Our New 60x40x16 Metal Building Thread

[srs]

Do you know (or does anyone know) the maximum amount of select fill, in inches, before it becomes counterproductive? We're thinking go as high as possible - it will reduce the chance of water entering in a heavy heavy hurricane type rain.

Morton Buildings require that the site is level so what I did is have a local excavator come out to prepare the area for the building. I can't recall how many but it seemed like the trucks bringing stone in never stopped coming. In the front of the building I only needed several inches but in the back where it drops off it took a considerable amount of stone. The excavator built a dirt retaining wall for the stone and then proceeded to drive back and forth with his heavy wheeled tractor to compact the stone.

I found a picture of my building showing how low it is to the ground. Actually it is one of the garden pictures with the building in the background! Anyway it shows the grass right up against the metal. I'll eventually remove the grass and a few inches of dirt to make it lower. The blacktop is sloping toward the garage door but fortunately the blacktop installer made a swale (?) so that any water heading toward the door is diverted to the side into the grass. I've been very lucky not to have any water enter the building. Plus the concrete floor has a 1 inch lip and the garage door sits below the level concrete floor. If I would have raised the "whole" building in the first place none of this would have been an issue.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Morton Buildings require that the site is level so what I did is have a local excavator come out to prepare the area for the building. I can't recall how many but it seemed like the trucks bringing stone in never stopped coming. In the front of the building I only needed several inches but in the back where it drops off it took a considerable amount of stone. The excavator built a dirt retaining wall for the stone and then proceeded to drive back and forth with his heavy wheeled tractor to compact the stone.

I found a picture of my building showing how low it is to the ground. Actually it is one of the garden pictures with the building in the background! Anyway it shows the grass right up against the metal. I'll eventually remove the grass and a few inches of dirt to make it lower. The blacktop is sloping toward the garage door but fortunately the blacktop installer made a swale (?) so that any water heading toward the door is diverted to the side into the grass. I've been very lucky not to have any water enter the building. Plus the concrete floor has a 1 inch lip and the garage door sits below the level concrete floor. If I would have raised the "whole" building in the first place none of this would have been an issue.

Very nice building and property!!! :thumbsup: Your grass looks like a golf course!!! What size is your building?

 

[dcyrilc]

Do you know (or does anyone know) the maximum amount of select fill, in inches, before it becomes counterproductive? We're thinking go as high as possible - we want to reduce the chances of water entering in a heavy heavy hurricane type rain - like mentioned.

As long as it's properly filled and compacted there is no realistic limit for your purposes. They build approaches for freeway ramps 20-30 feet thick where they need to go over another highway. The key is having someone who knows what they're doing and has the right equipment do the work.

 

[srs]

Very nice building and property!!! :thumbsup: Your grass looks like a golf course!!! What size is your building?

thanks. 30 x 45 x 11

 

[ITHINKICAN]

Very nice building and property!!! :thumbsup: Your grass looks like a golf course!!!

Agreed. Wow that place is really really nice!! I miss those great colors!! I just checked with my inlaws-Richard/Ann live in Street & most everyone else are in Bel Air. We used to drive through Jarrettsville on our way from Delta to Bel Air. We were young so we'd always try a new scenic route. There were one or two great Country roads that ran parralel with a great creek.

As long as it's properly filled and compacted there is no realistic limit for your purposes. They build approaches for freeway ramps 20-30 feet thick where they need to go over another highway. The key is having someone who knows what they're doing and has the right equipment do the work.

Thank you for the reply. I think we'll do it based on price (the amount of select fill that is) if it is cheap enough we'll go overboard - meanwhile I'll read some TBN threads and then I will double check with the Company that is building the building - the Owner is an expert with laying concrete - they've done many many buildings and many large shopping centers and malls etc etc. Hopefully it comes down to buy select fill, drop it, spread it, level it & compact it - hopefully it doesn't require algorithms . I know they intend to do 6 mil poly on top of our dirt and then an abundance of rebar before the 4" of 3000 psi concrete.

 

[srs]

Agreed. Wow that place is really really nice!! I miss those great colors!!

Thanks so much! Speaking of colors here are a few more. Not to hijack this thread, back to YOUR project. Have a great Thanksgiving too!!

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Thanks so much! Speaking of colors here are a few more. Not to hijack this thread, back to YOUR project. Have a great Thanksgiving too!!

Start a thread in the photos section. :thumbsup:

 

[mjncad]

I know they intend to do 6 mil poly on top of our dirt and then an abundance of rebar before the 4" of 3000 psi concrete.

I know it's easy to spend your money; but I'd go 6" and 5,000 PSI if you can afford it.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

I know it's easy to spend your money; but I'd go 6" and 5,000 PSI if you can afford it.

I'll ask them Monday to see if it is affordable. Thank you for the input.

I just called and tried to order the fill - I called both numbers - neither answered. I guess they are closed today. Can anyone tell me how to convert length, width and inches in to amount of dirt - so I can sound intelligent when I order the select fill. Building is 60x40. How much would I need for 1 inch, 6 inch and 12 inch of select fill. I believe each truck holds 12-14 tons. Also is 1 ton = to 1 yard? Thank you!!

 

[ustmd]

I'll ask them Monday to see if it is affordable. Thank you for the input.

I just called and tried to order the fill - I called both numbers - neither answered. I guess they are closed today. Can anyone tell me how to convert length, width and inches in to amount of dirt - so I can sound intelligent when I order the select fill. Building is 60x40. How much would I need for 1 inch, 6 inch and 12 inch of select fill. I believe each truck holds 12-14 tons. Also is 1 ton = to 1 yard? Thank you!!

