Playing with Sketchup, rate my build

[Vicinity]

So I'm going to be in the market for a house next year, and I'm planning on putting a modest shop out back so I don't have to use my friends' shops.

I made a 31' by 44' model, it'll have an upstairs apartment that I'll rent out. I've only modeled the downstairs right now. It's wide enough for 3 bays, but I don't think 3 is necessary. The office in the middle is about 10 by 15, and will be storage, workspace, bathroom and air compressor storage.

Anyway, here it is.

I've never used sketchup before, so it's a little rough, I'll fix it up some more and finalize it over the next few months. I want to be 100% before I even buy the land.

 

[red92s]

My first reaction is that you will need to find a very tolerant tenant. Living above someone's air compressor, power tools, and garage tools would get old in a hurry.

 

[Vicinity]

My first reaction is that you will need to find a very tolerant tenant. Living above someone's air compressor, power tools, and garage tools would get old in a hurry.

I don't typically work past 9 or 10 on a weeknight, and my friend's current shop is very well insulated. So much so that the compressor makes almost no noise upstairs. He's going to be doing some of the work on the building, I plan to make it pretty much the same as his shop with tweaks the way I want it (like the office and such).

 

[red92s]

I don't typically work past 9 or 10 on a weeknight, and my friend's current shop is very well insulated. So much so that the compressor makes almost no noise upstairs. He's going to be doing some of the work on the building, I plan to make it pretty much the same as his shop with tweaks the way I want it (like the office and such).

If you are going to be a landlord, you want to have the best pool of renters available to you. Living above a working garage probably cuts your number of prospective renters in half (probably more) before they even see the place. Finding good renters is never easy; it'll be that much tougher with a "unique" space such as this.

 

[Vicinity]

If you are going to be a landlord, you want to have the best pool of renters available to you. Living above a working garage probably cuts your number of prospective renters in half (probably more) before they even see the place. Finding good renters is never easy; it'll be that much tougher with a "unique" space such as this.

Yeah, I understand that, but as I said, my friend does it quite successfully.

And I'll probably end up renting it out to my Dad anyway.

If I don't rent it out, it'll be a hangout/theater room.

 

[larry_g]

I question why the 'office' in the middle of the shop. Works for a boss and two mechanics but I would not do that in a one man shop. You will find that what you need is always on the other side of the shop and you have to run around the office to get whatever. The wood stove is far away from the door so you'll be hauling wood all the way to the back of the shop while the office will be cold. If you plan to rent the upper then you will want a separate entrance to that space, not have to go through the shop. I can't tell whether you’re a mechanic or a wood butcher but I find the two don't mix in one shop. You can do it but sawdust in the car side and oil and grease on the wood don't make for happy craftsmen.

Your drawing looks good just think about work flow and people flow. Also consider standard 2' or 4' divisions when sizing a structure. A 32' building takes virtually the same amount of materials. Makes assembly easier when using standard multiples of construction materials.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Vicinity]

I question why the 'office' in the middle of the shop. Works for a boss and two mechanics but I would not do that in a one man shop. You will find that what you need is always on the other side of the shop and you have to run around the office to get whatever. The wood stove is far away from the door so you'll be hauling wood all the way to the back of the shop while the office will be cold. If you plan to rent the upper then you will want a separate entrance to that space, not have to go through the shop. I can't tell whether you’re a mechanic or a wood butcher but I find the two don't mix in one shop. You can do it but sawdust in the car side and oil and grease on the wood don't make for happy craftsmen.

Your drawing looks good just think about work flow and people flow. Also consider standard 2' or 4' divisions when sizing a structure. A 32' building takes virtually the same amount of materials. Makes assembly easier when using standard multiples of construction materials.

lg
no neat sig line

If you're referring to the thing over on the left back corner, that's just a generic image for a "work bench".

 

[clutch93]

I agree with some of the guys here, the office in the middle seems like a pain to move around and also breaks up the work area. You will be running back and forth to each side of the shop for stuff.
At 31 or 32 depth, you could easily have a full work bench along the back wall and even put in a small storage room/office in the back corner. I would put the two work bays together and put the man door on the left hand side instead of the middle. I wouldn't want to have to walk through the office to get to the shop. If you set it up this way, you can have an entrance to the shop that is more open and appealing then walking into a noisy office with an air compressor in it. just my .02

 

[Nighttrain]

3rd with the office not in the middle. Towards the front and on one side. You will have much more room for bigger projects.

 

[Vicinity]

I was thinking of adding a door on the side but you have a good point, I'll remove the office and just make a bathroom/storage room.

 

[jam0o0]

just play devil's advocate. it's nice to have a divided work space some times. lets say you need to do some grinding on a truck or gate or something. this need is gunna come up wile you are changing out some part on a car that you want to keep clean. keeping grinder dust off the nice car is gunna be easier if it's 10 feet away than it would be if it were right next to the grinder.

put your tool box as close to the area where you will use the tools the most as possible. ie the lift.

