My new workshop. What would you do first?

[Croy9000]

My new 22x20x9 workshop is finally complete! Though what ***** is it completes 2 days before I need to go out of town for a week . So really cant start anything meaningful. So while I wait I figured I would see if people have opinions on things I should do first, especially pro-tips I didn't think of

Things I know I need to do:

• Run additional AC outlets (the contractor only put in one)
• Insulate walls and ceiling
• Cover wall and ceiling (thinking 7/16 OSB, primed and painted)
• Replace utility lights with LED panels. Thinking 4 of them.
• Seal floor. I have done zero research here, but know I need to wait till warmer temps. Will start researching this week.
• Workbench, wood storage, and shelving

I will be using the space for hobby woodworking and hobby machining (CNC and lathe).

 

[Citation]

Nice shop.
Look at installing a mini split for heat and AC.

 

[Croy9000]

Nice shop.
Look at installing a mini split for heat and AC.

Yep great point. I should have mentioned that is in the list also. My brother-in-law works for a commercial heating/cooling company and is handling that for me.

 

[toddslures]

Instead of OSB wall covering I covered mine in peg board so there would be plenty of space to hang n organize tools and whatever.

 

[Croy9000]

Instead of OSB wall covering I covered mine in peg board so there would be plenty of space to hang n organize tools and whatever.

Thats a thought. Though I did read another post where a guy regretted that since he only used a small percentage of the holes and the others just collected dust and spider webs. No regrets there?

 

[toddslures]

No regrets at all. I have work benches down one wall and cabinets above to. I like to have the option to rearrange things and add as needed. No issue with extra dust. You may also consider a dust collection system to help.

 

[Augus7us]

I would add lots of 110 and 220 receptacles. Do the other upgrades you mentioned.

I wouldn't go with OSB, your shop looks real nice from the outside and I think OSB doesn't look that great. I'd do drywall or plywood and paint it.

I did epoxy on the floor of mine and it wasn't cheap for a shop floor, but it looks great and cleans up easy. And so far it has been pretty resilient, I've drive a forklift over it with no issues.

If you want to run water, cat5/6, security cameras, coax (I don't use this anymore), airlines, etc. Plan for and run that stuff now. I know it can bump up the cost upfront but tearing down plywood to run network cable for a few security cameras would be a royal pain.

Looks like you're going to have a real nice place there!

-Clint

 

[bcoke]

Nice shop space , a mini split heat/air would be great .....I have installed @ 30 of the lights like you have with curly bulbs in attic and garage / shop and have plenty of light {cheap too!] I would cut some 3/8 plywood [! do not like osb or pegboard ] to lay on the trusses for some extra storage with a trap door for access...... of couse add plenty of AC outlets 110 [20 amp] volt at 40-48 inch height and run at least 2 -220 volt outlets for welder and compressor . I would sheetrock the ceiling and put 5/8 or 3/4 plywood on the walls ....I painted mine a sunshine yellow as it brightens up the place very well.......I do not like peg board for a lot of reasons but with plywood you could even go 3/8ths and have plenty of holding power for cabinets/ shelves/ tools etc.......of course insulate and make provisions for wifi phone etc..........go with the highest R insulation you can afford as it will always save on heat and cooling.............most of all domake it what YOU want !!!!!!! good luck bobbycoke

 

[GMCGarage]

My new 22x20x9 workshop is finally complete! Though what ***** is it completes 2 days before I need to go out of town for a week . So really cant start anything meaningful. So while I wait I figured I would see if people have opinions on things I should do first, especially pro-tips I didn't think of

Things I know I need to do:

• Run additional AC outlets (the contractor only put in one)
• Insulate walls and ceiling
• Cover wall and ceiling (thinking 7/16 OSB, primed and painted)
• Replace utility lights with LED panels. Thinking 4 of them.
• Seal floor. I have done zero research here, but know I need to wait till warmer temps. Will start researching this week.
• Workbench, wood storage, and shelving

I will be using the space for hobby woodworking and hobby machining (CNC and lathe).

First thing, ask how you can modify the trusses so you can get a lift in there. Haha, just kidding.

Seems you have a pretty good list.

I would get a small fridge out there, get it stocked with beer, and coffee pot on top. Put on a mobile base so you can move around easily.

Put receptacles in the ceiling, either for lights, or a retractable line. Also plumb for air in the ceiling so you can have a drop if you want.

 

[Nowater]

I put in epoxy floor from rustoleum first, with a clear top coat. I think I spent about $200.
I hate breathing dust from concrete floors, and the epoxy sweeps and vacuums clean.

