Backyard workshop build

[koenbro]

Hello, I currently work out of one bay in our 3-car garage (With some side storage). My wife is sick and tired of me seemingly occupying space so we have agreed on building an about 20x24' (or 20x30) workshop in the backyard.

I do metal work, have a mill and CNC plasma table (and plan to get a lathe), but also do some woodworking and would like to have a corner for spray painting. So designing the space and plumbing (dust extraction, compressed air) will be exciting

I want to structure it in such a way that it could be repurposed as a casita/ guest house, or a garage. So that when we sell, the buyers can see value for their purposes. By garage I mean it will have access and option in the framing to cut out a garage door, although I do not intend to put one in at first.

Will use this thread to document the build. Will need to draw up plans and get HOA, then city permits. I have never done anything like this and, although I will subcontract most steps, it will be an adventure. Any thoughts and advice along the way will be greatly appreciated.

 

[nadogail]

Maybe a local Design/Build firm will provide you with a proposal.

 

[astroracer]

My only advice will be to check lumber prices and then decide if this is really worth it right now... I just put a hold on a 24 x 36 addition to my shop because lumber prices are getting stupid. Material quote was going up by 1500 almost weekly as I was waiting on a refinance approval...
Mark

 

[Bigbandguy]

I want to structure it in such a way that it could be repurposed as a casita/ guest house, or a garage. So that when we sell, the buyers can see value for their purposes. By garage I mean it will have access and option in the framing to cut out a garage door, although I do not intend to put one in at first.

Depending on the jurisdiction it may be easier to permit a garage than a shop. A friend of mine got the advance word that NO backyard shops were permitted in the area where he lived. He turned in plans for a nice triple garage in his backyard and dutifully installed garage doors. All but one had framing and insulation installed behind them as soon as inspections were done. He had a fully functional shop that looks like a garage. Just something to think about depending on your local situation.

 

[koenbro]

Depending on the jurisdiction it may be easier to permit a garage than a shop. A friend of mine got the advance word that NO backyard shops were permitted in the area where he lived. He turned in plans for a nice triple garage in his backyard and dutifully installed garage doors. All but one had framing and insulation installed behind them as soon as inspections were done. He had a fully functional shop that looks like a garage. Just something to think about depending on your local situation.

Great idea, this is something that may happen in my situation as well. For resale it may be more valuable as a casita/in-laws unit or garage anyways, so we will design and plumb it as such.

My only advice will be to check lumber prices and then decide if this is really worth it right now... I just put a hold on a 24 x 36 addition to my shop because lumber prices are getting stupid. Material quote was going up by 1500 almost weekly as I was waiting on a refinance approval...
Mark

Yeah, I heard about that from elsewhere too. Construction here is concrete slab, stick framing, stucco exterior, LOTS of insulation. Very tempted by steel studs for framing and a flat metal roof. Will need to price them side by side (wood vs steel studs).

 

[Glemon]

You are going to check anyway, and local laws differ, but around here they don't approve detached living structures on single residential lots.

 

[matt_i]

Seems like a mistake to setup a metalworking shop and not start with a garage door....how do you get the equipment and projects in and out? Having to carry a plasma table in one part at a time and reassemble it inside doesn't sound like my idea of fun when it could be transported and landed, whole, thru a garage door.

If a future owner wanted to remove the door and frame out the opening, that's a relatively easy project.

Where the line is drawn for me is the HVAC (emphasis on AC in your area) and at least stubs for water and sewer. Then someone else can see it as a livable space otherwise its just going to be a storage/shop/shed area.

I would also state the requirement to make the exterior match the house, in style and color. And add windows in size and quantity that suggests "mini residence".

 

[MushCreek]

You need to start with your local zoning/building department to find out what you can/cannot do. Every town/county/state will have their own rules. Next, get some idea of pricing. As has been said, building materials are WAY up; some things are up nearly 400%. In many (most?) parts of the country, contractors are buried with new house orders, so it may be difficult to secure a contractor at all. They'd rather build a subdivision than a one-off outbuilding. Not trying to discourage you, just trying to be realistic.

