New Shop - Layout Help

[jp_over]

Friends,

We're getting ready to build and I'd like to get some feedback on laying out / designing my shop. Here's a rough sketch of what I'm thinking.



Main purpose will be equipment / tool storage & a hobby wood shop.

I'm open to suggestions on size, power requirements and the like.

Thanks!

Joe

 

[Jackfre]

You leave off the height. I would suggest 10'. That height makes moving material easier. Also, I think the 20' dimension will be a bit restrictive. 24' or more makes the space a lot easier to work in. My place is 30x34 and I have almost everything on casters or mobil bases. I move things depending upon the work I am doing. Space requirements change by project. 800 sq ft seems like a lot but it is incredible how fast you can jam it up. I considered a bench to house my miter saw and have decided to get the Dewalt mobil base for that too. That saw needs to move to projects outside the shop so the collapsable base is best.

 

[jp_over]

Jackfre,

Thanks for the good suggestion about the height and square footage. I think you're right about going a bit larger. Of course, budget will dictate how much larger I can go.

I also appreciate the idea of having everything on casters - excellent info!

 

[Shadowdog500]

+1 on 20’ being too shallow if you want to get a car in there and have room to get around it.
Could you do 30’x40’? I rented a 30’x40’ shop years ago and it was a good size. Now I own a 53’x30’ and love it.

 

[jp_over]

Shadowdog500,

Good info about the dimensions. I'll see how much more it will cost to get a bit larger.

 

[L79Chevelle]

+2 on 20'being to shallow.

 

[ZRX61]

30x40 would be better.... 30x50 would be great

 

[matt_i]

I'd make any door an 8' height, or could be larger. The cheapest ones are going to be 7' height. Not sure if you have a ROPS to deal with.

I would make sure your shop has a subpanel, maybe 60-90A service and you can wire from there. Woodworking tools that run on 240vac start faster and seem to have more torque thru tough spots.

Depending on how much woodworking you do a dust collector would be a nice addition. Are you going to wall between the two sides? Any thoughts of HVAC?

 

[dcg9381]

Not sure what the budget is here, but going "out" usually scales in a linear fashion. Do you have the ability to go "up" - enough to get a 2nd floor or even close to that? Won't help with the vehicles, but gives lots of other options.

Do work on anything big? An LVL or large beam in the center of this space can give you lift options. Loading large tools into and out of a truck is a lot easier if you can hoist them out in the middle of your garage.

Conduit in the floor - both ways, north to south and east to west. At least 4 total, 1" dia min.

 

[jp_over]

ZRX61 - thanks for the +1 on sizing. Will definitely check out how much more a larger shop will cost.

matt_i - I'll likely have ROPS on some of the equipment. Good suggestion on the height, I haven't given that much thought.

Definitely going to have a separate electrical panel but still figuring out the amp load.

I'm not planning on having a wall but will check into the dust collection. Currently no plans for HVAC.

dcg9381 - no plans for a second story and I don't really work on anything bigger than wood projects and the (yet to be bought) tractor.

I like the idea of a large center beam & floor conduit - good stuff!

Thanks to all for the good advice!

Joe

 

[astroracer]

Like has been said, 30 x 40 would be more usable. A few things to think about:
Most "dimensions" will be to the outside of the structure. Your inside dimensions will be about a foot smaller.
Keep your OH doors at least 4' off the INSIDE wall.
Using a 32' residential truss gets you a 1' overhang on both sides.
Look into loft or attic trusses, that gets you a lot of space upstairs for cheap money.
Casters on everything is a must do. My shop is full of equipment and the only things not on casters are one bench and the mill.
Mark

 

[ket-tek]

I agree you will be immediately frustrated with only 20' of depth once you begin using it.

It is easy to spend other peoples money and just say make the garage bigger! And I agree you should.

But if 800sqft is roughly where you need to stay in budget then I'd highly recommend you consider to atleast go with 24' x 36'... You won't miss 4' off the long wall as much as you will miss NOT having any more than 20' of depth.

Cost would be the same, a 24' x 36' is a great sized space to work in, and it won't be nearly so cramped.

