New Tractor Home - Construction

[Knight9]

Well it is slowly coming together. Last year I whipped up a 12' x 16' shed to store the tractor in. It worked well, but I needed more room for a skidoo, implements and a workshop. Decided to build a double detached garage.

This is a brief photo journal to date. This first shot is not very exciting. Just the staked out dirt area the garage is going into. The dimension are going to be 26' x 28'. This is the largest size the county I live in will allow as a floating slab without a full frost footing engineered foundation.

Kevin

 

[Knight9]

Here is a shot of the concrete slab after it was poured. It is 5" thick reinforced with rebar in an 18" grid. They did a really nice job on the finish as well.

Kevin

 

[Knight9]

This was after two walls were raised and the other built although they were still laying down. I did all the framing myself and had friend/family help me stand them up. Made a difference even having 2 walls up. Started to feel like some progress.

Kevin

 

[Knight9]

This evening we raised the two walls that were laying down. Trusses are supposed to be delivered tomorrow. That will be the next challenge.

I'm happy with how it is turning out although I'm sure many of you will point out how I'll wish it was bigger and fill it too soon /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I agree but there is a point where $$$ has to make the decision.

Kevin

 

[DUMBDOG]

You can just build another one beside it if it gets filled.

Looks like a great job.

 

[karmakanic]

Great job Kevin.

It's nice to see an outbuilding being built out of wood. Around here, everyone's going to metal. The south of the border steel is just too cheap to do otherwise. I built mine out of steel, but I sure like the looks of wood better. What are you going to use on the outside walls?

And keep us posted as the job proceeds.

Dave

 

[Knight9]

Hi Dave,

In our area here, steel is actually more expensive although only slightly. I like dealing with wood more anyway. I'm familiar with it and know how to build with it. Don't know anything about building with steel /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif.

The exterior will be clad with vinyl siding and the roof will have asphalt shingles....both to match the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/35-149063-NewLawnTwo.jpg>house</A>

I will certainly keep this thread up to date as we progress.

Kevin

 

[Knight9]

Been a long time coming with an update. Garage is up and shingled. This is all I'll do until the spring. Electrical is all done with the exception of exterior lights (wiring is ready just need to pick up fixtures).

Kevin

 

[Knight9]

Second shot from the side.


Kevin

 

[Knight9]

Final shot of other side of garage.


Kevin

 

[Hoeman00]

I don't know if u want to leave like that
for winter and spring.
I would wrap w/ tyvek or a building wrap,
this will stop water from soaking into
the osb.
This stuff also stop drafts too.

 

[cpicton1]

Very nice. /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif
Leaving the OSB exposed for extended periods can shorten its overall life. When OSB gets wet the ends swell and will cause you some problems. I would make an effort to cover it with something. After all that work and expense you don't want to have to tear the siding off in 5 years or so to redo the walls.

 

[Knight9]

Right you both are. I have two rolls of Tyvek in the garage. Just need to find a couple of hours of daylight to put it on. I'm not very concerned about moisture. We don't get rain in the winter here, and snow hasn't been an issue lately at all (unfortunately) but the air infiltration is the main reason I bought the house wrap.

Kevin

 

[Mosey]

Could you explain what is meant by a "floating slab"? Does that mean there are no footers going below the frost line, so it's a slab of concrete that's all 5" thick? Do you still have bolts in the concrete that stick up for the walls to attach to?

 

[Bird]

Danny, <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.howstuffworks.com/house4.htm>this link</A> may be about as good a description as you'll find. Frequently, in addition to the "beams" they show around the perimeter, there is one or more running from side to side, but no piers. And while they only show using a "mesh", I think using rebar is more common, at least in my part of the country. And I think sand is much more commonly used than gravel.

 

[Knight9]

Mosey,

Yes, the floating slab is just that....a 5" thick hunk of concrete. There is rebar in an 18" grid throughout the entire slab to give it strength. Bird is quite right for our area also, in that they use sand (with a very small amount of stone in it) as the sub base and compact it very firmly. They then set up the forms, add the rebar in the grid held off the sand about 1/2 way up in the 5" slab and pour the concrete.

If I had gone bigger, it would have required an engineered drawing for the footing/foundation and a full frost wall with piles etc. In other words...big $$$$.

Kevin