New shop BLUEPRINTS,MrMidnite ,Root and others

Didnt check the mail yesterday, found my blueprints for the new shop/studio apartment in the box today. Root has the GarageMajal, dont know what I will call this other than MINE! Have a couple lots totalling 13 acres 20 minutes out of town. We hope to be moving in this fall. SHort term is 2-3 years in the studio loft then build the main house.

Here is a link to a cool drawing of what I am doing! Needless to say I am pumped.

http://www.barnsbarnsbarns.com/noff/ashford.html

 

perty

 

very cool Tman

 

<font color="purple"> I thought that Dale Earnhardt Inc. was the "Garage Majal" But hey, anything bigger than the tent that I got IS the Garage Majal. </font> <font color="purple"> And on a completely different note.........Johnny, thats an EXCELLENT avatar! </font>

 

Tman,
That looks great, wish I could have afforded to put a second floor on my garage when I built it. The only thing I'd suggest on the plans is to put a pedestrian door in where the window is on the right side of the front going up the stairs. It will get to be a h***le sliding the garage door open everytime you go in or out. Also make it as big as you can afford, I did mine 26x48 and have it crammed full of junk now. Wish I was closer, I like framing up a structure. I guess after so many years of seeing stuff burn down it does my heart good to see something being built.

 

Looks cool! Building a home is a fun experience! Couple of suggestions if you dont mind, the loft (which I think you said will be living quarters??) doesnt appear to have many windows?? Shame to live in the hills and not have a view, maybe add some dormers??? Hopefully one of these days I get a chance to get back to hills and we can catch up...

 

Its gonna be sweet Tman. I can store ALL my projects up there and do laundry at the same time.

 

Dan, those windows above the garage door open up to the floor of the loft. We will also have bigger windows on the gables. That right shed expansion will get e p***-thru door and will be office/kitchenette/utilitybath. Accomodations will be a little minimal for a couple years, no big deal, when I first moved back to Rapid City we lived in a 400 square foot apartment!

Speed, carefull, some of those projects might just stay with me!

 

Looks good T.

 

T..My shop is 32x40. It's got a second floor and I didn't need to put a beam or any posts in to support the floor. The second floor is a room 14x40 with an 8' ceiling. Otherwise it's not too different from what you have.
Clark

 

Yes Clark, I am going with Freespan trusses of some sort to keep the posts out of the center of the shop. I would love to go bigger right now but fear our local property taxes. I can always build on or add another building.

I know I have seen pics, can you post a shot or two of you shop?

 

Nice building. Have to agree on the dormers and walkin door. You know that was easy for me to say.

 

Tman, I'm excited for you. I remember building our home and shop. It's about the most fun my wife and i have ever had. She got her house, I got my shop, a win/win situation. looks like your plans can be expanded to meet future needs, there is no such thing as "too big a shop".

Frank

 

Couple we know moved into a delapitated double wide on some acreage. First chance they got they built a three car shop with a loft apartment overhead. One big "party room" and a bath and small kitchen. The plan was to live in the apartment until the house was built. To their credit, they did get a foundation in and some framing up. But 15 years later, when the marrage went South, Mom and Dad and two teenage girls were still living in one big room.

My advice, build your shop and apartment but don't screw around when it comes to the permanent digs. The first rule of marrage is keep Moma happy.

Back in my single days I always thought it would be neat to have a shop and apartment in the back with a swimming pool in between. Something I could rent to a ******* dancer or may be a stewardess or two. I dream a lot.

 

Trust me, you have no idea of my taste in houses or history of homebuilding. This will be a killer place to live short OR long term. And, the studio is larger than the main level of our curent house.

 

You're living my dream, T-bag! Congrats. Best place I ever had was just like it (only with a side door and high trusses) - I lived there for 4+ years, and it was perfect for me, except it was in a **** neighborhood...Now I live in a much better neighborhood, but have to do my wrenchin' on the sly, in a rented storage unit with no power...I saved the plans you posted, just to keep the dream alive. You'll have to have my share of the fun until I get going again...I'll PM you...

 

T, I'm seeing wood floors in the studio. I can do the chair rails, crown moulding and base boards too. For fun, we can put a fish tank through the wall so you can be on MTV CRIBS.

 

Tman, I haven't posted pics in a while of the Garage-mahal. You'll see more of where I am heading. One thing I did was add greenboard all the way around the paint area. That way I can wet the floors down without feeling guilty.

 

Speed you got the idea. The loft has exposed collar ties at the 10 foot elev.

Root, I got a feel for your place. That left shed addition is going to be a parking spot for a daily but also double as a spray booth. I scrounged an air evav system for it already.

Although I am not a neat freak, I enjoy good architecture and like my surrounding to have style. I have seen too many guys hamstring themselves by cramming a bunch of **** into a dark dingy garage then not be able to work.

 

T..here's the outside of my shop. In the next couple of weeks we're gonna add a carport to the right side sorta like in your plans. I'd like to make the carport look sorta like an old gas station with pumps and all.
Clark

 

Clark, you read my mind! Next to the p***-thru door, I am adding a large picture window for the Gas station. Down the road I hope to have a simple facade and pump done up on that side of the building.

I like yours, it does look very similar. One variation of these plans uses a 12 foot shed bay off the back. Either full width or partial. That would allow you to make the shop deeper. My thoughts are when I need to, add on to the back in this manner and turn that into the tool area freeing up the entire 24x38 for workspace.

 

Here's an old shot of the main room. You can see the stairs and storage area underneath to the right. The shop is devided into two sections. The "paint" room is 15x32 and the main room is 22x32 with a bathroom and stairs taking up the extra 3 feet. I've got a double wide door between the rooms so I can get bodies from room to room without going outside.

 

Clark, I thought you said your garage was small . You gonna show us some pics of the "gas station" when your done?

Tman, good luck with your fun place. later plmczy

 

I like my work space but I have run out of room for storage. I may add on to the back like your plans call for to get more storage.

The boys are always askin if they can move in upstairs. I almost couldn't afford to add the upstairs. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have it. Mine is just for storage but it would make a great place to live.
Clark

 

That's a problem I'm worried about is running out of room for storage in my garage, well not so much storage just room for equipment as I can afford it. I have a 100x30 farm equipment shed for storing bigger parts when needed. I don't want to store good stuff out there because of the dirt floor and for fear of stuff being stolen because it's open. I like the size of your shop clark cause it looks like you have enough room to walk and work around a project without having to move stuff alot. Plus it also looks like it's easier to heat than a bigger shop. I think I'm gonna go do some straightening up(what I can)now. . later plmczy