Talk me into building it myself!

[COPO]

I have been building cars for about 27 yrs, weld, machine work from lath to CNC. You name it I've done it with a car. I've never worked with wood and don't know the tricks of the trade and such. Done some reading and watched a few video's on building a pole barn. I'm planning a 30or40×60, I believe I can do it with some help on the steel trusses.

Would like to hear about your first build or if you decided to do it yourself. I really want to do it just so I can be proud and say that I did it myself.

 

[malibu101]

I am ALL for learning and doing it yourself!!

Be honest with yourself. You said "I've never worked with wood.....".
Imagine a skilled carpenter buying a car and jumping in feet first to "weld, machine work from lath to CNC. You name it I've done it with a car."
How do you think he'd do at the car job?
In addition to the skills, do you have the tools (and know how to use them) for the job?

I do not mean to be arguementive, just realistic as I literally read your post.
I sincerely wish you the best!
But I think you need some help.

 

[Kaizen]

never done anything with wood? I would suggest you get a framer to help you for a few weekends or someone that has done pole barns.
On normal stick framing if you are a half inch off your plywood is off or if the building isn't square its issues. if you can get help getting the frame of it in you can do the rest.
some differences you'll run into is size and weight of material. for example nailing up a 4x8 piece of plywood on a wall seems simple till you try it. doing it alone you need some tricks to make it easier. like I put a scrap 2x4 ledge under it temporarily then nail her home. stuff like that is hard to remember till you are in the situation. you know like car guys know how to take off the button head bolts of a rusted out ball joint with a grinder and impact gun. just experience.

 

[DekeT]

I suggest you go learn by helping others with their projects. Then when it's time you have learned a lot of what to do and they owe you one.

 

[larry_g]

On my shop below I bought a material kit and the building supply sait that it would cost ~$6000 to erect the building. We chose to do it ourselves and my son who is a contractor worked on the project with me. The cost of renting machines and tools and hiring a couple of helpers for a few days, I saved maybe $2500. It also added 3-4 months of time. I would suggest you at least have the poles set and girts installed. I will not build another myself. The time you spend building, you could be in the building earning money.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[ADSR]

Building a shop is a whole different ball of wax.

 

[Cyberbear]

If this is your first go-around with building a structure, I'd suggest you do a stick build, especially if you want to do most of the work yourself. The foundation and slab should be left to professionals, you don't want to do OJT for your own first build.
When I was a kid my father with friends, relatives and several cases of beer later managed to pour the worst concrete job I've ever seen and we were stuck with it for many years. It was so rough that rolling a creeper across it was not easy, and when it rained outside the garage, water would seep up through places in the slab and run out the front door. Do your diligent research before attempting something that is ordinarily an easy build, but can be difficult for a newbie. After our family experience, I ended up going to college and studying architecture before ever building my first of several shops over the decades.

 

[i4ni]

Build a Garden shed first entirely by your self. Then multiply headaches by 1000. Then if you still have visions of grandeur instead of going fishing go stand in line at the lumberyard for 2 hours,buy a 8 pound sledge, a 20 ounce hammer,an 80 lb sack of sackrete and a big ugly trailer hitch. Go home install hitch then haul off and kick it with your shin,lmmediately open tailgate remove sledge and drop on big toe, proceed to unload and reload load 80 lb bag of sackrete 25 times. Now go back to the lumberyard and spend 1 hour in line returning everything but the 20 ounce hammer. After all that if you still want to build it yourself take that claw hammer and smack your self right between the eyes.Now take a selfie for your first post pic of your new build thread titled (The last idiot that did this tried to warn me).

 

[bczygan]

It's not rocket surgery, but neither is rocket surgery.

All the above advice applies plus more.

Right now you don't even know what you don't know.

So you need an extended period of education.

When you finally know what you don't know and have filled those knowledge and skill gaps, you'll know it's time to go for it.

Bill

 

[theoldwizard1]

First, check local codes. Some places allow you to put the poles directly in the hole and back fill (not necessarily the best way to go). Some require a concrete "cookie" (6" thick the diameter of the hole) and gravel back fill. Some require a full concrete pier or perma-column (most durable/long lasting).

I highly recommend renting a tractor/bobcat with a post hole digger or have a local fence company dig your holes.

Learn how to set up batter boards and string is the only way to get your walls straight and 90° corners.

