big tents

[CatBuilder]

Originally Posted by mark775

I disagree on the slab unless your tax man isn't too aggressive. A good alternative is OSB on sand above grade. Comfortable to work on, cheap, replacable, and still not a fixed structure, hence not "improved property". Once you are pouring concrete, you are into the realm of the property tax man and may as well build a real building for longer life and resale.

Good point. I don't own my build location and the slab already existed, so the taxes were not an issue in my case.

For a home build, I suppose this would be a big factor.

[rberrey]

I do lots of concrete so it,s a bit cheeper for me and the plant is only 3 miles from cuzs land. The land is only 2 miles from a launch, or if I can get it formed and glassed before next dec. less than 2 miles from curent jobsite with crains on the river. Cuz is a lawman who can escort the boat to the launch , little traveled back country road. May be worth paying for him a slab. rick

[viking north]

Just an idea,a temp. structure i seen for a boat build some years back in NFLD. It withstood the heavy snow and winds of the west coast. He chose his location carefully as the most sheltered but close to his homes electrical and water supply. Electrical being easy access to his 220v clothes drier outlet, the water in case of fire.The base area was cleared of grass sod by a rented sod cutter and use to extend another section of his lawn. He then removed about 4in. of good top soil which also went to the new lawn area. The excavitated area was then in filled with clean sand and 24x24in. patio squares laid down.(no building foundation permits required, just building a patio which by the way is also easily removeable.) As mentioned above, he then purchased what we call in the building trade 24in. Baker Scaffolding from big chain rental company and built his building walls and simply installed truss rafters over the top, strapped those horizontally then overlayed with vertical strapping to create slide valleys for the snow.(all fastened with easily removeable deck screws) The scaffolding made excellent supports for work horiziontal and vertical moveable work benches and plank walkways when working on the hull. the scaffolding was strapped on the outside with plastic conduit U clamps fastening the strapping to the vertical staging legs. The whole structure was then tarped with heavy plastic sheeting, horizontally strapped over on the walls and vertically strapped on the roof to create the snow and rain run off channels. When the build was complete he sold off the high market demand scaffolding in sections for more than his buik price, Sold the highly marketable truss rafters and strapping to a guy building a garage for a 25% loss, but was left with a beautiful garden patio. Oh almost forgot when the sand was ordered he ordered extra to bag and use as ballast to hold the scaffolding in place in the wind and upon dismantling saved it to sand his drive and walk ways in the following 10 winters. Why the 240v dryer outlet, by running temp power from it to a sub panel he had both 120v and 240v available for tools and an electric construction heater. Now thats planning, i was impressed.

[rberrey]

Baker scaffolding alone would cost many times more than the slab, tent total, and there is no market for resale today as there was a few years back. thanks rick

[viking north]

Too bad as it does a good job and would have been almost 0 cost overall. Would be no problem to sell it here, construction is booming but then there's the transport cost. Those frame bows using twin strapping with blocks as a lot of guys use at the yacht clubs was the cheapest at one time but I think you are on the right track with the tent especially if you can locate one made in China. Don't know how they can produce and sell goods for what they do, material costs alone in North America is more. Good Luck geo.