Shop planning (with a floor plan...)

[Airmapper]

I'm about as clueless as you can get on building a shop, well, I know a few things but not much. I've come here to get some tips and guidance on what to think about and figure out.

The only thing I know to do is draw it up so at least I have something to go by when I say what I want when the time comes to estimate it. Figure out what I do want, and adapt it from there once I get details pinned down.

Here is my initial plan. This is not a finished plan by any means, just a first draft sketch of what I'm thinking I would like, and some of the areas I know will need more work.

I'm aware there are errors, missing things, and maybe some stuff that just won't work as drawn and needing to be adjusted, by all means still feel free to point them out, but I am aware it's not all put together in some ways, and construction is not my strong suit anyway. I would be very appreciative of your comments, questions, and suggestions on my plan. Things you would move, change, reconsider, etc..

And yes, it's probably too small.....

My general idea is to have a nice shop space, and a small living space. The lean to on the back is to keep vehicles dry and protected, and to use a shipping container as an outside wall to enclose part of the lean to and be storage for all my junk, as I don't want to have stuff in the shop unless it's being used. (Tools and equipment are fine, spare parts, materials, and unrelated gear not so much.)

I don't have a good grasp of what this will cost, or what construction method it will be, so as drawn it is probably in excess of what I can afford. I do think I may have to do it in phases, like the main building and lean to as my major expense, then later start making improvements, adding the interior living space/office and such.

Oh, this may help to mention I'm in a rural area with minimal hoops to jump through. I mean I have some of the typical ones for utilities and such, but nobody is going to have to approve of the size or appearance or anything. I don't exactly have any neighbors either.

Thanks for any thoughts and guidance. And please ask questions if you need more detail on why I think I need this or that or explain my intended uses.

 

[35mm]

A door from the shop area to the lean to would be nice. The walk from the shop to the container is a long one as you have it.

I would also want a door on the other side of the shop going outside. You don't want to have to walk through the living space to go from the outside to the shop.

 

[CraigStu]

Will the lean to roof be sealed somehow to the container?

 

[GMCGarage]

Dont do the shipping container, yea, saving a bit of money, but built it part of the building to match.

 

[Airmapper]

Will the lean to roof be sealed somehow to the container?

I wasn't planning on it. My idea was since I want a container as a general storage shed anyway, if I position it there it might knock down on rain blowing in under the lean to.

But the general arrangement of the lean to is kinda odd like I have it. I was thinking it might be unique but I'm not sure if I'll like the "tunnel" arrangement over the more typical pull in. Seems I could block myself in easy and have to play musical chairs to get anything out of it. On the other hand, I might get away with a smaller lean to.

The site I have in mind doesn't really favor pulling in from the back though, but I could possibly make it that way when the ground is leveled.

 

[astroracer]

Lots to discuss. I'll give you a list of things to think about.
1). Keep the OH doors at least 4' off the inside walls.
2). Keep at least 4' between the doors.
3). Downsize the "office" to 10' x 10'. There is a lot of wasted space in your plan.
4). If this is not going to be lived in you will not need a tub or shower. If you stay with a tub or shower keep all of the plumbing on the inside walls. (warmer).
5). Consider going with loft trusses for cheap storage space upstairs.
6). You will need a mechanical room for furnace/A/C and water heater. Also a good place to put the air compressor. (Under stairs if you put in a loft.)
7). Put the OH doors on the gable end to consolidate driveway.
8). Extra ingress/egress doors, as mentioned.
9). Plan the benches/work area so you don't have to walk all the way across the shop to access it.
10). Build 1 bench, solidly attached to a wall. Make a few roll-a-round work stations that will move where you need them.
Mark

 

[Airmapper]

Lots to discuss. I'll give you a list of things to think about.

Great list, that's exactly the kind of input I was hoping for. Thank you!

Already been moving stuff around on my plan to see what it looks like based on those. For all I know by the time I'm done it may be a completely different building, but I want it to be a well thought out design.

 

[LeeG]

Mark off where the walls, doors, and any permanent things will be with paint on the ground. Some plans looks great on paper, but are less amazing once you actually see it. Test some possible work flows. Much easier to move paint than it is walls.

 

[jimp]

You might want to check with Codes, locally we can not have living quarters in a shop (house with attached garage was ok, but separate shop with living quarters was not.)