So after getting necessary building permit it was onto some prep work.
My workshop build is very unusual. That is because I am building a finished room on a 4” concrete slab that is not anchored to the garage foundation and that has no footing. This may be a recipe for disaster but I discussed this with a structural engineer, and 2 foundation contractors. Their attitude was “Its just a workshop? You’ll be fine.” Very reassuring. So I had a contractor pour footings under the 4 posts supporting the roof over the patio for a few hundred dollars.
As soon as the footers were poured we started with some demolition. And as I said, I wanted to do all the work myself. So here is a pic of me doing some demolition (with the help of my wife) on the concrete slab to make it align with the front face of the garage:
After demo was completed we started framing in the walls. Here’s another pic of me working on the walls with my Dad:
Here I am making a good impression of holding a wall up:
And after the first weekend the completed frame:
In my next post I’ll continue with sheathing, siding, and door/windows.
-- Chris
5 comments so far
MarkTheFiddler
home | projects | blog
447 posts in 2942 days
posted 10-31-2012 05:02 AM
I’m not surprised that you didn’t have to connect the slab to the house. I heard the same from my foundation. What surprises me is that you were able to use 4 inches. I like the 2 by 6 construction. Am I seeing 24 inch centers.
Thanks very much for showing your project. I’m beginning to believe I can set one up. I think my electrical will cost me of change.
-- Working on my home for 2 years and counting.
Chris Hackett
home | projects | blog
6 posts in 2810 days
posted 10-31-2012 12:55 PM
Yeah, the framing is mostly 24” on center. Its hard to tell in the walls with the windows openings.
I did the electrical myself which saved me loads of money I’m sure. I still spent about 400$ on wire, lighting fixtures and outlets. 10 gauge wire is crazy expensive – over 1$ / foot. I used some of that for a dedicated electrical heater circuit, and some 240V outlets.
-- Chris
BillyJ
home | projects | blog
253 posts in 3977 days
posted 11-01-2012 01:28 AM
Nice work so far. Your workers are doing a great job :) – oh, and so are you! I know all about being the one everyone depends on to support the structure. It’s a thankless job, but someone has to do it.
I’m assuming you’re going to insulate the heck out of it. What are you going to use to cover the interior walls? Put in as many outlets as you can. You’ll never have enough (sort of like clamps).
-- No matter how many times I measure, I always forget the dimensions before I cut.
GaryL
home | projects | blog
206 posts in 3507 days
posted 11-01-2012 12:14 PM
Great progress. If you could have recruited more slaves..I mean helpers..it could have been closed in completely..with a great foreman on the job (you).
Was there already sufficient power in the garage to supply the shop?
-- The difference between a pro and an amateur, an amateur points out his mistakes
Chris Hackett
home | projects | blog
6 posts in 2810 days
posted 11-01-2012 06:52 PM
Billy – Thanks for the complements. Job foreman is the hardest job after all. As for the insulation, I am putting R25 in the walls, and about R45 in the ceiling. The walls I finally decided will be just drywall. I really considered the versatility of plywood/OSB but in the end I just like the look of drywall better. For outlets, I know what you mean. I ended up with 6 240V outlets and 11 120V outlets. I put several in the ceiling – 1 for an air cleaner, 1 for the electric heater and a pair in the center of the room for the tablesaw and router table.
Gary – Yeah, I am lucky that the previous owner had a pool installed. To run the pump he had a subpanel installed in the garage with 100 Amp service. We had no interest in the pool so we got rid of it. Now all that power is available for my shop.
-- Chris