Need a large, economical building for equipment storage, farm machinery, vehicles, livestock, warehousing or workshop space? This video series follows my construction of a 42×80-foot fabric-covered building here at my place on Manitoulin Island, Ontario.
The structure was engineered and manufactured by Calhoun Super Structure. I’m documenting the project from beginning to end, including delivery, design decisions, foundation work, concrete placement, backfilling and installation of the structural steel components.
This is a real-world construction project on a challenging rural site, carried out through Canadian weather and on foundation walls built directly over bedrock. Along the way, I show what arrived, how the components are made, what equipment was needed and what I learned while preparing for assembly.
Fabric structures can provide bright, clear-span space without interior columns, making them useful for many purposes. This building will primarily provide machinery storage and room for mechanical work, but the same kind of structure can serve as a barn, riding arena, warehouse, municipal building or general-purpose commercial space.
The eight videos below are presented in construction order. I’ll continue adding new video instalments as the project advances.
What This Series Covers
- Preparing for erection of the overhead framework
- Choosing the size and style of fabric structure
- Delivery and unloading of the building package
- Engineered steel parts and hardware
- Building foundation forms on bedrock
- Preparing for and pouring concrete
- Backfilling and grading around the foundation
- Installing the steel support legs
- More videos to come
Video#1: Delivery and Unloading the Fabric Structure
Video#2: How to Choose a Fabric Structure
Video#3: Fabric Structure Parts and Hardware Tour
Video#4: Building Concrete Foundation Forms on Bedrock
Video#5: Foundation Tour Before the Concrete Pour
Video#6: Pouring the Concrete Foundation
Video#7: Backfilling the Fabric Structure Foundation
Video#8: Installing the Steel Building Legs
I hope you found this content useful!
Your generous support helps me produce more practical, hands-on content that I hope you’ll find useful.
Steve Maxwell