Hiring a framer to help you out is also a good idea.

 

[MagKarl]

Be honest with yourself and make sure that building the shop will be just as enjoyable as using it when it's done. Both for you AND your family. DIY is SLOW!

I have been working on mine for over a year now, clearing, grading, design, permits, build, etc... I enjoy building stuff and love the idea that I've handled every tree, every piece of lumber (several times) and every nail was driven by either me or my Dad. I'm not in any hurry.

 

[sublimate]

IMHO, if you need to be talked into it, then you shouldn't be doing it.

 

[Zeke]

I'm a proponent of DIY more than most. However, just about everything mentioned about having little to no experience in building will bite you. You need at least one person that knows the drill. You want to work? Work with him. Get laborers when needed. Concrete is always best to be done by pros. By reading for years here on the GJ, apparently finding good concrete finishers is not easy.

I built my own gunite swimming pool in '78. I say I built it but it was mostly built by subs. They all knew each other so I was able to bypass the contractor and hire the subs directly. Fortunately it worked out but I was in over my head on the first day.

 

[txvwnut]

I built mine myself with the help of family and friends when needed with the exception of my wife who was beside me during the whole build handing and helping me whatever was needed. My building is a Steelmaster Quonset hut style building but it has straight walls and a peeked roof. Now yes this is different than a stick built or pole barn but the principle is still the same. I had never built anything of this size before so it was a major undertaking to handle being that I was the everything guy.

I did the entire slab myself, everything from the dirt work to mud pour and final finish. The mud pour was accomplished with the help of good friend that has been in the concrete bussiness pretty much his whole life, and all he did was show up for the day of the pour. Next came the assembly of the arches, this is where the rest of the family and friends came into play. Had a group assembling arches and my brothers, nephews and me stood them up and set them in place, did I mention my building is two stories tall. My end walls are conventional stick built as by city code I have to have masonry on all four walls so that was an easy job, as was the building of the second story floor. Then came the brick work, my brother has been in this bussiness since he was eighteen. All that **** did was drop off the materials I laid every one of those thirty thousand bricks myself. But I guess I can't complain he did help with the other stuff.

It actually took me two years to complete it and I'm still not finished with the inside trim work but I have a shop to work in and am doing the trim out as I go when I want to.

I'm not saying don't do it but to heed all the advice everyone is giving here cause it's all good and is given for you to consider in whether or not to build it yourself. I had a few quotes to do my building from builders and after I did it myself I actually saved nothing. Even though I did it myself but I did do some extras that weren't in the bids. Like a driveway from street to garage front which is 135 feet long with a 20 x 20 pad and then custom windows in the shop.

Ask around if you know people in the building biz and read up all you can on how to do it before jumping in with both feet. Which will be buried in wet concrete on the day of the slab pour.

If I do it again I will stand under a nice shade tree and point exactly where and how I want it. It is a great feeling when someone asks about your shop to tell them yeah I built the whole sumbitch but I don't think I'll ever complete build another one.

 

[HELLSUNICORN]

I just built my 24x20 addition all by myself. I had very little experience building anything before. I had help when I poured the concrete and set the trusses. The rest I did by myself. I can tell you one thing. I am never happy when I pay people to do things for me. It always seems they cut corners and do not do it the exact way I want. Building it myself I know its done right and its done the way I want it.

The biggest thing I can tell you is take your time. If you don't have to rush it then who cares. Work on it when you want and work though any problems without having to worry about a time table.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I can not fault a person for wanting to build it themselves. If done properly with money wasting screw ups, you'll save yourself some serious cash. Do your research, know your limits and when to call for help.

 

[COPO]

The majority of answers have run through my head that are posted above. I think it's good common sense to think thing out before you do them. I'm still learning and researching every chance I can.

I did run across the socket system, but only find information around 2005-2007 where ppl have used them. Are they still in business???

 

[ddawg16]

The OP sounds like me. No construction experience until I did my garage.

COPO....click on the link in my signature.............

 

[BellyUpFish]

I'd really like to tackle my own, but I don't know who I'd get to help and I'd surely need some help.

