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

[Elton E. (Tony) Clark]

*Check out the wiki on "soil cement".*
*All one needs is a good tiller (tractor mounted is best) and a grasp of
the technology . . the process is even used for landing strips and
secondary roads.  I had a pal that did his hanger floor with the technique
and it was very satisfactory .  .  . he had a dusty surface problem he
solved by brooming on a few 5 gallon cans of "boiled" linseed oil.  Go for
it.*
*Tony
*
On Wed, Jun 6, 2012 at 8:02 PM, steve hochschild <shochschild at att.net>wrote:

> 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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