Planning stages - Input welcome

[Chris4x4Gill2]

Back earlier this year, my property got hit by an F2 tornado. We had only minor damage to the house, but my lovely wooded lot is now almost a clearcut.

The good side - plenty of room for a garage build.

What I "want" is a decent size shop for auto projects and maybe a small office space area for electrical / hobby / bullet press, etc. Main auto project is a long wheel base 72 c10. I also have a lifted 4x4 and a ski boat with tower so that will factor into the door and ceiling height. I want a lean to for parking my tow rig pickup under.

So based on the above, I am envisioning around 28x32 enclosed with a lean to running down the long side. 12 ft height? Single overhead door on the 28ft side with a man door 90 degrees to the OHD, I am thinking both the mandoor and the lean too would be on the side away from the street as that would put it closest to the house. Windows I am undecided, light and breeze would be good, but I am worried about them being a security liability.

Construction wise, I am thinking pole barn style with concrete floor in the enclosed, gravel under the lean too. I would like to do it around $20K for the basic shell and floor + basic electrical.

the property slopes away from the house towards the property line and would need some dirtwork. I'm just unsure if I need to get a level spot done first, or if I need to finalize building dimensions first or do both at the same time? All I have done so far is clear the fallen trees and I ground the stumps to 6-8" below the surface last week.

I know everyone wants pictures.... I'm working on it. Should be up soon.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

Here is the spot aftergrinding he stumps. Property line is about where the tall weeds start.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Do NOT put concrete over ground down stumps. They will eventually rot and the concrete will fail.

 

[matt_i]

Agree with the Wizard. When i lived in Atlanta I had sinkholes in my backyard where they had sliced off trees and not dug out the stumps. When the wood started to rot, I and my pups started falling in here and there. It was fixable in a backyard but will not be easily fixable under a concrete slab. Time for a mini-hoe and a jumping jack to dig out and repack the base.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

I had that worry. I am planning to dig out as much as possible and refill. I've got tons of spots in the other parts of the yard the mulch can be used. And most of those "should" not be under the slab if it goes where I am envisioning it.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

Here is what I plan to do layout wise. If it's positioned approximately like this, the shop slab would have 1 or two stump holes under it that would have to be back filled.
The existing drive (green) is mostly dirt with some gravel. Used mainly for my truck and trailer as a turn around or to park on right now.

 

[dave89iroc]

go bigger

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

go bigger

Always the best advice for sure.

 

[Ironcrow]

At least enclose the lean to turning it into a bigger garage. The incremental cost will not be that great. Consider stick frame. By the time you finish out the pole barn, it might not pencil cheaper than a stick built.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

I am hoping to get estimates of various construction methods. I've been looking at the pre-fab style metal buildings and pole barn mainly. I haven't really considered stick built as being within my budget, but I will definitely price it out.

I didn't intend to enclose the lean to at first, but it may happen down the road. initially, the plan for that area would just be for parking to get my truck out of the weather.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

I spoke with the building inspector today. I am in the county but in the towns police jurisdiction so they require permits/inspection but I do not have to abide by their zoning regulations. Means I do not have a setback requirement from the property line. Now that I know that I can start measuring and figuring out what size or sizes will work best for my layout

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

Here is an example of the look I am leaning towards.





For size i want to go 32 ft deep, still in the air on width though. Need to get prices and weigh the options but i hope to be around 28 -32 wide on the enclosed portion and 14 -16 ft wide with the lean to. I think 14 will be enough, but is there any economy in going to 16? Only issue I can think of would be roof height on the low end potentially.

The top picture is very close to what I am picturing with the center door and man door on side under the lean too. Lean too would be on back side away from the road and garage door facing the house/ driveway. I like the window above the door for added light and the way it breaks up that wall. I also like the cupola look. Would also be added ventilation down here in the south im thinking.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

The wife wants to add a "bonus room" setup in here. I think that is going to bust my budget, even if it is not finished out right now. But, I promised I would look into it. Has anyone attempted a second story in a pole barn build? Could it be added later relatively easy, or would it need to be done at initial construction? Any insight into what differences in construction method I would have to consider to do that?

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

Quick update to this. I have decided on 32x30x12 enclosed with a 16ft lean to. Single 16x10 door on 30ft gable end, with man door under the lean to.

The enclosed portion will have concrete slab with vapor barrier. Pole barn construction, insulated.

I have the builder lined up, but I still have to get someone out to prep the ground.

I asked the builder about insulation under the slab and he said he had never done that before for a shop, but had for a home using in floor heating.
So looking for advice on that - Do I "need" to insulate under the slab? I'm in North Alabama so temperatures are typically mild in the winter (below freezing temps in winter rarely last more than 3 consecutive days) but hot in the summer. I will likely have a gas heater in the shop when I'm out there in cold weather, open doors / fans in summer.

 

[Kaizen]

Quick update to this. I have decided on 32x30x12 enclosed with a 16ft lean to. Single 16x10 door on 30ft gable end, with man door under the lean to.

The enclosed portion will have concrete slab with vapor barrier. Pole barn construction, insulated.

I have the builder lined up, but I still have to get someone out to prep the ground.

I asked the builder about insulation under the slab and he said he had never done that before for a shop, but had for a home using in floor heating.
So looking for advice on that - Do I "need" to insulate under the slab? I'm in North Alabama so temperatures are typically mild in the winter (below freezing temps in winter rarely last more than 3 consecutive days) but hot in the summer. I will likely have a gas heater in the shop when I'm out there in cold weather, open doors / fans in summer.

no. imo the only reason to spend money on insulation is if you are putting down in floor heat. at 30 bucks a sheet it adds up fast. plus you'd have to do the pour in 2 different sections so the outside was separate. pack the hell out of the fill you bring in. get out all the loam. use rebar and fiber. this is what I did in NH. on a budget build the pex and insulation are a big cost. would rather just put in a lift for the same amount of money.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

That confirms the other info I am getting on the insulation so that is one more detail settled.

Dozer is arriving on site today. They will start work in the morning to prep the spot.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

I started a Gallery thread to document progress. I'll keep this thread going as I ask questions to keep them out of the gallery thread.

30x32 Shop with Lean-to