 

[gungatim]

I built my house with no construction experience. so it can be done and done well. problem I see with a lot of folks, especially in trades like Machining, CNC, is they are way too perfectionistic for woodworking. not just construction, but general furniture/cabinet making. The tolerances are waaay different and the ways of setting up and measuring, overcoming gaps, etc. don't translate well to guys used to micrometers and calipers...may not apply to you, but if you've ever hung drywall, or framed a garage with guys like that, you'll end up pulling your hair out when they want to measure nail spacing and freak out about 1/8" out of square...

just know what your limits are and what is "good enough"...or you'll spend 4x as long building it and re-doing things over and over...

 

[COPO]

I'd really like to tackle my own, but I don't know who I'd get to help and I'd surely need some help.

Nice. Got some good help too

I built my house with no construction experience. so it can be done and done well. problem I see with a lot of folks, especially in trades like Machining, CNC, is they are way too perfectionistic for woodworking. not just construction, but general furniture/cabinet making. The tolerances are waaay different and the ways of setting up and measuring, overcoming gaps, etc. don't translate well to guys used to micrometers and calipers...may not apply to you, but if you've ever hung drywall, or framed a garage with guys like that, you'll end up pulling your hair out when they want to measure nail spacing and freak out about 1/8" out of square...

just know what your limits are and what is "good enough"...or you'll spend 4x as long building it and re-doing things over and over...

+/- .005 is all I know. Lol

 

[BellyUpFish]

+/- .005 is all I know. Lol

Boy, a 1/4" gap is going to melt your brain.

 

[Thumper68]

I would not hesitate to tackle this yourself, however read, read and then read some more. then when all is said and done hire out the concrete.

I would read through some of the self build threads here to get an idea with the issues that pop up and how to deal with them.

Kevin54's the addition is a great example of all the **** that can go wrong.

 

[bggrnchvy]

Before I did my project, I'd never done civil design, framed more than doors in existing walls or done roof sheathing.

It's doable.

Just realize doing it all yourself is a massive time ****. Something that takes a crew of tradesman a couple of days will take you, yourself and you a couple of weeks working weekends and nights. It's aggravating in some areas as the progress is seemingly stopped, even thought your pouring hours into it.

The only areas I've ended up hiring out was forms/rebar/pour/finish and roof tear off/place. It's taking me what seems like an eternity. A neighbor had the front of his house torn off, a new bathroom, bedroom, porch and intricate roof added, and finished in a couple of months and watching the progress the crews made was disheartening.

To temper my negativity, I'm way under budget and overbuilt and there is some solace in doing it myself. It just starts to depend on your time availability. With kids or a less understanding wife I'd be sunk.

On tolerances, I firmly agree. Coming from semiconductor capital equipment design to laying roof sheathing I was absolutely expecting admonishment from the building inspector at the sloppiness of my gaps. He laughed at me, I didn't immediately get the joke.

 

[homebuilt burner]

It is alot of work. I am in the process of a smaller build. If you like your time off work for fishing, hunting, and relaxing, then do not do it yourself. Every night my sons and I work on the building some. Others I know think that is dumb, I like to diy. But, there is a learning curve. You need someone in the know to advise/help. FYI I will save about $10,000 in labor.

 

[Thumper68]

To help you understand the gaps that will be there think of it as expansion space as the materials heat up they need room to expand.

A slip fit vs a press fit.

 

[RobSmith]

There are a million BOOKS about building anything from a storage box to a three story house. Don't rely on the computer...I've found most of the info is general and not fully explained. Get a few books; if you lose interest there ...don't bother building.
Good luck.

 

[djjsr]

Keep in mind that you don't know what you don't know. You may think you know but you may not really know. Find somebody that really knows to give you guidance or assistance. I don't mean some guy that sounds like he knows, I mean a pro with experience who really does know. Ya know?

 

[Falcon67]

+/- .005 is all I know. Lol

If you can hold that tolerance with a Stanley 25' tape measure and a ball of nylon twine, you're good to go.

My slab ended up out of square and out of plumb. Normally that would make one nutso, but having lived and remodeled more than one old house i could simply re-calibrate my mind to where "plumb" and "square" were merely theoretical concepts.

>A slip fit vs a press fit.
I prefer a free running press fit.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/0486202429/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1561589675/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1600850235/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have another book at the house that is rather old and very helpful. I'll try to remember to find it and update the thread.

 

[Leoruiz]

There are no tricks. Measure. Mark. Select the correct blade for the material to be used.Learn grain.
Fasten with the current best fasteners. There are fantastic wood worker forums on the net.

