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lowbudget50

Creators of all things awesome
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
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So about a month ago we decided to buy another place and move. Bigger house more acreage into shop. The house was all remodeled but still had some demons hiding in it which we found out shortly after we moved. The shop was recited and painted and new windows put in it but it lacked wiring and installation. It was built in the 60s and was starting to show its age in the structure of the trusses. So finally last night I was able to start re bracing and strengthening the truss system. About 10 years ago the guy who owned it had put a 4 by 4 quarter wall beam down the middle of the shop with a couple upright braces to keep it from sagging anymore. So I went through and revamped those a little bit moving them around so they are not in the way as much. Then I went and started jacking up each truss individually with a 50 ton bottle jack and putting a crown in it, then screwing and gluing another 2 by 4 with it 4 extra strength. I'm happy to say that it was a success on the ones that I have done so far and the belly of the roof has almost disappeared in the spots that I have done. Tonight I will continue with my bracing and then tomorrow I will probably finish it along with have some guys from work help me get started wiring it. This Saturday my dad is coming up with an excavator so we can dig out a little bit along the back wall and install another 10 ft wide by 9 ft tall garage door. The building has character and I like that because it matches the stuff that we build. I will keep you guys updated on my progress on the shop and hope to be able to get back to work on the project soon because they are building up quickly
 

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Thanks guys. Half the roof bracing is done. Way better !!!! Also gor,the service drop pipe in the house panel and the sub panel hung in the shop and the mast on it also. Outlets arelayed out on the walls and I tested out one of my lights, super bright!!!! Moving along now!!
 

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So a couple buddies came over tonight and help me get all the wire pulled in the walls. Still have to splice everything together tomorrow and pull the main service power down. Still lost to do but I feel like I'm getting something done. I found this old knife switch years ago and I've been hanging on to it until I could find something to do with it. So now I am using a 24 volt power supply and a lighting contactor and using it to turn on my lights. I'm only running the negative side of the 24 volts into the knife switch so there's no risk of getting electrocuted by it. It won't bite to a single gang box like a normal switch. Kind of cool I think
 

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First: Congratulations on your new location and "new" shop! [cl

Second: What in the world is going on with those trusses? Near as I can tell from your pictures, the pitch is too shallow, the spacing is too far and clearly, inadequate for "clear span".

I don't mean to poop on your steak, but it seems to me, the builder cut a few corners... used the wrong truss and/or not enough of them. What's your opinion of the situation?

.
 
Dr C, I gotta agree {again}.:D Those trusses should have been 2x8" at a minimum, 2x10" would have been better for the bottoms. And they don't have enough cross bracing, either. I'd like to have seen 3 V sections at least, maybe more. Using wood trusses, a 4' span would be the absolute maximum spacing, with 2' being prefered.

Of course, snow load plays a big part in what you can get away with. Ours is 4" or less, so we can use lighter materials than those in areas where 12" of snow is normal.
 
First: Congratulations on your new location and "new" shop! [cl

Second: What in the world is going on with those trusses? Near as I can tell from your pictures, the pitch is too shallow, the spacing is too far and clearly, inadequate for "clear span".

I don't mean to poop on your steak, but it seems to me, the builder cut a few corners... used the wrong truss and/or not enough of them. What's your opinion of the situation?

.

Well it,was built,in 1962, so I'm sure reguations on truss spacing :cool:and snow load where alittle different hahahaha. I have been up on the roof and jump around and nothing really moves up and down. I just believe overtime that long of a span has settled. It's definitely not perfect but it is a million times better than what I had before. Will get her whipped into shape. I actually got power down there today and got Outlets put in on the interior and exterior. Tomorrow my dad is coming up to help me dig out the back wall and put in a 10ft roll up door. I'll give you guys some pictures later
 
So I got the overhead Service drop down to the shop today. Kind of interesting cuz as I'm standing on the roof of the shop which is tin holding a 2in galvanized piece of rigid conduit, we had a freak thunderstorm come up from underneath of us and it instantly started pouring down rain and there was Thunder watch surrounding us. No lightning everything's done no one got hurt. So I did get all the outlets put in and the panel made up. I also got my Ultra scary looking light switch hooked up and working just because I couldn't resist. I'm using that old 30 amp 2 pole disconnect knife switch. Not sure if I explained in the earlier post how I was doing that or not and making it safe. But it is all done with low voltage contacts and 24 volts DC. I'm running the negative leg of the DC circuit through the knife switch so you can not get shocked by it. But it looks like it has both poles hooked to it. I found some old cloth Romex Wire at a house the other day and it worked out perfect. Tomorrow we are digging out the back of the shop and cutting in the garage door! Should be lots of fun
 

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Thanks guys

Progress
 

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More pics
 

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Thanks b-man! I couldnt have done it with out the help of my dad and some good friends!! It completely changed the feel of the shop. Now I want to change the other door. It needs to be bigger.

I have house stuff to do tomorrow, so next week I will continue insulation and finish the last of the truss bracing
 
Now you need a retaining wall and a driveway ramp up to the door.:D
Always something you want to change for the better, looks good! [cl
 
Now you need a retaining wall and a driveway ramp up to the door.:D
Always something you want to change for the better, looks good! [cl

A retaining wall is already in tue works!!!! It will make the pad infront of the shop 32ft deep and 60 ft long. The new door will have a retaining wall built around what we dug for now. Then later on we will ramp it up to the road. I need to get working in the shop. I have projects stacking uo!!!
 

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