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

[steve hochschild]

Big Thanks to all of you who responded!

Soil cement is what I was asking about, and after the suggestions here, 
I looked at a number of sites and documents.  An especially helpful one 
is a pdf from UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, /Using 
Soil-Cement on Horse and Livestock Farms/, Steve F. Higgins, D. Spencer 
Guinn and Donnie Stamper, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

I got a footings-only bid of $3500, but at this point I am probably 
going to do the job myself.  Once I staked it out, the two trenches 
didn't seem so daunting.

I think I can figure out the scraping, trenching, form building, and the 
wiring up of the rebar/stirrups - My remaining big question is how to do 
the concrete.  The big reason these bids are high is that the concrete 
would have to be pumped, but if I do it myself I would rent a cement 
mixer and mix it at the site.

I know it will take many batches per footing, and it will be over 95 or 
100 degrees when this happens, so I am worried that the concrete will 
set up before I get the footing filled.  One way would be to try to do 
the batches quicker, keep the mix in the trench moist, and mix them as I 
march down the footing.  But another suggested approach is to put in 
some dividers in the form, and do the complete height in each segment, 
let it set up, then remove the divider and pour the next segment.

Doing it myself is partially penance for my lack of planning, so I 
acknowledge that it will be a lot of hot, sweaty, dirty work, but I 
deserve it.

I am excited about finally getting a shaded space to work, and I 
appreciate the advice and counsel.



On 6/6/2012 8:02 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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