My new shop

[CasualObserver 3,408]

I've been dreaming of a new shop space to work on tractors and generally store things at my house. We already had a three car garage on the house and could only fit one vehicle in it due to the large space that kids toys, bikes, zero turn mower, shelving and a workbench already occupied. Well.. that stuff and a few or so little garden tractors... but they don't take up that much space, right?   Anyway...  we'd been talking about building my dream shop for several years. We live on a large in-town parcel, so there's plenty of room, but as with most things, it comes down to when it can fit in the budget. I drew it up several times on the building designer at Menards dreaming of when we could go forward. Well, in the early 2017 we decided to go ahead with it, and I came up with my final layout plan.

We proceeded under the option of build the shell, and finish what we can later. We went over and over the list of things to do now and later. Things I wanted that had to be done now for sure were the rough in for the in-floor heat and the attic trusses. I had a contractor friend who would GC and frame it for me if I bought all the materials and he could do it on his own schedule. Yep, done. I figure I could have built it myself, but it would have taken most of the summer of every night and weekend, as well as the headaches of arranging the subs for the stuff I couldn't do, but if he could do it, and he has all the contacts/subs already... I'm money and time ahead to work some extra overtime and avoid the headaches.

 

The previous owners of our place had a gravel RV parking next to the house. The old poorly done timber walls were deteriorating and leaning with age.It was convenient for parking the trailer, and nice when the kids were little that we could park off the driveway so they could play, but every year inevitably it was always a weedy mess by mid-summer.

 

 

Step one, remove ugly timber wall.  Lucky for me my neighbor had an chainsaw with a garbage blade on it. He came over and we were able to cut the wall into 12 ft sections that we loaded on the trailer for the dump.

 

 

Next, met with our contractor friend to stake and mark it out. Since part of the goal was to reduce the amount of gravel, the equivalence of one car parking space was being removed and returned to grass on the left edge.

 

 

Then just before the excavator was to start work, the kids and I did a little groundbreaking for the big project.

 

Some gravel removed and sand base laid down and compacted.

 

 

Concrete guys laid the forms for me on a Friday night so I could lay the insulation and pex for the in-floor heat.

 

 

 Like any kids, the call of the sand pile was irresistible.

 

 

Next day I had help to lay the insulation boards and pex. Might seem silly to see two people carrying these boards that weigh all of 2 lbs each... but notice all the pavers? I'd been hoping for good weather to do the insulation and pex..... what I got was great temperature, bright, sunny......and 25 mph sustained winds with 40-50 mph gusts. So.... two guys to carry each flippin' board and weight it down. Ugh.... made the process much longer.

 

 

Got the pex down, which went very smoothly. Three zones, stapled to the foam board.

 

 

Monday morning I get a call.... inspector won't pass it because there's no pressure test on the pex. Ugh. Nothing about that in our building code, but what am I going to do? Project can't go on without his initials. So... I build a pressure manifold, tie all three zones into one long line and charge it up.  Tues morning, concrete guys are onsite... inspector shows up and says ok.

 

 

By the time I get home from work, I have a new slab.  

 

 

Lumber pack shows up the day before the family and I are leaving for a week at the cabin. When I pulled out of driveway, construction was underway. We got a few progress pics through the weeks from various friends.

 

 

And I returned a week later to this.  Totally the best way to build a shop!  I was out of his way, he was out of mine... worked out perfectly.

 

 

I installed the overhead doors, had the electrician come and trench the electric over. Got the gas line roughed in for the boiler as well while the trench was open.

 

 

After that, the excavator came back with the final top dress for final grading.  

 

 

We bit the bullet and decided to go with sod right away. Even got the kids to help for a little while. Couple of neighbors (one of whom happens to be a professional landscaper) came over the chip in too, and three pallets later....

 

 

Now we're at slow progress time. I bought all the construction materials on a Menards 11% rebate, so once I got the rebate check I started to finish the interior. Got the vapor barrier up, and ceiling rocked with 12 foot 5/8" type x. 105 lbs each. Ugh. Thank God for drywall lifts, right!?

 

 

More rebate checks allowed for the insulation and rock for the walls.

 

 

Then we came to a complete standstill..... got enough stuff moved out of the house garage to get both the car and truck in for the winter, but with no heat and no ceiling insulation the shop was just a big storage box for winter.

 

 

Spring this year rolled around and prioritizing shop work made it to the list. I realized it's going to be much easier to get the interior done before I move in. So... started back at it. I got the floors masked off and got tape and mud done... then the girls helped me paint.

