Kinda both. Funny thing is that right after I answered Dave, my framer called. Miscalculation on the height inside due to the slab and the trusses. 18' sidewall on the outside of the building, 17'1" on the inside. So, the 9' ceilings will be left alone in the master bedroom, bathroom, laundry and closet. On the other side we have to reduce the height to 8' to compensate or I would end up with a 6'8" ceiling upstairs in the 2 other bedrooms and one bathroom. So, the shop office, upholstery room and storage is now going to have a 6' 8"ceiling. Oh well. I'm only 6'2". Plenty of room.
Quite the building, were I a young man the way our weather patterns have changed in the Midwest I would probably opt for some form of earthen storm structure, no idea how it would come about however..
Dirt car , I remember Mother Earth news building a structure out of used car tires , tamped dirt with a stucco finish. Sorry to have interrupted the progress report
Yesterday I had to mow my current place and do a few other things. We got like 9" of rain in 24 hours over the weekend. Which, in itself, is unheard of in August. I was mowing in 2" of water in the ditch, but it had to happen. Bermuda never sleeps. I think my Social Director wants to go down tonight and do some measurements for the wedding reception area. Hopefully, there is something to take pics of. Yesterday was adjusting for the ceiling deal, so maybe today we can start on the second floor.
Sounds like we have a second floor, the framer called me with yet another issue. This is wearing me out. I'll try and run out there tonight and take some pics. I need to check in on progress anyway.
I have heard from so many people that being your own sub contractor will make sure it is done right but is a living nightmare. Most people can not take any initiative and will stand around with their thumb up their butt waiting on someone else to make a decision(which is you)
The biggest problem I am running into is marrying a steel building to standard framing. The framer called this morning and some of the structure that was welded to the steel building trusses was in the way of the LVL beams on the second floor ceiling. They are going to have to cut it out and reweld it later about a foot higher.
Man thats coming together quick ! I've been wondering about how mixing the steel & wood framing would work out. Couple questions, what's the advantage of steel framing & If you were to do it again would you use wood ?
Steel is far superior as far as longevity. I have seen a few post and beam (pole barn) styles around town after a storm and the results aren't pretty. Steel may end up getting re-sheeted, but wood almost always are destroyed. Plus, the wooden posts have a life of about 30-40 years. Not a big deal if you are 60 years old, but what about if your kids have to sell it later? It's not that big of a deal marrying the two. My issues are more of a lack of understanding between the guy doing the drawing vs, the framers expectations.
One thing I should add is that this thread isn't me bragging or showing off. I am doing it to chronicle the build, mainly because I am so lazy I would never take pics. Plus, this helps a lot of guys visualize what it takes to get there. It is more complicated than one would think. Would I do it again? I would. I would make the sidewalls 20' though.
That makes sense on the metal frame work, Especially as we're both in Tornado prone areas. I can't see going through all that effort & not building something to last. I appreciate you taking the time to share your progress & answer questions as I'm learning from your efforts.
no window looking out to the shop from the shop office? how will the boss keep an eye on productivity???
Welp, I have 10 vintage windows I have collected. I just didn’t feel like trying to explain to the contractors why we were installing old timey windows, so I will do those myself. I need the life size template so I can figure the spacing.
"I have 10 vintage windows I have collected." So, the back-story is; you rehabbed an old house & that was ~ all that could be salvaged, esp when you built up-to new code(s). . Marcus...
Not really...there was a dude in Tulsa that worked for one of these vinyl window companies and he hated to see the old windows just get tossed, so he would haul them home and sell them cheap. He makes a little and saves some old architecture. I paid him like $20 per window for these. I've had these since page one of this build. I'm just getting around to using them soon.....
Did they raise that to allow for the floor trusses? I guess there will be a step at that walk to the floor area? You have a LOT of space, I'm green with envy.
Yeah, they did. The Master Bedroom, closet, shower, laundry room etc. all got raised on the lower level. 9' ceilings. The dining room and kitchen are 8'. I really didn't want a step up, because that means I'll end up with a ramp on one end of the storage area, due to the fact that I am building a cargo elevator and planned on having a industrial style cart to move the bigger stuff. Not a huge deal, I have been thinking I may hinge it to where it folds up inside the door out of the way, when not needed. Yesterday, I got a phone call from my framer quizzing me about why I didn't have any ceiling joists in the storage area....so, apparently they(the people that built the lumber package) forgot to spec all that out. Of course they did...what another $1200 amongst friends?
The Jalopy Journal
