40x40x16 steel tractor shop

[mjncad]

here are some more pictures to get you up to date. had to go get a few more parts yesterday since the boss made me move the personnel door 5" to make the bathroom a little bigger will get some help this weekend to put up the rake C channel and rake angle then it is ready to sheet oh I forgot about the window placement. wonder how many times the boss will change the locations

Be sure to tell the boss that "Change Orders cost money!" When I used to be in the engineering business, telling customers that fact of life got them to make up their mind and stick with their decisions. If the boss doesn't like that statement, feel free to blame me for it.

Nice looking building and tractor.

 

[Nathan_OR]

Nice project, thanks for taking time to post pics.

I know next to nothing about foundation work, but when I put in a footing at the base of a retaining wall I built, the engineering specs required me to use standoffs to keep all metal reinforcing parts (the rebar in this case) out of contact with the dirt. I noticed the wire mesh in your slab floor was laid on the ground and poured over. This is interesting to me because 1) it is in contact with the ground and 2) it doesn't look like you put down a base of crushed gravel (we use 3/4- here in Oregon). Is this because your soil never carries moisture?

Thanks,
Nathan

PS: How on earth did you manage those i-beams solo?! They look like they are ~16' long and hundreds of pounds each!

 

[volcamp]

Be sure to tell the boss that "Change Orders cost money!" When I used to be in the engineering business, telling customers that fact of life got them to make up their mind and stick with their decisions. If the boss doesn't like that statement, feel free to blame me for it.

Nice looking building and tractor.

That's why ya always have to add the caviot, "Field Run To Suit"

 

[mfrost]

Nice project, thanks for taking time to post pics.

I know next to nothing about foundation work, but when I put in a footing at the base of a retaining wall I built, the engineering specs required me to use standoffs to keep all metal reinforcing parts (the rebar in this case) out of contact with the dirt. I noticed the wire mesh in your slab floor was laid on the ground and poured over. This is interesting to me because 1) it is in contact with the ground and 2) it doesn't look like you put down a base of crushed gravel (we use 3/4- here in Oregon). Is this because your soil never carries moisture?

Thanks,
Nathan

PS: How on earth did you manage those i-beams solo?! They look like they are ~16' long and hundreds of pounds each!

Nathan, The wire mesh got pulled up as the concrete was placed and that is normal procedure around here. You are right all steel in the foundation or slab must not have ground contact or it wouild rust out. As you can see I suspended all of my bar to maintain close to the 3" concrete cover as required.

This sand here gets hard as a rock with a little water and compaction.

On the columns I had 3 people lifting, 3 people on ropes to maintain balance and 1 safety guy in charge. I work surprisingly well. It was succesful because we had no injuries. They are 16 footers.

 

[mfrost]

Be sure to tell the boss that "Change Orders cost money!" When I used to be in the engineering business, telling customers that fact of life got them to make up their mind and stick with their decisions. If the boss doesn't like that statement, feel free to blame me for it.

Nice looking building and tractor.

mjncad, thanks for the advice but it didn't make any points for me and I was told to tell you that you got less than I did. Have any window placement advice???

 

[mjncad]

That's why ya always have to add the caviot, "Field Run To Suit"

My favorite note that we placed on drawings to shift blame...err...responsibility was "BY OTHERS."

 

[mjncad]

mjncad, thanks for the advice but it didn't make any points for me and I was told to tell you that you got less than I did. Have any window placement advice???

That's why I was more than happy to be the scapegoat for you.

As for window placement...pick the wall that faces the best view and locate the window there. It makes it easy to daydream when in the shop, and things aren't going well.

Seriously, window placement obviously depends on how many windows, their size and what kind of ventilation and daylighting you want to accomplish with them. An architect turned electronics inventor friend of mine built an 800 square foot addition onto the back of his home with a small mechanical room, bathroom, closet and large shop area. Three of the four walls are lined with awning style windows that bring in lots of daylight.

Since an outbuilding shop is still a fantasy for me, I know I would have a mechanical room, bathroom, and office/design studio separate from the shop area. The office would have windows as I have spent way too many years in windowless cube farms. As for windows in the main shop area, I would have to let shop function and budget determine where and how many are installed. Though I wouldn't mind a few for daylighting and external appearance of the building (too many years being around architects).

 

[mfrost]

That's why I was more than happy to be the scapegoat for you.

As for window placement...pick the wall that faces the best view and locate the window there. It makes it easy to daydream when in the shop, and things aren't going well.

Seriously, window placement obviously depends on how many windows, their size and what kind of ventilation and daylighting you want to accomplish with them. An architect turned electronics inventor friend of mine built an 800 square foot addition onto the back of his home with a small mechanical room, bathroom, closet and large shop area. Three of the four walls are lined with awning style windows that bring in lots of daylight.

Since an outbuilding shop is still a fantasy for me, I know I would have a mechanical room, bathroom, and office/design studio separate from the shop area. The office would have windows as I have spent way too many years in windowless cube farms. As for windows in the main shop area, I would have to let shop function and budget determine where and how many are installed. Though I wouldn't mind a few for daylighting and external appearance of the building (too many years being around architects).

Ordered 3- 4030 sliders with the shop 2 - 4 foot skylights. I think I will get a small window for the bathroom. The bathroom is 5'x5' and is going to have a toilet, sink and a shower head on one wall. I have 2 outside walls, as it is the corner of the shop so I think as long as it is above the shower head I should be OK. I think that will be better that having to install a exhaust fan.

With the metal building it shouldn't be much of a problem adding a window later if needed.

 

[mfrost]

Finally made it back with some more pictures. Got it all framed and decided to hire out the siding of it. it has been dragging out to long. They are doing a good job on the installation.

 

[Raspy]

Your place looks a lot like mine. Beautiful desert. I'm getting ready to build a 48 x 60 steel building and finish it out as a 3 bdrm, 2 bath home with oversized garage/shop. I'll start leveling in about 3 weeks, building is ordered and will be delivered in October. I'm planning on bare concrete floors with radiant heating. Can't wait.


John