My shop build

[STx]

Our power co-op gives away free utility poles to members so my initial plan was to use those to build a pole barn with a dirt floor but, our house in Houston finally sold so I decided to go ahead and build a metal building on a slab since we had some cash on hand and that was the ultimate goal anyway. I started at the beginning of December and am finally ready to pour the slab, it took a long time to get the pad done.

I started with this:



I mowed all the brush down and removed this pile of organic material:



Then I went and bought this:



so I could dig this:



and move 400 yards of this:



to build this:



It's taken what seems like forever to get to this point. I did everything up to building the forms by myself and have had a concrete contractor out the last few days to brace it and put in the rebar. Once they pour the slab, my wife and I will be doing the building erection. I had hoped to be complete by the end of Jan but, it looks like it's going to be mid Feb now. It took me a couple of weeks to find a dump truck and that slowed me down a lot. Then the weather didn't cooperate for a week or so but, I think I'm on track now.

 

[rjwassink67]

Looking great, keep the pictures coming! Can't wait to see the progress!

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Subscribed. I grew up ranching in Atascosa County... The definition of 'tough country.'

 

[EddieWalker]

Most impressive!!!! How far apart is your rebar?

 

[STx]

I had an engineer design the slab for me, the grade beams are 12"x36" with 4 #6 rebar in stirrups, interior beams are 12"x24" with the same rebar and the slab is #4 rebar on 12" grid. I only have an 18" bucket for the mini-ex so the beams are actually wider than the plans call for and the slab is going to be about 6" thick, 4,000 PSI concrete.

I plan to put a lift in here at some point and hope to one day get a CNC mill and maybe some other bigger tools so I wanted a slab that could support it. It's definitely overbuilt for what will be going into it right now, just some welding equipment, tools and storage.

While I'm really happy to finally be at the point to pour, I'm not looking forward to writing the check to the concrete supplier. I'm calculating 55 yards, ordered 60 to be safe but have a feeling that might be a little short. 4,000 PSI is $106/yard, plus tax so it'll be at least $6900.

 

[STx]

Got the anchor bolts installed and the plumbing covered up yesterday, concrete shows up at 8 this morning.

 

[coldsteelva]

You have done a ton of work. How thick is that poly sheeting?

 

[EddieWalker]

Can't wait to see how this turns out, especially seeing all that you put into the strength of the foundation!!! Good luck with the pour today.

 

[SandburRanch]

Am I reading this right that the building is being built on fill dirt?

 

[STx]

You have done a ton of work. How thick is that poly sheeting?

10 mil