I am getting ready to build a new 30x40 building in the spring. I want two 10 foot wide OH doors in it. I have been trying to decide which wall it would be handiest to have the OH doors in, the 30 foot gable ends or the 40 foot side walls. I have drawn both scenarios to scale and moved little scale work benches, welders, saws, cars, etc. around trying to get an idea of layout in each plan. I just wondered about what some of you guys decided to do and why?
30x40 or 40x30?
- Thread starter jaw22w
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rattle_snake
Well-known member
30' is wide enough for 2 doors (but not 3). Unless you have really long vehicles or a boat, I would put the OH doors on the 40' side, offset to one side.
I wanted 3 doors, but could only go 36' wide. It's not ideal. Went 40 deep, so work area is behind the parking bays. sometime have to move a vehicle to get big stuff out. Would rather have 36 deep and 40 wide with work area off to side
I wanted 3 doors, but could only go 36' wide. It's not ideal. Went 40 deep, so work area is behind the parking bays. sometime have to move a vehicle to get big stuff out. Would rather have 36 deep and 40 wide with work area off to side
Kevkx125
Well-known member
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
30’ is a good width for a garage in my opinion.
I rented a 30 x 40 shop with one 10’ wide garage door on the 30’ side and really liked it. The extra depth let’s you park cars double deep if needed.
I currently own a 30x50 shop with one door on the front and really like it. The width is perfect and I can easily go 3 cars deep if needed.
I rented a 30 x 40 shop with one 10’ wide garage door on the 30’ side and really liked it. The extra depth let’s you park cars double deep if needed.
I currently own a 30x50 shop with one door on the front and really like it. The width is perfect and I can easily go 3 cars deep if needed.
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Tell us the major and minor reasons for this building, Use determines the major features of the building and then land lay and access may also determine what to do. Me I chose to have only 2 doors and have 1/2 the building as shop area as seen in the build below.
lg
no neat sig line
MrSurly
Well-known member
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
It all depends on what you will be doing in there.
I have been in my 30x36 for 33 years. It is getting a bit crowded.
I want to move my wood working equipment, table saw, jointer, planer, bandsaw, router table, etc. to the new shop. I want to move my stained glass operation to the new shop. Mowers and lawn equipment in the new shop. It will probably store at least one hot rod in the winter. Everything, and I mean everything, is on wheels so as not to need dedicated positions.
Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
Mine are like the end of MrSurly's. 30ft wide with 2 10 ft doors and a man door. Was supposed to be 2 12 ft wide doors and the man door on the side wall. I wish for the 12ft wide doors every time I back the trailer in. Also wish I had more space along the left wall, it's just wide enough to walk down that side of anything parked there.
I put them on the end wall because that's where the driveway is.
I put them on the end wall because that's where the driveway is.
sberry
Banned
You can turn the trussest. Make it 40x30 or better tet 36 or better yet 40. You will appreciate every extra foot after the fact
Use a 40 ft truss. Let's all the doors go in gable ends.
Use a 40 ft truss. Let's all the doors go in gable ends.
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sberry
Banned
I got a bud just did 30x50, after added a lean 2 but it's not the same as wider conditioned space. 36 wide is good 2 car, 36x40. There is certainly an advantage with 12 door.
ncfireman1918
Well-known member
I did the exact same thing. Wanted a 50/60x40, instead of my 40x30 but it wasn’t in the cards. I’m still finishing the interior, but I’m certain that it will be full in no time.
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SloMango
Member
Debating the same myself....would love to see one in person with three 10ft doors on the side...
SALIV8
Well-known member
Pluribus
Well-known member
Definitely 40 x 30...because it's bigger. /s
On a more serious note, for myself I'd prefer putting the door/doors on a 30' wide gable end and having 40' of depth. That gives the option of putting two vehicles back to back in it if I want. Granted, that limits space at back wall to some degree, but I feel it gives more options for the way I would likely use a shop. Kind of boils down to how you feel you will use the space.
Is this going to be a pole barn or stick built (or something else?) Putting two 10' doors on a 30' wall (depending on spacing/location) might have some expensive shear design implications if it's not a pole barn.
On a separate note, I would want at least one door 12' wide or wider on any shop I designed/built. On a shop of that size, sooner or later you're probably going to want to back in a trailer, say to unload something on a smooth slab. That 10' door width makes it a whole lot less fun.
