PeteJoe I'm running floor heat here in Calgary, at -30 I've found it to be a real treat. During the winter I thermostat the garage at 5C that's about 40 degrees F. I do that so that chemicals, (paints etc) won't freeze. The shop is comfortable for evening work in a shop coat. In fact it's more comfortable than my fathers similar sized shop with an overhead blast furnace. In dad's shop even when the room gets up to temperature your feet still are cold and ache because of the frozen floor. In mine the floor is comfortable, even feels warm to the touch, and the slightly cooler air temp is nice to work in especially once youget used to wearing a shop coat or other "layer". On weekends I bump the temp (usually friday night) for a T-shirt environment. I've also found the temperature recovers better after moving a car in on cold days. the meltwater off the car drys quickly on the wrm floor and the "warm slab" causes the overall shop temperature to recover better than dad's shop as well. Frost heave of the floor, is minimized because of the warm floor. I also expet the three layer pipe I used (Kitek) would require quite a shear to break. You can also plan ahead when building by using smaller loops (zones) so that if a floor disaster were to occur you only loose one zone, rather than a whole floor. I've no experience but have consulted with a plumber who had experience repairing broken loops in an existing floor, it is possible to repair these installatins in case of a badley aimed floor anchor or heave. mike
My main room is about 30x60 with a 30x12 room in back and a 10x60 of storage on the side. The bigger it is the quicker it fills up. The fuller it gets the more deals you find. Go with what you want. Personally I want more....
In my opinion if your going to build a shop you need room for 9 cars. 9 cars worth of space means you can have 2 cars apart (frame in one spot... running gear in the other... body in the other.) So, ya need to figure out the length of 3 cars plus 3 feet of room in between each... across the same as the depth on this, so you could park em either way. Then you'll want to figure out the size of the parts storage racks and size of the bench/tool organazation area. Do ya want a mini-library and a bathroom/shower? Extra bunk and fridge? Coffee pot? Blender (southern guys know what I'm talking bout... right 'rita ) You want to have enough room so that you can pull a car in with projects going at the same time... I am starved for space in one direction but not the other... 3 cars wide but 18 feet deep. It doesnt work all that well, and I'm thinking about building onto the front of it. More then likely I'll end up with an addition on two sides: one coming off the front, the other going off the 3rd bay to the back so I have one spot thats 3 cars deep. Electrical supply... you want em low enough that you can plug in your light while on the creepr, ya want em high enough ya dont blow your back out while bending down! You might want an air drop line going by every electrical plug... One thing alot of guys dont consider is how much driveway they have in front of the garage... if ya need to pull in a BIG something (that'll fit in the door that is...) You need more turn around room. Put an outlet on either side of every door, water spickets on the outside, airlines of the inner part of the wall. You dont want to ever have to grab an extension cord while in your shop... and dont want to drag a hundred feet of hose out so you can get out the front door and on the other side of the car parked right at the door. WORK BENCHES! I'm starved for work benches... because of the 18 foot depth. I cant put a bench in front of the cars.. I cant put em on the sides cause the building isnt wide enough to accomodate a bench on either end and still park cars. Once I get the place cleaned out I'll be able to call it a 2 car garage + benches and racks. Until then I've got one big bench... the floor. Build it bigger then you need, bigger then you can afford... and with air/electrical every arm span (measure with your hands spread out as far as ya can... gives ya a good idea of how far apart then need to be!) Even closer on the benches! LIGHTS! All over the place... you want it bright enough that you need sun glasses on to walk in at night... you want it so bright that the shadows hide! Put the lights over your benches on chains so you can drop em down or pull em up. If your going to pull alot of engines... you might want to put in some I-beams over head and make the structure your cherry picker... conserves floor space! Hope I added something that helps to your argument with the wife
Don't matter what size it is.....as George Carlin said, "Stuff multiplies to fill the available space".
T, It sounds like you will have quite the set-up when you're done, but whatever you do don't go with a flat roof. The place I rent has an almost flat roof (slightly pitched) and it's always giving me trouble. If i can ever afford a garage of my own it wont have a flat roof. A friend of mine has a barn style roof on his garage & there is plenty of room for work & storage on the 2nd floor. Billy
Right now, SoWhats dimensions fit my layout the best. I am thinking 2 story, 32x40 with the lower level cut into the hill on 3 sides. Nice and cool in the summer!
my garage is 26' x 42", but built into a hill. First level has 10" poured walls and 10' ceilings. I used floor trusses so it is completely open, no poles. Second level has 10' ceilings which will be my shop and then used Gambrel roof trusses for the third level which has 8 1/2' ceilings. All framed 2" x 6". Close to 3000 square feet. Here is the start with the walls poured and floor trusses
Whatever you do, if you are building this as a new building make the roof high enough for a lift. Really it'll change your life....
What would be the minimum ceiling height for a lift? I guess it might depend on how much you want to squat.
The Benco lifts and Backyard Buddies need 12 feet. Thanks for the pics Mr Midnight! I stopped by the lumberyard tonight and talked to my Contractor Rep. I found that floor trusses come in 32 feet for a 24" deep version and 26 feet for teh 18 inchers. I am liking your measurements as well.
tman, mine are 18" and spaced 19 3/4" on center. I also doubled up the trusses over the door header. About 12' in from the front I ran a steel I-beam across and set it on the top plate and have a chain fall which eliminates a cherry picker and the room it takes up. I could have gone bigger but this size works well for me. It seems the more space I create the more stuff I collect. You have to draw the line somewhere. Let me know if I can be of any assistance to you, Robert
[ QUOTE ] What would be the minimum ceiling height for a lift? [/ QUOTE ] 12', floor to ceiling, if you want to be able to stand up straight under the vehicle.
When you build shop place doors where you get the least wind in cold weather.Build in such a way you can easly put on additions.You can not have to many lights or elec recpticals or air outlets. a large mop sink is nice.One of the other things us older guys will tell you is put in larger width doors and as few steps to enter the house this way you will have room for a wheel chair to move around and get in the house. Plan ahead sometimes you can be injured or unable to walk.
Hey Atch, I'd be interested in that ACAD drawing, if you don't mind sending it to me. I'm planning on building a shop next year. send it in a PM if you would.
ok Tman..here's the pics as promised...a little late though, sorry. both are around 1500 sq ft. 1st one is 25X55, there's another car space between the '39 and where I was standing. 2nd one is 30x50
PEDDRO, if there were windows someone might look in and think they need my stuff more than me. Windows on garages give thieves something to think about.
My first shop didn't have windows. It drove me crazy. Makes you feel like you're in a cave. Sunlight is good! Mount the windows high so it's hard to see in them. If they're mounted high you can still put equipment in front of them. Clark
Id say ace all windows for theft reasons and install skylights. I love the sunlight too but theres nothing better than useful sunlight... and not having your junk stolen!
[ QUOTE ] ok Tman..here's the pics as promised...a little late though, sorry. both are around 1500 sq ft. 1st one is 25X55, there's another car space between the '39 and where I was standing. 2nd one is 30x50 [/ QUOTE ] Nice stingray! (You seen www.corvetteforum.com ?)
Nice, thanks for the pics! I just got off the phone with a buddy in Aspen Colorado that just happens to be an Architect!!! I get my house drawn up GRATIS!
Clark, maybe out in nowhere, PA. that would work but here in Detroit thievery is considered a skilled trade.
[ QUOTE ] thanks for the link Rocknrod, Hadn't been top that one yet, but it look very useful. [/ QUOTE ]
Loose touch for a couple weeks and you go out and buy up a bunch o land, you gotta drop me a line and fill me in on the details, especially so i know when i can come help my bro out...
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