Thinking about building a garage/shop

drkelly

drkelly

Dipstick who put two vehicles on jack stands
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Oak Ridge/Stokesdale, NC
I am thinking about building a garage/shop. I would like to hear some opinions from people who built one or have one and would have done things differently, or wish they had this or that, etc. This will be a detached garage/shop. If I could build it in the woods behind my house, I would consider a metal building, but the ideal spot is in the woods beside my house so it will most likely be vinyl siding or board to somewhat match the house which is brick with vinyl trim. For size, I am thinking a minimum of an over sized two car garage (22 or 24 x 26 or 28) and maybe a maximum of an over sized three car garage (32 or 36 x 26 or 28). I would like to have the option of installing a lift, and have been checking those out. It looks like I will need a 12' ceiling to accomodate one of those. It will definitely be wired with 220v. I am unsure if I want to add the expense of plumbing water for a sink, etc. I would like to have ample storage above the shop with possibly a set of stairs on the outside for access. Am I missing anything you would do?
 
A slop sink will be SOOOO worth it. At a minimum you can at least clean your dirty mits without dragging all the grease and mess into the house. I loved being able to clean parts in a sink (although if you have a parts washer I guess that is less of a need).

One drive-through bay could be nice, provided where you are putting it will give you room to drive-through. Never know when someone will show up with a boat that needs some work...
 
shop

Im in Stokesdale too. Come on over and I ll brag about my little 900 sq. ft. shop complete with 220, lights, fans etc. Its a Steelmaster, built it with a few buddies. It all bolts together, all you need is a nice slab. Price was right, and I built my own front and back walls with studs and hardyboard.
Dennis
 
i've got a stick built 25x25 on the back of my property that was built by the previous owner. my biggest complaint is the door height. the ceiling height is liveable, but getting taller trucks in under the door header can be tight. i also wish it was just a couple feet longer and wider. it fits two vehicles comfortabley, but it's a little tight walking around with all of my tools, parts, etc. along the walls.
 
Build as big as your budget will allow.
Roll up door, 16 wide and 10' high is great.
A slop sink is very useful, I would add a toilet, and a shower.
As far as water goes, I would heat it with one of those on demand heaters that only come on when the water is needed, and you never run out of hot water.
AN old used set of washer and dryer for shop rags and really nasty cloths so not to bring em in to do in the same one that washes your bed sheets, cloths for office or kids.
A big ol wood stove to heat in the cold months. Wood stove takes a while to heat up, so an old oil burning furnace re-jetted to use burn motor oil to get it heated up fast.
Good fan set up for the sumer.
Put 120 outlets every 5 feet or so, and 220 outlets both sides, back and front.
Plumb air at about the same intervals as the 120 outlets.
Air compressor outside on it's own slab so noise in minimal.
As many lights as you can afford, on separate breakers so you only use what you need.
at least deep enough for two cars, one long term and the other closest to the door for in and out type projects

Tall enough for a loft for spare parts and such
A fridge, microwave and a coffee maker.
A decent tune box and maybe even a TV

Plenty shelves to keep stuff with a place and not scattered here and there.
 
upnover said:
Build as big as your budget will allow.
Roll up door, 16 wide and 10' high is great.
A slop sink is very useful, I would add a toilet, and a shower.
As far as water goes, I would heat it with one of those on demand heaters that only come on when the water is needed, and you never run out of hot water.
AN old used set of washer and dryer for shop rags and really nasty cloths so not to bring em in to do in the same one that washes your bed sheets, cloths for office or kids.
A big ol wood stove to heat in the cold months. Wood stove takes a while to heat up, so an old oil burning furnace re-jetted to use burn motor oil to get it heated up fast.
Good fan set up for the sumer.
Put 120 outlets every 5 feet or so, and 220 outlets both sides, back and front.
Plumb air at about the same intervals as the 120 outlets.
Air compressor outside on it's own slab so noise in minimal.
As many lights as you can afford, on separate breakers so you only use what you need.
at least deep enough for two cars, one long term and the other closest to the door for in and out type projects
Tall enough for a loft for spare parts and such
A fridge, microwave and a coffee maker.
A decent tune box and maybe even a TV
Plenty shelves to keep stuff with a place and not scattered here and there.
Click to expand...
Good list.
I'm pretty sure the shop will have AC...anything over 80* is unbearable :flipoff2:
and a TV?...need to have cable or satellite in the house first :lol:
 
