Jakemedic
Well-known member
Hello! First, I would like to say I greatly appreciate the opinions of the group. I have been struggling with the location of my shop. I have an old pole barn that is 12x24 existing on the property, with dirt floor and could use some maintaining. I am building a woodworking shop on our 2.5 acre homestead. Either plan is a metal building with 10’ walls and 2’ overhang all the way around.
Originally, I was planning on putting it where the existing concrete is to the left of the house, but after shooting the location with a laser, it would have required 14k worth of fill to make sure I didn’t have a river running through the shop. So that wasn’t feasible, and I had to abandon that idea.
Plan A is to build a 24x32 on a foundation (the lot slopes badly) with stick built walls, a 4/12 pitch. That plan will cost me 30K to make happen. The positive of the location is it is close proximity to the house, making electric and natural gas a breeze. It would also allow for a half bathroom if I choose without much work. The foundation goes to the frost line (here in Iowa 4’) but will require a pump truck to do the concrete. The location is 20’ from the house, with easy access from the rear man door of the existing garage. I would need to take out an ash tree (but it needs to come out anyhow) and have access established to the shop.
Plan B involves removing the existing structure. Honestly, it isn’t much but reasonably dry for the mower and snowblower. I could have it done in about 2 days, saving the metal and posts for another project another day. This plan includes a 28x36 shop with poured 4” floor inside. That dried in would cost me 21K. The positives are it is bigger, with the site relatively flat so the dirt work cost is minimal. It has good access so a cement truck would be able to make it without the risk of getting stuck. No foundation needed. The negatives is power and natural gas. I would need 200’ of natural gas pipe buried and the same amount of electric cable buried. I have a phone call into the electric company to see what pulling a service from the pole would cost, and if that would make more sense to have a separate meter. There could not be a half bath there, but honestly, I could walk outside without much problem. It would mean that I would share the space with the zero turn, and anything else my bride decided to store in there. It would also involve a bigger HVAC system, as I plan on heating and cooling the space. Walking, this plan would be 150’ from the house. I could establish a drive to the shop eventually, but wouldn’t be on the top of my list.
I have thought about it and just keep going back and forth. My bride says “just make it happen” and she really doesn’t care either way. My question to the group is “am i missing something?” I recently retired after a long career being a paramedic and only get one shot at this. Thank you in advance for any suggestions or ideas that you may provide.
Originally, I was planning on putting it where the existing concrete is to the left of the house, but after shooting the location with a laser, it would have required 14k worth of fill to make sure I didn’t have a river running through the shop. So that wasn’t feasible, and I had to abandon that idea.
Plan A is to build a 24x32 on a foundation (the lot slopes badly) with stick built walls, a 4/12 pitch. That plan will cost me 30K to make happen. The positive of the location is it is close proximity to the house, making electric and natural gas a breeze. It would also allow for a half bathroom if I choose without much work. The foundation goes to the frost line (here in Iowa 4’) but will require a pump truck to do the concrete. The location is 20’ from the house, with easy access from the rear man door of the existing garage. I would need to take out an ash tree (but it needs to come out anyhow) and have access established to the shop.
Plan B involves removing the existing structure. Honestly, it isn’t much but reasonably dry for the mower and snowblower. I could have it done in about 2 days, saving the metal and posts for another project another day. This plan includes a 28x36 shop with poured 4” floor inside. That dried in would cost me 21K. The positives are it is bigger, with the site relatively flat so the dirt work cost is minimal. It has good access so a cement truck would be able to make it without the risk of getting stuck. No foundation needed. The negatives is power and natural gas. I would need 200’ of natural gas pipe buried and the same amount of electric cable buried. I have a phone call into the electric company to see what pulling a service from the pole would cost, and if that would make more sense to have a separate meter. There could not be a half bath there, but honestly, I could walk outside without much problem. It would mean that I would share the space with the zero turn, and anything else my bride decided to store in there. It would also involve a bigger HVAC system, as I plan on heating and cooling the space. Walking, this plan would be 150’ from the house. I could establish a drive to the shop eventually, but wouldn’t be on the top of my list.
I have thought about it and just keep going back and forth. My bride says “just make it happen” and she really doesn’t care either way. My question to the group is “am i missing something?” I recently retired after a long career being a paramedic and only get one shot at this. Thank you in advance for any suggestions or ideas that you may provide.
