Above 1200 Sq/FT Moving my business into my first warehouse!

[brandonsmash]

I'm a fabricator and contractor and own a small business. Previously I'd been running everything out of the 1k sf shop in my back yard but recently pulled the trigger on warehouse space.

It's about twice what I have now. I'm not moving everything there -- my machine tools and most of my welders will stay at my backyard shop -- but I'm moving the stuff there that I need to do for the contracting business.

It's a step!

 

[Lou's Garage]

Nice space!

Lou Manglass

 

[brandonsmash]

Thanks! This is my first foray into procuring commercial/industrial space of my own, so it's a bit of a trip. Lots of learning involved, and lots of expenses (which are to be expected). The parking lot is pretty narrow and I'm really going to have to figure out a better way to get the trailer into the shop or else my guys are really going to hate me!

 

[The Cobbler]

Nice space. It will fill up fast... don't ask how I know! LOL

 

[tyyost]

The best advice I can give you is get pallet racking now, before you have to rearrange and make room for it. Looks like a good space, lots of ceiling height, make use of it. It’s easy to get in the trap of having enough floor space until it’s running short, plan for what you are storing for current and future jobs, as well as ways to organize and densely store parts and materials now.

 

[brandonsmash]

Good call on the pallet racking. I do need to figure out some sort of storage solution for steel stock; I routinely use 10'-21' lengths of material. I'm wondering if I shouldn't build shelving with cantilevered arms.

 

[LXCam]

Pallet racking and a forklift. There's no way to back a trailer into my shop without one as the distance in the alley isn't wide enough to swing anything longer then a 10ft trailer behind a truck.

I've done this twice with splitting up tools between two locations and in short it doesn't work (least for me). I don't know what you've got for tools and equipment or your requirements for storage of stuff required for your trade, but I do wish you good luck before your place looks like mine.......A hot mess

 

[tyyost]

Good call on the pallet racking. I do need to figure out some sort of storage solution for steel stock; I routinely use 10'-21' lengths of material. I'm wondering if I shouldn't build shelving with cantilevered arms.

I‘ve used in the past racks with arms for lumber and steel. There is a reason many folks store steel vertically. I’d hesitate to use cantilever shelves longer than 12’ to conserve for space but since we don’t know your work that may be limiting. Whatever you do for long stock, build it into the workflow out of the gate. There is nothing worse than rearranging to get to materials (or tools) you inadvertently buried.

One of my favorite systems was the Christmas tree style cantilever rack like this - https://www.uline.com/BL_156/Cantilever-Racks
We had a few of those but ran tight on space and we was able to make similar wooden ones with 2x6’s. Uprights were triple 2x6 screwed and glued with holes drilled for 2” schedule 40 pipe. I think we went with 5’ or so giving a little more than 2’ on each side. The base was 2x6’s bolted to either side of the upright and running about 6’ long giving a nice base shelf off the floor. As long as you loaded it close to even it worked great.

 

[alexpor]

great space. Looks amazing. I hope you will build a successful business. Good luck
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