the foundation walls so they act as cantilever foundation walls.

 

[RayBob58]

Code requires that the walls be keyed or pinned to the footings. In my case, they drilled the footings and drove in 24" rebar pins. Code also requires that the rebar not end in the corners, so they bend it at a 90 degree. I'm not worrying about blowing out that wall.

 

[RayBob58]

Got started on the insulation today. Just hung a few full sheets. Used construction adhesive, but the rebar ties helped alot.

 

[cosp600rr]

The problem comes when adding that much back fill and not having any on the outs side when they use the backhoe mounted compactors. Its like a jumping jack that flatworkers use only bigger and much stronger. When they compact it it shakes the ground alot and can put enough pressure on the green concrete to bow them out. When we are back filling houses and garages in this situation we fill inside and outside together to keep equal pressure on the walls. Hopefully they will wait a least 7 days to backfill. It gets most of its strength in the first week. You also want really good compaction on the inside so your floor doesnt move. I recommend backfilling in lifts and tamping each lift with some moisture in the dirt if its dry.

 

[RayBob58]

For the record, I'm not the least bit worried about blowing out the walls. Sometime next week they're going to bring in a bunch of fill, and probably a bobcat or a small tractor. They're gonna use a little discretion, not pushing directly outward on the walls or smacking into them. And everything is going to be just fine.

 

[Sharpest]

What kind of fill material? Seems like a limestone road base type wouldn't push out as much as sand.

 

[RayBob58]

Around here we call that limestone road base "inch minus". It just means "anything under one inch". It's got alot of really fine material in it. Sets up almost like concrete. That's what we'll use. No way I'd use sand.

 

[Sharpest]

That's why I asked. I built homes in San Antonio for a couple years and we used limestone base to build up slabs there because it was easily available locally and as you said, sets up extremely firmly for "loose" material. Due to topography, slabs often had 5-10 ft of exposure. I am now building homes in Corpus Christi, where its flat enough to see the earth curve. We use sand here because of local availability and our slabs having next to no exposure. Carry on

 

[RayBob58]

Got all the insulation in. Tried gluing it up with construction adhesive, but it wouldn't stick to the concrete, I think because they had sprayed the forms with a release agent. I just pushed it onto the rebar ties.



I'm thinking this is a good place for my compressor. Pour a small pad and build an enclosure. Save space and noise inside.

 

[RayBob58]

Woke up to a Bobcat early this Friday morning. They haven't done a thing all week except deliver some fill. The guy works until 11:30, loads up the Bobcat, and says, "See ya Monday!". I think it's time to have a little talk with the builder.

 

[cosp600rr]

Didn't they just pour it last week? Our guys wait a minimum 7 days to backfill.

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[cosp600rr]

I will say it doesn't sound like he is keeping you up to date with schedule very well. My boss would have my a** if I didn't communicate the schedule and progress to our homeowners.

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[RayBob58]

Yeah. It was poured last Wed. So it's been 9 days. It only bothers me because I've been waiting since May. I think it's time I became a priority for these guys.

 

[cosp600rr]

Sounds like it. If nothing else the should be communicating and setting expectations with you. A little customer service would go a long way.

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[RayBob58]

I'm supposed to to be getting roof trusses delivered Tuesday.

 

[cosp600rr]

That's cool. Shouldn't take long to frame it

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[kerryt1]

Did you remove that grass and topsoil before backfilling?

 

[RayBob58]

No. There's actually very little of it. My ground is mostly sandstone with a thin layer of dust to hold the weeds. Very little organic material. I'm not too concerned with it.

 

[RayBob58]

This is what happens when your bobcat operator doesn't watch what he's doing. He beat the **** out of the little wall between the man door and the roll-up door. Could have been much worse if I hadn't stopped him. It will be fixed. That's a promise.

 

[Chris705]

Was you interior insulation complete along the front wall? Looks like some may have been pulled off by bobcat op? I did my insulation install as well and my backfill contractor managed to displace a bunch of it... Will you also be able to insulate under you slab?