[Shop-talk] Metal building w/out slab?

[steve hochschild]

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!