FINISHED IN 2020! Sharward's Partial Garage Conversion

My concrete guy and I have tentatively scheduled the pour for Monday. The weather forecast calls for rain, which is good for him because he can knock out my job on a day that he can't work on other jobs that require clear weather. He said he did the math and figured the job required five cubic yards of concrete. I was surprised by this as he had previously said three or four, but I used this handy concrete calculator and figured it needed 3 yards for the main part and 1.6 yards for the footings. 3 + 1.6 = 4.6, so you could say his math was correct! He thinks the concrete itself (delivered) will cost about $110 per yard, which includes fiber, and that's a five sack mix. He'll be charging me about $300 for his time. I'm also looking at about $400 to stain it afterwards. So, if you're keeping track... Forms ($140) + Stakes (~$100) + Crushed rock ($105) + Rebar (including labor) ($280) + J Bolts (~$25) Concrete ($550) + Labor (~$300) + Stain = ~$1,900. :shock: Wow, this stuff really adds up..... :roll: --Keith :mrgreen:

Don't forget your anchor bolts... FYI Concrete volume = (l x w x d) divided by 27 where: l = length in feet w = width in feet d = depth in feet There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard EX: 10' x 10' x 0.5' (i.e. 6)" = 50 cu ft 50/27 = 1.85 cu yds Basic math... :wink:

sharward wrote:

I'm also looking at about $400 to stain it afterwards. :mrgreen:

Keith do your homework on this. I was going to stain my studio floor and it was WAY CHEAPER than $400. http://www.kemiko.com/ http://www.directcolors.com/?gclid=CITS ... IgodvDFjeQ http://www.superdeck.com/masonsselect/6000spec.htm

Sandersd wrote:

Don't forget your anchor bolts...

Thanks! I added the J bolts to my cost breakdown. (They're already set! I just forgot to add the cost for them.) 8)

Flyin6 wrote:

sharward wrote:

I'm also looking at about $400 to stain it afterwards. :mrgreen:

Keith do your homework on this. I was going to stain my studio floor and it was WAY CHEAPER than $400.

So I see!! 8) Thanks for the tip! I will definitely give those products (and others probably, eh?) a very close look!! --Keith :mrgreen:

Fascinating pictures of termiticide application comin' at ya'! Hey, if I'm going to spend $550 on this stuff, then I'm darned well going to make you look at pictures of it! :lol: --Keith :mrgreen:

Keith, Rod; didn't remember if you were doing separate electrical or tying in, hence the reminder/question - no biggie... Steve

Tying in if I recall a couple of posts back. Didn't want to disturb Keith's facinating documentation on termite mitigation! :-) len

Yeah, saw that Len, thanks; Now we know where the REAL expense is for termite work - the Calibrated Dump Bottles - $5 for the bottle, $1 for the "juice"... :lol:

Wow. Took me almost 2 weeks to read this whole thread. From the beginning, I imagined the most happy ending with Sharward "proggin' out" in his new studio. Or perhaps an ending similar to the end of a CHiPs episode......lotsa smiles, etc. Can't believe I got this far only to be left in suspense. Mr. Sharward, salut!! You are an inspiration to us all. (Considering I just found out that my band is indeed about 125 db......with my sound meter, of course). If you aren't being paid for your journalism/documentation skills you now know your other true calling.

knightfly wrote:

Now we know where the REAL expense is for termite work - the Calibrated Dump Bottles - $5 for the bottle, $1 for the "juice"

And don't forget $20 for the hand that pours the bottle. :-) len

Keith, I trust as your cement pour approaches, you are going to save us all from a picture of the "Full Woodlock" :-) I know you like to emulate his methods but I think one such picture on the 'net is enough. I STILL have trouble sleeping sometimes after seeing that! :-) len

yes please, do NOT sit on the wet concrete :lol:

I'm so glad that we here in Pennsylvania don't have to adhere to all the codes and rules you guys have in California. How do you survive?