Next I would suggest some LED lights like the ones Costco sells. They go on sale for about $25.00 each and just plug in. I mounted mine with two screws in the center into a stud.

If you can afford it, go with spray foam, even if it is just an inch thick or less, as it will air seal the roof and walls, and make them stronger for hurricanes.

Insulate the walls so you can put a surface on them. I am a fan of OSB with a coat of primer, two coats of whatever ugly color was mismatched at a big box store, and then a coat of your favorite color. You can do one wall at a time if you want. Then you may want to do some pegboard there or consider other storage that might be wall mounted.

Decide on a ceiling treatment. It appears you have trusses and thus no weighty storage options in the attic. Cover the bottom truss members with OSB or plywood and blow in a ton of insulation to make the SC climate more comfortable.

Finish the other walls from the earlier step.

Start drawing up plans for an outside shed or lean too attached to your shop, since no shop is ever big enough!

Run surface mount pvc conduit for your power tools and mount extra lighting, which gets more important as one ages.

Try to enjoy the process as much as possible.

 

[Mr. D]

Get your floor coated in your choice of product before you put anything in there.

 

[Falcon67]

Get your floor coated in your choice of product before you put anything in there.

This #1. Then run all electrical, insulate and wall coverings. Floor first when fully cured.

 

[Jackfre]

When I built mine I alternated the 110V plugs every 4', high and low. It has worked out well as wherever I have a bench I have power above it and have the lowers as needed. Insulate the place. Contract that out. I found insulation companies would finish that terrible job for about what I could buy the material for. I used 5/8 rock on the ceilings and 1/2 ply on the walls set vertically. I can get into any part of the wall in short order if needed and I have done so a couple times. Your first job is to get the floors done before a bunch of folks tramp all over it. I used the Rustbullet product and it applied easily. Where are you putting your 220 plugs? Gas/air lines? Get them at least stubbed up into the attic before you close up the walls. Dust collection (www.billpentz.com)? I have, in my 30x30 shop, 16 of the Costco 4' LED fixtures switched in quadrants. They have been excellent, imo. I have the motion switches on them so they turn off after a while with no occupancy. I wish I had one outside light on the same switch as when I shut down the shop in winter it is dark dark on the way to the house. I usually leave one bank of interior lights on to give a bit of outside light. On the dust collection again, I bought a 1 1/2hp Grizzly mobil unit and it has been very good for my equipment. But, it takes up a lot of room and I have hoses and cords all over the damned place. I am considering upgrading to a 3 hp and dedicating a space to it and doing the overhead duct work. That should give you something to think about in your travels

 

[pogrelis97]

Beer fridge, duh!

 

[teamextreme]

This #1. Then run all electrical, insulate and wall coverings. Floor first when fully cured.

I'll 3rd that. Do the floor before you start moving anything else in there to work on. The temps will be an issue, but I did mine in January in freezing temps to avoid trying to do it after all my **** got moved in. I just blasted a propane heater for several days while I got it done. It cost a couple of 25 lb tanks but way better than dealing with stuff in the way after the fact.

You've got a good list of items to finish it out. Most of which is personal preference, ie pegboard/drywall/plywood, etc. For every person who loves pegboard, you'll have someone, myself included, that can't stand the ****.

OSB is dogged because it doesn't look as nice, or takes lots of paint to look nice. I skim-coated mine with drywall mud and it took one coat of paint, and looks great. Not perfect, like drywall, but you have to look real close to see the wood chip pattern showing through in a few places. And I didn't have to tape and sand anything.,

 

[Croy9000]

Ok sounds like doing the floor first is the way to go. Great tip (from teamextreme) on using a heater. Now to research the best products/methods.

 

[Croy9000]

So many great ideas in here. Keep em coming!

 

[Mr. D]

Ok sounds like doing the floor first is the way to go. Great tip (from teamextreme) on using a heater. Now to research the best products/methods.

The floor coating is really going to be what your budget can absorb. You can go Big Box brand all the way to turn key retail. Your about 440 Sq Ft

I'm 600 sq ft on a 3 car garage and have researched the **** out of this. A retail turn key decorative flake epoxy floor was $4,000 while a DIY Big Box brand was about $450. There is everything in between those prices as well.

Today I have decided to go with the Hellfire product from Legacy Industrial due to it being a single step process that I can apply down to 35 deg F temp. My goal was to have a simple gray floor, don't really need all the fancy stuff. This DIY product is about $700.

