Help! How do I start the design process?

[ymehp]

Hello,

I'm wanting to build an unattached garage/shop in which I can store 3 vehicles comfortably, a 24' pontoon, 2-3 recreational toys, an auto hoist, full bathroom and still have a bit of work space to work on various projects. I'm new to all of this and want to do it right the first time so lets start with the basics and go from there. Also, I'm from ND so snow load and temperatures will be an issue with my build.

1. Size: I'm leaning towards a 40'x60'x16' building. Does this sound sized about right for my planned uses? Idealy I'd like to have something large enough to split in half to keep half heated and the rest as cold storage.

-Doors: (2) over head doors @ 15' tall and one 36" walk-in door. What width over head door do you guys recommend? All of my items are road width legal but I would like sufficient clearance on either side of the vehicle

2. Materials: What is your best bang for your buck when it comes to construction materials? Do you guys prefer steel, stick or post frame? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each? Can a post frame building be wired, plumbed and finished inside?

-Concrete: What thickness and PSI concrete is recommended for your average vehicle or truck and auto hoist? I also plan on heating the concrete, any info or do's/don't on doing this?

-Insulation: What type and R value would one recommend for the walls ceiling? I plan on keeping the shop just above freezing with the option of being able to quickly raise the temp. when I'm in there working?

-Heating: What kind of BTU output will I need to achieve efficient heating on a building this size. I'm leaning towards a propane fuel source at this point as it will be built in a rural area.

-Electrical: What size service and panel will I need for such a building? What size, type and number of lights would you recommend?

I know this is only a start but I'm coming into this with a blind eye and am hoping to gather as much info as possible before I take the plunge and as I said I plan to do this right the first time and only once. Am I at the right place for this type of info or is their other sites I have yet to discover that also need to be looking over?

-Thanks in advance!

 

[Zeke]

Why not hire an architect? That's what they do. He may save you his cost.

The electrical engineering for this should be simple. If you can get a separate service for this building, that would be the best. If not, you need 200 A panel at your modest house with a 60A subpanel out at the garage. You might have to go 400A at the house if you live large and run a bigger capacity circuit out to the garage if you plan on machines running out there.

 

[bczygan]

First things first. Find out your zoning. Check out your zoning requirements, setbacks, height, size and area requirements, accessory building rules, permit requirements, utility and other easements, homeowner association rules and deed restrictions.
Then make a list of the functions you need and want to accommodate. Allocate space for each function. Arrange the spaces for best relationships to one another. Design structure to best accommodate this while meeting economic and aesthetic requirements.
Do a spreadsheet of costs for all labor and materials, taxes insurance and permits.
Do a schedule and timeline.
Do a drawing and project description for permits and financing
Arrange financing.
Order long lead time materials
Bid out and contract labor
Begin construction

 

[Zeke]

First things first. Find out your zoning. Check out your zoning requirements, setbacks, height, size and area requirements, accessory building rules, permit requirements, utility and other easements, homeowner association rules and deed restrictions.
Then make a list of the functions you need and want to accommodate. Allocate space for each function. Arrange the spaces for best relationships to one another. Design structure to best accommodate this while meeting economic and aesthetic requirements.
Do a spreadsheet of costs for all labor and materials, taxes insurance and permits.
Do a schedule and timeline.
Do a drawing and project description for permits and financing
Arrange financing.
Order long lead time materials
Bid out and contract labor
Begin construction

Or hire an architect.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I wouldn't make both doors 15' tall. I'd only use a 15 footer where the pontoon boat is going to be stored at. That tall door isn't going to be cheap, no reason to spend that kind of money on two doors that size. Put that money elsewhere like insulation.

Remember, it you put in a bathroom, it needs to be keep warm, not "just above freezing". You may need to put in a provision for that in the bathroom, like an electric baseboard heater.

A building that size, 40x60x16, I'd do a pole bldg, not stick built. There would be nothing wrong with sectioning it off and only heating and fully insulating the work shop side. Even though, I would still insulate the other side while it's being built, rolled batting under the metal siding. I'd frame in between the posts for the work shop side and add a insulated ceiling under the roof.

 

[Rickstir]

Lay out a grid on graph paper to represent your proposed footprint. Cut out pieces of paper to scale representing your vehicles, boat, etd. You can move them around until you get the best fit and see all the free space, storage space and walking area.

 

[nehog]

Or a full metal building, insulated of course. I'm not sure you'll get 15 ft doors on a 16 Ft building, when they did my building, IIRC, they needed more than 12 inches for clearance. And those doors will be expensive.

I've got 10 ft doors and they work well--sure I can't put a semi in there, but everything I've got, including my generator set (trailer mounted, and about 9 ft tall) fits just fine.

Going with an engineered metal building gives you freedom from worrying about stuff like snow loads.

BTW, insulate the bathroom interior, exterior walls and ceiling well, and you'll probably be able to heat it with a light bulb!