Wish you had gone smaller?

[78C-10]

Hello everyone, my 30x40 pole barn was recently finished and after looking at the inside and looking at my financesI was thinking "My word, this is going to be alot(time and money)to finish the inside of this place! I still need concrete, electric, gas, insulation, wall paneling,etc. My upfront cost to build this building drained me and there is no light in sight to finish this thing anytime soon. I got to thinking....maybe I should have built it smaller so my upfront cost wasn't so much and I could have some left over to at least have the concrete poured. It ***** without it, I can't even filler up without a concrete floor. Am I alone and nuts for thinking I should have went smaller? I know it is too late now and maybe someday I will be glad I did 30x40 but right now it is frustrating. I want to work in it, not on it. What do you guys and gals think?

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

Firstly do you have any pics of said garage?
That will help us determine if its worth putting the time into it?

 

[Kev442]

I used mine without concrete for almost 3 years, even had my lift set up on concrete paver blocks.

 

[v8garage]

When it is finished you will wish it was bigger.
V/8

 

[sparky36000]

Nope. I built a 24 x 36 and was debating on putting the loft on it. So glad I did. It will take me a while to finish it all out but will be well worth it.

 

[64 lane]

You will need it. Use what you have. Do a little as you can. You will be happy you went larger.

 

[78C-10]

No pictures yet, I will try to get some up soon. It is worth finishing, it is brand new, love that fresh lumber smell. Just seems soooooo far away.

 

[snowman1981]

better to build it bigger in the begining so you dont need to add on down the road. had a 40x90 garage built 4 years ago and just gotcement inside last year. its nice having the cement . but im still working on get the electric ran to it now. its a slow process but it will be well worth it in the end. keep your head up!

 

[nosnerd]

be patient! it will deff be worth it in near future.

agreeed x 10 with snowman^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[dgreen1069]

The real regret is when you go too small and it costs a fortune to add to it later, or your stuck not having that option. Sheds and garages cannot be too big....neither can televisions or engines....it's man law

 

[LennyTheLizard]

I'm in a somewhat similar situation. I want it to be completely finished on inside, but for now it's closed in. I am just setting priority on what I need more than want, and do one thing at a time as I have the funds. As long as you just keep taking steps forward, you will eventually reach your goal.

By the way, I have never heard anyone say they wish they had a smaller garage!

 

[kb2tha]

Only for tax purposes.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I have two other garages plus a drive in hay mow in a big barn so when I built my pole barn shop 2 years ago I did what you wish you did, I went smaller at 24'x32' so I could have a concrete floor, a lean to on one side, covered porch etc.....I mean after all with all that other space I had I didnt need to go bigger right? Well I wish I had gone bigger and maybe skipped some of the extras until I could afford them later. I am now enclosing the lean to and looking for a shipping container to spot somewhere close to the shop for storage.

You wont regret going as big as you did in a year of so and its a lot easier adding concrete, electricity, another window etc as you can afford to than it is expanding an existing pole barn.

 

[ADSR]

you're not done yet. make it 30x50.

30 x 40 isn't big enough.

 

[ringneck]

Not at all, I am sure it is too small...

My buddy and I took different routes 13 years ago... He went for the shell knowing that's all he could swing then. I decided to save to do a Big Bang. I planned and saved like crazy and got a lot done in a few months recently, and am happy with it.

My buddy is at about the same place as I am, but took the journey getting there. I think he may have taken the better approach. He had a place to put things (tractor, truck, boat, mowers, whatever) while I didn't. He made incremental changes and course-corrected as necessary, while I was thinking about it. We could sit and have a cold one in his building, while I couldn't do the same. And so on...

I am thrilled with with what I have, and he is as well. Be patient (while keeping priorities straight) and keep going, it is worth it!!

Lets see pics! I bet it is awesome .

 

[kwb]

Wish you had gone smaller?

Wanting a smaller garage is like saying my **** is 2" too long - nobody does it.

Seriously there are very few situations where the shop is too big/tall. There are countless guys that wish they had built bigger (myself included).

 

[DIC]

Finish half of it...Do the rest later. Or just do a little at a time or as you can afford it

 

[ADSR]

Wanting a smaller garage is like saying my **** is 2" too long - nobody does it.

Agreed. Mine is 4 inches too long.

 

[Rusty32]

You dont need the finished product to work in it , its just nice to have. Try working in an undersized finished garage and youll feel better.

 

[D rock]

Finishing your shop, its the journey not the destination.

Do what you can, when you can.

 

[mzahn]

I really wanted a 40 x 60, but refuse to take out another loan in life. I found a 30 x 36 with steel and siding on a skid for cheap so I brought it home. The engineering draft was sent to me today and WOW! 30" x 7'-0 deep footings with rebar for the 4 main columns? Same with 5' deep for the 4 endwall columns. This will a be a slow build on spare cash.