 

[VocaTexas]

If you are planning on welding in there, I wouldn't cover the walls with peg board. Peg board is extremely conducive to fire due to the venilation caused by all the peg holes.

 

[ky-mike]

Get your floor coated in your choice of product before you put anything in there.

I fully agree. Otherwise you need to move everything out in order to do the floor properly.

 

[larry_g]

If all new construction and your going to gone I'd think about setting up some heat in there to start removing moisture from the wood and floor. that way the humidity does not go up after you get equipment in there.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[gilbo]

Start planning for expansion of your workshop, because you will run out of room before you know. Then you will be saying, "woulda, coulda, shoulda"

 

[Steveodle]

Don't place everything permantly, you'll want to move things as you settle in to the first year.
Plenty of duplex outlets and I made mine all quad outlets. Cat 6 cable is cheap and it's planning for the future.
I installed a 24k minisplit and I'll use them from now on in shops.
Led lighting, cameras, security system motion lights outside.
A concrete pad outside your front door will be nice.

If you do nothing right,you'll do nothing wrong!

 

[Iluvbeer]

BEFORE your floor gets dirty, coat it with a garage floor sealer l. That would be my first step. But then, I am the guy people pay big bucks to have me come clean their floor and seal it.

 

[rsanter]

Install a pull down hose reel and electrical reel

With the install of the electrical reel I almost never grab an extension cord and never use a wall plug for a temporary plug in

 

[rburke65]

Have you considered a metal ceiling? Great light reflection and installs easily!

 

[Augus7us]

Here is another "lesson learned" piece of advice I'll offer. As others said do as much as you possibly can now, no matter what it is you want to do, doing it now versus anytime after you move your **** in will be magnitudes easier.

By doing it now I mean don't wire up your electric and think you'll do insulation later. I am doing that right now and it is such a pain in the *** I lose motivation half the time. Having to move stuff multiple times to do something simple like run electric for your lights is a nightmare. Its probably going to take me about four times as long to do everything than it should because I constantly have to move **** around.

What I'm getting at is if you need cash or time to do something. Wait, its better to take a month or two off to save or wait for buddies to help, or whatever, than it is to do some now and start using the shop then do some later. I can't stress this enough and if you look, there are several recent threads about folks in similar situations getting disheartened because of all the extra work. If you have no choice, it is what it is, but I thought that and in hindsight I would have been better of renting a pods or buying a shipping container than doing what I am now...

-Clint

 

[nadogail]

Enjoy your shop in good health.

 

[bugnut]

Osb/plwood floor atop the rafters and an aluminum pull down stair. Great place to store once a year needs.

 

[Adk Mike]

I used OSB in mine. About the same size building. I put the smooth side out with all the labels. Then I painted it with bin. Then gloss white. Sheetrock in my climate gets wet and is a mess. The OSB I use woodfiller if I pull a nail. It’s been 14 years. It could use a fresh coat of paint.

 

[egnorant]

Install a pull down hose reel and electrical reel

With the install of the electrical reel I almost never grab an extension cord and never use a wall plug for a temporary plug in

I was waiting for someone to mention ceiling mounted electric and air. Maybe a couple outlets on the outside too! Lights for the front pad for those nice evenings where you are outside working and have 20 minutes of sun left for an hour of work!

Bruce

 

[Handyfarmer]

Start planning for expansion of your workshop, because you will run out of room before you know. Then you will be saying, "woulda, coulda, shoulda"

that is what I was going to say,, add on, to at least double the size it is,


I would add out lets, I like 4x4 boxes, with double out lets, it seems to me that you want to plug in a number of things in one place, many will not be used, but the ones you do use will be full of cords, I would have 240 as well,

Insulate and cover the walls for cleaning and fire protections, if Peg board is to be used, put in spaces and put it over the wall covering,

 

[jetnow1]

When I built my 24 by 30 I put a quad outlet every 4 feet, with each one on a different circuit. I put them at 4 foot high so they are easy to reach, I also used the led lights from Costco with each bay on a different switch. I ran a dedicated circuit for the compressor, as well as 3 220 volt outlets for the welder etc. I also ran a couple of dedicated lines that
are now 110, but could be switched to 220 if needed. I also have a couple of lolly columns that support the second floor that I put outlets on, these are very handy.
I put the big box rustoleum stuff on the floor, should have spent the little more to upgrade to rustbullet. Still have to put in a minisplit. As stated many times do floor
first.

 

[Charlie51]

Very nice looking shop. I'm sure you'll do-up the inside in as attractive a manner as the outside.