 

[787B]

Speaking as a lifetime renter (20+ years), the quality of your renter is directly proportional to the rent they pay. Charge toward the top of the range of what your area will tolerate, and make it worth while with a nice place to rent and maybe a perk like periodic (supervised) access to the lift for oil changes or a small garage of their own, say, and you'll usually get a good tenant. Do a real credit check and thoroughly vet their references too.

I'm a landlord's dream tenant, but the only way I'd rent from you is if the shop was included in the rent.

 

[Vicinity]

Speaking as a lifetime renter (20+ years), the quality of your renter is directly proportional to the rent they pay. Charge toward the top of the range of what your area will tolerate, and make it worth while with a nice place to rent and maybe a perk like periodic (supervised) access to the lift for oil changes or a small garage of their own, say, and you'll usually get a good tenant. Do a real credit check and thoroughly vet their references too.

I'm a landlord's dream tenant, but the only way I'd rent from you is if the shop was included in the rent.

I'd say I know 90% of the people around where I plan to buy and build, I'll probably allow them to use the bay not in use. I'll definitely give them storage space. And like the said, the upstairs will be well insulated from the noise, it'll be just like a regular apartment (in the sense that it wouldn't be connected to a shop).

Made some updates.

 

[LWW]

I'll probably allow them to use the bay not in use. I'll definitely give them storage space.

Just to let you know; 1. "the bay not in use" will only last about as long as it takes to actually finish the construction on the shop.

2. "I'll definitely give them storage space." is probably a bad idea... If they're anything like me or anyone I know, you'll be storing their entire life history and leave little space for your needs.

I'm just sayin'...

Otherwise, it looks great. One word of advice, go as big as you can possibly afford and will fit on your property. If you're a serious hobbiest, you won't regret it.

Cheers!

 

[Vicinity]

Just to let you know; 1. "the bay not in use" will only last about as long as it takes to actually finish the construction on the shop.

2. "I'll definitely give them storage space." is probably a bad idea... If they're anything like me or anyone I know, you'll be storing their entire life history and leave little space for your needs.

I'm just sayin'...

Otherwise, it looks great. One word of advice, go as big as you can possibly afford and will fit on your property. If you're a serious hobbiest, you won't regret it.

Cheers!

I would build a 80 x 120, but I don't know how much longer I'll stay here, and I don't know if I'll be able to get my money back when I sell something like that.

 

[Zeke]

Consider a bump out for the office and bath. Maybe even the compressor. It will add some architectural interest. I'd always go with 3 doors on a 3 bay wide building.

 

[texasguy]

Looks nice. Was there a reason you decided on 31 x 44? A suggestion would be to evaluate if 31 x 44 makes sense from a materials perspective. you could probably go 32 x 48 with minimal extra expense due to more efficient use of materials.

Other - you may want to consider your personnel doors being on opposite ends of building to give easier access to other side(s) of the building w/o doing the "walkaround". In retrospect, I wish I had put one on the other end of my 60' length as I catch myself from time to time walking the length of my building inside just to walk the length of it again on the outside.

*edit - after reading the other posts, I see larryG already comment on standard sizing/material use.

 

[Vicinity]

Looks nice. Was there a reason you decided on 31 x 44? A suggestion would be to evaluate if 31 x 44 makes sense from a materials perspective. you could probably go 32 x 48 with minimal extra expense due to more efficient use of materials.

Other - you may want to consider your personnel doors being on opposite ends of building to give easier access to other side(s) of the building w/o doing the "walkaround". In retrospect, I wish I had put one on the other end of my 60' length as I catch myself from time to time walking the length of my building inside just to walk the length of it again on the outside.

*edit - after reading the other posts, I see larryG already comment on standard sizing/material use.

Honestly, I just drew a square and kept expanding it until I was happy, it ended up as 31x44. As for the doors, you mean like one on the front left and one on the rear right?

That bump out idea is interesting, I may have to play with that and see what I can do.

 

[clutch93]

I like the new version of your sketchup a lot more, gives you more room to work and still a little breathing room in between the two car bays. Also agree with the bump out thing. If it doesn't significantly raise the price of the build it would free up some more room inside the shop, plus you would probably be able to fully insulate a bump out for the compressor and basically never hear it. Looking good!

 

[texasguy]

Honestly, I just drew a square and kept expanding it until I was happy, it ended up as 31x44. As for the doors, you mean like one on the front left and one on the rear right?

That bump out idea is interesting, I may have to play with that and see what I can do.

When you do your materials costing, you can see if it makes sense to standardize on a dimension(s) divisible by 4 or 8. - it usually is.

Yes, doors at opposite ends may save you time over the long haul......but only if there are reasons you may want to enter or exit from that part of the shop and if it fits into your layout.

 

[Vicinity]

Now a 32x48 with a 4x16 bumpout. The extra space gave more than enough room for a third bay and I relocated the doors.

 

[clutch93]

OOOHHH. me likey!

 

[texasguy]

This is how it works - the more you mess with it, the bigger it gets.

Looks good.

 

[787B]

Now yer talkin! Tables seem a bit close to the (I assume) wood stove?

