Garage/shop ideas

[Sangster21]

I am planning to build a small house and a garage/shop in the near future. I have a 2-1/2 acre piece of land to build on, so space is not a big concern. I am hoping to get the OK for a shop size of 30 x 40. I am limited to 19' in height. I have been searching around the internet for ideas, but would like to see what others have done. Let's see your garage / shops! Ideas are welcome including things you wished you did different or wished you included.
I would like at least 1 bay to be plenty tall to allow for future hoist, and would like to include some above storage. Either attic/storage trusses or hand frame with shed dormer.

 

[Fish Assassin]

Double door... Drive in and out, access to everything from both ends. Centre trough style drain down the centre.

 

[Bows Up]

I went 24 x 40, single double wide, overheight door and lofted one rear corner, 8 x 16 platform. ATV fits underneath and the loft has been invaluable for rarely used items and storage. Concrete floor.

Left a big enough turnaround I can hook the boat and drive away. Whatever you build it won't be big enough.

 

[Sangster21]

I think a drain is a good idea for sure, I plan to run pex in the slab and do radiant heat. I will build it as big as I can reasonable afford. My last garage was only 20 x 22 and that was barely big enough to house the tools let alone build anything. I would definitely like to do an upstairs for a portion of it, but I am limited to 19' tall. I don't think I want less than 9' ceiling, and I think I would need a 16" joist to clear span a 30' width. I think if I did a shed dormer I could get 7' of headroom up there. Plenty of room for storage, reloading bench etc. I am picturing doing an extended eve ( sort of a lean to off the roof) on at least two sides. Room enough to store the boat out of weather, yet not hogging up most of the inside.

 

[wishiniwasfishin1]

Enough power to run a mig welder is always nice....and some ventilation.

 

[Sangster21]

Power for welder... check. I think bringing in at least 100 amps. There is some likelihood that a boat will be built in the shop in the future. Not sure if it will be welded aluminum or epoxy and wood.

 

[tyeeking]

Go as big as possible. I started at 1,000 square feet and ended up adding another 1,000 square feet. Bigger yet would be fine. I use a propane forced air heater that draws air from the outside so that wood dust does not cause a problem with the heating. 2x6 construction with careful attention to insulation and vapor barrier makes it very efficient. Pull lots of power becauseif you are a shop nut like me you will use it. I went to the trouble of doing an epoxy floor and really like it. In the winter I spend more time in the shop than I do in the house!

 

[reelfast]

mine is 24 x 36. I have 250a of electricity with many separate circuits. because I have a roll up door, all electrical had to be at 40" to meet code, not an issue actually. my shop is finished, dry walled, painted and insulated. it is used for furniture building as well as the occasional welding project. I don't treat this as a multi use space as lots of the material I use in furniture building is quite expensive. I use a simple electric oil radiator heater in the winter months to get the internal temp to about 50F which is plenty warm if you are actively moving around. I also plumbed the shop for air with numerous outlets in the walls and ceiling. a ceiling mounted power air filter helps with the fine dust. this is my cave and I have a locking door to keep me isolated when I am working. I don't like the idea of vehicles in my work space and have a garage for that purpose. a pretty serious work space which is a complete luxury for me in my old age.

 

[halimark]

Mine is 30x30 with 9 ft height. 2 10ft wide garage doors is great. Separate bays with wall down middle keeps things clean when welding. Go with the 40 as I wish I had that extra in front of truck when working. Definite concrete, not sure about drain, level with slope to front drains things nice. Loft would be great.

HM

 

[Gear'n'beer!]

I built a 30x30 carriage house, suite upstairs, on my property. I applied for a variance for height, was pretty easy. Separate 200a service, if you can still get two services to a piece of property go 200, the cost over a 100a is pretty minimal. That being said I'm not sure hydro does that anymore, you will definitely have to contact them otherwise you will be supplying the second building you build from the first, which may leave you short in one building if you want hot tub, welder, 220 table saw etc....

Because I have a suite above it has h20, which is pretty nice, I have a bib inside shop for both hot and cold, outside just cold. I wish I would have put a urinal in the corner for rainy days I don't want to go outside to take a leak.

I'm not a big fan of built in airlines. We run a lot of air at work and unless your doing black pipe for airlines don't bother, I have a retractable airline reel which works fine and a manifold with fittings and pressure regulator/ gauge at my bench.

Have fun with it! Build it the way you want it

 

[Da Bay Bye]

My last house had a 25x32 seperate garage, with a single 16ft wide door. It was bare studs when I bought it so I ran some electric baseboard, more outlets and also had a 220 oulet for a welder. I then set up a wall to keep an area with limited dust, insulated and drywalled the entire garage. My shop was used mainly for woodworking and the odd oil change or vehicle repair. The only part I wish I had more of was ceiling height. Most of my storage of material was along the walls so it ate into some working space.

If I get another opportunity I just might go with the steel frame building as you can get much more door height and ceiling space. They are easliy insulated and infloor radiant heat would be great.

Have fun building.