40x60 Shell or 30x50 Insulated with HVAC?

[Boyd]

Which would you build?

I know the mantra here is "always go bigger", and I'm tempted to, but I have a strict build budget and I can't be too sure I'll have the funds in the future for proper insulation and climate control.

 

[Steevo]

40 x 60 would be hard to resist, but 30 x 50 insulated and heated/cooled would be much more usable.

I was limited to 24 x 40 and am already wanting more.

 

[Rotaris]

I was in the same boat! went 42x60, not finished yet. But sure seems to get smaller as times goes by. It will never be big enough, cost should not be that much more for starters?

I am thinking about the additional square footage? 100sq/ft? maybe im missing something?

 

[Boyd]

The difference is 900sq/ft.

40x60 = 2400sq/ft
30x50 = 1500sq/ft

 

[zcar751]

Go with the smaller option so you can get the HVAC. With out it you will have a big storage building that you can use in the spring and fall.

 

[Fifty]

First I outgrew the 20x20 garage. Then the 24x30 shop wasn't enough. 20x50 wasn't much better. 40x60 was nice but I had no place to park. Now I'm moving into a 50x100 with 3 floors and I still want a storage container outside.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Are you capable of finishing out a shell ?

I know I am and would go for the bigger size empty rather than the smaller finished. It's easier to go bigger now than later.

 

[Toolfool]

I went 800 sq.ft. bigger and three years later still unable to afford the heating system. I framed, sided, roofed, wired, insulated, drywalled, and even laid the heat piping myself to save money, but the heat source and parts are still out of reach.

 

[2Big2Ride]

Forney, TX - well insulated and HVAC would be my vote.

 

[38Chevy454]

Insulation is an investment in both future HVAC costs savings and also in moderating temps inside the building, The moderating temp factor is a big quality of working issue and I think you will quickly realize that is worth the initial investment.

 

[fwillison]

Bigger, no insulation or HVAC.
I went 44 x 60 (44 so I could tandem two cars that dimension).
I'll finish and insulate initially only the 20x20 corner man cave. Will heat and cool that space with a window unit ac/heat pump for $500 at Home Depot. Will upgrade it to a minisplit later if I want to.
I'm also going to put 2 window unit ac/heat pumps in the main shop, about 24K BTU each. I will probably cool with fans and my port a cool most of the time anyway, because I like to work with the garage doors open.
Heating is pretty easy, I heat my current rented 30x80 space with a single 75K BTU Bazooka type heater running diesel fuel. I got that at Harbor freight for about a hundred bucks and it really works great. Same as a mister heater. I'll supplement my window units with the shop heater as necessary, and it will be fine.
I'll upgrade the shop to minisplits too if I get a mind to later.
Plenty of options.
Go big.
Fred
Tulsa