Shop is a commin'

[Farrell]

Hi Clyde. I'm sure it is always something to be sure of. However, my former life as a geologist suggests to me that there are decidedly fewer actively forming sinkholes in Nevada compared to Florida! Just curious, where in Florida did you live?

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: Shop is a commin'


> Rob,
> 
> Congratulations!
> 
> The only thing I thought you may want to consider, in addition to the advice
> others already gave you....
> 
> Will the shop be built on fill?  Many years ago I lived in a house in
> Florida that measured maybe 28 X 45 feet.  The foundation slab for the
> entire structure sank in the back, so that within those 28' the back was 6"
> lower than the front.  You certainly don't want that to happen to you.  Be
> sure you have a solid foundation.
> 
> Regards,
> Clyde Hollinger, RPT
> Lititz, PA  USA
> 
> Robert Goodale wrote:
> 
> > Hello folks,
> >
> > I've been intentionally delaying any announcement for quite some because
> > there have been so many details and questionable resources, but I
> > believe that this might be the appropriate time.  I am now well underway
> > at building a full scale rebuilding shop.
> >
> > A couple of years ago my wife and I began searching for a property.
> >  After six months of realtors and driving all over Las Vegas we finally
> > found an absolutely perfect location on 3/4 acre.  The house was only
> > built in 1998, although it has needed numerous improvements thanks to an
> > independent home contractor who apparently has a reputation for building
> > nice houses with cheap features, (such as poor plumbing requiring me to
> > re-plumb the entire place last summer).  Now that this and a variety of
> > other nonsensical details have been addressed, we can turn our attention
> > to our original objective.
> >
> > We are building this facility from the ground up to our custom
> > specifications.  This first step was to bring in exactly 100 18 wheel
> > truck loads of dirt to level the property.  I got it super cheap,
> > ($20.00 a truck), after hooking up with a dirt contractor who had over
> > 300 truck loads to haul away.  Having leveled that out, we are ready to
> > begin.  I am rapidly learning how expensive this will be, although I had
> > a pretty good idea already.  We are required by the county to have a
> > grading/plot plan. Last week we forked over $1,800.00 for that.
> >  Yesterday our architect was here to get property information and go
> > over our specifications. Fortunately we are saving major money on that
> > because we are using an architecture student from the university  He is
> > serving an internship for a firm and should be able to get the required
> > signatures and stamps.  Normally this starts at about $3.00 per square
> > foot and up, so we are really lucky to have him.  He also has to get a
> > structural engineer to design the pad/slab and roof requirements, and we
> > need an electrical engineering plan as well.  Then we need two
> > independent soil tests to prove that the ground is stable, (stupid).
> >
> > The facility will measure 2,000 Sq. Ft when completed, actually larger
> > than our house!    It will include an office, a separate dust free room
> > for rebuilding actions, and a rest room.  The remaining space will be
> > open shop area.  There will be multiple windows and skylights for
> > natural light.  The interior will be fully insulated with textured and
> > finished walls.  We will have both 110 and 220 volt power via multiple
> > outlets.  There will be a large compressor and vacuum system  located
> > outside the building for noise reduction.  These will be plumbed
> > throughout the shop for easy access. There will be a 10 ft. roll-up door
> > on one end, a side entrance, and an outside entrance directly into the
> > office. There will also be a utility sink.  Machinery planned includes:
> > a large table saw, a full size drill press, a jointer,a  large band saw,
> > a large buffer, and a combination vertical/disk sander.  We will also
> > have the only soundboard press in Nevada.  Along with that goes the hot
> > box and, eventually we hope to have a small spray booth.  Of course
> > there will be LOTS of bench space and work tables.
> >
> > We will be building the entire structure ourselves with the exception of
> > the slab, (too big a job), and exterior stucco, (too big a mess).  My
> > brother in law is a licensed contractor in California and has agreed to
> > help us frame it.  We are using a truss design so the roof should be
> > easy.  Eventually I hope to build a patio outside for additional work
> > space for when the weather is nice, and we will have a concrete driveway
> > that goes around the house to the roll up door.
> >
> > When completed I believe that we should have a heck of a facility.  Alan
> > Meyer and I will be running it as business partners under the name
> > "Southwest Piano Technologies", (we already have embroidered shirts with
> > a cool logo).  My wife will be our esteemed action rebuilder and
> > official secretary.  Then of course to round it off is our black lab
> > Joplin who will be the official "shop dog", (no piano shop should be
> > without one).
> >
> > So that's the official announcement.  We have a very long way to go, and
> > by building it ourselves, the process will take quite some time.  Having
> > said all of that, I would now like to open the floor for discussion.  If
> > anyone has any suggestions or ideas before we finalize the blueprints, I
> > would appreciate hearing about them.
> >
> > Rob Goodale, RPT
> > Las Vegas, NV
>