On a more serious note, for myself I'd prefer putting the door/doors on a 30' wide gable end and having 40' of depth. That gives the option of putting two vehicles back to back in it if I want. Granted, that limits space at back wall to some degree, but I feel it gives more options for the way I would likely use a shop. Kind of boils down to how you feel you will use the space.
Is this going to be a pole barn or stick built (or something else?) Putting two 10' doors on a 30' wall (depending on spacing/location) might have some expensive shear design implications if it's not a pole barn.
On a separate note, I would want at least one door 12' wide or wider on any shop I designed/built. On a shop of that size, sooner or later you're probably going to want to back in a trailer, say to unload something on a smooth slab. That 10' door width makes it a whole lot less fun.
Mancino
Well-known member
I did a 30x40 building. I put my one 18' OHD on the 30' side and a small 9x9 OHD on the back side 30'...I'm more of a car and motor head type of guy and I had all the same thoughts as Pluribus mentioned. I do like what Piggywutz and ncfireman1918 did though.
I guess in the end it all comes down to how YOU plan to use it and what fits best.
I guess in the end it all comes down to how YOU plan to use it and what fits best.
earlybirds
Well-known member
I went with two 12x12 OH doors on the gable end of my 30x40.SO GLAD I did it this way! I have a buddy who went with two 10x10 doors on the same size bldg. and he hates them.
Thanks guys for all your thoughts. I guess I am leaning to putting the doors in the 30' side. It looks like it depends on where you want your workspace and storage to be, in front of the cars or beside the cars.
This will be stick built. Two 10 foot doors in a 30' wall works well for shear, and is what I was planning, but all you guys talk of bigger doors is making me think. There is not room in a 30' wall for two 12'ers, but I could squeeze in a 12'er and a 9'er and build shear panels at the corners.
Yeah! I think that is the way I will go.
Thanks guys.
This will be stick built. Two 10 foot doors in a 30' wall works well for shear, and is what I was planning, but all you guys talk of bigger doors is making me think. There is not room in a 30' wall for two 12'ers, but I could squeeze in a 12'er and a 9'er and build shear panels at the corners.
Yeah! I think that is the way I will go.
Thanks guys.
maydaymike
Well-known member
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forAK
Well-known member
Here's 3 doors on my 40' wall. 2 - 10'x8' and a 12'x12'6" in the center. The corners and between the doors measure 2'. Minimal sheetrock damage done by the recent earthquakes we've been experiencing.
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That's is a lot taller than I'm thinking. I'm only going 10' sidewall. I'm not sure your building would pass code here. Is that stick built? Was anything special done in the corners? Maybe it picks up enough shear above the doors?
I went with a 16x10 centered on the front 30ft wall and a 12x8 high track in the back corner where the lift will be. I will have a symmetrical lift so the vehicle can go either direction.
This layout leaves me with a 40ft wall meeting a 16ft wall next to the lift and a nice convenient work area.
If I had it to do over for the cost I would go 30x48 for my needs.
Personally I would go with a 12ft wide door over a 10ft if the space permits. You have to be pretty straight on going into a 10ft door.
This layout leaves me with a 40ft wall meeting a 16ft wall next to the lift and a nice convenient work area.
If I had it to do over for the cost I would go 30x48 for my needs.
Personally I would go with a 12ft wide door over a 10ft if the space permits. You have to be pretty straight on going into a 10ft door.
ncfireman1918
Well-known member
As others have said, it really depends on how you are going to use the space. I went back and forth for a while on which side to put the doors in. Most of my shop stuff is auto related, and I’m putting in a lift, so that went factored into my decision. I ultimately decided that it would work better for me to have a “lift bay” that I keep open most of the time (pull in, fix, pull out), and still have two bays for parking or longer term projects (my son’s 64 pickup is going out there). Had I gone 2 wide, I could have also gone 2 deep, but I felt like it wouldn’t be as flexible a space for my intended use. One of my father-in-law’s shops is 30 x 40 with a single 12 ft door in each gable end, and it works really well for its intended use. More woodworking type stuff goes on in there, with pretty much nothing car related. That’s what his big (65x60) shop is for. It is a pretty personal decision, and there are a few right answers, but really no wrong answers... as long as it works for you.