 

[Transcraft]

Height needs to 10’ on interior walls. Keeps you from hitting ceiling or lights with boards or plywood when doing projects. Also agree on 24’ deep. Everything on casters if possible. Look forward to seeing pictures when you get going

 

[bad_idea]

Put a garage door behind the table saw. When working in the shop in the heat you can open both garage doors and get a breeze through the building.

 

[Boneyard51]

In order to recommend a anything on a garage build. There is a need to know where you live and what you are planning to do in the garage. Are you a “ hoarder” or are you like my co-worker is. He has nothing in his garage but his car and his tool box! I on the other hand have everything in my garage!
I built a 40x70 garage with 14 ft cielings. Should have built a 50x100 with 18 ft ceilings. But that’s me, I work on a lot of stuff, or at least I did once! Lol

Some things I would do if I had it to do over, besides size, is plan out where things go in the shop and put them in before the concrete is poured. That is my grinder stand, heavy metal work bench, so that when I try to bust something loose in my vise the work bench won’t give and anything else in the shop that you want solid. Also I would install short pieces of chain with a plate welded to the bottom and have a few links sticking out at various spots on the perimeter of the shop. I would use these for straighting frames, making pulls, etc. Pour the concrete at a very slight slope for wash out.
Just things I would do, I know it’s not for everyone. Bones

 

[jp_over]

Thanks for all the good advice and feedback. It's been a while but we're just now getting ready to pour the slab.

Bones - I'm not a big keeper of things but do like a good bit of room to work which includes all the shop work for running a small hobby farm (small engine repair, basic maintenance of equipment, woodworking/building, a little welding, etc.).

This won't be a commercial shop but I'd like it to function well. I'll have to give some thought to where I'd like some poured in bolts - that's a real good idea.

Based on all the input here and from some friends, I'm going with 30'x51'x12'. Now I'm trying to figure out where to set up the doors for the best functionality.

Here's what I'm currently thinking might work well:

 

[Falcon67]

Multiple garage doors waste wall space. I can get two cars, even a truck and two cars into a 28' wide space with a single 16' wide door.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

+1 on only one garage door.

Also, what direction is the table saw? Would you roll it out when using it? I guess it's fine if the garage door's open, but I would want plenty of space for infeed/outfeed.

 

[Steveodle]

First build was 30x30x 8
2nd shop is 25x34x12 witha mezzanine 14x25.
No shop is big enough, but my current shop is nice.
10x10 all glass south facing door, 6 2x12 skylights
Inverter split ac/heat
1500lb. Hoist.
I made a mistake by putting my walk in door too close to the wall,(2ft.).
Also 10x12 solar heat collecter and 4 solar voltaic panels.
Don't forget a bathroom.

Sent from my SM-N950U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[nomadicbohunk]

My dad let me design the last building he put up on the ranch because I was around for a few years after grad school. We argued a lot about it. A lot.... It's more of a fun building and smaller equipment workshop than anything. 60x60.

He went with my design and loves it. I had two giant overhead doors put in on different sides not across from each other and so no one from the road can see in. So you can just open it all up, etc and leave it. He really likes it. I don't think it'd work well in town if that's where you live, but just an idea.

He also likes how he can kind of pull a little tractor through the whole thing. It's got like a thoroughfare off to the side. He now uses it for all his vehicle work, etc.

It would be like if you had one huge door where you've got the two for your utv and tractor and one more on the left "vertical" side. I hope that makes sense.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, if you make a scaled drawing of your shop and scaled cutouts of the contents you can stir them around with very little effort.

 

[jp_over]

Thanks for the additional feedback. I roughed up a quick scaled version to see where the doors would work well. I figure at least 2 large doors will let me get some air flow. I'm still working out all the equipment locations but this is the big stuff for now.

 

[astroracer]

Check out the Grizzly workshop planner. You can build it any size you like and there are canned equipment and vehicle models you can add to your layout.
https://www.grizzly.com/workshopplanner
I would do at least a 16' door on the front and a 10' in back. Keep the big one 6' off the inside wall as you have it and you will be good.
You will also want your workspaces to be closer to the man door. No sense walking thru the whole shop to get to a work bench. Put shelving and seldom used items on the back wall.
Mark