Shop expansion project

[zinfendel]

Ok, here you go, 7 months of work, and about $10k (about $4500 in excavation and cement work). The first pic is from May 2, 2008, last probably sometime in early November.

I added on to my shop on 2 sides, one to make storage space for two of my vintage VWs, and two, to give me a nice "shed" storage space. Other than the excavation, cement and roofing, I did all of the work myself (with forced $10/hr labor from our 16 year old son). Considering I had no real technical plans and just "made it up as I went along", I was thrilled with the way it came out. I did pull a permit with the town and had to pass a foundation and framing inspection.

See the notes on some pics for additional detail.

The main shop building is where all my tools are, and is insulated and heated.

http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk51/johnshenry/Shop%20Expansion%20Project/?albumview=grid

Password is "mudroom"

[scuba_dave]

Nice job, I like the doors & the green color
I think I would have extended the main peak straight back to the new wall
I don't even want to try a hip roof like that !!
Must be nice to get that extra storage room
I'm in the middle of a garage/addition right now

[zinfendel]

Thanks for the nice words.

A couple tibits here, the green color matches the color of the side entry door on the house and the bulkhead doors.

Originally my plan was to just push the whole back wall out and extend the main peak BUT, that would position a solid wall 12 feet away from the kitchen widow and totally block the view (since I would, of course push it back 20 feet!), and said house co-habitant, stander-in-front-of-kitchen-window-a-lot, would not have liked that idea. As we have it, it is a much more pleasant view and she can still see the woods (have to factor wife into every project).

And of course everytime she moaned about how much it was costing, I reminder her about the EIGHT THOUSAND dollars we spent the year before on SileStone kitchen counter tops....

The space is wonderful. I had been planning on doing that of the last 3 years, and in the spring said "You know what, just do it". I was tired of whacking my head on that stupid $199 shed (that I spent a weekend putting together and then found out my tractor would not fit through the door opening), and can now put my plow truck in the house garage when we have big snow storms. No more shovels and wheel barrows around the cars.

Was a fun project, but at times I thought it was going to kill me. I'm 46 and just can't work the 12 hour days I used to be able to. At one point I had lost 8 lbs (not a bad thing).....

[Bismarck Jack]

Excellent work. Once a guy gets past the excavation and cement work(cost and effort), the rest is easy. Great Job and with a happy wife you will enjoy it much more!

[scuba_dave]

I'm a year older, getting too old for these big projects myself
Luckily I think I am on the last big project
I hear you on the wife part
The addition we are adding blocked off the 2 side kitchen windows
Neither one of us i happy about that
But the sink will move to face the back of the house & a row of windows in the new sunroom

I think the look of a big wrap around (enclosed) porch is nice
It gives you the room you wanted without imposing a large building on the landscape