Building a shop

Red Sleeper

Active member
I ordered a 30’x40’ metal building a month or so ago. Received the call yesterday that it’s being released to the shop for fabrication. Going to have 15’ eves, a 16’x12’ door to the north, 12’x12’ to the south, and 8’x10’ to the east with a 3070 walk through on the north also.

Need some help on the slab detail as I have to meet wind storm code for coastal county.

To start, what’s a good spacing for rebar throughout the slab? 14”, 16”, 18”? My concrete contractor said 14” with #3 bars, just want another opinion.

Perimeter beams will be 12”x24” with a pier at each corner and a pier in the center of the beam on the 40’ length to support the metal column from the building. I’ll eventually have a 2 ton bridge crane running throughout the entire shop. Should I up to a 12”x30” perimeter beam for added strength? What size rebar for the beams? Contractor says #5.

Are 3/4” J-bolts sufficient to anchor the metal columns?

More questions to come as work progresses.
 
a212f64a0adeb08bf65fd2da18ffb13c.jpg
 
Last edited:
Finished digging for the pad late Saturday night. Next is start hauling in select fill and build up about 24”

58bc9bd969fe5eceeda3c6c2b4b64d9d.jpg
1da7dd0d53bd6a53d8dca1dd65928b26.jpg
d2a956e8d3860a7f0955da3dd9ae836f.jpg
 
What you looking to put in the shop? 14inch on center with bars isnt bad if going to have big trucks go closer. Also how thick of cement? We did 5-6 inch in our shop. 3/4 jbolts should work but ask what the building company wants.
 
Good info. Building requires 3/4” j-bolts for main columns, 5/8” at door openings, 1/2” at walk through door. 6” thick slab and thinking about using a higher psi concrete.

The PE stamping my drawings wants to see 16” centers. I changed my drawings to meet his needs, but the concrete crew knows I want a little more at every step. So I’ll stick with 14”. My drawings will reflect what the PE and city want to see so I can get permit. After that I’ll start going overboard.

No big trucks such as tractor trailers. But I’d like to not worry about a 20,000 lb dozer cracking the slab. I’ll have a typical shop equipment. Also a 2-ton top running bridge crane entire shop length and width.
 
Lots of much needed rain over the past week. Which in turn has put a halt on my slab preparation work. Those guys have some digging ahead of them to clean out the areas that are washing in. Forecast for this coming week looks wet also. I’ll take it.
 
Finished pouring by 7:30 this morning. Troweled by 10, rained on it off and on all day starting at noon. Solid chance of rain for the next several days.

c3ef9e7eab5f7e0490c31af414e6a4a3.jpg
 
Started hanging steel Sunday morning after church. Made it pretty far with good help from dad, girlfriends dad, sisters boyfriend, mom, and my girlfriend. Finished up the roof purlins Monday evening in the dark. Next is to figure out the door openings.

87d6affe35fa40465e8031512813a37d.jpg
9f5aca2beb43768f0e7b22b9aef61697.jpg
b47b57b228c074716d6df815c7f32ec6.jpg
 
I called the power company out Monday to check out some exposed wire running next to my building and connecting to my temporary power pole. After further inspection, all the wire coming from the main power lines had the same issue. Gaps in the installation. So the guy cut my power and said he would send a two man crew out to run me new lines. Down side is it’s raining here all week, so power might be out for several days. At least temps are cooler.

dbd35bb5ee8c961fbff4b5cf55b9c094.jpg

b330edc5423ae34a275d696d3d1d5eea.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top