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic ft (3 ft h x 3 wide x 3 deep)

For a 60 ft by 40 ft area 12 inches deep, you need:

60 x 40 x 1 =2400 cubic ft

2400 cubic ft / 27 = 88.9 cubic yards.

However, when you compact the material, you will lose some volume (depending on the material, it can be as much as 30%).

As for the weight/volume relationship, it depends on the material. I have always been told that an 18 wheeler truck = 16 yds and a dump truck = 8 yds.

I would be a little concerned about building up a platform for the slab without doing a lot of filling and shaping of the land. Depending on the water flow, I would worry about the fill washing out form under the slab.

If you have the money, try investing in a thicker slab instead of the fill (after materials and labor for the fill, it may be close to the same price).

 

[dcyrilc]

I'll ask them Monday to see if it is affordable. Thank you for the input.

I just called and tried to order the fill - I called both numbers - neither answered. I guess they are closed today. Can anyone tell me how to convert length, width and inches in to amount of dirt - so I can sound intelligent when I order the select fill. Building is 60x40. How much would I need for 1 inch, 6 inch and 12 inch of select fill. I believe each truck holds 12-14 tons. Also is 1 ton = to 1 yard? Thank you!!

Most trucks typically hold 10 or 12 yards. Using your weights, 1 yard would be just over a ton.

As for the math... 1 yard is 3ft x 3ft x 3ft. A cubic yard. Multiply the total feet in all three directions and divide by 27 to get yardage (27 cubic feet in a yard [3x3x3=27]).

60 x 40 x 1 (1 foot thick) = 2400 cubic feet / 27 = 88.88 cubic yards or about 8-9 truck loads.
60 x 40 x .5 (6" is .5ft) = 1200 cubic feet / 27 = 44.44 cubic yards or about 4-1/2 truck loads.
60 x 40 x .0833 (1/12 or 1") = 200 cubic feet / 27 = 7.407 cubic yards. Less than 1 truck.

 

[srs]

[QUOTE

If you have the money, try investing in a thicker slab instead of the fill (after materials and labor for the fill, it may be close to the same price).[/QUOTE]

Would it make any sense to have a thicker concrete perimeter and 4 inches in the center portion? I'm guessing the center "fill" would be cheaper than solid concrete. Wondering what more qualified concrete people suggest?

 

[hotiron01]

Looks like a nice piece of property! :thumbsup: Which part of Fort Bend county are you located? I'm in Wharton county, so we're practically neighbors.
David

 

[ITHINKICAN]

Thank you for the replies.

This morning I went down to the Road & Bridge dept - I paid the $150 fee for the culvert permit (includes labor/material/installation - but not the pipe) - they referred me to MDN in Beasley for the pipe - 18"X20' @ $255 plus tax ($100 cheaper than McCoys) - they also told me to go check my main road; luckily I had my camera (they were installing all new gravel this morning). I am very impressed with the people who work for our County.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

I also went to Sprint and ordered the select fill - 60/40. Each trucks hold approx 12 yards (I'd guesss it might vary 10-14 yards) so I ordered 15 truck loads @ 75.00 each. The Manager was a friend of a friend - we talked baseball, dirt bikes and building a pond for almost an hour.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

It should be approx 150 yards (assuming worst case). I got there as the sun set and took a couple quick photos. Then I spent 2+ hours (felt like 5+ hours) trying to flatten it. It isn't easy; I kinda wish I knew what I was doing. Anyway, I'll give it another try tomorrow night - then I might have to hire someone to finish it up.

 

[wedge40]

It should be approx 150 yards (assuming worst case). I got there as the sun set and took a couple quick photos. Then I spent 2+ hours (felt like 5+ hours) trying to flatten it. It isn't easy; I kinda wish I knew what I was doing. Anyway, I'll give it another try tomorrow night - then I might have to hire someone to finish it up.

The boys didn't get to bring their Tonka trucks to play in the dirt?

 

[ustmd]

I also went to Sprint and ordered the select fill - 60/40. Each trucks hold approx 12 yards (I'd guesss it might vary 10-14 yards) so I ordered 15 truck loads @ 75.00 each. The Manager was a friend of a friend - we talked baseball, dirt bikes and building a pond for almost an hour.

For up here, that is a good price on the material.

 

[wedge40]

I also went to Sprint and ordered the select fill - 60/40. Each trucks hold approx 12 yards (I'd guesss it might vary 10-14 yards) so I ordered 15 truck loads @ 75.00 each. The Manager was a friend of a friend - we talked baseball, dirt bikes and building a pond for almost an hour.

I got about 10-12 yards of fill dirt (clay) delivered for $100, so I'd say that a pretty good price. I guess I need to ask about some mix like you're getting delivered.

Wedge

 

[firefighter9208]

It should be approx 150 yards (assuming worst case). I got there as the sun set and took a couple quick photos. Then I spent 2+ hours (felt like 5+ hours) trying to flatten it. It isn't easy; I kinda wish I knew what I was doing. Anyway, I'll give it another try tomorrow night - then I might have to hire someone to finish it up.

You need something heavy to spread and pack that fill. Like a full size backhoe or dozier. Then it needs to rain on it and it settle before erecting your building on it. That way it won't settle when you pour concrete and your concrete crack.

Chris