Trenching
One of the biggest expenses in this project is the plumbing and electrical work. The primary reason being that both required extensive trenching in order to connect to existing resources. Once I saw the associated costs in the estimate, my initial instinct was to say, “forget about it!” But as usual, Nicole was the voice of reason and reminded me how useful it would be to have a slop sink for things like washing hands and rinsing finishing equipment. Not only that, but I’m one of those people who will let myself be distracted whenever the opportunity presents itself. So every time I go into the house to answer nature’s call, you can bet I’ll waste 30 minutes asking Nicole why the sky is blue and rough-housing with my dogs. Thinking long-term, the bathroom and slop sink are almost necessities. So let’s start digging!
Electrical
For the power, we had two important goals. First, we needed to connect the shop’s 200 amp sub-panel to the house panel. Second, we needed to upgrade the house panel to 400 amps which required a home run to the electric company connection. The trench from the shop to the house panel was only about 40′, but with our compacted soil, the going was tough and often required the help of a jack-hammer. But as you can see, both panels are now connected and we even have some extra conduit installed for things like cable, internet, and phone.
Plumbing
For plumbing, we needed to tie into a water supply as well as sewage. The trip to the water supply was about 110′ and the sewage connection continued on from there another 30′. This trench required the most work as it had to cross the driveway. Good thing we have pavers instead of concrete! The sewage tie-in was made at approximately 4′ in depth! Needless to say, the HOA probably isn’t too happy about my little dirt piles.
When it was all said and done, the interior plumbing was all set for a toilet, a sink, and a slop sink on the shop side of the bathroom wall. The second picture below is of the exterior wall of the bathroom, prior to making the final water and sewer connections. I missed my opportunity to get a picture of the completed work.
I’ll have another post in a couple of days that should bring us up to speed including insulation, drywall, and preliminary stucco work before the trench was filled up again.
I too have a sub panel in my garage. I am in Toronto, and it gets even colder here too. It is helpful to be able to turn off the lights without having to go outside.
The shop looks great and you will be doing your thing in no time. I just built a new shop myself (still have about 30 sheets of 5/8″ fire code sheet rock to put up before winter I am doing all the work myself so its slow going but it’s going. I am finding the real work (but fun) is setting up the equipment and personalizing the whole thing. I would not attempt to do a 1,800 ST. shop, I am about half that and 6 months later I am only about half way done. I guess it’s true what they say “It’s the journey that’s the best part not the destination” or something like that Good luck man & congratulations.
Great update. Why are there two upright pvc drain lines just outside the hose bib on the outside of the house? And why is there a hose bib on what appears to be a drain line in pic with the copper plumbing and electrical outlets?
Thanks for keeping us updated on the build. It is very interesting and I feel as if I am going through the build with you.
I’ll have to ask the plumber. I really don’t know.
The two pvc lines are for clean-outs. I don’t see them going in both directions like that very often. But it could be a regional thing. But if you need to clear out a blockage in your main, you’ve got options!
The hose bib on the drain line clean-out on the interior picture is more of a guess for me. But what I think it could have been used for is pressure testing the pipes. They could block the vent pipe and the main drain, and then fill it with water from the hose. I suspect that cleanout cap has already been replaced with a new one (sans hose bib) and there is a metal plate that covers the hole in the drywall for access.
Marc,
It is looking very good. From the look of the panels it seems as though they are doing a quality job! It’s another step to completion.
When the electrics are all being worked on they always look like spaghetti. But when they finish their work in distribution panels they look like works of art.
When is Mike Holmes going to show up and do a collaboration show? You guys can “make it right” together!
Marc, the electric thus far is up to Code from what you’ve shown (my day job is an electrical inspector here in NY), and its the same National Electric Code here as there.
Thanks for the reassurance Mike. I’d be pretty upset with my contractor if it wasn’t up to code. :)
Looking nice! It’s coming along nicely. I assume they are rocking and plastering…or maybe even done with that as well. It’s all the detail stuff inside now I bet. (trim, paint…) Forgot about the stucco. Stucco and landscaping. And….whatever else I’m forgetting.
Very cool.
Great looking facility Marc. Glad to see you are moving forward in such a positive manner with your construction.
Though my small shop cannot compare to your large work area, I understand the excitement of the observation and anticipation as the facility grows and moves forward toward completion.
Marc, You will never regret having the bathroom and sink in your workshop . I don’t have one as mine is a converted, detached garage. Wish I did have one. It will also keep down the mess in the home bathrooms too. Be sure to have Nicole give you some OJT on bathroom cleaning and maintenance . :-)
Mike O’Brien
I like the update! Can’t wait to see the next one. What’s the valve on the bottom of the hose bib for?
I don’t know much about plumbing so I don’t know why that was there, but I can tell you it was only temporary. It’s now closed off.
Probably to do a system pressure test
I can imagine that your stress level is at its peak. Personnaly I run like crazy when contractors are at home. I’m always with them . I want to examine and check every step of what there are doing. I want things be perfect. Looks like it’s getting there pretty much!