 

[Falcon67]

Ebook?

https://books.google.com/books?id=j...I_suNzL3-xgIVFxWSCh0DZAPl#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[bggrnchvy]

To help you understand the gaps that will be there think of it as expansion space as the materials heat up they need room to expand.

A slip fit vs a press fit.

For me, the 1/8" gap to account for swell and prevent bowing later made a lot of sense and in most situations a 8d nail worked nicely to set the gap. It's just that nothing is perfect and there were gaps that started at 1/8" on bottom and grew to 1/4" on top over 8' of sheathing or shear.

Apparently that's not a big deal.

There are no tricks. Measure. Mark. Select the correct blade for the material to be used.Learn grain.
Fasten with the current best fasteners. There are fantastic wood worker forums on the net.

I disagree with the first part. It's what makes things easier for a journeyman and harder for an apprentice.

 

[Kevin54]

I built my house with no construction experience. so it can be done and done well. problem I see with a lot of folks, especially in trades like Machining, CNC, is they are way too perfectionistic for woodworking. not just construction, but general furniture/cabinet making. The tolerances are waaay different and the ways of setting up and measuring, overcoming gaps, etc. don't translate well to guys used to micrometers and calipers...may not apply to you, but if you've ever hung drywall, or framed a garage with guys like that, you'll end up pulling your hair out when they want to measure nail spacing and freak out about 1/8" out of square...

just know what your limits are and what is "good enough"...or you'll spend 4x as long building it and re-doing things over and over...[/QUOTE]

Nice. Got some good help too




+/- .005 is all I know. Lol

I've been a toolmaker for over 30 years. Believe me when I say that what Gungatim said is correct......A machinist is NOT a carpenter. I built my garage, built my family room, and built my wife's building. It came out fine, but took me quite a while, and I hated it all the way. A crooked board here, a blade width off on a cut, two boards of the same size are different sizes, and on and on. So adding on to my garage, I hired this one out. I don't need the added stress

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

A friend of mine has been building his own house.. for about 7 years now. He wanted to save money too. It will cost more then you think. It will take longer then you think. Plan accordingly.

My friend got help with the roofing, siding, and concrete work. He has a single story house with a few dormers and eves, many hips and valleys so I don't blame him.

I say go for it. If your good with your hands there's nothing to it but to do it. But make sure you have a back up plan ( lots of money) if you find yourself in over your head.

 

[High Desert]

Break it into steps. I designed, supervised, and labored my own workshop in several steps that all seemed to start with "I wonder".
-"I wonder what it would take to get an architect to draw up plans for my workshop?" It only took $1,500 and about 2 months of correspondence. Huh, that was pretty easy.
-"I wonder if I could actually get a building permit to build my own workshop?" Went down to the city with multiple sets of my plans, they told me to fill out some self-contracting paperwork and give them $500. Huh, now I have a permit. They tell me I need to start construction in up to one year, with no required finish date.
-"I wonder what it would take to have the footings poured?" Contacted a concrete guy and told him to give me a "whenever you can get around to it" bid. He likes those because they can fill dead spots in his schedule to keep his crew payed. They came out, dug the footings and placed all the rebar. Call the city for inspection. Inspection approved. Concrete guy comes back out and pours footings. Huh, now I have actual footings!

Repeat this process until the city issues your certificate of occupancy. It is really satisfying!

 

[purplezr2]

You could hire some one to frame it, that is what I am doing, I know the basics of roofing, and I have a simple roof with just two valleys. Siding is not difficult if you follow direction. That leaves wiring, soffits, insulation, and drywall, all not to hard.

 

[pcmeiners]

Pay an Architect to draw it up, showing all beam placement, concrete layout and legal specs. Also have him create a list of materials. A good Architect knows the zoning and has a lot of friends at the building department. Does help if you have an experience framer for help.

 

[jeff_gates]

We used home designer pro to build the shop then passed the design to an engineering company, who helped us with the rest and to get get the permits.

There are many things to think about.
Do you want water in the shop?
Do you want power?
how many stories?
what kind of siding are you using?
how are you going to heat it?
and so on...

We are our own GC and the cost is right around $200K for a 4500 sq foot shop.
Currently we are getting electrical finished up, then 2 more inspections before the slab gets poured. We are about 2 months behind where we should be.

--Jeff