How much garage for $35k?

[ForceFed70]

I can't imagine the key cost driver if this project is the difference between a 100 and 200 amp service

Go with the 200 you will be glad you did

Red

Glad he spend at least $500-$1000 more than he needed to? What if he only has a 200A service to his property? Now we're talking $5000 extra to upgrade the service entrance or add a 2nd entrance. I've got a 100A panel in my current garage, and had a 50A panel in the previous one. I've never tripped the service once with lights, 50A compressor, 50A welder circuit, AC, powder coating oven, etc - even with the 50A panel.

All you 200A guys say "You'll be glad you went with 200" but I've never heard anyone say "Wish I went with 200A as my 100A isn't cutting it".

I've used a 20A 240V circuit many times when my welder circuit wasn't available or I was too lazy to drag the welder extension cord all over the shop (I have 20A 240V outlets all over the place). Even tho my welder calls for a 50A breaker, I've been able to weld up to 1/4" plate without tripping the 20A breaker. I could probably weld thicker, just haven't had a need to yet. Judging your requirements by what the manufacturer recommends for a circuit breaker is a silly way to do things.

Is there anyone out there who went with a 100A garage panel and has had problems with it not being enough?

 

[Samh]

For new construction, buying a new welder will be far less expensive than maintaining an oversized service over time and operating a mine and smelter to get all the copper it will take to run wire for a 100A outlet.

A 240V 100A service should be able to handle any reasonable welder the OP would need.

What is a reasonable welder?

Glad he spend at least $500-$1000 more than he needed to? What if he only has a 200A service to his property? Now we're talking $5000 extra to upgrade the service entrance or add a 2nd entrance. I've got a 100A panel in my current garage, and had a 50A panel in the previous one. I've never tripped the service once with lights, 50A compressor, 50A welder circuit, AC, powder coating oven, etc - even with the 50A panel.

All you 200A guys say "You'll be glad you went with 200" but I've never heard anyone say "Wish I went with 200A as my 100A isn't cutting it".

I've used a 20A 240V circuit many times when my welder circuit wasn't available or I was too lazy to drag the welder extension cord all over the shop (I have 20A 240V outlets all over the place). Even tho my welder calls for a 50A breaker, I've been able to weld up to 1/4" plate without tripping the 20A breaker. I could probably weld thicker, just haven't had a need to yet. Judging your requirements by what the manufacturer recommends for a circuit breaker is a silly way to do things.

Is there anyone out there who went with a 100A garage panel and has had problems with it not being enough?

On my first shop, I went with 100A sub panel, and had plenty of issues of it not being enough. for the 2nd shop, went with 200A and haven't had any of the issues. Would you rather spend the money doing it right, or spend more money redoing it? Honestly, this is no different than the idea of build as big a shop as you can, becuase you will use it.

 

[ForceFed70]

On my first shop, I went with 100A sub panel, and had plenty of issues of it not being enough. for the 2nd shop, went with 200A and haven't had any of the issues. Would you rather spend the money doing it right, or spend more money redoing it? Honestly, this is no different than the idea of build as big a shop as you can, becuase you will use it.

Interesting. Do you mind providing more info? What were you doing in the shop that required more than 100A? If welding = How thick of material are you welding?

There`s building it right and then there`s wasting money for something you`ll likely never need and could have been better spent elsewhere. For most of us, a 200A service is an example of the latter.

Using your own example - Do you build the shop bigger or do you run more power? For most of us it all boils down to cost and benefit. Saving costs in 1 place means you can spend more on another.

 

[bigredmf]

500 to 1000$ more may save this gentleman 5000$ moving forward. Where I am at the power company will run a underground service for 0$ providing you use it for five years. If you don't use it they bill you 500$ only when you stop prior to five years.

He might be able to split his existing service and have to settle for 150 amps on top of his existing.

Theoretically it could be cheaper than what you are telling him.

Just my 2 cents.

Ultimately his electrician and power company can let him know.


Red


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Samh]

Interesting. Do you mind providing more info? What were you doing in the shop that required more than 100A? If welding = How thick of material are you welding?

There`s building it right and then there`s wasting money for something you`ll likely never need and could have been better spent elsewhere. For most of us, a 200A service is an example of the latter.

Using your own example - Do you build the shop bigger or do you run more power? For most of us it all boils down to cost and benefit. Saving costs in 1 place means you can spend more on another.

Not at all. In regards to welding, it depends, could be as thin as 20 ga, or as thick as 1 inch. Could be welding for 10 minutes in a day, might be welding for several hours at a time.

If I can't do what I need to in my shop, what does it matter how large it is? And I don't disagree on cost/benefit and saving costs. That being said, I would figure out other areas to save money one. As another example, if trying to save weight on a car or motorcycle, pick a different area than the frame.

 

[600SL]

Like I stated in my old shop in CT I had my Square Wave 175 on a 70 Amp breaker. Recommended breaker for that machine is 125. The welder pulls 62 Amps at max power welding up to 3/8" thick AL. AS AC TIG machines go this is a small welder. I also had a 5 HP industrial compressor that was on a 40 amp breaker with a 25 amp motor. Starting current of that compressor was well over 90 Amps. I never had a problem with that setup on a 100 Amp subpanel but I felt I was living on the hairy edge. There was always the possibility of welding and having the compressor cycle on at the same time. And I also had about 5 amps of lighting.

If you have anything similar to this setup and are starting from scratch go with 200 AMP.

