Ground Breaking, shop build starts

[bret]

Looking good!

[Guy Prevost]

That sure is going to be a nice shop!

[Cbull]

Good looking build Scott. I'm a homebuilder in Lakeway area, feel your concern with pouring a slab right now. I have two separate pours coming up in the next couple of weeks. I live in a garden home, and am stuck with building a -10 in my garage. I'm jealous of your soon to be RV cave!

[Danny King]

Scott,
I built my shop five years before Van introduced the RV-8. I did not install plumbing either, except for water. I ran PVC underground and connected it to a house facet. No problem. The house is close enough for bathroom emergencies. I did install central air conditioning so working summer or winter is in total comfort. I wish I had done the high ceilings so I could have installed a car lift. Oh well. My neighbors might have complained if I had. The Doll was completed over sixteen years ago, but that air conditioned shop is still a true blessing.

[scard]

Originally Posted by Danny King

Scott,
I built my shop five years before Van introduced the RV-8. I did not install plumbing either, except for water. I ran PVC underground and connected it to a house facet. No problem. The house is close enough for bathroom emergencies. I did install central air conditioning so working summer or winter is in total comfort. I wish I had done the high ceilings so I could have installed a car lift. Oh well. My neighbors might have complained if I had. The Doll was completed over sixteen years ago, but that air conditioned shop is still a true blessing.

Yeah, the real intent for the 12' ceilings is for a car lift some day when I can't fly anymore. My last shop had full hvac. This one will too. I'm still torn between a conventional A/C and a mini-split or two. We're going to do rainwater collection off of the roof for water for the shop and my veg garden.

[Plummit]

Originally Posted by scard

My last shop had full hvac. This one will too. I'm still torn between a conventional A/C and a mini-split or two.

Scott, I highly recommend a standard split-system for cooling, and if you have natural gas, stay away from heat pumps. We've had too many service issues with the mini-splits, and you can go with a higher SEER rating using a conventional slit-system. My $.02 and worth every penny...

-Marc

[ppilotmike]

Scott and Tanya,
I am really enjoying your posts about your shop build. I am a project manager for a precast concrete construction company, so I can certainly identify with many of the challenges you're facing. What has worked for me all these years is: Be organized AND prioritized; pro-active, yet flexible; and lastly, kind, but firm. I can't wait to see pictures of the finished product.

[Mel]

Originally Posted by Plummit

Scott, I highly recommend a standard split-system for cooling, and if you have natural gas, stay away from heat pumps. We've had too many service issues with the mini-splits, and you can go with a higher SEER rating using a conventional slit-system. My $.02 and worth every penny...
-Marc

Just another side of the coin. I've been running heat pumps here in the Dallas area for over 38 years and never had a problem.

[Danktex]

Scott, I'm filled with envy. Living in central Austin, my shop will have to be a fraction the size of yours. As a homebuilder I have to say, that is a nice job.

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by Mel

Just another side of the coin. I've been running heat pumps here in the Dallas area for over 38 years and never had a problem.

And the same in the Tucson area - standard equipment in lots of homes.

I installed a mini-split in my 500 sq ft workshop and wish I had done it years earlier.

A couple of 2-tom 18 SEER units would cost just over 2 AMUs each and are an easy self install. Mine took only a couple of hours after the wooden mounting box was made over a wall cabinet and a $60 service call got the Freon loaded.