20x10 workshop in planning...

[ADaughen]

So, I have finally finished all my house projects and have been given the green light to start my garage workshop. I currently have an overhang back porch behind the garage I want to wall in.

Since the back yard floods from time to time, I was thinking of putting up a concrete knee wall to help, then build my walls off that. Will that work? Anything I need to do to keep it mostly dry?

I am still up in the air if I want to put a door in the left side or just use the opening into the garage... I guess that depends on code, right?

 

[CombatNinja]

WTF is that picture supposed to be? It looks like a diagram of your house I guess. Are you telling me that your house floods 'from time to time'? I would be looking to move, not build.

My only advice given the limited information is that 9' deep is too small for any kind of workshop unless it is really focused on a hobby like building guns, reloading ammo, RC cars, etc. If you are talking about woodworking, that is way too small. Not even worth it.

 

[rok_hunter]

I disagree with the last person, 9x20 is a workable shop if you lay it out right. I agree about the flooding thing though - if you're concerned enough about flooding to ask about building a knee wall, you need to invest in keeping the water a LOT further from the house first. A knee wall just gives something more solid to wash out...I don't believe it would do much to stop any kind of flooding event.

I do believe you're going to want and exterior door, as well as a couple windows to allow natural light in. Depending on your climate you'll want to consider insulation and HVAC, either tied into the house system or via a mini split.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[ADaughen]

I put drainage in, but I've lived here for 15 years and 2 or 3 times it had pooled in the corner of the patio. I have 3 backyards uphill that drain into mine so if the drainage can't keep up it has to go somewhere.

As far as workshop, I'm trying to free up some room in the garage to work on my engines and such.

I have plans for a window or two across the back. Not planning on HVAC.

I helped a brother in law build a 30x40 wood shop so I have access to all the wood tools.

 

[Trapps]

There are a ton of small shops out there, my own is 10'x22' and it serves many functions well. So do countless others as you've no doubt seen here on GJ. Plan ahead and go for it. But first, manage that water. Some french drains correctly placed might be an option to address the problem before it gets to the house. Consider the knee wall as insurance rather than the solution.

Check your local municipality for codes regarding the service door (and everything else). I'd skip it if possible simply to conserve wall space and footprint options in a smaller space.

Good Luck!

 

[Renegade1LI]

I've built a few small shops, planning & good organization are key.

 

[rburke65]

CombatNinja.....wow.....calm down! Maybe that’s all the room he has to work with...you don’t know. Not everyone can have your kind of money and land.

 

[kaymccampbell]

You could do a swale starting at the center of your back line, and directing the water coming from uphill around both sides of your house. It might stop the flooding. Then you could comfortably use the back porch as shop space.