Pad work, concrete and lumber (Old Miracle Truss) will be another $15K.

Time to get out and find some side jobs.

So, yes bigger is better but I must build within my means.....

 

[John in OH]

Finish half of it...Do the rest later. Or just do a little at a time or as you can afford it

+1 It's built now so no point in looking backward. You won't regret the large size a decade from now, but if you've blown most of your money, it's far more important now to get your finances under control than to have a cool looking garage.

In the mean time, build a simple division wall (2x4s & plywood) down the center or at some other manageable location and finish only part of the garage now. Of course, make all necessary provisions (electrical, air, water, etc.) now so you can extend all of these services in the future as money breaks free. All you really need now is power and light .... everything else (insulation, air lines, drywall, concrete, water) is gravy.

If you can't afford any concrete now, put up the division wall and lay down a good vapor barrier over the area you plan to use now and get several inches of gravel placed over the barrier. I've had several sheds built in the past that existed for quite a few years with only a gravel base. Kind of crappy to work on, but it sure beats dirt! And any degree of shelter beats working outside.

 

[John in OH]

I really wanted a 40 x 60, but refuse to take out another loan in life. I found a 30 x 36 with steel and siding on a skid for cheap so I brought it home. The engineering draft was sent to me today and WOW! 30" x 7'-0 deep footings with rebar for the 4 main columns? Same with 5' deep for the 4 endwall columns. t

Geezzz .... where are you building this thing .... in a swamp??

 

[mzahn]

Geezzz .... where are you building this thing .... in a swamp??

Southwest USA desert actually,....It is a draft and I will go back with the engineer and get some dialogue going on the tie of j bolts to the rebar in the slab. He is showing post-installed hilti cracked concrete anchors. I am not an engineer but I am in a seismic design catagory D and 90 MPH - 3 second wind gust area. That is why the design is so stringent.

 

[bazzateer]

Cheaper to build it big now and finish it off as and when you can than have to extend it at a later date. You'll be fine.

 

[fringeofinsanity]

LISTEN........

don't 2nd guess... you clearly made this decision with a final goal in mind.

NOW

don't 2nd guess that decision,,,,you could look at the fact you should hav
e calculated, planned, or whatever,,,,but yer here now

So LET's be smart


look at what's left and make a MANAGEABLE budget. if you have todo without things like concrete, insulation, electirc....whatever,,,for a couple years to work within your budget..so be it


In the long run, you'll be g;ad you did it all...just be realistic

 

[Too_Many_Tools]

Hello everyone, my 30x40 pole barn was recently finished and after looking at the inside and looking at my financesI was thinking "My word, this is going to be alot(time and money)to finish the inside of this place! I still need concrete, electric, gas, insulation, wall paneling,etc. My upfront cost to build this building drained me and there is no light in sight to finish this thing anytime soon. I got to thinking....maybe I should have built it smaller so my upfront cost wasn't so much and I could have some left over to at least have the concrete poured. It ***** without it, I can't even filler up without a concrete floor. Am I alone and nuts for thinking I should have went smaller? I know it is too late now and maybe someday I will be glad I did 30x40 but right now it is frustrating. I want to work in it, not on it. What do you guys and gals think?

A few questions so I can help.

What area are you located?

What seasons do you plan on using this building?

How do you want to use this building?

 

[Daniel Dudley]

When I built my garage, it took me a number of years to get electricity. I had construction lights and an extension cord. no garage doors. I wound up adding to it before I wired it.

Time is your friend. Thinking you are poor is not productive.

 

[hidollartoys]

After 35+ years of dreaming ( I'am 54), I just got my C.O. for a 40x80x12 all steel shop(my first and LAST). I took out a $75,000 loan (no house payment) and blew through it adding another +/- $10,000 trying to finish asap. I still need to "finish" the interior with lights, benches, insulation, heat and the 100's of other things we all want. Right now it is hard to feel good about the money I am spending. For me the process has not been enjoyable.

I am very lucky that my wife is behind this effort 100%. Yes, when considering $3500 for insulation, $4000 for heating equipment, $4500 for interior finish it still seems overwhelming and out of reach. However, I already have considered an addition for a paint booth HAHAHAHA.

Keep at it and you wont have to wait 30+ years to realize your dream. Patience is a virtue and you can relish/bask in the process.

