Virginia Garage Build In Progress

[brokenjack]

At this point
1. I have chosen the 32' X 24' 3 car plans from 84 Lumber. They did an estimate for a 2 car version for an all inclusive price of $5650. Doors and windows seemed a little pricey, but as a whole thought it was a deal.
2. Modified the plans to one 12' garage door, relocated the man door and 2 windows and heightened walls from 8' to 10'.
3. Went downtown and applied for a building permit. Fun Fun Fun. Didn't know what to expect, but I had most everything I needed, then had to draw some elevation views, and fill out a building section form. Whole process took 1.5 hours which included me drawing and waiting in line. Seems like mid-morning around 10am was a good time to be there, since there weren't many people there.
4. Now I'm trying to find a concrete contractor to excavate and do the slab foundation. Called a few. One said he'd come by and do an estimate but never did. It's been almost a week. One place told me they wouldn't do a job that small. I need to call more I know, but it seems like this part is going to be difficult. Anyone recommend a concrete guy in Richmond, Virginia?
5. Finally got the permits a little over 3 weeks later.
6. Got a concrete guy to pour a monolithic slab. Wanted 24' 1" X 32' 1" but ended up with 24' 1" X 31' 11 5/8" but everything is square. Paid $7162.00 for it. Used reinforced concrete...Pics

Here's the spot...Looks peaceful don't it?

Footing trenches starting to take shape

Formwork and gravel added

Poly and wire on top...Ready for pour

We have slab

They applied a sealer. Not sure what it is though.

Final estimate on the 84 Lumber kit was 5458.12. That includes the 12' x 8' garage door and everything else but two, 48" x 36" windows and one entry door I'm getting from Lowes. First delivery should be Feb 23, 2006. Second delivery will be the roof materials and siding.

Check out a somewhat live webcam eastern time of the build at my web site 5 minute update. Should be some action Saturday Feb 25.

02/23/06 Well it looks as if the lumber fairies visited me today. Got a mess o' wood sitting in the backyard. Should start on Sat Feb 25. Going to have the roof trusses, garage door, shingles, felt, and siding delivered separately at a later date.

 

[snorvet]

looks great! and I like the webcam

 

[SuperKid]

Looks good so far.

 

[DynoDave]

Nice progress. Any chance of finding out what that sealer used on the cement was? Is that it's final appearance/look?

 

[brokenjack]

Yeah it's pretty shiny when dry. It is remarkable though how not slippery it is when wet. I need to find out what it is, since I want to paint the floor with an epoxy paint. I'll paint the workshop area, then put some kind of other flooring in the clean room.

 

[vodomagoo]

looks like they helicoptered the cement to seal the pours, like they do on the floors of say home depot. just had that done on my project, its great nothing can realy stain if it is done right

 

[Spencer Was Here]

So tell us more about the cam and software that you are using.

By the way, there are two people out there at your slab right now that look like they are up to no good.

 

[04 Navi]

According to a Sherwin Williams rep you should have not sealed it if you want to paint later. The sealer can go in as much as 1.5" and so when you go to paint, the muratic etch will only do the surface. This will then prevent the first coat of paint to penitrate as far as is could or needed, so lifting is more likely to happen. Thats what he said. Looks nice by the way.

 

[brokenjack]

up to no good

Those guys are installing some more anchor bolts that got left out the first time. Yeah I figured that the sealer would hinder any future paint. I'll have to do some research on that. The software is called Spycam by Bill Oatman. The program comes with a HTML start page as well. It's a free download. Just used an old intel pocketcam for the camera. It's pointing out my kitchen window connected to my old laptop uploading the pictures wirelessly through my router to my web space.

 

[snorvet]

I have a webcam on my garage as well, but mine is boring since the outside work is done. I look forward to watching your progress.

 

[brokenjack]

I hope to document my progress from the perspective of the absolute beginner. It should get interesting soon. I'll be wielding pneumatic nailers and such.

 

[Der Bugmeister]

Don't look now, but somebody is putting up walls on your slab!

 

[Paradise Ridge]

5:40 PM~
Looks like "beverage break" to me!

Scott

 

[brokenjack]

ahh yes stuffs happenin. It'll be colder tomorrow, but I think I can get the rest of the walls up. Too bad Lowes don't stock new knees and lower backs.

02/25/06 Got the sill plates down and framed up 3 wall panels and raised 2 - The garage door panel and one left side panel. Anchor bolts aren't exactly in the right position. Going to have to put some extra ones down. Nail gun kicks ***.

Puttin down the sills

Nailing up the garage door header

Raising the wall...It's heavy...My face tells it all

It's up. I said it couldn't be done with 2, but Yoda said it could

The other wall goes up.

02/26/06 Too damn cold.

 

[Der Bugmeister]

Hope you're making better progress with the construction than with the webcam! Dropped in for a look this morning and no image... :-/

 

[brokenjack]

webcam

it's up and running now. sometimes it jams up, but I usually catch it pretty quickly.

 

[bobbyd]

Jack,

It's been a while since you started and you may already have this figured out regarding the "sealer" that was applied to your slab. Anyway, here's my thoughts:

From the pictures, it doesn't appear to be a sealer per se. From being invloved with placing hundreds of thousands of square feet of slabs, to me it looks like a membrane forming curing compound. These are typically placed on interior slabs immediately after finishing to aid in the curing of the slab. Plus, like you describe, they aren't all that slippery when wet. Usually, sealers are placed on slabs later, and aren't really made for immediate application. There are some relatively new products that are, but they're pretty expensive. They do tend to be slippery when wet.

There is some good news with regards to painting it though. If it was just a membrane forming curing compound, then it is not penetrating. It simply sits on the top and keeps moisture from leaving the slab too quick. From my experience, typically over time it wears off. If it doesn't wear off, it can be mechanically abraided off with a buffer and 36 grit sanding pads. We install a lot of flooring materials over slabs that have been cured with this stuff, including paint, without problem.

A true penetrating sealer on the other hand is a different story. I would be suprised if it is, though, since normally this would be applied once construction is complete, so it doesn't get scratched up and dull.

 

[brokenjack]

That makes the most sense to me. I think it is a curing compound because they put it on a day after they poured.