Ahhh, all my peeps... ;-)

knightfly wrote:

Now we know where the REAL expense is for termite work . . .

Yeah, tell me about it. Actually, I'm told that Termidor is really expensive, but it's the most effective product on the market. Figure that there's also liability insurance, federal licensing of the pesticide, etc. Think of the pesticide along the same lines as the pharmaceuticals that keep us alive... There's a lot of R&D that goes into them. Only this product keeps termites dead! ;-)

Pure L wrote:

Mr. Sharward, salut!! You are an inspiration to us all.

Welcome welcome welcome, Pure L! Feel free to shower me with such adulation anytime you wish. ;-)

Pure L wrote:

If you aren't being paid for your journalism/documentation skills you now know your other true calling.

You are too kind, Sir! 8)

len-morgan wrote:

I trust as your cement pour approaches, you are going to save us all from a picture of the "Full Woodlock" :)

Oh, indeed I will -- save you all from it, that is!! :lol: That image was actually an education for me and is one of the reasons I decided to hire a pro for the pour and finishing! :shock:

edenorchestra wrote:

I'm so glad that we here in Pennsylvania don't have to adhere to all the codes and rules you guys have in California. How do you survive?

How do we survive? By adhering to the codes and rules we guys have in California! ;-) Seriously... Many of the codes are based on earthquake science. It's such a shame that Mexico City and Kashmir don't have the same codes (or any codes?) that we do, because there would be tens of thousands of undead people if they did. :cry: Also, figure that my project is technically taking place within my house. Yours (if I recall correctly) is an accessory building, for which the requirements are probably be less stringent. But I'll bet Pennsylvania does have strict building codes... Don't assume they don't. Always get the facts from your local building department. Bottom line: It's not just a California thing. Anyway, a brief update... I got a revised estimate for the concrete delivery and it's not looking good... More like $700-$800 when you factor in the short load fee, the fuel surcharge, the sales tax... And that doesn't count what I'm paying the guy in labor. There will also be standby time for the truck operator to wait while we wheel it all in. :roll: My contractor is trying to get the breakdown and he's shopping another supplier. Assuming I don't put the brakes on due to the cost differential, the delivery is scheduled for Monday at 10:30 AM PDT. I'd be more excited if it weren't so bloody expensive. (Oh, who am I kidding? I'm pretty darned excited! :twisted:) --Keith :mrgreen:

Here's some interesting information about Termidor:

Features and Benefits of Termidor®
• Acts on the termite's nervous system.
• Its speed of activity is dose dependent; the higher the dose the quicker it acts.
• It is active on termites through both contact as well as ingestion.
• Termidor® is non-repellent. Termites will not avoid treated soil, and will consume substrates containing even very high concentrations of fipronil (the active ingredient in Termidor®).
• Fipronil is also capable of being transferred between active termites.
• Studies using radioactive labeled fipronil have been able to trace the transfer of fipronil from both soil to termites and from termites to other termites.
• Foraging termites pick up fipronil through ingestion and contact with the treated soil.
• Contaminated termites return and contact other uncontaminated termites.
• Fipronil is then transferred to the uncontaminated termites via contact, grooming, and exchange of food.
• A transfer affect takes place and termites die in large numbers.
• Fipronil is slow acting and allows for termites to spread it within the nest before they die.
• Fipronil is not hazardous to humans and other mammals but is highly effective against insects.
• When applied according to Australian Standards, Termidor® is 100% effective.
• Studies show Termidor® is still effective after 5 years and possibly longer.
• Termidor® strongly binds to soil particles and is resistant to leaching.
• Termidor® is not absorbed by plants.
• Even 1 part per million will control termites.
Drawbacks
• Termidor® is more expensive than other termiticides. At Green Pest Control we believe in using the best and most appropriate products to service our clients' needs. The benefits of Termidor® over other brands of termiticide far outweigh the costs.
It's your home. You'll want the best. It's worth the extra price isn't it? (Source)

The "strongly resistant to leaching" is really important in my case since the water table is so darned high.