Two random ideas, just spit-balling:

Is there any advantage to making two of the rollups into one wide one? Seems there might be benefit to having one wide door. Might be irrelevant if the single doors are big.

Thought about rotating the building 90°? That would put two rollups on the end and effectively make it 2.5 cars deep. Then you could have the third rollup door on the "side".

 

[texasguy]

Question on your doors. Do they have to open out? I prefer opening in although I know some people are limited by code and some by preference. Also, I would hinge them on the other side than shown.

 

[Vicinity]

Now yer talkin! Tables seem a bit close to the (I assume) wood stove?

Two random ideas, just spit-balling:

Is there any advantage to making two of the rollups into one wide one? Seems there might be benefit to having one wide door. Might be irrelevant if the single doors are big.

Thought about rotating the building 90°? That would put two rollups on the end and effectively make it 2.5 cars deep. Then you could have the third rollup door on the "side".

The way I was configuring it was in case I ended up getting a small or "narrow" lot, I can have the garage "sideways" behind the house.

But I can try and make another copy and do some moving around to see what it would look like.

Those doors are stock renderings. I want tall doors that are about 10 foot wide.

 

[Vicinity]

Question on your doors. Do they have to open out? I prefer opening in although I know some people are limited by code and some by preference. Also, I would hinge them on the other side than shown.

Ah, I totally missed that, I was just tinkering. I want the hinges on the inside. Thanks.

 

[787B]

Those doors are stock renderings. I want tall doors that are about 10 foot wide.

That'll do! I think sketchup will let you pick an object and let you modify the properties, so you can make those doors the size you are thinking about.

 

[steel 35]

As I now use bifocals, (Too much Welding) 10' doors are very small while backing large trailers in, and don't know the climate your in but I would rather heat the office to do the projects I usually do then the hole shop through the winter.

 

[787B]

For cordoning off a smaller area without necessarily limiting use of a bigger space, I've thought about using those fan-fold dividers like they use in ballrooms and convention centers. Or enclose one of the bays and have an internal roll-up door like dougmac did.

 

[Nighttrain]

On your first plan you had an office. Don't give up that idea if thats what you want. I needed an office and used a lot of floor space in my build for it. You can always use space above for storage which we all need.

If you need all three bays for car work than go for it but if you see yourself needing a office/workspace/getta way from the family space in the garage than plan it. Just throw it into one of the corners to allow you the most garage floor work areas.

 

[Jure]

This is how it works - the more you mess with it, the bigger it gets.

Looks good.

agreed!

 

[larry_g]

I would have you list a dream for this shop. In 5 or 10 years what do you see yourself doing in there. Those kind of things dictitate what the inside of your shop /garage will look like. Be real here and honest with yourself. What each member of this forum suggests is a reflection of what they do, or desire to do, and the skills they have to do it. For me I have some machining capabilities but I am no way a machinest. I weld some but no way am I a weldor. I hate to paint and don't do body work so for me no need to allow for that activity. I do a bit of wood work so I have to allow for that.

So in reality what do you do in YOUR shop that would affect the answers the forum members are giving. We can only suggest what works for us, our skills and our working style.

Oh by the way I would put the wood stove on the floor

lg
no neat sig line

 

[KeyserSoze]

What are your plans for the stairs for the apartment? If they're enclosed, you might want to consider putting stuff underneath them like the compressor, water heater, or just shelves.

If they aren't enclosed, you might still consider using the space underneath (externally accessible) for lawnmowers or other **** you don't want in the main garage, or else as a storage space for the tenant (since you mentioned you'd give them storage space).

 

[Vicinity]

What are your plans for the stairs for the apartment? If they're enclosed, you might want to consider putting stuff underneath them like the compressor, water heater, or just shelves.

If they aren't enclosed, you might still consider using the space underneath (externally accessible) for lawnmowers or other **** you don't want in the main garage, or else as a storage space for the tenant (since you mentioned you'd give them storage space).

That's a good idea, I can close them off and offer it as storage.

Now I need to work on the upstairs model.

 

[Vicinity]

Want to throw this idea out there. I found a really good piece of land (near my friend, actually), and it's a crappy house, basically a lot with a building on it. I can get it relatively cheap, and I could build my planned building, and continue with the renter idea, but cut the downstairs in half, and just use it as a living space, no noisy compressor, no lift, so above would essentially be just an apartment, not one over a shop. Right now, I'm only working part time, but I'm looking into fulltime employment, and I have a job lined up in the future.

My plans really wouldn't change much, I'd just need an extra water/drain added in for a shower and kitchen sink on the lower level.

I could afford the monthly payments on my own, but the renters would help me pay for the building and in time, pay off the land mortgage.

Is there any argument against this? I won't have any trouble FINDING renters, as there are a TON in this area, so I just need to find the "right ones".

Oh, I need to add, getting the building up wouldn't be any problem, I can everything done without a labor charge, on an almost at cost level.

EDIT2: Here's what I'm thinking...

I'm working on the upstairs now. I've shrank it back down to 32x44.