The Build Begins

[Wertles]

Ok. Almost 2 months since an update. It's been a lot of work but taking pictures of paint drying and taking pictures of walls with wire behind them is quite boring for you.

Ceiling and and walls painted.

Lights up and wired in. I put 5 8' T-8 light strips over each bay (about 6.5 feet apart) and 5 4' T-8 over what will be the second floor. It's plenty bright in there even though the pictures seem dark. I think I got a sun tan the other night. I also installed 4 ceiling fans but the pictures are crappy so you will just have to wait for those.

 

[Wertles]

I pulled off some of the bottom panels so I can run the conduit. I ran 1 3" and 3 2" conduit in there. Hopefully it's overkill.

I don't know where I'm running them to yet so I just have them stubbed up past where the concrete will end.

Next is finishing the drains for the gutters and floor. I have to build a small retaining wall and then concrete (finally)! Hoping for that in the next two weeks or so.

 

[SOOT]

Dang, looks good! One suggestion tho, even with that amount of lights you will still have shadows. I have worked in shops that also mounted lights on the walls about 4-6ft above the floor. Its make a big difference when under the hood.

 

[Wertles]

Dang, looks good! One suggestion tho, even with that amount of lights you will still have shadows. I have worked in shops that also mounted lights on the walls about 4-6ft above the floor. Its make a big difference when under the hood.

I have made provisions to do that if/when needed.

 

[SOOT]

Oh, well good deal.

 

[Wertles]

I happen to be on vacation this week so I have only seen the pictures as well. My dad took a ton but they are only iPad quality so I apologize in advance for the poor quality.

6 inches of stone, 2 inches of insulating styrofoam and plastic vapor barrier.

Perfect day for concrete. 65 degrees. 6 inches of 4000 psi fiber reinforced concrete.

The 6 foot apron got a little different mix. It has air bubbles in the mix. Guess it's better for freeze thaw cycles or something. I'm sure someone here can explain it to me better. The apron gets brushed finish and the ritual 2014 penny in the corner.

Inside gets smooth finish.

 

[Wertles]

The crew bought a brand new soft cut machine as this was done on Friday and they don't work Saturdays. No one wanted to wait until Monday to cut the slab.

Saturday morning the first coat of sealer gets applied. The second coat went on that evening. The cut lines will get caulked after the full 4 week cure is done.

The ugly blue (my fault, the 1 inch color sample looked much darker than what it actually was) gets replaced with black on the front and north side. The other two sides are not really visible so I they stay blue.

Front gutters, down spouts and ice shield get installed on the front. I don't want them on back as it really doesn't matter and I want the snow to fall off the back.

The cupola gets replaced in a week and a half. My wife said it looked a little small. I told her to wait until summer before making her final decision because in the cold, we all know there is shrinkage. Turns out, they made a mistake and ordered the wrong one so this should be a freebie. Here she sits today, awaiting my return to put the inside back together and start moving things in.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Way to go my friend! I know you'll enjoy it.

 

[p-Bar]

Nice "man cave"

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I have a goofy question about the foam under layment. I understand the concept but I can't help to think the weight of the concrete would crush the foam and cause the crete to buckle or sag and crack. Hope that makes sense??

 

[Road Dog]

I have a goofy question about the foam under layment. I understand the concept but I can't help to think the weight of the concrete would crush the foam and cause the crete to buckle or sag and crack. Hope that makes sense??

Around here overpass on-ramps and off-ramps are built with giant styrofoam blocks that get covered with a road. I guess it's easier than piling and compacting gravel or dirt. No issues with settling or freezing after 10 years.

 

[Wertles]

I have a goofy question about the foam under layment. I understand the concept but I can't help to think the weight of the concrete would crush the foam and cause the crete to buckle or sag and crack. Hope that makes sense??

This does not replace stone and gravel. It is in addition to it. The "styrofoam" isn't exactly a great description. It is not like a coffee cup. It is very rigid and stiff and designed specifically for under concrete. It had wheelbarrows full of concrete running over it all day and never depressed a bit. A quick google search will yield hours worth of reading material.

 

[Wertles]

Second floor built. Cabinets/sink/hot water/couch/Lazy Boy/storage shelves to follow.

The bench came from my garage. Not sure if it will stay long or not but it is definitely serviceable for now.

It felt good to start moving stuff in there. The tool box was the first.

 

[Wertles]

A couple of new, essential tools.

Finally, two goodies to be unwrapped next week.

 

[jhenderson]

I don't generally consider myself a jealous man, but I'm having guilty thoughts about your building.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Fantastic! Congratulations. I am envious.

 

[DaveHess]

After a 10 month wait, the contractor finally dug the hole for my new house! As soon as the house is built they will begin on my 26 x 26 x 10 shop just for the race car. That also means the Ram gets her own 12 x 33 bay in the garage!!! ..... In about three months and beats sitting outside.

 

[mweiman]

What is that you have for flooring in the loft area? My shop is going up now so I am looking for ideas.
Matt

 

[Wertles]

Another week. More progress. Not photo worthy, but the overhead doors got adjusted, pusher springs installed to get them rolling down hill, thicker rubber seal at the bottom and a garage door opener on the last bay. After they were done, I was able to get a few loads of stone delivered. I will definitely need more, but it's a good start.

Now for the fun. I had my lifts installed Monday. I spent quite a bit of time researching lifts. As this is a personal, not professional shop, I had to make decisions on where to spend my money. I looked at more brand name models (Rotary, Bend Pac etc) but the price was significantly more. I ended up with two Atlas lifts from Greg Smith Equipment. Yes, these are Chinese lifts, but they are certified for their advertised weight. Not all are, the videos are scary! There is a video on their website of the certification test for each lift model. It also didn't hurt that one of their warehouses is 20 minutes from my sisters house in New Hampshire. A road trip to visit my sister, catch a NASCAR race in Louden and basically I get the lifts with no sales tax and no delivery. I ended up with a 12,000 pound extra wide, extra tall lift and a 10,000 pound extra tall lift. I was able to get two lifts that are slightly bigger than I need as compared to one brand name lift. The 10,000 pound lift is 13 foot from the back wall and the 12,000 pound is 15 feet. According to the installer, those are the typical distances for each lift. I have to button up the electrical for each and I got the wrong pump/reservoir for the 10,000 pound lift. Someone at the warehouse put the wrong label on the box. Greg Smith Equipment has shipped the correct one to me. I'm hoping it comes today.

 

[Wertles]

mweiman, the loft is only 6'10" wide so I didn't need to go crazy with big wood. Along the walls, I put up a 2x6 header that is ledger locked into the 6x6 posts in the wall. Along the "unsupported" side, I doubled up 2x8's and supported it every 10 feet with a 4x4 post that also served to make my railing up top. The floor joists are 2x6 every 16". The floor itself is 3/4" advantec flooring. It's not that much more expensive than plywood but is much more flat/smooth/consistent. Be aware that if using it, it is tongue and groove and is only 47 1/2" wide, not 48. The other thing that is nice is that once painted, the grain raises slightly giving a great non skid surface. I made my own stair risers after spending $4 on the correct little tool and watching a few YouTube videos. I am very happy I went this way for the floor. It looks great, the floor is ROCK solid stable.