I understand codes quite well. I write and design functional specifications for municipalities, as I design the electrical systems for waste water, water, and power generation. I write around NEC, NFPA, OSHA, IEEE, and on all day long. BUT . . my studio required no building permit, no inspection, no nothing. Just a simple ok from the local government. Maybe they know what I do and let it slide, but I really think that there is a huge racket in much of this, and unfortunately the end user gets the hit. But hey if you are used to it I guess it doesn't matter. We don't typicaly have any earthquakes, just the earth caving in from all the mines under us that were dug out 80 years ago. :D We also have lots of red necks that like to leave old mobile homes out to rot and create beautiful landscapes.

...but I really think that there is a huge racket in much of this, and unfortunately the end user gets the hit. But hey if you are used to it I guess it doesn't matter.

I concur. And how about those neighborhood associations... :roll:

I just called the ready mix company and I got the breakdown of the costs for the concrete delivery...

5 yards of 5 sack mix w/ 1" aggregate and 4" slump @ $100 per yard = $500 1% accellerator @ $8 per yard = $40 Fiber mesh @ $8 per yard = $40 <6 yard Short load fee = $90 ____________________________________ Subtotal = $670 7.75% Sales tax = $51.93 Fuel and environmental impact surcharge (not taxable) = $49 ____________________________________ Grand Total = $770.93

Bleh! :evil: I'm going to ask my contractor to try to get them to waive the "short load" fee, since we're so close to the six yard threshold. Even cutting it in half for us would be nice. Oh, and we get a total of 35 minutes (10 minutes + 5 minutes per yard) to empty the truck. If we require more time, it will cost $1.50 per minute. :roll: --Keith :mrgreen:

If they're going to charge you almost the same price for 1 more yard (5 vs 6) is there any chance you have a patio that needs repair, or a extending a walkway a little and just take the 6 yards? I know it will cost you 10 bucks more but personally I'd do it just to "screw" them out of charging me what amounts to a 20% surcharge for nothing. Are the accellerator and fiber mesh normal additives? If not, maybe you can suggest that to total of those adds up to the "short load" fee. Of course, they could always suggest you try calling someone else. :-( len

Len, glad you brought this up; when I schedule a pour, I ALWAYS try to form up one or two smaller projects for the extra; you get charged for it anyway. And in Keith's case, the 6th yard would be "free", more or less. Still, it takes a fair sized walk, etc, to use a whole yard; that's 3'wide, 4" deep and 27 feet long... Fibermesh isn't a "normal" add-in, nor is the accelerator; I'm not sure I'd put fibermesh in a pour with that much rebar; any more, and you'll have the same mesh as the steel mesh that the fibermesh is supposed to replace. It's not that the fibermesh will HURT anything, I'm just not sure it's necessary in this case - still, it's cheap insurance... Steve

Great thoughts, guys... If I had anticipated this, I might have figured out a way to use an extra yard. However, with a lot size of .13 acres, I'd say I don't have a lot of opportunity for extra walkways! ;-) As far as the fibermesh goes, yeah, I know it's overkill... But I figure that I'll have a better chance at not having (many) superficial cracks on the surface, since the rebar will be about 4" below the surface. Like you said, Steve -- cheap insurance. 8)

Hey, maybe one of your NEIGHBORS could use a free yard of concrete; talk about brownie points...

I had thought of that too... But honestly, I'd rather just bite the bullet and pay the price. Even if I could find a neighbors with a need for a yard of concrete, if they flake on me, I've got a yard of concrete that will need to be disposed of. Given how much this whole project will cost me, I won't miss the hundred bucks. ;-) Thanks anyway though

Keith, Congrats on the arrival of your cement pour. Good luck with it tomorrow, I hope it goes well. I haven't been able to get up to speed on your thread yet but I'm sure I'll gain a hint or two when I finally do.... Am now searching your thread for "beefing up" of the walls.....since that is what I'm doing next.