Garage layout ideas

[toyotadriver]

I am about to build a shop building a shop building. It's going to be 30x40. I know bigger is better but my current shop is 18x33 so 30x40 will be a nice step up in size for me.

I mainly do car repair and welding. I'll have my wood working tools in there too but may eventually build another building just for wood working. For the present time though, I'm just going to have the one building. Also, I'm not going to be moving to this place yet. I'm just building a shop building and then will list my current house. When it sells, I'm going to build on my property next to my shop.

The building will be a metal sided building but will not be a pole barn. It will be framed on a slab. Energy efficiency will be paramount and I'll eventually have a radiant tube heater on the ceiling.

Anyway, here's a MS Paint picture of what I'm going to build and the layout of the property when the house is eventually built.

I will not be having a lift in the shop. I know that may be unheard of to people around here but I don't want to take up the space for a lift. I will use jacks, jack stands, and ramps to work under cars. I know that lifts are nice (I've used them) but they aren't worth the extra money to me and the useable space loss.

Thanks for the input!!

The shop says 30x50 but will actually be 30x40

 

[Addrock]

I like the direction on both plans, very good to consider free light thrugh the day. Are you thinking of windows in your doors? How tall are your walls?

 

[toyotadriver]

I like the direction on both plans, very good to consider free light thrugh the day. Are you thinking of windows in your doors? How tall are your walls?

No windows in the doors. Security reasons. We don't have a lot of theft problems but don't want to let someone get inside too easily. Security is more imporant to me than more light.

Walls will be 10 ft high.

 

[akdiesel]

If security is important than keep in mind the eye traffic in regards to the layout of your shop. Passerby's will want to look in when your overhead doors are open.
Also wind direction. I am sure you have a dominant wind direction and the location of your overhead doors can be a pain in the ****.

 

[kywildcat]

Go with 10 foot wide doors.....I know from recent experience!!!

 

[tatra]

list of wants if i built new.........
windows on top panel of o/h doors
floor heat
french drain [ trench ] with solid steel covers
exhaust sytem utilizing the french drain
o/h fans
air conditioning
remote compressor location
good drainage
drive through capability
attached carport


will add more as i think of them

 

[akdiesel]

tatra,
I saw a video on here of overhead doors that were broken into through the top of the door seal utilizing the door lights to be able to see them attach to the pull strap to disconnect the door opener.
Something to keep in mind.

 

[Addrock]

We are all just a cordless saws-all away from complete access to our garage. Get a security system, or at least the stickers.

 

[Bones35]

I've got a cordless grinder too. If someone wants in they'll get in. That's why I don't have a job trailor anymore. But no windows, I have to have natural light.

 

[rickycobra]

No windows in the doors. Security reasons. We don't have a lot of theft problems but don't want to let someone get inside too easily. Security is more imporant to me than more light.

Walls will be 10 ft high.

You could put bars on the window if you worried about security also.

 

[larry_g]

Having worked in shops with floor heat and being in houses with ceiling heat I would no way go with ceiling heat. You do not say where in the world you are so you may have a better understanding of heating in your area but here I much prefer warm feet to a hot head. With floor heat it rises to warm the tools and other metal items in the shop. If you know the pain of working with frozen tools you'll appreciate the meaning of warm tools.

I would also suggest that you plan your whole site before starting to build. Know where your septic, power, water and other facilities will run. If you look at my build you'll see a 400A panel that provides 200a to the house and 200a to the shop. Plan on adding on to the shop and make sure you have the room. If you plan for it you will not have to move or be restricted by other things. Have the plan reviewed by the building department so there are no surprises. I found that in my county the garage could not project past the front of the house, and that the driveway/road interface had to be approved. I am also restricted to one entrance onto the road, no horseshoe or multiple drives. Check if your governing body has a handbook for developing your land.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Beaner242]

I would definatley go with at least 10ft doors if not wider, with the width you have. I also installed 4 skylights for added natural light, it makes a big difference with no windows.

 

[tatra]

akdiesel, i would also add to the list liftmaster 330 jackshaft openers............should make it a little harder for the badguys, but good catch.........

other things to add

sockets in floor strtegically placed for tool posts to be set in or a winch to be anchoured for pulling dead cars into shop

 

[toyotadriver]

All good info. We've already worked out the septic and well locations. No problems there. We have no restrictions in the county or the property so where we locate the various buildings isn't important to the powers that be.

Anything can be broken into but I've never seen a thief break into a shop building using a cutting tool. It's always through a kicked in door (or unlocked door) or window. I work full time as a police officer and have worked MANY burglaries. Most important thing is not to make your place impenetrable....you really can't do it. The most important thing is to make your place a harder target than your neighbor's place!!

I'm more interested in how you would recommend placing the work benches and tools. I have standard welding equipment, hydraulic press, grinders, 2 roll around toolboxes, and such.

I live in southern midwest so the weather is not too hot or cold. Cold snaps but today it was 55 degrees. Should see 60s or 70s this week.

I have thought about a heated slab but I'm not going that route. I currently heat my shop with a diesel torpedo heater. I can easily heat it to whatever temp I want but I hate the condensation of moisture on the cold tools as the shop warms up. I want to keep the shop heated throughout the winter to about 45-50 degrees. The shop will have plenty of insulation so keeping the heat in shouldn't be a big problem.

 

[Steevo]

Lot setbacks constrained me to 24'x40', so I am already jealous of your extra 6'.
Size DOES matter.
My current layout dilemmas revolve around workspaces and use case scenarios.