where to start, building from scratch

[e dogg]

I moved from Iowa to just outside Memphis TN, into a much larger home but went from a 1240sq ft shop to an attached 2.5 stall. I have space here to build but i am overwhelmed on where to start planning. i know i want 8-900 sq ft and that is allowable as a detached structure where i live based on my home size (2900) and acreage(2.15) of the lot. My question for everyone here who have been down this road, is do i plan out the concrete based on the lay of the land and then choose a building that will fit on it or pick the building i want and pour the slab to suit it? After that i would imagine i have to take the plans to the city and pull permits, i don't plan on hiring one GC to do it all, but i will need professional help for the concrete work and standing up the building which i am thinking now i want to go with steel. After this i plan to finish the inside. If anyone here can recommend some good businesses in West TN that would be much appreciated.

I'm working on some better photos but Ill post a few here once photo bucket starts to cooperate.

 

[Moose97]

I guess the first thing I would do is go down to your local AHJ and ask them if you can act as your own GC. If yes, I would get with a metal building company and decide what you want and then figure out the foundation. I a jurisdiction you will likely be required to hire licensed trade people but I'm not sure. AHJ can answer those questions. Good luck!

 

[e dogg]

Please forgive my ignorance, AHJ?

 

[e dogg]

Here are the pics, as you can see the driveway starts to curl around where I will be pouring the slab and I have a good size area already cleared out so i wont have to do much if any deforesting.

 

[kd3pc]

you will need to hire, or find someone experienced who can explain the options. If the lot is really flat (seldom are) you can easily pour a slab and do your building, subject to local codes, if you have them.

If the lot drops or rises by more than a foot or so, then you will either need to lay some block, fill the "hole" and then pour your slab OR dig footers, frame up the pour to level and pour a lot more concrete.

That will beg the question which is better and which is cheaper. After 6" of concrete (unless you are really building big stuff) the rest of the deep pour would be fill...in your area is it cheaper to lay block on a foundation and fill it, and then pour 4-6" OR cheaper to buy concrete. Here concrete is over 125 a yard.

As to which is better...that depends on the soil and what the county/locality says you have to do as a minimum.

Access and dozer/loader/crane time has to be factored, especially if you do steel or non conventional construction.

Let's see what the others suggest?

 

[bczygan]

Any structure should be a reflection of the uses it houses, and should relate to its site and surrounding environment.

 

[Moose97]

Please forgive my ignorance, AHJ?

AHJ - Authority having jurisdiction . I don't know if you are in a city, county, MUD district or what.

I would also get an engineers design for your slab. They will take into consideration your soil type.

 

[Falcon67]

Go get a 500~1000' roll of good nylon cord and a bundle of grade stakes. Get a list of building sizes from various catalogs or what not and go stake one out. String the perimeter with the cord and then stake out doors, etc. with the grade stakes. Walk it, see it, feel it...BE the building . I did that for a few weeks, drove my wife nuts. The location and size worked out as expected so it was worth the hassle. You can eye ball it all you want but put it on the ground and you'll start seeing the "well, that's a problem" items right off. I scrapped about three "this will work good" designs as soon as I started trying to lay it out. Lay your perimeter lines level and it'll point out grade changes real quick too.

 

[e dogg]

Staking it out is a great, suggestion! thanks. Any hints on where you got some ideas to begin with? I have seen a few companies that sell steel prefabs around here but I cant find anyone with a site that has the drawings with measurements for each style they offer.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Before you get to far in, check with AHJ and find out what the setback (from property lines) requirements are and the permitting process and what plans will be required. Also find out what inspections are required.

Metal building and post construction companies are very flexible. They can build just about anything you want.

Dimensions that are evenly divisible by both 2 and 3, i.e. 24', 30', 36' etc make the best use of standard dimension material. 24' x 36' works out to 864 square feet. 24' roofing trusses are a standard size and have a favorable span to price ratio.

Summers in the Mid-South can be a brutal combination of heat and high humidity. You need to think about insulation and A/C. A large window unit will handle a shop of the size you are contemplating.

Is your neighborhood serviced by an electric Co-op? Most publish a monthly magazine and there are always advertisements for metal buildings in them.

A good lumber yard, not Lowe's or Home Depot but a locally owned operation, will be able to give you referrals to builders who put up the kind of building you are interested in.

Many local builders can put up a small building in a couple of days at a cost that is near to what you, as a retail customer, would spend on materials alone.

What kind of work do you plan on doing in your shop? Will you need room for a lift? Do you want a "rest" facility. What will be your electric demands? What kind of interior wall and ceiling covers, if any, do you want. When you have the answers to these kinds of questions you will know what kind of building to put up.

 

[Falcon67]

Mueller I think has a bunch on their site. Also, grab a "farm" type magazine from a feed store, Tractor supply, etc - they have a bunch of ads for barns and such. Our electric co-op monthly carries 6~12 ads for barns all the time. Also as above - most dimensions divisible by 4 will likely be available more or less. And lots of places can do "custom" stuff pretty cheap in 4' chunks. Most of your raw material will be 2~4' wide.

 

[joshua4511111]

Work with planning and zoning in your county... Some counties won't allow certain type buildings (like a quonset hut style).. I'm in the middle now and its A HEADACHE all the 'rights of passage' you have to go through to erect or build something... to get a permit, etc.

 

[JC23]

There's a very good thread going right now on this page about building sizes versus building materials. Bone up on that stuff so you can cut corners without going too cheap.

 

[memphisnate]

Welcome to West TN

<- Cordova, TN

 

[e dogg]

It will be a shop for automotive work mostly, ideally with a small attic space or crows nest I can use as a wookworking area. I have a mig welder, large compressor as well s plan on a lift so I imagine I'll need 100 amps or more

 

[jacobgiles]

im in tn, i just recieved my mueller 30x40 building this morning. i saved alot of money going through them with a "standard" building package. im just throwing that out there if your wanting a steel framed building. i compared many different companies and went with these guys.