Our New 60x40x16 Metal Building Thread

[ITHINKICAN]

We are excited to announce our new 60x40x16 metal building thread. :thumbsup:

Length: 60'
Width: 40'
Height: 16'
Slope: 4:12
Roll Doors: 2 @ 14x14' & 1 @ 10x10'
Walk Doors: 2 @ 3070 aka 3' x 7'
Color walls: Lightstone
Color trim: Brick red
Color roof: Galvalume

We are sending the deposit at the end of today... we figure it will take 2-3 months "start to finish".

 

[ITHINKICAN]

A little history: We live in a typical subdivision at the end of a cul de sac.

Several years ago we learned across the creek there was a 5.99 acre lot for sale - it was square with good road frontage - according to MLS it was on the market for almost 2 yrs before we learned of its existence. We didn't understand why it hadn't sold sooner so we didn't put much effort in to buying it. We later realized it would be a great investment. We contemplated it just a little too long and someone came along and bought it.

Across the street from the 5.99 acre lot was a 12 acre lot - it too was on the market forever - almost 3 yrs according to MLS. It was a flagpole lot with a narrow driveway - it had some potential - I admit we were a little sore that we didn't buy the 5.99 square lot. We contemplated it too - then a friend called out of the blue and said "We are about to be neighbors". He bought it and had a custom home built on it. After going over several times since - we are very glad we didn't buy it. Not a good fit for our likes, desires and needs.

After missing the two - We then began our quest to find the perfect lot. We started looking approx 1 hour from our home. We expanded to 2 hours. Ultimately we had approx 10 searches plugged in - some local/some not - some inexpensive/some not - our search included almost every variable on the planet within a 3 hour radius. We are grateful someone suggested we keep our project within 45 minutes to an hour max - they said "If it is too far of a drive - you will go a lot when it is new - then you'll stop going - the drive every Friday and return drive on Sunday will take it's toll."

We thought we had found the perfect lot - a 33 acre wooded lot. Unfortunately the Realtor representing the Seller was not giving the Offers from our Realtor to her Seller (illegal/unethical) - She wanted to collect the total of 6% commission from both her Seller and the Buyer too. It ended up selling for less than we offered. Oh well.

Long story short (or is it too late for that ) About two days after the other lot went in to "Escrow" - the perfect piece of land came on the market - approx 20 minute drive. We made nearly a full price offer and closed the end of June 2010. It is 31 acres, fully fenced, mostly cleared, it has water & electricity (none of the others had either) - it was SIGNIFICANTLY less expensive than any other lot we had previously considered. The Seller obviously had no idea what it was worth. We absolutely nailed it!! No way no how could we have found a better deal. Not ever. Let the fun begin...

 

[Kyle241]

Sounds like an interesting project and you found a nice piece of land. I am assuming the building will be built by someone else? Of course you will include pics when you're ready to go and through the build? Them the rules.

Good luck!

 

[jayste]

Visual aids, man, we need visual aids!:laughing::thumbsup:

 

[ITHINKICAN]

We saved money on the land - rather than shop aggressively or roll the dice - we decided we'd rather have the improvements done correctly. We hired a professional to erect the building. Company comes with good recommendation. Estimate was extremely detailed - had more materials than all competitors - wasn't the cheapest but was competitive. The guy we are dealing with is a straight shooter with lots of experience/knowledge.

I ran a box blade for my first time last weekend - I wasn't very successful. I was able to get the teeth to make marks in the ground but the blade only had a minor affect. It doesn't look like I had expected. I cut in to a couple corners where the boys will ride and I did some work where the driveway will be - I will try again this weekend. I will also do preliminary work on the location for the pad site. It might take a few days to do the pad site with the box blade - since I am a newbie at working with one. I will take before, during and after pictures.

 

[ustmd]

ITHINKICAN,

Congrads on pulling the trigger on the building and the property.

I can sympathize about the boxblade.

I found the thread on a beginner's guide to using a box blade very helpful:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/122762-beginners-guide-using-box-blade.html

Also, the videos on everythingattachments.com were a big help.

A key, but counter intuitive point with the boxblade is to make the blade cut in, you need to shorten your top link. To smooth with it, you need to lengthen it.

I look forward to the pictures.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

ustmd, I didn't know a shortened top link = aggressive ground engagement and I didn't know the 3 pt had no downward pressure. I made an adjustment to the link about midday but don't recall if I shortened it or lengthened it. I was a little frustrated but figured it would happen in due time. :ashamed: Thank you for the link to the thread - I read all 8 pages and watched the wilson videos too.

I look forward to trying again this weekend with my new found knowledge. It will be too cool if it actually works.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

Here are pictures from weekend of October 31st. We used some wood stakes to identify possible location of building. We later decided the location was perfect. The following weekend we began to scrape the site for the project...

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Congrats on your new building!!! :thumbsup: Make sure you post pictures!!!

