"If I ever build another shop I'm going to......."

[BellyUpFish]

Well.. It's finally happening.. Going to be getting out of the garage and into a shop.

Looking at building a 30x40 and while I have tons of ideas, I thought I'd ask those "who dun it" already and see what thoughts you guys might have. You know those "If I ever build another shop I'd ____________...."


Suggestions for the design committee?

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I can't wait for the responses. I worked with the town board to increase the maximum outbuilding from 600sf to 1,000sf. I wanted 1,200sf, would have taken and might have used 1,500sf. I want to learn from everyone else's mistakes.

 

[larry_g]

There was a thread about this a couple of years ago, try searching on mistakes.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126255&highlight=wall

lg
no neat sig line

 

[fury9]

I would use span-crete and have a sweet mancave down below

 

[1mollyd]

When I built my 30 x 30 shop, about 1 1/2 years ago, I installed infloor radiant heat.

That was the best move I ever made. It is so sweet to have warm floors in the winter!

Dave

 

[UpstateNY]

....................... I thought I'd ask those "who dun it" already and see what thoughts you guys might have. You know those "If I ever build another shop I'd ____________...."

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126255&showall=1

 

[cyamaha2007]

i would make it taller my side walls are 14ft should have gone 16ft. the second floor mezzanine wouldnt be so cramped.

 

[ODIS]

Trust you will be adding a lift of some configuration. If I could modify or build a new shop, I would add in-floor lighting as shown below. I would also add the the overhead chain/cable hoist or gantry or yard-arm hoist as others on GJ have done.

Do not skimp on the concrete. Get the best you can and have the best finishers in your area do it right. Period. Get every detail you want completed by others in writing. If you make changes on the fly, get it in writing.

Model your new shop in Sketch Up and plan waaaay in advance. If you do not want to learn SU, find someone that can do the modeling for you. Cost will depend on complexity of your project for the SU modeling.

Keep current on GJ because there is a wealth of knowledge and a ton of information on the "been there - done that" issues/mistakes.

Most important, have fun while you are planning and in the execution of the project.

Ody.

 

[ilovevocs]

I don't know what capacity you will be using this garage but for me power has been an ongoing issue. Machines seem to keep increasing in size and qty, keeping pace with power requirements is getting to be a daunting task. Of funds allow I have been running larger circuits that I anticipate needing as I seem to outgrow them quickly.

 

[fromnwmt]

My boys and I built a 30x40x12 recently and the two things i would do differnt are 16ft walls and steeper pitched roof, it is engineered for the large amount of snow we sometimes get here but would feel better if the snow just slid right off...

 

[Twiggss]

in floor lighting?? wow that is a new one.. trick idea.

 

[Deltarat]

Taller for more head room in the loft and more insulation, including the door, to lower the utility bills.

 

[Falcon67]

Start with more money.

 

[ddawg16]

Start with more money.

Because it's never big enough....

 

[RVDan]

"If I ever build another shop I'd ____________...."

make it no less than 2000 square feet, no less than 14 foot doors, the maximum reasonable amount of insulation, an efficient climate control system, handwash station, bathroom with shower, a clean area for changing clothes, the usual overkill electrical service, ridiculous amounts of light, on a bigger property with a longer driveway

 

[87FoRunner]

Urinal.

 

[matt151617]

My garage is unfinishished... and I didn't build it, it came with the house... but a better drainage system (sides and center drain), MUCH more electrical, and a lot more storage/shelves. Once the stuff gets piled up in there it'll never come out. And that makes it 10x harder to upgrade anything.

 

[jomobco]

Borrow more money.

Classic!

 

[maxspeed96ct]

Trust you will be adding a lift of some configuration. If I could modify or build a new shop, I would add in-floor lighting as shown below. I would also add the the overhead chain/cable hoist or gantry or yard-arm hoist as others on GJ have done.

