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When we sold our previous place back in June, we left 2 acres, a shop and a barn. We got rid of quit a few thing that were taking up room in both structures. This new place is only .54 of an acre with nothing but the house and a pond.
Not long after we move in and got halfway settled, I began my journey toward building a shop. Because of the lack of real-estate available and a location that was agreed upon between my better-half and I, the shop size will be smaller than I wanted to build. My last shop was 24' x 24'(576 sf.) I decided on a 20'x35'(700 sf.) building with 14' sidewalls. It will be located directly behind the garage portion of the house. Plans are to build a mezzanine over a portion of the shop to store thing overhead, which will give me as much working floor space as possible.
I sent basic drawings and building specs to the Parish(County). After reviewing, they sent me info on what the proper floor elevation will need to be. After laying out the approximant location, I contacted a surveyor to set a pin for Base Flood-Water Elevation. Some of the backyard is within the Flood Zone. The shop floor has to be 2' below the set pin, which puts it at 19' above sea-level.
I then ordered fill-dirt(clay/sand mix). In our area, if fill dirt is hauled in, a Fill Permit is needed. I paid for the permit before work could begin. Only a certain amount of total yards of soil is allowed to be brought in, form outside of the property. If that amount is surpassed, a mitigation plan for displacing rain water has to be submitted.
Besides the 3 loads shown in the pic below, a total of 12 loads were delivered over a 4 week period. I will not report on the total yardage, as it may incriminate me.
![762368]()
Once I was satisficed with the amount of dirt needed, I began building the form.
![762369]()
One of the building contractor's laborer(from house construction next door) walked over and asked if I needed help. I hired him to help complete the form.
The width of the shop(20') stops at the orange marking on the closest form board in the pic below.
![762370]()
We had to dig into the soil to install the northwestern most form board to obtain the correct height.
![762372]()
The shop will be built over the water well. To help prevent damage, I place orange cones to locate the water well while moving fill dirt.
![762373]()
I began digging the footing, but decided to wait until Mrs. FW sends a mini-excavator from her workplace.
![762377]()
I prepared the area around the well-head, built a form and poured a concrete slab around it.
![762374]()
![762375]()
This afternoon, a couple guys will come over to mortar the concrete blocks onto the well-head pad, up to about 1/2" to 3/4" below the string line. I'll build a steel cover to be able to access the well once the concrete for the shop floor is poured.
![762376]()
More to come.
Not long after we move in and got halfway settled, I began my journey toward building a shop. Because of the lack of real-estate available and a location that was agreed upon between my better-half and I, the shop size will be smaller than I wanted to build. My last shop was 24' x 24'(576 sf.) I decided on a 20'x35'(700 sf.) building with 14' sidewalls. It will be located directly behind the garage portion of the house. Plans are to build a mezzanine over a portion of the shop to store thing overhead, which will give me as much working floor space as possible.
I sent basic drawings and building specs to the Parish(County). After reviewing, they sent me info on what the proper floor elevation will need to be. After laying out the approximant location, I contacted a surveyor to set a pin for Base Flood-Water Elevation. Some of the backyard is within the Flood Zone. The shop floor has to be 2' below the set pin, which puts it at 19' above sea-level.
I then ordered fill-dirt(clay/sand mix). In our area, if fill dirt is hauled in, a Fill Permit is needed. I paid for the permit before work could begin. Only a certain amount of total yards of soil is allowed to be brought in, form outside of the property. If that amount is surpassed, a mitigation plan for displacing rain water has to be submitted.
Besides the 3 loads shown in the pic below, a total of 12 loads were delivered over a 4 week period. I will not report on the total yardage, as it may incriminate me.
Once I was satisficed with the amount of dirt needed, I began building the form.
One of the building contractor's laborer(from house construction next door) walked over and asked if I needed help. I hired him to help complete the form.
The width of the shop(20') stops at the orange marking on the closest form board in the pic below.
We had to dig into the soil to install the northwestern most form board to obtain the correct height.
The shop will be built over the water well. To help prevent damage, I place orange cones to locate the water well while moving fill dirt.
I began digging the footing, but decided to wait until Mrs. FW sends a mini-excavator from her workplace.
I prepared the area around the well-head, built a form and poured a concrete slab around it.
This afternoon, a couple guys will come over to mortar the concrete blocks onto the well-head pad, up to about 1/2" to 3/4" below the string line. I'll build a steel cover to be able to access the well once the concrete for the shop floor is poured.
More to come.
