I know it's been brought up before, but I have some short term memory loss, due to some top secret military experments I was involved during my younger days. It's official, I'm finally building my own shop! It's going to be 24' X 40' to 48' depending on cost. I know it's never big enough, but I'm limited by budget, and the city. So help me out guys, what have you done to make the best use of the space you have?
go for a 2 story structure if you can. or at least tall enough to put in a loft. double your stoage space in the same square footage. jerry
In my garage, I hang everything from the rafters....hubcaps, steering colums, fans, old pots and pans, etc etc. It gives the place a cool Sanford and Sons look + its real easy to keep track of my junk. Seriously.
Get everything off the floor. Get medium sized-bench top tools rather than floor standing tools. Seal the floor. Make a "kitchen" space where you can stand between two workbenches, one with space, the other with fixed power tools. Have electrical and air dropdowns to prevent draping extension cords or alir lines all over the place. No matter what you do, you'll never have enough space.
Even if they won't allow a full second story, a 12-12 pitched roof will give you a second floor storage area almost doubling the foot print. You can put a lot of stuff up there. I have my bead blaster cabinet and hot air heating system up there as well.
build a two story. you will need the storage space. my shop has a small room on the back side that is only accessible from the outside for the compressor, riding mower,pushmower, rakes,shovels, ladders, etc. also insulate everything. i have helped two friends build shops and they both sheetrocked the inside and painted the walls and roof an offwhite color. it really makes it nice to work in too. i go home to mine that's unpainted and it's like working in a cave. i'm going to emty it out and finish the walls. the ceiling is already done.
Make sure the ceiling is high enough to put in a lift..... When I built my shop 20 years ago lifts were NOT as available as now. Backyard Buddy is only 3 grand and I have run accross a few deals for a thousand or so. I would love to have one but I have a 8 foot 7 inch high ceiling. Not enough room to run the lift up with anything on it. Build as large as you can..even if you have to borrow a few bucks. Interest is on the cheap now and it's cheaper to do it now than later. Mine is 36 X 25 and I should have went 30 X 50...at least. The 2 story thing is great but if that's not possible.........put a lot of pitch on the roof. Mine is 4/12.......... 5/12 or 6/12 is a lot better. Also put enough over hang on the roof so water does not splash back on the gargage or the doors......makes the building and doors last a lot better, and the floor will not wick when you are out there working in the rain with the doors open.
I also put a slab by the entrance doors and the welder just inside so I do my nasty welding and grinding outside and don't have to sweep up. The late night light show freaks out some of the neighbors, though.
Thanks! Good ideas,keep em comming! I still don't know size for sure. It depends on how the city classifies my green house. I think it's a portable structure, but they may see it differently. I'm limited to 10% of my total lot size in out buildings. They also count second stories in the sq. footage, so I can't putn in a second floor(not until the inspector leaves anyway ) I'm going with 12' to 14' side walls, a hoist is a must! I'm spoiled, I won't build cars without one. I picked up a short lift yesterday & I'm looking for two in ground hoists right now. If I can't find them before I pour the floor, then I'll go with a 4 post. I'll do both if I don't run out of money. In case you can't tell, I'm pretty excited. Been dreaming of doing this for years. Well, back to work, I'm moving fences today, and packing up stuff in the old garage, so I can tear it down. BTW the walls are going white, with flames!
Here is what I'm building this summer/fall.The only change is a large single dormer across the front. 50'deep x 38'wide with 10' ceilings. A studio over top that is 38' and 19' deep. If it can't fit in here, I don't need it!
[ QUOTE ] C2? I don't know, not mine, it's stored in the "clean room" at the shop I've been renting. [/ QUOTE ] C1 = 53-62 C2 = 63-67 C3 = 68-82 C4 = 84-96 (no 83 model year...) C5 = 97- current
Ok, hadn't heard the "c" thing(I'm not much into vetts) This one is very nice and very correct, it's a 66 I think. The guy that owns it also has the nicest 57 nomad I've ever seen. It's never even been driven since he finished the restoration. What fun is that!
My lot is only 37 1/2 feet wide. I got the OK from the city (bylaw people) to build from side to side of the property. Outside walls are concrete block. (fire requirement) The 37 1/2 foot space (width) is divided in half. One side a single stall & shop (heated) the other side a car port, 16 feet wide (drive one vehicle in forwards, back the second vehicle in; then you exit the vehicles to the center of the car port. Because the garage / car port covered most of the back yard; the roof was first made FLAT, for a sun deck. (had to use 2" x 12" roof / floor joists) There is a circular stair way to the top. After a couple of years of not using the sun deck; decided to put a "roof over the roof", ridge is 7 feet at the center and slopes out to the old hand rails. (they were made to look like a short roof) NOW I have a 37 foot (give or take a couple of inches) by 24 foot STORAGE area above the shop and car port. Lots of shelves. Air compessor and a hoist that rolls out a door over the car port that can lift a complete engine up and in. Turns out the 2 x 12 joists (now floor to the second story) come in handy; have had 5 engines and about 3 tons of parts up there! Inside shop; walls and ceiling ALL white, four, 8 foot floresent fixtures, cabinets (up to the ceiling) above the work benches. Peg board for lots of small parts. (plus some "wall art"!) Posters on cabinet doors and a couple on the ceiling. Have my computer in one corner of the shop as well. (in the middle of building a completely enclosed cabinet to keep the "crud" out)
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