All Forum Posts by: Mike Reynolds

The one you have in the picture will not hold up to the snow load of Texas, let alone Pa. For rain, you need 2/12 pitch for metal. Shingles you need 3/12 pitch. This is minimum. Problem with most of these are they are afterthoughts and you end up going to the eave or soffit and dropping it from there. 

So, 10 feet long, you need to drop 20 inches for a 2/12. 2x4's will not hold it either. 

 Like as has been said, do a home equity loan for the amount you need. 

Originally posted by @Dan L.:

Looking for suggestions... What's the best (most cost-effective) way to clear this land?  Land that has really tall weeds - too tall for a lawn mower...  I have bought some vacant properties lately and am not sure how to tame this jungle!  Thanks

 Since you posted this in do it yourself forum I would rent a 50 horse tractor for 150 a day and do it myself. Besides, it is therapeutic. 

I would also add that I still build fire walls today but for 100+ million dollar buildings. We still place the drywall on the outside of the stud and not the inside. Elevator shafts we use Core board rated at 2 hours. Currently have a 3 hour firewall in progress. But hey, who knows what they require in other local ordinances. 

 Do you have the report from the inspector? If so, could you post the pertinent info for the wall?   You say that you have no fire wall behind the drywall but the drywall could be the actual fire wall. Is it not fire rated rock or what? If it is not then you just need to install 5/8" fire rock for a 1 hour wall. 2 layers for 2 hour fire wall. You will need 2 hour for this I am almost certain. 

You say it was build in 1980 so the 4' on the roof should not be there unless it was remodeled and permitted later. This code came out in the mid 1990's. You should be grandfathered but understand that the 4' on the roof is very very good peace of mind. Up to you and your AHJ though. I am old enough to have lived through these codes as they evolved but have seen what that extra 4' does in an actual fire. 

In 1980, you should have inside that wall 2 stud walls. The studs in each of these walls will be staggered. There will be no drywall between them at all. The drywall will be from floor to ceiling (on the outside of the wall) 2 layers of 5/8" fire rated drywall. This should be each side. Yours and your neighbors. If your inspector says it should be between then walls I would ask him where he got that info from. Is it a local ordinance? If so, I would clarify that with the building dept. 

If you need more help let me know. I know of an equally old contractor in the area and can hit him up for local code stuff if needed. Let us know how it goes. 

I would be interested in that "local" manufacture company. That is an awesome design for a tiny home. Pm me please. 

I have extensive experience using steel. You can't use lightweight studs. They have to be load bearing.  I am assuming you want to use steel for the weight? 

 Not sure exactly right now because materials are all over the place these days. Last year, I could get a metal building built by SOTM (someone other than me) for 20 dollars a foot. This only includes slab and the building with one walk-in door and one roll up door. 

Now, last week I needed ONE AC duct in my commercial building. It is a large duct. About 20 feet long by 8 foot wide. Cost? 3500 dollars for just that duct. It appears the pandemic requires people go out and buy up a lot of tin and metal and cause the supply and demand to get screwy for us people that want to build something. And the duct is 3 week plus out because the supply chain cant even get it right now. 

Your best bet is to call a local metal building contractor and just ask. They may can give you a quote over the phone at no cost to you. Best of luck to you. 

Hello and welcome to BP. I am also a construction super but for ( I am sure) a competing company. We dont do K-12 anymore because that is a cut throat business these days. Not much money in it anymore.  

We had a PM that did just that. He would work for several companies for about 3-6 years each and buy a house in the area. Then rent it out and move on. He did really great at it too. What you are thinking of doing is awesome and very doable. If you need any help pm me. If you are working on one of the K-12's in my town hit me up for lunch one day. I know you are behind schedule (as we all are always lol) but everyone has to eat. 

And it was Texas independence day. Funny that was the day it was mentioned here lol. 

Most people here have made up their mind to wear or not wear a mask by now. I see some who have never put one on and some who will never take it off. No moratorium will change that. Plus, the places are mostly open all the way anyway.  Cant get inside McDonalds but I suspect you may never get into another one ever again. They have figured out they dont need the dining area to make money and now they dont have to have double crew for cleaning the floors several times daily and then the vomit in the bathrooms on Saturday night anymore.