 

[CraigStu]

Having lived a couple houses away for 20+ years from a friend who had a flat roof on an add-on room I would NEVER have one. They started out like most of us paycheck to paycheck but by the time we knew them they were quite well off. The house sat on a double waterfront lot so they weren't moving. My point is he could afford the best but even so he still had leaks.

 

[glentre]

You seem to be planning on a number of different activities in your new shop. As a suggestion, you might want to get an inexpensive CAD program like SketchUp or similar to get everything laid out to scale and with all of your machinery placed where you want it. You can then get an idea how it will be to "live" in the space and be able to shuffle things around on paper to give you the best working are to meet your needs.

Glen

 

[koenbro]

Seems like a mistake to setup a metalworking shop and not start with a garage door....how do you get the equipment and projects in and out? Having to carry a plasma table in one part at a time and reassemble it inside doesn't sound like my idea of fun when it could be transported and landed, whole, thru a garage door.

If a future owner wanted to remove the door and frame out the opening, that's a relatively easy project.

It seems hard to insulate a roll-up garage door. The door itself even when advertised as insulated is not very effective; then there is inevitably a gap at the sides and top. Very interested in alternatives.

Where the line is drawn for me is the HVAC (emphasis on AC in your area) and at least stubs for water and sewer. Then someone else can see it as a livable space otherwise its just going to be a storage/shop/shed area.

For sure, I will pull in water and electric, and gray water out; after all, I want the structure to easily reconfigure as a guest house. Considering sliding glass doors, facing east, with double panes. Have those on the main house and they seem to insulate OK; not great, but OK. Pretty expensive though, just had a new one out in in the house and it was $5k.

My current garage has insulated doors (a double and a single) that have gaps around them. I paid a contractor to put in the pink rolled up insulation in the attic, and blew cellulose into one section where they cannot reach with batts. I do have a Mitsubishi 24000 btu minisplit which works quite well and is quiet. Its only defect is that it does not have a thermostat or ability to plug in into home automation; uses a weird remote, and is non programmable. I have NEST for the other two HVAC units that serve the house. Must say the minisplit seems like a superior technology compared to the conventional US-style forced air units, but is a lot more expensive (the current Mitsu set me back $5K when I installed it in 2014), so I could never afford to convert the whole house to minisplits; however, I do plan to add a minisplit into the new structure as well.

I would also state the requirement to make the exterior match the house, in style and color. And add windows in size and quantity that suggests "mini residence".

Yeah I have an HOA, which (by the standards of the petty fascists who like to flock to such institutions) is pretty benign, but does mandate a unified look, and I am OK with blending it in. I certainly do not intend for this unit to stand out.

As for windows I plan to add floor to ceiling glass panels and sliding doors on facing East, towards the main house, and towards the mountain views on our property. The rectangular structure would otherwise be oriented N-S. Imagine a rectangle with its long walls facing East (glass panel) and West (no windows, or at most strip windows high up).

 

[koenbro]

Having lived a couple houses away for 20+ years from a friend who had a flat roof on an add-on room I would NEVER have one. They started out like most of us paycheck to paycheck but by the time we knew them they were quite well off. The house sat on a double waterfront lot so they weren't moving. My point is he could afford the best but even so he still had leaks.

I am really interested in this. I don't know anything about roofs, so I am earnestly asking why not have a metal flat roof? I plan the East edge of the structure to be taller than the West-facing one (10 ft vs 8ft) so the roof would be slanted; is it still called flat, or not?!

A well executed sheet metal roof shouldn't be leaking and Arizona doesn't seem the hotbed of nightmare stories about leaking roofs.

 

[koenbro]

You seem to be planning on a number of different activities in your new shop. As a suggestion, you might want to get an inexpensive CAD program like SketchUp or similar to get everything laid out to scale and with all of your machinery placed where you want it. You can then get an idea how it will be to "live" in the space and be able to shuffle things around on paper to give you the best working are to meet your needs.

Glen

Yeah that sounds like a great idea. Have a license to an older version of Chief Architect Home Designer, which I plan to fire up and see if I can draw something.