YEEEEHA ! Got footings poured today!

[JDMopar]

I got the ok from the building inspector Monday,and we poured the footings today! Going to be a 40 X 40 with a 16 X 24 room off the back to work and keep all the mess in. The 40 X 40 part will be mostly for storage. When I got started in March,we hit blue granite and I had a BIG trackhoe with a hammer on it here for 33 hrs. I had originally wanted a 30 X 50,but had to change where the footprint of the building was going to be and change the size because I couldn't afford to pay the hammer any longer.It all worked out better,as I ended up with a bigger garage I'll post a pic of when we first got started in a few minutes. Here's a pic I took from the roof of my house looking out back towards the garage.

 

[JDMopar]

The rock!

 

[Namocsid]

Wow nice! It doesn't look like much from that high up at first, but compared to that pallet... you'll have a great space. Keep those pics coming!

 

[JDMopar]

Thanks I'll probably wait till the blocks are laid before I post more pics. I just hope it will be big enough I've go too many cars,but if I rack em and stack em.....they might fit!

 

[Red Car Garage]

cool Keep the pics coming!

 

[JDMopar]

Re: YEEEEHA ! Got footings poured today! Update-8/4/07

Well, have made a lot of progress this week ! The 6 Amigos just left after a hard days work. We have gone from footers to this since about 2 pm Wednesday. At this rate,they will be done by next Wednesday.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have always been curious, is construction with block as you are doing considerably higher, or cheaper than conventional stick construction costs? I have never had to compare the two.

 

[bmwpower]

I have always been curious, is construction with block as you are doing considerably higher, or cheaper than conventional stick construction costs? I have never had to compare the two.

If I had to guess, and this is merely a guess, is that the block is more money and takes longer to put up otherwise more people would do it. You can put up an entire wall of wood in an hour if you want. Doing a wall in block takes considerably longer as JD's place shows.

 

[IDASHO]

Block is much more expensive. Even if you do not grout it.

If you grout it..... it is VERY expensive.



Lookin' good though! After doing the stem wall on my garage myself out of block (roughly 550 blocks), Ive definitely found another method of construction to avoid

Never again. Next time I form and pour.

Although, having the amigos do it for you probably changes everything

 

[DynoDave]

Very nice JDMopar. It's amazing how fast a good crew can put up a block wall.

 

[toms73novass]

Congrats!

Exciting isn't it.

 

[JDMopar]

Yep, it's pretty exciting seeing it take shape. It has taken a while to get to this point from the time I started,but in THIS area there is a shortage of construction people that will work at a onesie job like this. Houses are being built around here so fast,that all the subs hesitate to pull off from a big general contractor who can swamp them with work and provide a steady paycheck. I can't say as I blame them! What REALLY slowed me down at the start was playing " I'll be there day after tomorrow" with the first concrete guy.I shitcanned him and got somebody else! Everybody else has been here when they said they would. I checked the prices both ways on blocks vs framing. By the time I figured up the cost of 2 X 6 lumber,OSB for the outside,Tyvek wrap,vinyl siding, insulation and sheetrock.....it wasn't worth the few dollars difference to go to all the extra trouble. Plus it's fireproof

 

[V-10 Killer]

Do you have something like a "Better Business Bureau" you could file comments about that first contractor at? I know it might not make much difference now, but it'll help the next guy using him, and maybe make him realize there's concequences to not keeping to your word.