45x80x16 Shop w/apartment

[Jesse_Boyer]

I'm going to build a shop with an apartment for my family and I to live in while we build the home on the same land. The plan is for 45x80 post-frame, insulated and heated floors, spray-foamed walls in the apartment initially, in the shop at a later time.

The overhead door is 18x14', the man-door is 36" right next to it. There will be a few windows in the apartment. I'm a car guy, but want space to store a camper should I grow old and want to travel like this. The two-post lifts will be up front for various maintenance, the 4-post is in the back for storage of a toy car I'll rarely use. I've left the option for a second overhead door adjacent to the E55, but thats not likely necessary. I don't need the expense and I hope I can deal with the single 18' wide door. (mower is likely to go where the E55 is shown anyway.)

I'm planning on rarely using the apartment kitchen/living space after we build the house, so I've stashed the apartment in the back of the building. It'll be two floors, i-joists between floors, 7.5' ceiling heights will be low, but its a temporary quarters for my family while we build the home.

There's strong chance the short interior wall adjacent to the C6's pictured will be removed and I'll keep the majority of my tools in the 'living room' by the time I'm done.

For now, this is the best I can come up with. Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I think you'll need a door to the apartment that leads directly outside for safety reasons...if there were a fire or something you don't want to get trapped inside.

 

[kelpaso1]

Bathroom door opening to the kitchen? Err...no.

 

[Pronk]

To reiterate the point Stuart made, an exterior door for the apartment section would be recommended for safety reasons. If you're dead set on your apartment layout at least put one next to your electrical panel. Without being too nosy, hopefully your current family member count isn't above 3 for that layout.

Also I understand budget rules all, but having a second OH door would really help you maximize the floor space.

 

[Capt Crash]

If you are not going to use the apartment after you build your house, would it be cheaper and easier to get an RV and live in it now? Less work for you, you could sell it after the fact if wanted, you can still park it inside the garage for now, or move it outside if you need more room, and you can get used ones pretty cheap.
Brian

 

[matt_i]

I would worry most about the expense of a septic system, can you design it/size it so that it can service both in the future? That is probably a question for local building and zoning, usuallly there are specific rules. But it would be a large waste in my opinion to spend for two systems.

Also a read-across would be in place for electrical. You only want one service but is the house a sub from the shop or the shop a sub from the house. It would be nice to plan for the setup in conduit (?) eventually after all dirt work is done.

 

[NUTTSGT]

South Dakota gets pretty cold doesn't it ? Watch you water lines in the outside walls.

 

[c1steve]

ICF construction has many advantages. Super strong and low thermal loss.

 

[Jesse_Boyer]

I think you'll need a door to the apartment that leads directly outside for safety reasons...if there were a fire or something you don't want to get trapped inside.

To reiterate the point Stuart made, an exterior door for the apartment section would be recommended for safety reasons. If you're dead set on your apartment layout at least put one next to your electrical panel. Without being too nosy, hopefully your current family member count isn't above 3 for that layout.

Also I understand budget rules all, but having a second OH door would really help you maximize the floor space.

Agreed. I'm going to put another door adjacent to the apt-to-shop door. It'll be congested near the entry doors, but the exterior door won't be used often.

Regarding the second OH door, right again. I think it would benefit from another OH door. Alternatively, if I can utilize that area with a single door and potentially put my welding/grinding gear where the E55 is located, it might work out well.

Bathroom door opening to the kitchen? Err...no.

I go back and forth on this, honestly. I debated moving the restroom to the opposite side of the apartment and I'll see how that lays out.

If you are not going to use the apartment after you build your house, would it be cheaper and easier to get an RV and live in it now? Less work for you, you could sell it after the fact if wanted, you can still park it inside the garage for now, or move it outside if you need more room, and you can get used ones pretty cheap.
Brian

Brian, I should say the apartment will be reasonably bare-bones and shouldn't be too expensive. An RV will be really small and this apartment is something like 1000 sqft in total. Building the space now gives a bunch of areas for my kids to run and play now as well as in the future.

