Advice on first shop

[mustangmatt70]

I have a single car attached garage which I've very much out grown. I had my '70 Mustang in there and my '73 Mustang in the backyard on the back burner. I received a fully restored '67 Camaro from my father-in-law which took over the garage. I bought a carport and put my 2 Mustangs under it which was okay since the '70 is water tight but in primer. Not long after getting the carport I got a '67 Mustang from my father-in-law which kicked the '70 out of the carport since the '67 has bare metal and is not water tight. All the classics have sentimental value so getting rid of any of them is not an option.

I'd like to have something built for working on and storing all the vehicles. The Camaro can stay in the attached garage. I also have 3 other vehicles including a full size pick-up that don't necessarily need to be stored but it would be nice to be able to pull those in to work on.

I'm open to pretty much any structure. I would eventually like to get a lift installed. I have a good size backyard but it has a slight downhill slope away from the house. Paying for it is what is going to be the issue. It will have to be financed. I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction on where to go from here.

 

[jkwilson]

Step one is always going to be to check for state/city/town/county construction rules and any deed or neighborhood rules. There are some strange ones.

 

[mustangmatt70]

Step one is always going to be to check for state/city/town/county construction rules and any deed or neighborhood rules. There are some strange ones.

No neighborhood association to worry about. County says as long as it's 10 feet from all property lines I can build whatever size I want. I probably don't want to go over 10 foot walls though.

 

[Sarki]

I probably don't want to go over 10 foot walls though.

If planning on a lift in the future I would go with 12' walls at a minimum.

 

[matt_i]

The first thing to decide is if you want to work "in it" or "on it".

A budget should be established, I'd say $30/sf is a good starting point for a basic no frills garage although fair warning it can get to be more.

And once you have a rough idea of square footage its then time to get a basic overhead sketch and some side view elevations (just pencil sketches are fine to start) with the idea it will eventually become detailed plans.

Your location added into your profile will help, as there are regional differences, especially with frost line issues and the resulting concrete work.

 

[rburke65]

Yes, no one here knows if you live at the North Pole or Tahiti.

 

[Bluedodge]

I just posted this in another thread, but here is a great estimation tool for you to price material costs for a shell:

http://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/carports-shelters/post-frame-buildings/c-9901.htm

 

[mustangmatt70]

Yes, no one here knows if you live at the North Pole or Tahiti.

although Tahiti is probably nice this time of year, I'm in georgia, USA. Wind rating is 95 mph.

 

[Kevkx125]

With as many projects that you have I would build as big as you can afford.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Build as big as you can afford, I have never heard any one say that they wish that they had built a small garage.

 

[NUTTSGT]

40x60 would probably work well to work and store 4 cars in.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Early on decide if the shop is to be a working shop or a showplace.

Build the biggest garage you can afford, it will fill up without any problems.

Try to visualize where you might want electrical power, it is easier to install conduits before the concrete is poured than after.

Good shops are a work in progress, they never reach perfection as the goal keeps moving further down the field.

 

[mustangmatt70]

IMHO, Early on decide if the shop is to be a working shop or a showplace.

Build the biggest garage you can afford, it will fill up without any problems.

Try to visualize where you might want electrical power, it is easier to install conduits before the concrete is poured than after.

Good shops are a work in progress, they never reach perfection as the goal keeps moving further down the field.

I will be working in this shop for sure. Funny how I go to work all day fixing cars then come home with the desire to sink my hands into some more.

Is the conduit something I can run myself or best left to the professionals?

I just remembered that I'm supposed to be picking up the contents of my father-in-laws shop. This includes but is not limited to a 30ish gallon Craftsman compressor, mig welder with cart, 2 or more floor jacks, multiple jack stands, 2 tier snap-on tool box, drill press, large vice, manual tire mounting and balancing tools, a Fiero(possibly not a permanent resident), and assorted pieces parts from old projects. There may be a motorcycle minus the rims and tires in there somewhere.

I need to get the ball rolling as soon as I can on this. I really have no idea how to fit all his stuff and my already large assortment into a single car garage with a car in it. I'm ready, willing, and able to make monthly payments on the building but finding a place that finances them is proving to be difficult. I thought maybe a personal loan but the only thing worth a substantial amount for collateral is my truck but it still has an open loan on it.

 

[James-W]

If planning on a lift in the future I would go with 12' walls at a minimum.

I concur, if installing a lift is an option for the future, then I would definitely go with a taller ceiling. Also, if a two post is the lift of choice, then make sure the concrete is sufficiently thick enough to support it.

 

[donny_b]

With winds so strong in Georgia, you need to make sure it's a sturdy built garage.

 

[Jlbc212]

Sell off the cars, put the tools and equipment your are receiving in the space you have. Use the money from the sale of the cars to start the build on the new garage. 12ft walls are essential for a two post lift. Excavate into the slope behind your house, and build the garage into the slope. The garage will then appear to be less tall than it actually is inside.