Well we have been making steady progress on preparing to build our new shop. As always it is becoming a much bigger deal than expected. Our architect is nearly finished with the plans, (should be completed this week). Unfortunately it doesn't end there. Next we need to go to a structural engineer. This person does all the specifications on load bearings, where the headers go and how heavy, where the trusses connect, roof specifications, etc, etc. Then there is electrical. My initial plan was to subcontract someone to hook to my meter, pipe it to the shop, and install the panels. I would then wire it up myself and call the electrician back later to connect and seal the panel. A problem however is that our existing meter/panel is rated at 200 amps. We will be required to upgrade it to 400 amps in order to sub feed an additiona 200 amps to the shop panel. This means the power company will need to shut it down and pull the meter for a day while my electrician upgrade the entire panel. More expense. I have had three electrical contractors over to evaluate the situation for bidding. Two of them will not allow me to wire the shop because they don't want to accept liability for connecting my wiring to their panel. This is total nonsense of course but I have invited them to bid anyway. The third doesn't have any problem with my doing the wiring and actually gave a few useful suggestions but seemed to be somewhat hesitant about taking the job because he was so busy at more profitable contracts. In all cases I have agreed to do all the trenching myself to save a few dollars. I am going to look into getting a couple more bids. I need to find someone fresh out of school and hungry for work. Then there are the trusses which will be prefabricated and trucked in. We have designed the width of the building at 32 feet which my contractor brother in law who lives in California says is about the maximum span that can be handled without hiring a crane. The truss company is required to do their own engineering as well for the load calcs and design. We haven't even got to grading and concrete bidding yet. These and the trusses will probably become the most expensive part of the job although I remain concerned about electrical. We intend to have a rest room in the shop. Unfortunately this presents a huge problem with permitting because the county will then classify the building as a dwelling structure. The codes are a nightmare. My contractor brother in law suggested an alternative plan that will work. The trick is to install the drains AFTER inspections but BEFORE concrete it poured. Simply leave the plumbing a couple inches below the surface lightly covered with sand. When the inspectors are gone for good we can easily break the pipes out of the concrete and continue as planned. I asked my architect about this and he said this was a common proceedure for these types of projects and agreed. No one will ever check it or care. The same goes for heating/AC. If we install AC as part of the project we must hire an engineer to do a series of ridiculous thermal calcs. Our architect says forget it. The loop hole is to contract a heating/cooling man to do the installation AFTER the building is completed. Once the building is finished the county can no longer dictate heating and cooling requirements. And so the story goes. We are getting quite an education and learning a lot of tricks. When all of this is completed I can certainly advise anyone who intends on building a shop on what to expect. It is truly amazing! Rob Goodale, RPT Las Vegas, NV
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