upnover said:
Build as big as your budget will allow.
Roll up door, 16 wide and 10' high is great.
A slop sink is very useful, I would add a toilet, and a shower.
As far as water goes, I would heat it with one of those on demand heaters that only come on when the water is needed, and you never run out of hot water.
AN old used set of washer and dryer for shop rags and really nasty cloths so not to bring em in to do in the same one that washes your bed sheets, cloths for office or kids.
A big ol wood stove to heat in the cold months. Wood stove takes a while to heat up, so an old oil burning furnace re-jetted to use burn motor oil to get it heated up fast.
Good fan set up for the sumer.
Put 120 outlets every 5 feet or so, and 220 outlets both sides, back and front.
Plumb air at about the same intervals as the 120 outlets.
Air compressor outside on it's own slab so noise in minimal.
As many lights as you can afford, on separate breakers so you only use what you need.
at least deep enough for two cars, one long term and the other closest to the door for in and out type projects
Tall enough for a loft for spare parts and such
A fridge, microwave and a coffee maker.
A decent tune box and maybe even a TV
Plenty shelves to keep stuff with a place and not scattered here and there.
Click to expand...
This is my dream shop. Anyone know exactly how much this would cost?
 
We have a 30x30 that we share with my dad (tractors and farm equipment work) and having the ceilings taller is something i wish we had done. Lighting is KEY. It sucks if you are working at night and cant see to find the tools around the shop. We used 5 huge lights that were extras from building a mall parking lot and they are amazing. Also, put the dang air compressor outside. We actualy put ours in the barn beside the shop. Build a shed out back or the noise will kill you.

Big roll up doors are your friend.

Here is the shop in the background...
 

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building yourself is going to be alot cheaper then most.
IMO pooring a slab and building on that with hardwood is easier to work with inside for your electrical, heating and AC needs.
just easier and cheaper to add things down the line to me.
if your on well water, i dont know bout more then washing your hands in the sink, since the water usually goes back into the ground in some way, but if not then thats no problem.
 
upnover is dead on.

In addition a little extra width is nice. It's nice to have some room between cars to walk around and move equipment. The pic by farmboy looked like an ideal sized shop. Ilikeitalot.

If it's feasible (since you may already plumb the sink), add a crapper. I know a lot of little stuff adds up, maybe you could rough in the plumbing/wiring/ and trim out at a later time.

A kegerator/beer cooler.
 
I'm pricing buildings also. I'm looking at building a 30x30 with 12 ft. ceiling. The concrete is going to cost between 3,000 and 4,000 dollars. The only total price I have gotten so far is 15,500. That includes grading, concrete, stick building, two windows, walk in door, 1 9x18 roll up door, shingled roof, and vinyl siding.
 
Make the roof pitch the same as the pitch of your house, and it will match better (especially if the siding is going to be different). I went to the expense of a bathroom, hand-me-down washer and dryer, slop sink, and a $50 refrigerator. Money well spent, It keeps you and your drinking buddies out of the house. Concrete slab with a footer around the perimeter, 3' block wall with 8' stick framed wall on top, truss roof, 10'x10' doors worked good for me.
 
As big as you can afford. I have a 25x35 and ran out of room quick....even w/ a zook.
Height is also a good thing. 10 ft. doors and 12 ceiling.
A/C would be a gotta have if the budget would allow....if not. BIG FAN.
Sink is a plus.
110v everywhere.
220v on every wall.


Size is the main thing.


Matt
 
Anybody know about these guys? http://www.carolinastructural.com
(no relations to them)
I talked to them at the state fair last year and was pretty impressed.
I have been planning for a 30x42 with a lift, sink, 220V and bigger doors, perhaps a small office and fridge.
 
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