Hey Bob. I think I might be the exact opposite of what you describe. I stress out on the front end to make sure I have a reliable and honest contractor to work with. I’m not the type to watch over someone’s shoulder while they work, primarily because I don’t like when people do that to me. If I have to watch them constantly, then my general contractor isn’t doing his job. Ultimately, anything that gets screwed up with have to be re-done to my specifications. And as long as the communication lines are open, misunderstandings and mistakes are kept to a minimum. Luckily, with this contractor, his standards are actually higher than mine in most things. So I have come to trust his judgement. I go out there to film a couple times a day, but the only time I really look things over with a critical eye is at the end of the day after the workers are gone.
Now my step-dad would be out there everyday with his giant insulated mug of iced tea, watching these guys like a hawk. That’s why I make him stay home. :)
I hope you didn’t forget to plumb in a water supply for the rooftop jacuzzi and water slide down to the pool! Priorities man!
Can’t wait to see the finished space… Alot of thought went into this…. WELL DONE!!!!!
The funny thing is this: My wife and I are about to move into our first house that has a garage…and I think I’m just as excited to have that little one-car space as you are to get this wonderful mega-shop. I have a rather large theatrical scene shop at work, but it’s not the same as having my own space.
Hmmm…maybe I’ll post a shop tour: Here’s my workbench. And here’s…my workbench. And here’s…well, you get the idea. :)
Hey Marc, things are really looking great I’m so excited for you to have it set up and working. Thanks for keeping us involved with this new adventure.
His a new competition idea Marc,
Photo Caption…
I love the picture of the guy leaning on the pick “… Hey I told you we should have numbered the pavers!” :-)
haha I like it!
Like playing “minefield.” I was never any good at that game.
We have to lay all utilities below the frost line in NY – How deep do you have to go to get below the frost line ;-) LOL!!!
exactly 1″. :)
For someone so young, i commend you Mark, it took me ages to learn to listen to my wife :) (right or wrong!)
haha….hey when my wife says anything that involves spending more on my shop or tools, my ear perk up! :)
Awesome! After having to reset the breaker twice for every rip cut on anything harder than pine, I see the value of your own panel. Also I’m sure Nicole will be happy to not have sawdust tracked through the house every time you have to wee.
Mark.
Had you considered a whole separate service & meter ( and bill ) to the shop since it is a “business” or would that not fly with the HOA? I just ask because that’s what my father in law did here in PA when he put a shop in the family barn…
I decided against this primarily because i want the business to lay low. Not sure how the HOA would feel about it but it was better not to raise questions. :)
Sounds like they have no idea who you are. Is this one of those cases where everybody else in the world knows you except the people who live next door? I won’t tell them. As someone who has a bit of experience with “trenching” in my own back yard, I was cringing looking at the photos of your excavations. I can tell from the pics that your ground is not easy to dig in. For a second I thought it was you on the jackhammer in the first pic. The labor costs alone for all that digging and general menial tasks that no one wants to do must be pretty high, but it should be all worth it in the long run. Here’s hoping you make your money back quickly.
I’m pretty sure if they knew, they really wouldn’t care, lol. And you’re so right about the ground. The builder really compacted the heck out of this stuff!
I totally agree, sometimes it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission..
Buracracy is a sleeping giant, best not to awaken needlessly.
It’s looking good. I have a 100A sub in my shop and tend to switch the breakers off for my energy hogs while not in use. One reason too is my compressor is in the attic (30 gallon) and I don’t have to go up there every time I want to get some air. Another is my jointer which isn’t too hard to switch on to get going. Congrats, I know you’ve been looking to do this for a while and it’s all coming together so quickly now!
well id have to say that you are very fortunate to be doing this job in arizona and most of us up in minnesota and north dakota would love to have the bill your are paying for this install as we have to deal with extreme cold therefore everything has to be dug deeper and all the types of plumbing and electrical materials are more weather resistence for up here! looks like you are coming along pretty good !! good luck on the way to the finished product!!
Phew, I bet the HOA wasn’t amused when you pointed out that they had signed off on it. :)
Gotta love that desert soil. Every time I have to dig in it for the landscape around the house I curse it, then I curse everyone that says…”it’s just sand”…to which I reply…yeah and so is concrete!
The shop really is looking good. Can’t say I’m not the least bit jealous. You are definitely going to be in hog heaven.
Obviously there is a big difference between your shop and my single-bay garage shop, but having a dedicated sub-panel is a great luxury. Not only can I run more outlets/circuits than I’ll ever need, but it’s nice to be able to shut down power to the whole shop (or individual outlets) and then lock the box to prevent any enterprising future woodworkers (my son is a couple months younger than Mateo) from trying to get a head start on their woodworking career when daddy isn’t around.
I have a sub panel in my garage/shop and recommend it. On those New York winters when it get to -15F and I have finished for the day – settled into the warmth of the house and my wife says – “I think you left the lights on in the shop…”, I can walk down stairs and flick the circuit to the shop – luxury!