Replies

1. 
   Davo_ | Jan 23, 2000 04:57am | #1

   *
   Tim,

   Sounds to me that what you need to know is instead the name of a good contractor!

   If you build a decent size building (say a 2 car garage) you will be investing a sizeable chunk of money. I don't know if you have any experiece in the trades, but some of the skills you need when erecting a building are (and this is after the initial site work....dozing/leveling of ground,...preparing for drainage .....trenching for underground lines for water, gas, electric, etc.):

   1. How to erect batter boards and string them.
   2. How to build concrete forms that are level, square,
   and won't blow out when the concrete is poured.
   3. How to use a transit to verify your elevations and
   building dimensions prior to pouring your concrete.
   4. How to pour, screed off, and finish the concrete.

   Depending on the type of walls you want; say block or framed:
   1. How to properly mix mortar and lay up a level block wall, complete with proper spacings for windows and doors.
   AND/OR
   1a. How to frame up exterior (and interior if needed) walls and attach solidly to slab to prevent uplift.
   2. How to sight the walls with string and blocks and know what to do so that walls will be put in a permanently plumb position, and will be strong and resist racking.

   3. How to properly install doors and windows to prevent water seepage.
   4. Install choice of siding (wood, cement board, vinyl, shingle, or whatever) so that seems fit right, spacings are consistent, nailed in a proper manner, etc.
   5. How to layout and cut out your own rafters. Knowing what size material and what grade of material to use for rafters.
   6. If instead using trusses, knowing how to safely erect them and nail them off so you don't have a "stack of cards falling".

   I could go on and on, but I hope you get the point! These TV shows for do-it-yourselfers make you think everything is a breeze to build. But with no experience, its not!
   Wanting to learn is great.

   Three very good books about building are:
   1.HOUSEBUILDING, by R.J. DeCristoforo

   2.THE VERY EFFICIENT CARPENTER by Larry Haun

   3. THE VISUAL HANDBOOK OF BUILDING & REMODELING
   by Charlie Wing

   One of the very best hardcover textbooks on building/framing and concrete work in general is:

   CARPENTRY by Leonard Koel
   ISBN # for this book is 0-8269-0732-6

   HOWEVER, READING DOES NOT EQUATE THE SAME AS EXPERIENCE!
   Hire a professional. Watch how they do things, and if possible, see if they will allow you to perhaps work or do some of the work with them. (Note* some contractors will allow this while others, won't,. Also, those that do will occaisionally raise their base price to compensate for the work possibly going slower. Anything that breaks up a routine causes setbacks)

   The bottom line is don't tackle this kind of job with no experience. "On-the-job training" for this size of a project could prove very costly financially, and the end result could be subpar.

   LET THE PROS HANDLE IT. THEY NEED TO MAKE A LIVING TOO!!

   Davo

1. 
   Carlos_Cardoso | Feb 22, 2001 03:19pm | #2

   *I just bought a Jet 10" table saw with cast iron wings and a wood side extension. I have seen pictures of people who mounted their router to the wood wing and created a router table from their table saw. Does anyone know where I can by this "tool" or better yet, How to build it into my table saw?