I have loss my mind and am going to open my own Meat Shop with my brother !! this will take place after the first of the year. Here is lousy phone picture of building.
cutting cost on start up, we have thought of building our own walk-in cooler, check out the below and give your opinon please !
Difficulty: Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
2x4 Wood.
2" polystyrene insulation board.
1/4 in Particle board.
R-30 Fiberglass Insulation.
Entry door of choice solid wood.
Vinyl wall board.
Staples.
Wood screws.
Liquid Nails.
Programmable Plug In Thermostat.
15 AMP single breaker.
Weather stripping.
A/C unit 18,000 BTU.
3/4in Plywood.
Vinyl flooring.
cold weather caulk.
Weather Proof electrical box.
Now you need to build a frame with the 2x4's measuring 8x8x8, with you're door of choice put into the frame, and a hole framed out with 2x4s the size of your A/C unit. Be sure to put the 2x4's 2' apart from one another. Build a floor frame, use particle board to separate the ground from the frame, this will lift your walk-in cooler off the floor. Add a ceiling frame also, all of which will have the 2x4's spaced 2' apart. Finally install the door of your choice.
Run electrical wire and put a weather proof plug-in just above the framed hole for the A/C unit. This will need to run directly to your electoral breaker box and have it's own breaker for safety reasons.
Next you will need to put the outside walls up with the particle board, and wood screws. Be sure to put the very top of the ceiling up with particle board also. You should now have a particle board box that measures 8x8x8.
Add the insulation in between the 2x4's. Use a staple gun to staple it to the 2x4. Be sure to add insulation to the walls, ceiling, and floor.
Put up the particle board on all walls and ceiling using wood screws. Use the 3/4 inch plywood on the floor using the wood screws.
Use the liquid nail and glue the insulation board to all the walls and ceiling not leaving any gaps. Then caulk any gaps where the insulation board meets.
Use the liquid nail and glue the Vinyl wall board to all walls inside and outside. This will give you the look of a walk-in cooler and you will be able to mop all the walls and floor to keep it clean.
Finally you need to install the wall unit A/C and caulk around the unit. Also, add the programmable plug in thermostat and set it to 39 degrees and 41 degrees. The CoolBot turns any brand of off-the-shelf, window-type air conditioning unit (purchased separately) into a turbo-charged cooling machine. With it, you can transform a highly-insulated room into a walk-in cooler, and thermostatically controlled cool down to 32° F!
Hi Larry, i'll get a better picture tomorrow, the building has the size I want, you can put three 8 foot case across it and a BBQ cooker, will get footage on it tomorrow, at the time was in a hurry, besides I don't want to carry all that high dollar junk in it most shops have that don't turn fast. produce and fresh meat, deli meats you slice is what i'm starting with, get the other junk later as we grow or people ask for.
MeatGrady, you got a new OUTHOUSE !!!! boy you moving up in the world, mmmmmmmmmm meat cutting has been good for you !! lol my turn to be funny ( wink )
Wow. So much for retirement. I'm very interested in the start up. I have a friend back in the Midwest whose Organic Black Angus herd keeps growing. I told him if things got bad enough in the supermarket biz I could start processing for him and sell it under his own brand name. Truth is, though, I'm just a supermarket meat-cutter. I wouldn't know where to start--buildings, compressors, licences, permits, etc... Seems like you got both the brains and the cajones...
I think it's a great idea and sounds like a ton of work but a ton of fun! I think starting with produce, particularly local produce, sliced meats and fresh cuts is super smart. You should check around to see if there's a local bakery that would supply you with fresh bread. Also, getting any local winery or brewery to supply is super cool and trendy right now. I know the liquor license is a pain in the backside, but it could pay off once you establish your clientele. It sounds like you and your bro have more than enough experience and knowledge to make this work. You gonna have a smoker? What about a dry ager? They're pretty simple to make.