In my new place the electric company ran a 200 amp service for free with an $800 deposit. Because they ran a separate service to a garage they put me on a commercial rate. So the free service is not too free. But I still have the welder and am looking for a new 7.5 HP compressor and my new light draw about 20 amps all the time I am in there. And on top of all that I would like to put in a heat pump. So for me the 200 amps is a no brainer.

Other option was to upgrade my house to 320 amps and split 200 amps to the garage. That was a $7000 option.

 

[humanbeingexpert]

in calif i figure $50/sf all in including the electrical, on stick build but based on friends doing most of the work, seems pretty close to me

 

[ishiboo]

On your budget, you should be thinking about a much smaller structure. BTW - High ceilings also will drive up the cost.

$35K for 2400 square feet would be $15 per square foot. That is not possible. For an unfinished space, you should be thinking around $35 per square foot.




You don't need a 200A service. You may need 200A of breakers on your panel, but you don't need a 200A service. The only time you would need the 200A service is if all those things were on and running at the same time. (Like in a business.)

You can put your 200A of breakers in the panel with a 100A main breaker and 100A service and you'll be just fine. As long as you don't have an instantaneous load over 100A in the garage, you won't need a larger service.

BTW - With the metering charges, you may be better off upgrading your house service and running a subpanel out to the garage. You probably pay extra for each bill that comes from the electric company.

Rofl. Not sure where you are from, but 84k for an unfinished 40x60x14 stick built shell would be insane. My quote for a 40x60 with two overhead doors, man door, mono slab and tin ceiling with ceiling insulation was 45k.

Yes, 35k for a finished 40x60 is insane, but so is your 84k for a shell.

If close to power, a 200A service and panel versus a 100A service and panel are cheap and basically the same price. If this is anything other than storage only that will never be used as a shop, I would definitely go with 200A.

 

[justin1795]

Based on my build a 30x48 with concrete and no finishing inside I'm at about 35k I went with a wick and that was a bit more than your basic Menard's building. Does not include extras like finish excavation.

 

[rice rocket]

A 240V 100A service should be able to handle any reasonable welder the OP would need.

What if he's welding ships in his garage?

 

[tinroof]

This is a timely thread. I have been gathering estimates for a 20' x 22' garage - the largest my DC-area zoning will allow given the footprint of my residence. I have this full-time job that often stretches into more than full-time, so building it myself and using it in this lifetime will not work together. My best estimate on a stick shell with a large door, 2 man doors, 6 windows, a floored loft with 12-wide usable space and stairs, is $19,000. The footings, foundation and 4" slab with vapor barrier and foam for radiant heat have been estimated to cost me $20,000 and up. So, for 440 sf I have been quoted about $39,000. That's with me pulling the permits, and before electrical, insulation, etc. This is more than I had planned on spending. Nothing signed yet; still thinking it over.

 

[Showkey]

^^^^^^^^^^^ so with electric, insulation, interior walls and normal cost over runs your at $50k....... Or about $113/sqft ......ouch....... Welcome to DC pricing?

 

[DekeT]

Strikes me as odd that a building engineer as a moniker does not know what $35k will get you.

 

[wssix99]

I can't imagine the key cost driver if this project is the difference between a 100 and 200 amp service

Would you rather spend the money doing it right, or spend more money redoing it? Honestly, this is no different than the idea of build as big a shop as you can, becuase you will use it.

Keep in mind that this poster is envisioning a space that is 2X bigger than what he can afford. In this situation, every dollar and bit of waste will count. Saving $1000 on electrical means an extra food of width on the garage. Future proofing by running conduit would probably be the best choice.

What is a reasonable welder?

Under 100A for normal home use.

What if he's welding ships in his garage?

I'd say go for a 300A service, in that case.

 

[Samh]

Keep in mind that this poster is envisioning a space that is 2X bigger than what he can afford. In this situation, every dollar and bit of waste will count. Saving $1000 on electrical means an extra food of width on the garage. Future proofing by running conduit would probably be the best choice.

The OP specifically called out power as a must have, and listed welders (<--plural), so I will give the benefit of the doubt that there is a reason. So the question to ask the OP is would you rather have a 39x60 shop with 200A of power, or a 40x60 with 100 amps of power?

Under 100A for normal home use.

"For normal home use"? That is still an empty statement. Last I checked, there isn't a "normal home" use for a welder.

 

[reader2580]

500 to 1000$ more may save this gentleman 5000$ moving forward. Where I am at the power company will run a underground service for 0$ providing you use it for five years. If you don't use it they bill you 500$ only when you stop prior to five years.

Every power company is different. My power company charges for everything. There is a $1,000 to $2,000 charge just to run a 200 amp service to a new house. Other power companies in the local area will do service to a new house at no charge.

 

[wssix99]

The OP specifically called out power as a must have, and listed welders (<--plural), so I will give the benefit of the doubt that there is a reason.

My original point was that a lot of people add up the breakers they need and add the numbers all up to equal a service side. (It seems the OP was doing this.) That's not how it should be done for a one-man shop. In this case, 1+1 does not equal 2. The service just needs to supply the peak demand.

I think that this also goes back to the points that the OP is probably not welding with two machines simultaneously and needs to research the true cost increment of the larger service.

So the question to ask the OP is would you rather have a 39x60 shop with 200A of power, or a 40x60 with 100 amps of power?

On the OP's stated budget, he has a 25X40 shop with an extension cord from the house for power. More money or reduced scope is needed. (Adding power capacity that isn't needed is just gold-plating, which probably needs to be avoided here.)

 

[rburke65]

A 100 amp. service for a 'non commercial' .... 'non business' one man shop/garage is a TON of current. Just My opinion......