new shop in Texas?

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
Ive built a couple garage shops over the past decades, and now that I moved to Texas the rules on what you can build,
where you can build and the cost structures are vastly different, I have always built a CBS (concrete block structure up until now)
Im considering a Quonset hut, maybe a 40ft x 70 ft on a concrete slab, but have questions on how you mount fans in the ceiling, extensive interior lighting, and electrical outlets in conduit, as Ive always done extensive mods myself in cbs construction
anyone have experience.
 

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I don’t know why other than for hurricanes you needed to build such expensive buildings In block.

I don’t understand what you need to know about wiring a steel building, it all has to be in conduit coming into the building and exiting for exterior light fixtures but from there the building codes are exactly the same for all metal studd construction and must be fastened through the metal supports Of the building. There is a hand tool that punches a 2” hole in the steel support braces and you snap in these Red plastic protectors that allow wire securely through the steel without cutting or wearing through the plastic wire cover.
overhead lighing must be in conduit when there in no cross supports holding up ceilings or overhead storage.

Most all TX except for the cities it‘s going to be the the BOC for 2018. If your zoning allows you to operate some sort of Ag business then you can state useage of this building for storage of supplies, materials, your tractor and tractor accessories or implements And that way you fall into non-residence, non-residential building requirements which does not hold you to the very strict building codes. Everything for Ag use is all about what you say it is. In all Texas counties you just have to submitt a plot plan that shows where your buildin’s footprint will be, satisfying the setback requirements to the side yard and rear property lines. In Northern TX you’re not even held to a water runoff management plan for anything under 60’X80’.
 
thank, you , I just want ALL the details covered before I start spending the required cash ,
and don.t want to run afoul of some local bureaucratic red tape BS
 
Call Duro Buildings and ask them for the specs on plumbing/electric/HVAC and ceiling fans.
That is what I think you would need for Texas climates that are happening now.
 
You can’t do much until you find the property you want, then you can go to proper governing authorities for that address and ask them about requirements. I’m telling you go AG! Its cheaper and easier!
 
trust me IM looking hard, almost everything I find so far is either very very expensive or listed in a fema flood zone!
or someone already has a deposit on the land/home, it seems property in decent condition sells very quickly
Im looking for 6-15 acres near farmersville, thats at least mostly semi level,
if it has a house or trailer on it, obviously the condition, of the trailer, house or land, maters,
I keep finding places in the $350-$550k PLUS range, but once you look into the details there's usually high power lines over head or a trailer park full of vagrant's on the property line or a house thats full of termites... Im sure I will eventually find something but its a challenge so far,
anyplace with a home you might really like and 6 plus acres is priced above $600K so far or is under contract already/
I really don,t want to put too much more money into the project, because I know ILL put that much or more into improvements, so as usually you have to look carefully to find a bargain. I went to one place where a guy said 11 plus acres for $275K as hes dividing 45 arces into 4 ,,11 acre plots, the land looked great, but once you got the details he was dividing the 45 acers into 4 plots but was only willing to sell the one end plot that was both in a fema flood zone and had massive powerlines along one edge , the other 3 he was holding onto unless you had $500 K each and wanted all three
 
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It sounds like you might have to widen you circle.
What about the North West area like Prosper or Weston? Is that too far out?
 
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yeah, Id prefer to be within 30 minutes drive of my sons, but that might be rather difficult to do.



BTW while I wait to find the ideal home, I built a garage/shop on his property to store my tools car etc.
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Whenever I’ve bought a house it has always broke the bank. I always had champagne taste on money for beers.
And you know what - it works out afterwords, “Buy once, Cry once!”
 
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