LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Building a Shop-Help Me Understand Why I Need 10ft High Ceilings

Jump to Latest
17K views 57 replies 39 participants last post by  pottz  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Guys,

Now in the process of designing my new standalone shop building. It will be "stick built" (not a pole building).

My original shop was in the basement of my former home, and had only 6.5ft ceilings. I know the ceiling in the new shop will have to be higher, but not sure I need 10ft.

I've thought about previous and future cabinet, furntiture, and chair projects and the processes involved in building these pieces and have yet to see where more than an 8 ft. ceiling will be needed.

So, thought I'd ask all you Lumberjocks for help-tell me about a project you did where you were glad the ceiling height was 10 ft. And, let me know if I'm missing anything.

I live in Northern Idaho, and while the winters are cold, they're not like the Great Lakes area I left. However, I heat the house with propane, and will heat the shop with it as well, so the added cubic area a 10ft vs. 8ft ceiling yields translates in $$'s spent to heat it. (Assume at this point I'll have R30 in the walls and R50 in the ceiling of the building in insulation). And, 10ft ceilings translate into higher building costs because of the height of lumber needed for the stud walls, and additional siding for the added height.

Help me understand why I want 10ft ceilings, or let me know I'll be OK with 8ft

Thanks in advance for the help guys.
Gerry
 
#52 ·
I've got an 8' X 8' sectional door in my shop, my ceilings are just over 9'. The rails for my door are close enough to one wall to make it an absolute PITA to put anything 8' high along that wall. I'd love it if my ceilings were 10', then I could lift the door closer to the ceiling and be able to use a smaller footprint for my sheet goods storage.

from a lighting standpoint, I'd rather have the lights higher off the work surfaces and brighter, than closer to the work surface. washing the room with multiple lights (which you can do more effectively with taller ceilings) will cut down on shadows cast on the work surfaces.

for heating my small shop, I can use a plug in heater, I run the air purifiers (located 12" below the ceiling) and they circulate the heat around the shop effectively..
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
P
#58 ·
wow this is still going,how hard is this topic to figure out,10ft ceilings =good anymore questions-LMAO!!!.

- pottz

There is a post about sharpening pencils that is 52 posts deep. I figure this one is only half full.

- CWWoodworking
Click to expand...
ha ha,no topic too insignificant for lumber jocks-lol.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
LumberJocks Woodworking Forum
posts
2.5M
members
128K
Since
2006
A forum community dedicated to professional woodworkers and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about shop safety, wood, carpentry, lumber, finishing, tools, machinery, woodworking related topics, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Blogs Power Tools, Hardware and Accessories Woodworking Skill Share Off Topic Coffee Lounge Hand Tools