After 2.5 years, the family emergency (Alzheimers) that caused me to drop everything in Georgia, including my ’76 F-150 4X2 LWB truck project , and move to Florida is tragically over. Consequently, I have initiated my recovery plan which starts with building a new workshop here in central Florida. I had a little more than 10 acres to work with which allowed me to pick a site that would not require sacrificing any of the beautiful oak trees here. To do this kind of thing in Florida requires that you be so far out in the boonies that the only decent internet is satellite-based which has very high latency and carries picayune data caps. That is a part of the price one pays to have both great weather and the space needed to play with big toys such as cars and trucks.




Here is the site prep. I had to cut a 20’ section of the fence out to provide access to construction equipment and workers. Permitting proved to be quite a challenge. In Florida anything that might affect water runoff such as a concrete foundation is a big deal.



The form for the concrete pad was 40’ X 100’ with rebar defining the periphery and the boundary between the interior (40’ X 60’) section and the two 20’ X 40’ exterior carports. That distinction will be clearer in subsequent images.



This all gets covered in plastic which was a good thing since there was a rather heavy rainstorm just prior to pouring the cement. Like water off a duck’s back.



So we now have a 40’ X 100’ slab. Note the line of demarcation between the interior 40’ X 60’ section and the exterior 40’ X 20’ section on this end. All will be under a 100’ roof. The little “kick” in that line is to accommodate the 9’ X 16’ garage door preventing water and other intrusions into the interior.



The skeleton emerges …






The interior (right side of this image) will be insulated. Note the difference between the underside of the metal roof and the smoother look of the insulation. The insulation has a reflective side facing the roof backed by what looks like very fine bubble wrap.



The roof is done.



Here you can see the insulation under the siding.



The metal siding from the outside.



Windows are in place, all six of them.



Windows and walk through door are in place.



Now, the carport concept is evident. There is one of these on each end so that I can work outside but still be under the cover of a roof. I can also drive through the building. Waiting on the big garage doors.



The two garage doors are now in place. They are 16’ wide by 9’ high. With both garage doors open I get a very nice cross breeze.



The rearmost carport. Note the exterior barn light placement.



Electrical wiring is done and service connection is imminent.



It’s all underground.



200 amp service



LED lighting





Four 220V receptacles: three at 50 amps and one at 30 amps.



Lots of 110 V receptacles on walls and three in the ceiling.



Vintage exterior barn lights are used in both carports. I bought these at a Georgia flea market about 15 years ago. Each one was restored with all new interior parts. Happy to have finally found a good home for them.



So the building is done but the landscaping is not. I have a compact tractor with box blade to help with that.



So the building is done but the landscaping is not. I have a compact tractor with box blade to help with that.



Erosion will continue to be a problem until I can convince grass or even weeds to grow here. I have cement blocks buried around the periphery of this carport to stave off heavy erosion. The other end is closer to the surrounding elevation so doesn’t need that treatment.



Another 16 cubic yards right after a heavy rain. Still not enough. Grass seed (centipede) is on order. The soil here is very sandy.



Gutters with screens to prevent leaf collection and downspouts with extendable plastic splash shields should improve the erosion picture. The splash shields eventually get filled with river rock and get buried to ground level so a lawn mower can pass over it. The gutters will also prevent the splash back of soil on the siding seen in earlier images.



Bringing water from the garden via 3/4” PVC pipe. There are two spigots, one for each of the two carports and on opposite sides of the building. This should be good for cleanup work of all kinds.



LED overhead lighting is vastly superior to fluorescent. Here we are in the dead of night with enough light to do whatever needs to be done.



I bought some extra siding in order to create an inner wall that can withstand the things that get airborne and prevent that stuff from accumulating in the corners. These panels are 30’ long and a bit over 3’ high. It takes two of them to cover the length of the 60’ interior wall. They are thin (0.025”) but heavy and awkward to handle. I used a cherry picker and a bunch of magnets to hold them in place so that self-drilling/tapping screws could be used to finalize the installation. Note the magnetic angle finders.



These end sections are a bit over 10’ long.



The barn lights outside are also LED. This is the 20’ carport on the “front” side.



The “back” side also has two LED barn lights but it also has a third light over the walkthrough door that is actuated by a proximity detector. So working past sunset is entirely feasible.



As I waited these 2.5 years, I started collecting tools and parts that I thought I’d need when I finally got back to my ’76 F-150. Here is some of it.



I acquired lots of fabrication tools plus a TIG welder and plasma cutter. The scroll type compressor promises to run a gaggle of air tools added to the armory during this period.



After the first trip back to Georgia, I managed to retrieve my MIG and Acetylene welders as well as …



… a crap ton of pegboard that I bought many years ago. The challenge here will be figuring out how to make good use of 47” X 50” panels where the uprights are of steel and on 5’ centers.



The first task for the MIG welder was to fabricate a rolling carrier for all that pegboard. Later on, that frame will be repurposed to allow me to work on the cab after removing it from the frame. The TIG welder still needs a bottle of Argon gas to be usable. Thus I’ll need to establish a working relationship with a local Airgas dealer.





Most of what is shown here is new stuff so the next challenge is to drag all of my older stuff, including the trucks and cars, from Georgia to Florida. I have the 6 X 12 enclosed trailer pictured earlier plus a 20’ flatbed trailer to work with. The open trailer needs a winch that I’ll be installing soon.

Since my old thread on the 1973 - 1979 … Trucks forum has been shortened from over a hundred pages to just 40, there’s no point in adding to it now. I’ll be starting a new thread on that forum.

 

Yeap!! I'm jealous. I need a shop like this.

 

Very nice shop!

 

Well, that's one damn fine shop my friend!

Being from up north I'm shocked not seeing at least 12-18" insulation near the roof, no less than 6" in the side walls and in-floor heating already installed.

This looks to be well built, plenty of lighting inside and out so should serve you very well!

Thanks for sharing!

 

I am liking that shop design for sure, great idea to get duel entrances and let the air flow. That metal put on with the corrugating going parallel to the ground is the way Amish do it around here. We all go vertical to the ground, but that way and the short wainscoat looks very good. Keep on trucking.

 

Those panels are 3' and a fraction by 30' so that saves a little money in labor and materials. I'm putting some of it on the inside as well to serve as a guard against the things that can go flying around inside a workshop.

 

Think if thru very well, because you do not need it where shelves and cabinets are going to be right?

 

Good advice. I try to keep as much stuff as possible on wheels, shelves included. Life is too unpredictable for me. The sheet metal will only go up to workbench level. After that, pegboard. The steel tubing uprights are on 5' centers so adding shelf brackets will continue to be an option. I will also need to make sure errant birds and other critters don't get caught inside these walls. Lots to think about since at my age this will probably be the last shop I build. Got to make the most of it.

 

You spent a good amount of time planning that out and did an excellent job!!!! The "covered porches on each side and the garage doors on opposite sides are all excellent designs not only for the cool breeze as you mentioned but also from a fab/access point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yes, I tend to do the "nasty" or "nastier" stuff in those areas. A pressure washer will wipe away all those sins.
My dermatologist also approves my being able to work outside yet dodge those harmful UVs that Florida is so famous for.

 

Wow, very nice!

 

That is a great looking shop!