 

 

Did the floor with Rock Solid polycuramine kits from Menards... grey with flakes and a textured topcoat to make it less slippery if wet. This is a long and multi-stage process. First it required renting a diamond grinder and grinding off the curing sealer. Then powerwashing three times to remove all dust and debris.  The base coat went on, cured for a few days, and topcoated three days later. Then I let that cure for a week before moving in. It's supposed to be cured in 24 hours, but why rush it if not necessary?

 

 

Finally ready to move in.

 

 

Got some used kitchen cabinet take outs and installed them for the workshop area.

 

 

Really looking forward to getting stuff organized and cleaned up now.  It's totally a dream come true. Still have to buy and install the boiler and get the ceiling insulated... but those are things that can be worked around. Up until this point it's been much easier to have minimal stuff in the way.

 

If you made it all the way to the bottom, thanks for taking the time to read it.  Get more done, have more fun!!   

 

 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,314]

WOW! And WOW again! 

  Gorgeous shop! Great write up on how it all progressed.

  How ya gonna feel when some old rusty relic looses all its tranny fluid on that beautiful floor!?

[Ed Kennell 38,114]

I'll add another   WOW.   

Thanks for the show Jason.

[Marv 921]

Darn, Too small already!

Great job. I love it.

Marv

[WHX?? 48,813]

Nice Jason ...real nice  Thanks  for the .

What is that about 22 x 32?? Couple of things I like and a couple I woulda done different. The lighting is real nice and what's not to like about infloor!!  Go with a tankless to run it, that's what we use. Any chance you put a floor drain in by the tubes for a drain for a high eff. one? Here there is no requirement for pressure testing the loops but we do anyway. Had an unruly concrete dude stick a shovel in one once and a run with a hole in in from factory. I woulda spaces the tubes a little closer. Then you can run lower water temps thus less gas use. For a shop it's probably not a big deal tho.

 

Is that a pull down stairs for stowing horse parts in the attic??

 

I woulda had the big door an eight footer. looks like you had the head room.

 

Now the real work begins tho....getting it set up the way you like. Air compressor & piping, sound system, wall art, stocked fridge...cot for when in the dog house.....

[dclarke 4,032]

Really nice, Jason!  Thanks for all the pics and the great write up. 

[Shynon 7,459]

Been there seen it, this shop Rocks. Looking good Jason

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,297]

What a shop , love it. Don't see the floor covered in .

[CasualObserver 3,408]

14 hours ago, WHX20 said:

What is that about 22 x 32?

 

24x36 can't believe I forgot to mention size!

 

14 hours ago, WHX20 said:

Is that a pull down stairs for stowing horse parts in the attic??

It will be. Gotta wait a little while to afford that. Ceiling was supposed to be 10'  but I got 10' 6". Lower cost ladders stop at 10' 3".

 

14 hours ago, WHX20 said:

Any chance you put a floor drain in by the tubes for a drain for a high eff. one?

Yep... Plumbed in a condensate drain right next to the pex stubs. It ties into the floor drain. 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,525]

[953 nut 55,163]

             Jim took the words out of my mouth, too much floor showing,   need more .

[CasualObserver 3,408]

2 hours ago, Sparky said:

How ya gonna feel when some old rusty relic looses all its tranny fluid on that beautiful floor!?

Just fine since it will soak right up with some oildry and not leave a stain!

[WHX?? 48,813]

Exactly the same size  as my heated  shop ... which is way too smal! Oh well we'll make do. If you like I can pm you on some infloor suggestions. Let me know you need help in that department. Personally  I would not have done infloor in a building  such as this. Once you fill it and lite it off it's like marriage. ....your committed to keep it running.

[Daddy Don 905]

I want it!!!!!!! Nice

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

Very Nice Shop , Jason !!!!  

[RandyLittrell 3,877]

Wish I could redo mine to look like yours!!!! 

 

 

 

 

Randy

[r356c 375]

Careful planning, solid execution, beautiful results!

The differences between Northern and Southern construction techniques are interesting.

Pex in-floor heating in the South? No.

Trusses rated for snow load rather than wind load... Hmmm... I've been told such a thing exists.

Foam under the slab? Transferring heat into the soil is a good thing!

Sheet vapor barrier is only required between a garage space with exhaust fumes and a living space in FL.
The prevailing view is to let the structures breath to avoid any moisture entrapment.

The words mold and mildew will strike fear into most FL homeowners hearts.

Gobs of insulation, yes. Especially in the attic.

Again, beautiful shop! Horses far and wide will be jostling each other to get in there!

 

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Beautiful garage!

I haven't figured out how to get enough 11% rebate money from MENARDS to make my next trip free! 

You put a lot of thought and time into figuring out what you wanted and did an excellent job!

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Far and above...  

your typical magic  shed Jason.  

[rmaynard 15,434]

Wow. That is just what I have been dreaming of for the last twenty years. However, whenever the idea is floated, the wife always gives it a thumbs down with a "why don't you just get rid of some of your junk? Building a bigger building will just encourage you to get more". Well duh!?

