Started construction this week!!! (page 3&4 very pic heavy)

[jeepinmatt]

Thanks for bumping this. I guess its time for another update. I basically spent a year doing the foundation work. I had a lot to learn and a lot to battle. Gaston County was very difficult to get a clear answer out of regarding foundation design. I had one inspector tell me to fill it with clay and compact it every couple feet and it would be fine. I had another tell me that it had to be engineered and stamped because of the height. Technically they don't inspect "garage" foundations, so the first guy was kind of right, but I didn't want to take any chances, and I'm prone to overbuilding stuff anyway. So I put a lot of steel and concrete in the block and got an engineers stamp on the fill. Once I was on the right track, I was able to get rolling.

Here I am laying the first block, November 27, 2009! I had never laid block before, so I made sure to use plenty of mortar. It was still fairly warm, and I thought I could get it done before Christmas...

Good help, but these are probably a little heavy for her. I found out later that they actually make lightweight blocks. The lightweight ones are ONLY 38lbs, while the normal ones are 56lbs. That makes a huge difference when you have to put down 200 of em and you have to lift half of them above chest height and set gently in place.

Here’s a good overview shot of the progress. I had just finished the front wall, completing the square.

Moving right along. Doesn’t look too bad for an amateur…

 

[jeepinmatt]

Me and dad getting it done. This was before his wreck (http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91573). We thought there would be a lot more of us working together on this project, but unfortunately it hasn’t worked out that way.

The wheelbarrow that lost the battle but won the war. It was from Hechinger’s, probably been a long time since anyone has heard that name. The bottom was rusted through, but enough concrete took care of that. Then the handle broke off, so I lashed an old shovel handle onto it. The frame was rotted/worn away from the axle bolt, so I had to lash that together too. It moved several tons of mortar and concrete, but finally gave up the ghost. She was a good one. I took the nice wheel and axle and put it on my newer made in china wheelbarrow and now it’s a ton better.

The lovely wife made these nice holes to run the well and septic through, with a framing hammer. She did an amazing job. There were two casualties here though.
#1 we didn’t have any safety glasses, and we decided here eyes were worth more than the Oakleys she was wearing, so the Oakleys ended up knicked, chipped and scratched.
#2 The foundation got filled a day ahead of schedule and I didn’t have the opportunity to run the elbows and uprights. It ended up being a waste of time and sunglasses.

We hid a lot of rebar in the walls, particularly the back, as it ended up with almost 6ft of unbalanced fill. The blocks were filled solid with concrete, one half gallon pitcher at a time. I had great help though!

In the end, I ended up with about $2500 in block, mortar, sand, concrete, rebar, and wire. I overbought on a few things, and I have a lot of block, rebar, and wire left. If anyone needs any 8" block or 5/8" rebar, let me know!

 

[jeepinmatt]

After bouts of indecision by Gaston County, I ended up getting an engineer’s stamp on the foundation, and filling it with crushed concrete. Its painful to bury $3000 UNDER your slab, but I was just ready to move along. All of the walls had a lot of rebar and wire in them, and they were then filled solid with concrete.

The concrete was done by D&M Concrete, and they did a fantastic job! Also, their price was very fair. Including engineering, gravel, filling, under slab stuff, concrete, and finishing, it was about $4600. The only downside is that they worked too fast and I didn’t get my plumbing chaises ran. That was my fault, not theirs.

Heres a little load testing. First time I was able to park a car in the garage, haha.

This is the view on the south end, and gives pretty good perspective of the grade.

And heres the north end.

For some reason this is the only action shot I have of them laying concrete. It was cold and rainy and I guess the lovely wife didn’t want to take any pictures.

Here’s the finished slab.

It’s a little difficult to tell from these pictures, but the workmanship was top notch.

 

[willness33]

Is that about where it stands now, Matt? If you need a hand framing sometime, I might be able to lend a hand. I have a framing nailer that doesn't see enough use. You buy the nails though.

 

[K45]

Looks good. I can relate on the wheelbarrel breaking. i was pouring an addition to my moms driveway and the handle broke in the middle. We had to scramble to find something because the concrete truck was not going to wait. Good luck with the rest of your project. i hope it goes smoothly for you.

 

[jeepinmatt]

I'm a bit farther along now. I'll update more later this week or early next. I've already got the pictures uploaded to Picasa, which is the part I always forget.

 

[jeepinmatt]

I guess its been long enough, I should update this thread. We moved in December 2011. Here's a bunch of pics from 2011.

First day of framing:

Starting to take shape:

 

[jeepinmatt]

I'm glad someone else is making all those cuts, I'm too particular, and don't have enough patience...

 

[retroedaddy]

Looks good man, my wife and I are planning the same thing. We bought land up in Person county, we plan to start building the garage next year,like 2014, which is tomorrow.... I'm glad you updated the thread, it gives me hope it can be done.

 

[XJfreakHO]

Lets see the finished product! Looks awesome.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Lets see the finished product! Looks awesome.

Sorry, had to go to lunch, I'm getting back to it

 

[jeepinmatt]

Didn't get many pictures of the electrical/HVAC/plumbing, but heres a few.

I was foolish enough to think I would actually have some attic space until a giant silver octopus showed up and invaded everything. It seems a bit overkill for less than 900sqft in my opinion. Maybe I'll optimize it one day.

 

[jeepinmatt]

I'm not afraid of ladders, but this is a little intimidating:

 

[jeepinmatt]

As much as I like working, I have to make time for one of my most favorite things
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FIRE!!!

 

[jeepinmatt]

And there are always visitors. This guy tried to go in the garage:

 

[jeepinmatt]

Once everything was dried in, I was able to settle down a little and start thinking through the kitchen layout. Autocad drawings are nice, but theres nothing like putting a couple boards in the space and then walking around it. Add a little bit of Manucad, and now you've got something.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Oh, did I mention all of the framing and drying in took place in the winter?

 

[jeepin' jen]

I was just thinking about this the other day, we're gearing up to buy land soon. Thanks for updating, it's come a long way & looks great! Looking forward to interior pics too!

 

[jeepinmatt]

I was just thinking about this the other day, we're gearing up to but land soon. Thanks for updating, it's come a long way & looks great! Looking forward to interior pics too!

Thanks for the compliments.


Just realized I don't have any more pics on this computer, so thats all for today. I'll try to post more tonight, but feel free to prod me if I don't deliver.

 

[justjeepin86]

That's a great spot! I really wish I would have thought like you when I was younger.

 

[RHSCTJ]

Show us the counter tops again! And the hand rail going up the steps. This place is awesome to see in person.

 

[jeepinmatt]

Show us the counter tops again! And the hand rail going up the steps. This place is awesome to see in person.

Yeah, I'll get there. And sorry for everyone who didn't see the original pics. They were on Webshots, and Webshots deleted everyone who didn't upgrade to their new entity.

 

[paradisePWoffrd]

I thought this might be for the new construction

 

[jeepinmatt]

I thought this might be for the new construction

Nah just the old construction. I think I started a new construction thread too.

 

[Hurley]

got any finished pictures of the interior, I love this thread!