P.S. - Nice piece of land!!! :thumbsup:

 

[Dano5509]

Looking forward to LOTS of pics! :thumbsup:

 

[EddieWalker]

Great story on buying your land. I'm looking forward to following your progress.

Eddie

 

[mjncad]

Congratulations on your new dirt and forthcoming outbuilding. Your land reminds me of our 35-acres, except you have trees in the picture and we don't. Your building size is the same one I was hoping to build on our property.

Lots of pics please!

 

[srs]

Here are pictures from weekend of October 31st.

Beautiful piece of property! Congratulations! Please follow up with pics. Will enjoy your project just like Obeds.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

On Saturday November 13 we met someone who educated us with useful information about the culvert and building permit. Yesterday we spoke to the County. Last night we put a stake/marker at the proposed location for our new entrance/driveway, today we submitted a verbal request to the County "road and bridge dept" & tomorrow they will inspect the location - they will report back to us letting us now what size pipe we need to buy. It ends up they'll do the culvert work for a neglible amount. Today we sent an application along with a $50 fee to the County "engineering - permit dept" - in the next 1-3 days they'll issue a building permit and release of power. It ends up these two steps are protocol.

 

[ustmd]

Well, I feel a whole lot better about what we had to do up in Travis County .

One thing I didn't see on the list was septic...I saw you have electric and water, but is there an existing system/sewer connection? Up here in travis, septic permits are often the biggest hurtle to being able to occupy your land.

I am looking forward to your progress...it will be fun to watch someone else slog through the mud

 

[77transam]

Can't wait!:thumbsup: I'm subscribed!

 

[ITHINKICAN]

Anyone need a good laugh?

I'm pulling in to a restaurant parking lot last Friday - I answer my phone even though I didn't recognize the number... He is Q and I am Me...

Q: "Hello - is this ____ _____ ?"
Me: "Yes sir. How can I help you?"
Q: "This is Officer ____ ____ with the Sheriffs dept." "Do you own some land out on _____ _____ ?"
Me: "Yes sir. How can I help you?"
Q: "Can you tell me the story about the gravel on your Road out there?"
Me: "Hmmm. I'm not sure. What would you like to know...?"
Q: "We have a report from ____ ____ at the County Road and Bridge dept." "He says you are stealing it and putting it on your land."
Me: "Hmmmmmm. Not exactly."
Q: "We have a complaint filed - I can see similar gravel on your land - you should tell me what is going on."
Me: "I'd prefer to speak to Mr ____ " "It might be easier for me to explain."
moment of silence
Me: I say "Ah you know what - what the heck - I have nothing to hide..." "We went to our land two weeks ago and we noticed the roadway looked real nice on the approach but as we got closer to our ranch we noticed a line of gravel and huge clumps of dirt/grass literally sitting on the road." "...for some reason it was manicured real nice but it ended at our property line. It looked awful. So we returned last weekend and it was still there. So I took my tractor and box/scraper blade and went down the street trying to even it out. After dragging it several hundred feet I noticed I collected a whole lot of gravel. I had no idea what to do with it. I tried several times to get it organized and evened out - after a while of going back and forth - I gave up. So I took my FEL and lifted it and placed it on my land where my new driveway will be located." "I swear - it was an innocent mistake."

Realizing I just confessed to a crime I asked for the contact name and phone # at the County... I wrote it down... we went and we enjoyed lunch...

About an hour later when we were getting off the elevator my phone rang again... anther unfamiliar phone #... this time it was the woman at the County/Road & Bridge - she was calling to let me know about the culvert we had ordered. She said to buy 18" by a minimum of 20'. After we were done speaking I asked if she knew ____ ____ - she replied "Yes. He is my boss." I ask to be transferred. I start off with an apology and then I tell him my tale - then I offer to pay for any damage(s) - I was trying to keep the mood light - he made it easy enough - we talked about many topics - we spoke for almost an hour... he was a super nice guy... he laughed part of the time - he then admitted it isn't easy to work with a box blade and then basically said "no harm no foul" - he was glad to hear we weren't intentionally stealing their gravel...

It ends up - the County "carves" the edge of gravel roads after heavy rain storms - promotes better drainage - they return about a week later to remove the clumps of dirt & dead grass - I must have gotten to it before they did...
(end)

Part of me feels embarrassed - the other part "not so much". Actually it is as funny today retelling it as it was on Friday when it actually happened... Just another happenstance to make this whole tractor and ranch deal a little more exciting

 

[mjncad]

You're lucky in this cash strapped economy that the county bureaucrats were a decent bunch. So many Gummint agencies are looking for all sorts of new revenue streams to separate you from your money.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

If I were guessing - I'd say it came down to a combination of (99%) Good Luck and (1%) the fact that I fessed up and told the truth without wasting their time which would have also been an insult to their intelligence...

 

[ITHINKICAN]

Photo's from about two weeks ago - first attempts at clearing the pad site - I was pulling with the scarifier teeth down. Later that same weekend I tried to pull with the box/scraper blade - didn't work - it was before I new about adjusting the upper link.