 

Anyway, great building Jason. 

[CasualObserver 3,408]

Sincere thanks for the compliments guys. This has been a long-time dream and it's finally coming to reality. I've been thinking about doing this post for a long time, but wanted to wait until it was more complete and moved into.  Some of the highlights in the project...

-in-floor heat ready

-10 foot ceilings 

-attic trusses... Before I sheetrocked the ceiling I also bought and stowed several 4x8 sheets of OSB for flooring up there.  Figured it would be mighty difficult to get them up there through the scuttle hole! Not installed since I still need to insulate the ceiling/attic floor.

-driveway and backyard overhead doors

 

 

13 hours ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

Don't see the floor covered in 

Just wait, how's the old saying go? "If you build it, they will come!"  

 

13 hours ago, 953 nut said:

too much floor showing,   need more 

I haven't gotten the others out of the back shed or shown you the house garage!

 

15 hours ago, WHX20 said:

I woulda had the big door an eight footer. looks like you had the head room.

I really did consider this, but in the interest of the budget and the fact that I don't need anything taller than 7', I opted to have larger headroom for storage over the door of stuff like those big boxes that the trampoline gets put back in for winter, or lawn chairs... less to see when the doors are open. Besides, if the need ever arises farther down the road, that's a minor adjustment... I already went with the 10' walls... planning for any future needs that the door can be replaced and enlarged with minimal disruption.  

 

4 hours ago, KC9KAS said:

I haven't figured out how to get enough 11% rebate money from MENARDS to make my next trip free! 

Sadly I have. You have to write a real big check at one 11% sale and then wait a long time to keep working on things. I was diligent about watching sales and 11% weeks for the things I was needing. I'm really glad they let you use those 11% checks on purchases at the next 11% sale! 

 

Little side note here for those who might not know.... if Menards does an 11% sale the week after you bought something... they have a price adjustment rebate slip at the front customer service desk... but you have to ask for it, and you have to send your original receipt with it... not a reprint from the kiosk. You don't always get the full 11% because maybe what you bought was already on a better sale or something... but it never hurts to send it in. 

 

2 hours ago, rmaynard said:

with a "why don't you just get rid of some of your junk? Building a bigger building will just encourage you to get more".

Ah kindred spirits. Sounds like something I've heard verbatim in my house as well.

[CasualObserver 3,408]

13 hours ago, WHX20 said:

I would not have done infloor in a building  such as this. Once you fill it and lite it off it's like marriage. ....your committed to keep it running.

Yep... I know, and just like my marriage... I won't have cold feet! 

 

Seriously though, I received lots of opinions on this, and it truly was a 50/50 split. What it came down to is I know that I want it because I want to be able to go in my shop at the drop of a hat in the dead of winter if I feel like it. I have two daughters who are rapidly approaching teenage years... I need the ability to be scarce in an instant.   Besides, I don't have to fill it and go with it yet... but the slab is insulated and the pex is roughed in because you can't go back and add it later! All about the future planning.  

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,314]

37 minutes ago, CasualObserver said:

Yep... I know, and just like my marriage... I won't have cold feet! 

 

Seriously though, I received lots of opinions on this, and it truly was a 50/50 split. What it came down to is I know that I want it because I want to be able to go in my shop at the drop of a hat in the dead of winter if I feel like it. I have two daughters who are rapidly approaching teenage years... I need the ability to be scarce in an instant.   Besides, I don't have to fill it and go with it yet... but the slab is insulated and the pex is roughed in because you can't go back and add it later! All about the future planning.  

Is the concern that it must be kept running all winter to avoid a freze-up? I have no skills in the plumbing heating game but if it's a sealed system why can't it be filled with a glycol or anti-freeze type fluid so that if you did want to turn it off you could. 

[CasualObserver 3,408]

1 hour ago, Sparky said:

Is the concern that it must be kept running all winter to avoid a freze-up? I have no skills in the plumbing heating game but if it's a sealed system why can't it be filled with a glycol or anti-freeze type fluid so that if you did want to turn it off you could. 

 

My source on this is a relative who sells and installs these systems....  The system will be some water/ant-freeze mixture so it can go dormant if need-be. After seeing his done in his 30x60 shop I have no concerns at all.  The biggest thing about radiant systems is that temperature adjustments can take days to make, so it's not a system you just stop and start quickly... nothing like just turning on a Hot Dawg heater or firing up a Knipco... or just having a furnace running and bumping the thermostat up or down. But.... radiant heat is far more efficient... as long as the space is insulated properly.

[mmmmmdonuts 274]

Wow...what a fantastic job you did. Solid execution and amazing results. Enjoy your new shop.