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

 

[STx]

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

Not really, there's 24" of compacted fill, which is a mix of sandy loam and caliche fines. The grade beams are 36" deep so, they're on undisturbed soil that was tamped to pack any loose dirt from the beam excavation. They building load is all on the grade beams. The slab is on compacted fill. The fill is compacted tightly enough that a full dump truck didn't leave any depression.

 

[SandburRanch]

Is it a requirement to have the plumbing inspected in a rural area?

 

[AllenBurns]

I love seeing all that rebar in a slab. Your work looks great. I look forward to seeing your progress!

 

[STx]

Is it a requirement to have the plumbing inspected in a rural area?

No permits or inspections here. I'm seperating my grey and black water into 2 tanks. The black needs a vent still, I'm putting it outside. The grey is a shower drain in the slab and needs to come around to a sink and vent. Grey water will go to irrigation.

 

[jel1988]

Nice work, a good foundation make everything that follows easier.

 

[STx]

Long day but, it came out great. There was about 3 extra yards so we quickly formed up a patio where the walk door is going to go so as to not waste it.

Since it's 4,000 PSI and it's been warm (89 today), I could probably start erection Saturday or Sunday but, I'm going to let it sit until next Wednesday before removing the forms and putting any traffic on it. A few more days won't kill my schedule and it certainly won't hurt the slab to cure for a few extra days.

 

[two_bit_score]

Congratulations on the progress. Looking forward to following your project!

 

[EddieWalker]

Congrats on the pour. I've never waited more then a day or two to start framing and always take off the forms the day after the pour. Nothing wrong with waiting longer, but if I remember correctly, you are somewhere at 90 percent cured in a couple of days, 95 percent after a month, and 98 percent after a year. While I'm sure that's not completely accurate, it's close enough for understanding how quickly the slab is ready for working on.

 

[coldsteelva]

3 yards extra is better than 3 yards short. That is a good looking pour. Will you be sealing it, polishing it or epoxying the floor at all?

 

[GLyford]

There was about 3 extra yards so we quickly formed up a patio where the walk door is going to go so as to not waste it.

Did the same thing with a shed pour, made an 8x8 apron in front of the doors with some loose 2x's, no wire or rebar or anything. It has since had a 20 yard dump and a concrete truck roll across and break it...but all it has to do is keep the weeds down and give me a flat spot to work on my mower, and it still does that even broken so I am still happy with it.