I would worry most about the expense of a septic system, can you design it/size it so that it can service both in the future? That is probably a question for local building and zoning, usuallly there are specific rules. But it would be a large waste in my opinion to spend for two systems.

Also a read-across would be in place for electrical. You only want one service but is the house a sub from the shop or the shop a sub from the house. It would be nice to plan for the setup in conduit (?) eventually after all dirt work is done.

I've talked to the county about it and they're OK with two systems. I've considered running that building into a larger tank and using the tank for both the home and building, but getting those elevations right will be tricky. The house is a few hundred feet from the building, the home's septic is a strong 150-ft from home. That's a lot of trenching and when i get the elevations wrong on my estimates of the home's elevation, it's a disaster.

South Dakota gets pretty cold doesn't it ? Watch you water lines in the outside walls.

Miserable cold. I'll make sure the pipes are well protected.

ICF construction has many advantages. Super strong and low thermal loss.

Home will be ICF. The building is already too costly and it's not like I'll be out there 12hrs a day.

 

[thewatusi]

Build the house first or rent somewhere. Seems like a total waste to build a temporary apartment that won't get utilized afterwards.

 

[Jesse_Boyer]

Build the house first or rent somewhere. Seems like a total waste to build a temporary apartment that won't get utilized afterwards.

It'll get used, just not as formal living space. I spend a ton of time in the shop/garage and having a bathroom, place to have a soda/drink, etc will be great.

Look at it this way. If the cost of the building is $100k, the apartment won't cost me $10k on top of that. Bare-bones, minimal finishes. Its' going to take a LONG time for me to build the house and $10k in rent is about 6-months. Plus, I get a bathroom/shower/kitchen in my shop when I'm done.

 

[NUTTSGT]

It'll get used, just not as formal living space. I spend a ton of time in the shop/garage and having a bathroom, place to have a soda/drink, etc will be great.

Look at it this way. If the cost of the building is $100k, the apartment won't cost me $10k on top of that. Bare-bones, minimal finishes. Its' going to take a LONG time for me to build the house and $10k in rent is about 6-months. Plus, I get a bathroom/shower/kitchen in my shop when I'm done.

All the more reason to rethink your design or layout. When working in the garage, you don't want to walk through the entire apartment to go to the bathroom. You want close and easy access for you and any one over helping you.

 

[swampman]

It'll get used, just not as formal living space. I spend a ton of time in the shop/garage and having a bathroom, place to have a soda/drink, etc will be great.

Look at it this way. If the cost of the building is $100k, the apartment won't cost me $10k on top of that. Bare-bones, minimal finishes. Its' going to take a LONG time for me to build the house and $10k in rent is about 6-months. Plus, I get a bathroom/shower/kitchen in my shop when I'm done.

I like the idea, however I don't think $10k will touch this. I built a 12'x24' bar/mancave in my shop, did 100% of the work myself and still had a little less than $10k in it with the only appliance being a fridge. Heating & cooling will be your biggest expense. I got away with a mini-split, don't think you'll be able to do that with the amount of rooms you'll have.

 

[Jesse_Boyer]

I like the idea, however I don't think $10k will touch this. I built a 12'x24' bar/mancave in my shop, did 100% of the work myself and still had a little less than $10k in it with the only appliance being a fridge. Heating & cooling will be your biggest expense. I got away with a mini-split, don't think you'll be able to do that with the amount of rooms you'll have.

You're likely very correct, to be honest, regarding costs. I was simply trying to say the expense of the building far outweighs the expense of the apartment. I would build the home first, but given what it will take to get the home to a 'livable' status this is the cheapest option (other than putting a camper in the building, which is on the table as well.)

 

[Pronk]

You're likely very correct, to be honest, regarding costs. I was simply trying to say the expense of the building far outweighs the expense of the apartment. I would build the home first, but given what it will take to get the home to a 'livable' status this is the cheapest option (other than putting a camper in the building, which is on the table as well.)

If the camper in the building is something you could convince your family to do, I would lean towards that option. You could still put a full bath and kitchenette in the shop to help alleviate some of the struggles that come with camper living.