Do not skimp on the concrete. Get the best you can and have the best finishers in your area do it right. Period. Get every detail you want completed by others in writing. If you make changes on the fly, get it in writing.

Model your new shop in Sketch Up and plan waaaay in advance. If you do not want to learn SU, find someone that can do the modeling for you. Cost will depend on complexity of your project for the SU modeling.

Keep current on GJ because there is a wealth of knowledge and a ton of information on the "been there - done that" issues/mistakes.

Most important, have fun while you are planning and in the execution of the project.

Ody.

wow in-floor lighting! Why didnt I think of that, can you give us some basic info on a how-to and what type of lights should be used ?

 

[wnstwolf]

Paint the interior prior to moving in. Easily stated hard to do as most have a space due to stuff needed to go in it. But we are building big spaces that would be great to hit with a spray application if the place was not full of all our stuff..

Also taller doors at least where lift is
Have a plan and try to stick with it. this Forum is the Anti Plan!
Watch the details. Saying I can fix that later cost more in $$ and Time. I had a not so perfect concrete slab that I am not so happy with and not easily fixed now that I am in.

 

[W650Mike]

It would be difficult for me to have another shop without a full run bridge crane. They don't require much more steel if planned ahead. I use mine almost daily.

I would also go crazy on the ceiling insulation and almost the same on the walls.

Several skylight panels over your main work area would be beneficial but you lose some insulation.

 

[Tscott]

I would insulate and air condition it. I can't tell you how often I get discouraged to work out their when it is super hot and humid here in Florida. I have never handled heat well, but as I age (I'm 30 now) it's getting harder and harder to work int he heat.

Tom

 

[Falcon67]

Because it's never big enough....

Because you go through it about twice as fast as you expect.

 

[ODIS]

wow in-floor lighting! Why didnt I think of that, can you give us some basic info on a how-to and what type of lights should be used ?

Look at Hydrel and Staff lighting. They have some in-floor lighting solutions. As for installation, consult with your electrical contractor and there may be restrictions for this type of lighting in the garage space in terms of code requirements.

I'll also try to remember to look at the list of products used in this garage space, but that won't happen until later on this week.

Ody.

 

[GarageEnvy]

Use metal plug boxes instead of plastic and install 3 way (or 4 way) switching for the lights by all entry/exit points.

 

[UncleJoe]

All Electrical wiring in metal conduit exposed not buried in the wall. This makes it easy to add things down the road and you never have to worry about drilling or nailing into a wall or ceiling and nicking a wire.

I had a client years ago that was an independent arson investigator, you should see the photos he had of wires nicked by nails in the walls or ceilings. Lot of fires start that way. If you did the conduit right it would have a cool industrial look to it. Easy to run a new line from a junction box.

Many would view this as overkill but it is what I would do and I would run my airlines parallel with the electrical to add to the look.

 

[ozyborn]

If I ever?? I would make a shop twice as large as I think I will need. At least. Infloor heating, well insulated. office space with shower and bathroom. Lift or 2 as well... Very high ceilings. Then a gun safe with enough firepower to take out a National guard unit if need be. ( got to protect those tools)

 

[hh76]

even if I couldn't afford to use it yet, I'd get tubing in the floor for heating.

I'd have a good floor drain system so that I could hose the floor occasionally.

Toilet and sink

strategically placed windows / skylights to let in tons of light, but not get in the way of valuable wall space

partitions, or at least design for the easy installation of temp partitions. It's nice to have a "clean" work area, and a spot to let sparks fly.

Good exhaust fan

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

When I built my 30 x 30 shop, about 1 1/2 years ago, I installed infloor radiant heat. That was the best move I ever made. It is so sweet to have warm floors in the winter! Dave

Where are you located?

 

[BWS]

Trick answer:Not backfill and yet do more underground.........and can do this all day long.

More light and power,but off the grid.More sq ftg with less footprint.Higher value'd finished build with less investment......tired now,going to go work in shop.