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

[Richard George]

Steve,

I had a buddy that had one of these buildings that he floored with some 
kind of  paver - seemed to work fine for car storage, etc.

Best,

rkg
(Richard George)

On 6/6/2012 6:02 PM, steve hochschild 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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