[Shop-talk] Metal building w/out slab?
steve hochschild
shochschild at att.net
Wed Jun 6 19:02:20 MDT 2012
I have a 25'x30'x12' self supporting metal building (really a tunnel, as
it has no ends) on the truck coming my way, as the first baby step
towards my own shop. For now it will be used as trailer storage, a
carport for my three dead cars, and welding space. I live on the
surface of the sun in Austin, Texas, so a shaded space is necessary.
The building only cost me $4500, and I don't plan to have any plumbing,
heat or AC now, but eventually I could add the ends, insulate it, and
air condition it, but not for a good while.
So I started meeting with concrete contractors today, and I have sticker
shock. I asked for a bid on a 'standard' slab for a metal building:
the vendor specifies 19"wide x 24"deep footers on the 30' sides, 8"
footers across the open ends, and a 4" slab, basically, with compressed
base, re-bar, vapor barrier and so on. One bid was for $6500 and the
other was $11,500.
I can't afford anywhere near that for what is essentially a glorified
carport, so I am thinking about just getting the footers and leaving the
slab part for later.
I guess I could lay down some gravel, but a friend of mine suggested
some kind of pressed earth floor? Anyone ever hear of something like that?
I am thinking I could come back later and finish the slab, is this
unreasonable?
What would you do?
I welcome all comments other than the ones I am hearing already, which
are taking the form of "Why did you get into this mess? Didn't you know
this was going to cost this much?"
Thanx!
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