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New Shop build

2K views 28 replies 15 participants last post by  ibewjon 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
So I am sure many have asked this same question, but I have not had good luck searching old posts. So I will ask again, and get opinions.

With the interest rates being low, it seems to be a good time to build a shop. How big? What would your dream shop have?

Currently, my tools include:

cabinet table saw with router table
Lathe
Miter saw
14" bandsaw
Tiny jointer (hoping to upgrade that with a new shop)
Box planer
Bench and hand tools
Future dust collection system

The shop will probably be used for storage of cars and lawnmower as well as be used for car repair and maybe a little metal work. You know the kind of place where the kids come to have all there stuff fixed and maintained.
 
#3 ·
I was initially thinking something like 30×50, but 25×25 would probably be big enough. I have a meeting with a builder next week, but was just wondering what others have done.

And you are right, 50% bigger than what I think it needs to be. I know the space will eventually be filled.
 
#5 ·
30×50 sounds closer to what your gonna need,25×25 is gonna be way too small.no matter how big you make it it will always fill up.like they say go big or go home.
 
#6 ·
I have a 30×33 garage with a 10/12 pitch with a 20' dormer. The upstairs has a 1 bedroom apartment for family visits.
My wife gets 1 bay I get the rest. You may want to consider a bathroom if it is detached. I have one it is a must for me. I heat with a 50000 btu bigmaxx natural gas heater. Ther is a picture of my garage in my workshop page.
 
#7 ·
I have a 30×33 garage with a 10/12 pitch with a 20 dormer. The upstairs has a 1 bedroom apartment for family visits.
My wife gets 1 bay I get the rest. You may want to consider a bathroom if it is detached. I have one it is a must for me. I heat with a 50000 btu bigmaxx natural gas heater. Ther is a picture of my garage in my workshop page.

- Woodmaster1
i second the bathroom idea,the wife appreciates it.
 
#10 ·
My shop is 26×66, and wish it were 40×60. Shop is 26×50, 16×26 is storage, DC, air compressor, and tire machine, lumber storage along the wall, 4×9 pallet rack for ply. Not enough room to store finished projects. Sometimes people are not ready when their projects are finished. And I need the stuff out to make room for the next project.
 
#13 ·
oh another thing go at least with 10' ceiling height,even 12',i was working with 12' boards last weekend and 8' ceilings would have been a pita.
 
#14 ·
When I built a garage, ( not my shop), it was alot cheaper to go 24' wide and extend the length. Trusses over 24' rise in price quickly. 24' is a good width for two cars, and wall off the shop area for cheaper heating and cooling. My shop is 16' added to a 24×28 garage. I am always wishing I had added 4 more feet, but even if I had, I would want 4 more, and more….
 
#15 ·
It's always been my opinion that a rectangular shop is more efficient than a square one. I'm not sure why, I have just always thought that. I also think that for a 1-man operation, 30×48 or so is a good size. Do go with a >=10' ceiling. I worked in a 40×60 shop with 1-2 other guys, and it got cramped at times, but worked out fine.
 
#16 ·
ibewjon, that is a solid idea. I will ask them what the difference in cost is between 32' wide and 24' wide. Then just make it a little longer.

PPK has a good point too, a rectangle would have more wall space for the same area. As long as there is enough room in the middle to work, extra room in the middle of the shop may be just wasted on more space between machines. Granted there needs to be room to work, but shelf and counter space for storage is nice. I would guess that a rectangular shop may help with work flow.

In general, I was thinking about 10' height, maybe 16'. I know the builder will recommend 16', you know for that eventual 5th wheel trailer I will never buy. I am in the country, so if I go 16', maybe someone with tall equipment may be more interested in the place if I ever sell. Really, that will all come down to how much difference there is in cost.
 
#18 ·
ibewjon, that is a solid idea. I will ask them what the difference in cost is between 32 wide and 24 wide. Then just make it a little longer.

PPK has a good point too, a rectangle would have more wall space for the same area. As long as there is enough room in the middle to work, extra room in the middle of the shop may be just wasted on more space between machines. Granted there needs to be room to work, but shelf and counter space for storage is nice. I would guess that a rectangular shop may help with work flow.

In general, I was thinking about 10 height, maybe 16 . I know the builder will recommend 16 , you know for that eventual 5th wheel trailer I will never buy. I am in the country, so if I go 16 , maybe someone with tall equipment may be more interested in the place if I ever sell. Really, that will all come down to how much difference there is in cost.

- Toasty
i agree about go longer rather than square,wall space is always good,i ran out a long time ago.
 
#19 · (Edited by Moderator)
I moved from a 10×16 shed to a 22×22 garage last August and its already full. I find the square shape harder to organize than a rectangle with extra wall space. If i was building new, which i have space on the property to do, I would probably shoot for 24×30 or 36. A single one car insulated door on the short side with another on the long side along with a man door. The long side would have the roof over hang an 8 or 10 ft patio area so i could work outside on nice days or just open the man door and not worry about a light rain or direct sun.

In my area, in the city, builders recommend the 16' for the 5th wheel just because it sells better later on. Not too many people buying homes know what to do with a shop space but if your realtor lists the property with an RV garage it gets more traffic. Or so im told by my realtor friends.
 
#20 ·
I do like the idea of a patio. It is appealing. I have carved a few spoons, it would be nice to do it outside. Maybe just another reason to build some Adirondack chairs.

Another positive about 16' high would be the ability to add a lean-to later for extra storage, or a bump out of the shop for wood storage, or to enclose a portion and put dust collection outside of the shop.

It seems that I am getting some great ideas from this post. Thank you all. I hope my pocket book can fulfill my plans :)
 
#22 ·
That is another awesome point to have a 16' high shed. I could add a loft to one end. Granted there may only be 6 feet of space up there at the ends, but it would make good storage for things that I don't use very often. It may just be filled with Christmas stuff, but anything to enable my hording tendencies is appreciated.
 
#23 ·
16' is tall but good! My shed, possibly future shop, will have 12' walls and I'm debating how big a PITA it would be to not cut 4 1/2" off each 12' stud and figure out a way to sheath the extra 4 1/2" of exterior. I'll have an 8/12 roof with rafter tails extending 10 1/2" past the sheathing and a 1 1/2" fascia board under aluminum trim. The extension of the rafter tails below the upper top plate might work, I have more math to do.

I'm planning a mezzanine down the road with a 6'4" height below the 2×8 joists, so an actual 7 1/4" + 3/4" floor would be right at 8 inches. 144" - 76" - 8" only gives me 5' and another 4 1/2" upstairs (permanent ladder) would be helpful.
 
#24 ·
A friend on the west coast bought a home with a 26 or higher attached rv garage. He has spent many months converting it to a garage with second floor workshops and storage.

- ibewjon
One of the coolest shops i've ever seen was in a youtube vid i cant seem to find now. The guy made a lot of Scandinavian style furniture. He liked to start with balsa wood scale models. He had a loft above his shop with big tall glass windows. There was a mini shop in that loft area for making models along with computers and office equipment. I remember him saying he did the big windows so he could look out over the shop below and visualize his production technique/steps for a new furniture design. I thought that was a bloody brilliant idea.
 
#26 ·
I worked in lots of different shops in my working life so I knew what I wanted when I built my retirement shop. Size is up to you to decide based on lots of things but the "must have " things for me were:
1) raised wood floor partly because I've spent too much time on concrete and partly so I could have…
2) underfloor dust collection and wiring for major tools
3) really good lighting

The rest is all negotiable but I built those things in and after sixteen years I'm still very happy with my shop.
BTW, mine is 30' X 40' X 10'
 
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