FFRKing
Well-known member
lakeroadster
Well-known member
My advice is to get out some graph paper and sketch it out based on what you want to store in it, and what you want to do in it. That will lead you to what is best for you
That's what I did and lead us to adding 4 ft to the building length so we could add another door....
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MrSurly
Well-known member
In my case, I submitted hand drawings of my building to an engineer (required by city) and I had two 12 wide doors in the gable end. The Engineer (a P.E. Who specializes in pole barns and post-frame) said that the shear strength would not meet the requirement (130mph) but I could *just* meet it with 10-10-walk design but he also specified that I had to add 5/8 OSB on the inside of the purlins between and beside the 10’ doors. (Ceiling height is 14’2” )
He was greatly concerned with ‘racking’ of the gable wall.
Something to consider as you think about where and how big all the holes in your walls will be.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
He was greatly concerned with ‘racking’ of the gable wall.
Something to consider as you think about where and how big all the holes in your walls will be.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Red89gt
Well-known member
sorry, posted wrong thread, many open.
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My Old Tools
Well-known member
Mine has a single door 12x12. I wouldn't go less on width or height for my use. Easy to back a trailer in, tall enough for a tall load in a pickup bed.
CraigStu
Well-known member
I'd put one 18-20 door on the gable end probably offset to one side. The offset gives you a spot for a man door or, skip the man door, and do a window for your main workbench. Will this be close enough to your house that roof orientation needs to match? That, and driveway layout, may determine whether you can do doors in the gable end. To me that is preferrable since that wall isn't supporting trusses, the headers over the door don't need to be as strong.
Exactly. Have 2 10ft wide doors on my place. Getting replaced with an 18 or 20ft wide, 14ft tall.
jrsavoie
Well-known member
Go with 12' wide doors
.
I went 32x40. I should have gone 32 x 48.
I didn't account for the work bench and tools across the front 32' wall.
I would also go with 12' wide doors. A friend has a dually and made his doors 12' wide after originally being 10' wide.
I followed his lead and went with 12' wide doors right off the gitgo. And did have a dually for a while.
I went with 16' sidewalls and 14' tall doors.
The builder recommended Not using an end truss. That way it's much easier if you want to go longer in the future.
I would also recommend adding the ceiling package or demand no sidewall vents if you're going to spray foam insulate the whole thing.
Spray foam was my plan, the builder installed the sidewall vents anyway.
It's screwed me ever since.
Wish I would have at least got the ceiling package.
As is I can't get up to cover the vents so I can have the building spray foamed.
I wasn't very healthy when the building was put up. Or I would have pitched a ***** and things would be different
aqr81
Well-known member
I went with a 34' X 44' shop over at my son's house. We put a 10' and 12' door plus a man door on front 34' elevation. The thought was putting the 2 post lift in the left side bay and leave the right side bay open for service work not requiring a lift. The back areas are used for engine rebuilds, parking of vehicles etc. We thought about a 4 post lift for rear right side and keep kicking that decision down the road. It' built better than the house and has HVAC with (2) 2-ton mini splits on the east and west 44' walls. You can see pics of the build and layout on the second link in signature line below. Larry, Central Valley, Ca
jrsavoie
Well-known member
I'd go taller now if code permits.
You never know what the future brings.
It might be something tall.
jrsavoie
Well-known member
I'm liking this idea
I have a 24x38 and wish it was 38x24. The depth is nice, but if it was turned I would put in a small 8 foot overhead door along with the two ten footers. So basically a three stall.
When ever I need to get something out of the back I need to move a vehicle. with a wider but shallower shop I would not need to do that.
My neighbor has pretty much the same size shop I have, but he has a 16 foot OH door and one 10 foot door. I like his layout better.
When ever I need to get something out of the back I need to move a vehicle. with a wider but shallower shop I would not need to do that.
My neighbor has pretty much the same size shop I have, but he has a 16 foot OH door and one 10 foot door. I like his layout better.
82355
Well-known member
If you go 40' deep, go 44' instead. I built my garage 40' deep, and it is a huge regret. It is just not deep enough to double park vehicles, and have anything against the wall.
Martin
Martin
RPH
Well-known member
And a zombie thread springs to life!