txav8r's new barn construction (RV but could be boat)

[PEARCE]

Looking great so far Mel. I need to come check it out in person once you've got it finished.

 

[txav8r]

Howdy @PEARCE , due to timing of one of my nephews first child, I have kinda lost my helpers, leaving Clara and I to do the barn raising by ourselves. I was wondering if anyone might want to help when they could? Here is the progress today...

 

[txav8r]

It's dang cold. Hope this sets before it freezes!

 

[itsdgm]

Mel, being a pilot, could you fly around the US and pick us up? That would be a fun get together

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Looking good! Won't be long before the bus is in there and you get that sigh of relief.

 

[txav8r]

All the forms off and lining up base plates.

 

[mrmeaniemeateaterman]

Maybe dumb question, but what is the concrete on the right side of foundation for? Walkway perhaps?

 

[txav8r]

As always, never a dumb question here! It's a drainage flue if you will. I was worried about the ground draining with the big buildup of water. A Quonset hut style building doesn't have gutters. So directing water runoff was a concern I had. There is a drip edge off the base plates and it will drip and run into that concrete drainage channel and exit on the downhill side. I had many options on how to do this, this seemed he most permanent and trouble free. The other barn has gutters. And the ground slopes to drain fine. But adding a 44' building and draining the south side of it between the buildings was my concern. Now, both buildings are self draining. The drain is only 2' wide but also serves as a sidewalk if your not fussy about width. It's a good platform for securing base plates that's for sure.

 

[DawgDaze]

That slab looks great Mel! When are you gonna start building? Happy New year!

 

[txav8r]

 

[txav8r]

@DawgDaze I'm doing the base plates now Danny, I have 90 holes to drill. I predrilled them yesterday with a pilot. But messed up as the drill depth rod slipped and I have 4 holes to fill as well as two to widen and then have to epoxy them. I'm changing the way I am going to drill and set the plates so I can avoid this. I am going to set a plate and get it square, then dril 3 holes and bolt the plate down, drill remaining holes. I will still have to remove the plates and caulk them before final set. Can't seem to find a better way to avoid holes wandering in the cement.

 

[Speedling]

@DawgDaze I'm doing the base plates now Danny, I have 90 holes to drill. I predrilled them yesterday with a pilot. But messed up as the drill depth rod slipped and I have 4 holes to fill as well as two to widen and then have to epoxy them. I'm changing the way I am going to drill and set the plates so I can avoid this. I am going to set a plate and get it square, then dril 3 holes and bolt the plate down, drill remaining holes. I will still have to remove the plates and caulk them before final set. Can't seem to find a better way to avoid holes wandering in the cement.

Thats about as good a method as you will get. Perhaps try to save a small amountof time by snapping chalk lines.

 

[tdonoughue]

Ninety holes in concrete? I assume with a percussive drill. I pity your arms.

Have you considered an explosive charge fastener instead? Or is that out of spec?

 

[Julian]

Ninety holes in concrete? I assume with a percussive drill. I pity your arms.

No fun at all!!!! That is going to be one expensive drill bit...or 10 cheaper ones! Funny how all the little things will add up when doing a job like this!

 

[txav8r]

Yes, the charge fasteners aren't spec'ed and yes, a rotary hammer drill. Not near as hard as a smaller and much less effective hammer drill. And I have snapped chalk lines to square foundation and snapped reference parallel lines off of them. But laying out the holes and then getting the drill bit not to wander is tough. So using the plates as a guide is almost imperative.

 

[txav8r]

@Julian, SDS bits are carbide coated and last much longer, as a result, it should breeze through the 90 holes. It only takes about 15-20 seconds to drill a 4.4" deep X 1/2" hole. I didn't know before I started planning this project, but a SDS rotary hammer drill is a whole nother animal than your basic hammer drill.

 

[txav8r]

Clara gave me an SDS drill for Xmas. I exchanged it for the dewalt 20V impact/drill combo. I then planned to rent an SDS drill for $39 for the day which included a drill bit. But my concrete contractor loaned me one of theirs, but I had to buy the bit for $12. Still a savings. Your right however @Julian , lots of things add up in almost any project.

 

[Speedling]

@Julian, SDS bits are carbide coated and last much longer, as a result, it should breeze through the 90 holes. It only takes about 15-20 seconds to drill a 4.4" deep X 1/2" hole. I didn't know before I started planning this project, but a SDS rotary hammer drill is a whole nother animal than your basic hammer drill.
View attachment 49766

Those bulldogs are nice and light! If you move up to the full size deals, it DOES drill faster and you can put a ton of pressure on it. For you guys it would be a rental i am sure.

 

[txav8r]

Gentlemen, if you have holes to drill, rent a big SDS drill. I drilled 60 half inch holes 4.4" deep today, torqued and set those 60 bolts, and hit steel in 3 holes and had to epoxy those in. Ended up being easy to repair holes I drilled too deep. And the 4 that drilled outside the template ended up usable all but one. So I redrilled the one miss rolled and the shallow holes at 5/8" instead of 1/2", and set in epoxy. I'm rocking right along...

 

[Murf'n'surf]

What kind of epoxy did you use?