 

[PECVD2]

This guy just joined over at LumberJocks

Interesting approach and may be applicable or a temp solution to the area you will use as a shop with (as mentioned above) gravel over the parking area.

http://lumberjocks.com/ScottShaeffer/workshop

 

[jwith68]

I built my 30x60 over time. I did do the concrete up front, but I had to at least have the stem wall because it is stud wall construction. Concrete poured in October 2002, shell up January 2003, interior finished April 2006. As has been mentioned, a minimal amount of extra cost/effort will get it usable. Go ahead with electrical, do as much of it yourself as you can.

For a floor, look at a temporary floor of packed limestone fines, or "3/8 minus", sometimes "5/16 minus". Rent a plate compactor for a day. Build up enough base rock to get close to grade, compact it at least twice. Spread a ~4" layer of the fines over it as evenly as possible. Dampen the fines, and compact them once. Go back and rake down highs/fill in lows. Compact again, repeat rake and fill. Once you have it smooth and level as you want, compact two more times. Once it dries, you will have a floor nearly as solid as concrete. Not as slick or damage resistant as concrete, but you'll be surprised what it will stand up to.

I did this for a floor in a barn renovation covered here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49502

It's still holding up great after 3 years of stacking round bales in/out with a tractor and loader. I didn't need vapor barrier under mine, but you may.

This should be a low cost floor. I have no idea how much additional base rock you may need, but you would need 20-22 tons of fines to do 30'x40', 4" deep. In my area of Missouri, I can get fines delivered for <$8/ton. Should be able to rent a plate compactor for ~$75/day, so for <$300 and a hard days work, you could have a very serviceable floor until you have saved enough for your concrete. Also, doing this now will actually mean less base prep for the concrete in the future.

 

[pmiranda]

After 35+ years of dreaming ( I'am 54), I just got my C.O. for a 40x80x12 all steel shop(my first and LAST). I took out a $75,000 loan (no house payment) ...

If you don't mind... how does that break down into site work, concrete, the building itself and the install? I've been thinking about a building nearly that big but the price tag is

 

[rburke65]

I once had a guy tell me...."you never hear anyone say...'damn, I wish I had bought the black and white TV!' " It will be too small one day soon!

 

[aka Larry]

I've never heard someone say their garage/worshop space was too big. Mine is 40'x40' and if I could have afforded it I would have gone even bigger.

 

[Falcon67]

24x40 is great. 26x42 would have been even better. I started at 24x48 and kept walking it back until expectations met finances. And still ran over. But very glad I pushed as hard as I did for what we were able to build. No complaints.

 

[Mattlt]

My suggestions for order of finishing would be:

1) Get power to the building. This is a must for safety and ease of working finishing the building. It's not good to have extension cords running across the yard.
2) Sheet and insulate the ceiling. You're going to want to do this before you get too much stuff in the garage. If you do heat the building, ceiling insulation is most beneficial (IMO).
3) Install lighting.
4) Rough in your electrical outlets. Some could even be "heated up" to allow work on the building or actual work in the shop before the walls are finished.
5) Finish at least part of the floor. If you do half at a time you can move stuff back and forth while the other half of the floor is being poured. Install infloor heat tubing while you are at it too.
6) Insulate and sheet the walls.

If you are doing the work yourself, watch for sales on materials. I watch the sales flyers from my local chain (Menards). You can usually figure out their patterns when things are going on sale. They also run several 11% off sales throughout the year. Just something to think about.

 

[Crusher47]

At least you have one

 

[KPSquared]

No. I budgeted for the size I built, including finishing. The only thing I wish I had was more time to work on it.

 

[ezzzzzzz]

Feeling your pain. I had big plans and figured it would cost a lot less since I was doing most of the work. 22x36 2-story attached to home with plans of expanding over house roof to add a small room and access to attic. Relocated bath in house to accomodate a staircase to 2nd floor of garage. Oh yeah, also a second floor deck, lots of concrete and 16x22 awning on back. Well, 1.5 years into it and the garage is built up to/attached to the house. Downstairs 99% done and area over lift bay is nearly complete with drywall and paint. The FROG and adjoining bath is about 20% finished. No room over house. No concrete/awning behind garage and no deck. I'm out of cash. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I never sat down and added up every little thing to determine the estimated costs. I figure it would take about $25K to finish it as planned(?). I'm diverting my attention to completing some projects to sell off to help complete. Single dad, one modest income and a daughter heading off to college in the fall doesn't aid the situation. Bottom line is, like me, you're already too deep to bale out now. Just do what you can when you can. In the end, you'll be okay. I hope to be able to move out of here in about 5 years and recoup most of my money in my personal labor (and that of great friends, in particular, Wayne!) and move to a tax friendly town/state. Maybe even start another garage project? What's the definition of insanity?

 

[JakeKohl]

I pondered the same things when I was about to pull the trigger on my garage. A builder friend of mine advised me based on all the different clients he had ever worked with...see my signature line.