Project Man Cave

[Wrench]

Well, it's about time I quit procrastinating and start a thread on my current project!

I moved to West Richland recently to a little bigger house and much bigger lot. Plans are coming together and I will be building a 32x50 work shop next to the house.

Pics will come soon!

[OldGreen]

LOVE IT!!

[SPR]

Wrench, Are you building it entirely yourself? I learned a few hard lessons while building mine. Get a hold of me if you're interested in my info.

[Wrench]

Wrench, Are you building it entirely yourself? I learned a few hard lessons while building mine. Get a hold of me if you're interested in my info.

Yes, building and designing. I will hire a crew to lay the foundation, and get the trusses from Northwest Truss, but the rest will be done by me and whoever would like to help.

Plans:
-Stick-built. The inspector in W. Richland will allow me to draw up my own "non-engineered" plans if I stick with max 15' wall height 2x6 walls 16" OC. My walls will be 15' exactly.
-Trusses: NW Truss, and they will deliver and drop them on my walls for me; no special lift or hoist needed.
-Roof and siding: Asphalt roof and vertical-lap siding color-matched to the house.
-Monolithic poured foundation. This is an easy one. The exact specs are on W. Richlands website, so that work is done for me. It also made it extremely easy to get an accurate estimate from the concrete specialists.
-Will have one 12'W 14'H garage door on the front (big enough for any RV), and a standard 36" Man-Door. And a few windows here and there for sunlight to come in.

I plan to get the roof and walls up by winter, but the electrical, insulation, and interior paneling will have to wait until later.

[SPR]

I'm rather surprised that W. Richland will grant you a building permit for a large structure without plans Wet Stamped by an engineer... lucky you. You saved $500 right from the get go.

Now, You may want to take your rough drawings to Payless Lumber in Hermiston to have them give you a bid on the materials including doors and windows (call them in advance and set up an appointment). I found that no one from Tri-Cities could touch his prices and service (lots of freebies delivered to my site). Be certain to speak to them very early in the process...they will set you right from the get go and at the very least, give you a detailed list of materials (cool building software) that you can use to get other bids.

They may bid out the materials with green lumber, but you may want to ask for builder's preferred lumber which is drier that green lumber but wetter that dried lumber. The builder preferred handles air nailers well. The dry stuff often splits when nailed on the ends with air-nailers. I have cool Pasload gas nailer that you should check out.

I got a lot more free advice (lighting, insulation, heating) if you're interested....

[Wrench]

Thank you, that was very helpful!

I was going to try the Lowe's Military discount route first and see how their prices compare to Payless. Lowe's will give a 10% Military discount and take another 5% off if I use their charge card for the purchase. Home Depot wont stack discounts like that.

I have heard that Payless lumber is about the best for price. I also heard that if the order is big enough, they will deliver for free?

As for nail guns, I have a few air guns that should work well.

I havent looked into lights , but I plan on running 50A 220V service out there. I'll probably just keep my eyes on Craigs List for some good Halide shop lights.

As for heating, I have one of those propane cannons that works very well. Would be nice to have a used-oil heating system, but those are spendy.

[sillyputty]

Idea for heating system.
Have you thought of a radiant floor heating system?
A buddy of mine is doing this as we speak and all the piping for his 36X36 shop cost less that $500.
The heat source will be a hot tub heater. There are other heat sources available.
If the shop is well insulated it should have no problem keeping it warm.
There is quite a lot of info on the interwebs on success stories of this system.

If I had it to do over again I would be installing one myself. Just another idea for you to look at.

Here is a link for piping solutions
http://www.blueridgecompany.com/
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[Wrench]

Thanks, I have been thinking about that!

Idea running through my head:
-I already have a propane "cannon" that needs a propane line and 110v source. If I plumb the shop for propane and use a propane/110v water heater, that should be pretty efficient. I could maintain a cooler temp with the water heater, then have the cannon for backup if more heat is needed.

Looks like this project will have to wait until the funds get boosted back up. The knee surgery put a huge damper on my efforts and a very large dent in the funds. Having insurance with a high deductible isnt really even worth it...


Oh, almost forgot: last time I was in Lowe's, they let me stack a 10% off coupon with my military discount and with the 5% discount for using the Lowe's card.

[Wrench]

Now that my permit is nearing expiration...


...progress begins!

[mattawajeep]

Oh man, cement work in this heat musta been fun.

[TJDave]

Hmmm. That looks like it's going to be big enough to store my motorhome and boat in this winter.

Congrats on getting it going.

[Wrench]

Oh man, cement work in this heat musta been fun.

All I did was take pics and write the check.

[Burchae]

Wrench, Are you building it entirely yourself? I learned a few hard lessons while building mine. Get a hold of me if you're interested in my info.

Yes, building and designing led lights. I will hire a crew to lay the foundation, and get the trusses from Northwest Truss, but the rest will be done by me and whoever would like to help.

Plans:
-Stick-built. The inspector in W. Richland will allow me to draw up my own "non-engineered" plans if I stick with max 15' wall height 2x6 walls 16" OC. My walls will be 15' exactly.
-Trusses: NW Truss, and they will deliver and drop them on my walls for me; no special lift or hoist needed.
-Roof and siding: Asphalt roof and vertical-lap siding color-matched to the house.
-Monolithic poured foundation. This is an easy one. The exact specs are on W. Richlands website, so that work is done for me. It also made it extremely easy to get an accurate estimate from the concrete specialists.
-Will have one 12'W 14'H garage door on the front (big enough for any RV), and a standard 36" Man-Door. And a few windows here and there for sunlight to come in.

I plan to get the roof and walls up by winter, but the electrical, insulation, and interior paneling will have to wait until later.

You are going right way.

[Wrench]

Lumber has arrived. If any of you would like to help frame this weekend, just give me a jingle.

509-947-7504

[SPR]

I would like to help Paul, but I made plans to take my son to Pick Up a Mountain. Maybe I can help you out the following weekend if you're still at it and would like a little help.

[Wrench]

The side (long) walls are ready to raise!

We will be raising the walls tomorrow evening. If you are interested in helping out and getting your belly filled, please stop by! Free food off the grill, and we can use as many hands as possible. I am thinking around 5pm is a good time.

Steve, if you can make it, could you please bring that paslode gun so I can see it? I will need something for the siding nails. Thanks!

I live here:
http://www.mapquest.com/?version=1.0&hk=1-ekdBI77I

[Wrench]

What, no 'Putter help??

Had about 15 guys show up. We had the long walls raised and the end walls assembled and raised in less than two hours.

[SPR]

Paul,

There was a jeep run called for that weekend. Otherwise, I would had been there.

[Wrench]

As it sits now:

Exterior is completed, all except paint.






Current project: I put on my "electrician" hat and havent caught anything on fire or zapped anyone yet...

[SPR]

Very cool. You should offer up your place for the next PP social.

[Wrench]

Very cool. You should offer up your place for the next PP social.

After the walls are done. I just had a load of insulation delivered today and its a little cramped in there now.

[Wrench]

'rock and lights are in.

[Chrispy]

looks very good.

[Wrench]

The attic is now insulated, so the whole shop is now insulated. It is amazing how cold weather changes your motivations to insulate better...

The cool thing is that even with only a tiny space heater in the office inside the shop, the shop interior temp has stayed above 40 degrees lately, even with the low temps we have been having outside. Hope to see some improvement with the ceiling now insulated!

Left to do:
-final elec. inspection
-concrete for watershed around exterior
-paint interior walls and ceiling

[Roman]

Paint the ceiling? That's one long roller handle...