The Ins and Outs of Building a Shop.

(Click on each thumbnail for full size picture.)

First the topsoil is removed.

Next, we level the land for grade.  Good thing I bought a backhoe loader this spring.

Holes are drilled for the concrete piles.

The concrete is poured into the holes.

Once the concrete in the piles is set, the grade beam forms are installed.

After the concrete has set in the forms, the forms are removed and the grade beam is ready for the lumber.

The trusses have arrived!  It's time to turn this pile of wood into something.

The work is slow but sure.  With the use of the backhoe and 3 lengths of Radio Shack tower, the trusses keep going up.

Finally, the trusses are all standing, and NO, it's not an underground building.

Next we add the gable ends.

Now the 2X4 strapping is added for fastening the tin to later.

And the work goes on.

Almost there.

It's time for the tin.  Take note that there are a several days between pictures.

This job was a bit more exciting.  At least it started to resemble the finished product.  

Well, that's one side.

With the roof tin on, it was time to build a stand for the roof while the rest of the shop walls were assembled.

Although not shown, it took 3 attempts to move the roof off of the grade beam.  First attempts were with 26 ton picker trucks.  Ended up using cranes.  Total estimated weight of the roof was 11 to 12 tons.

Next we built the walls.  The end ones were one piece and each long wall was built in two pieces.

Just another angle of the wall framing.

Both end walls were built first as they were 50' long.  This allowed for the sections of the long walls to be built on top as they were only 40' each.

Finally, the framing is done.  Time to arrange for a picker truck.

Another good day.  In just over 3 hours, the walls were standing and braced.  Taking shape!

Earlier, I mentioned that it would be nice to have something to drink.  Well, this is the water line from the well to the shop.  About 550' of it at about 8' of depth.  Gets cold up here.  -50C or worse.  Frost goes down 6' or more.  Again I say, "Good thing I bought a backhoe."

And the other end of the water line.  The well and the pitless adapter on the well casing.  Time to backfill.

Back to the shop.  Lets to put the roof on.

Easy does it.

Now that was easy.  And, they didn't even drop it.  Sure beats trying to work with those trusses and 27' long sheets of tin 20' up.

Time to stand back and admire the accomplishment.  Kind of gives one a warm and fuzzy feeling all over.  

I told you it got the family together.  Even if it was 20' up the wall.  Son Vincent and yours truly getting the eve ready for the soffit material.  Thumbs up!

Soffits are done and it's time for the tin.  No, the wall wasn't leaning.  Just the cameraman.

Here goes nothing.  Back to the thousands of screws.  All told, there was about 8 thousand screws on the outside of the building.

Well, that's one wall.  Let's not stop now.

Another hard days work.

More screws, more tin, more shape.  Looking Good!

Ok, just one more wall left.  I know, what happened to the windows?  They will be cut in once the house is built.  More secure without windows at this time.

Time to celebrate.  At least the tin on the outside is up.  

Add a few doors and you have a shop.  Now that was easy wasn't it.  Of course my kids were ready to disown me and the wife was talking to lawyers about a separation but they were proud of our accomplishment.

I hated to disappoint the crew but, the job wasn't done yet.  Ah, the fun part.  Insulation.  Better hurry, getting colder outside and we still have no heat or power.

Now that's better.  Heat, power and just about finished the tin on the inside.

Not quite finished but just in time, temperatures going down to -15C for the next few days.  Toys are inside.  Will have to put the concrete floor in next spring. Started the project the first week of July and it took until the end of November to get to this stage.  Lost 30 lbs and feeling great.  Time to take a rest. 

Spring of 2000 we are back at it again.  The floor drain system is framed in.  Mesh, heat pipe (for floor heat) and rebar are installed next.  Almost time for the concrete.  Needless to say, within a few weeks, all was complete.

By spring of 2001 a 20' by 50' mezzanine was added and on that level a washroom and 16' by 16' office was also closed in.  Of course, like expected, it's filling up fast.

Should you have any questions regarding this project,  please feel free to email me and I will try to answer them.  va7vr@awink.com

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