Too Much Shop?

[bczygan]

This is a serious question, which will get a lot of funny answers.

But I really want to knoiw.

Did any of you build a shop or garage, and later feel a letdown?

Did you find the reality wasn't as good as the dream?

Did you find the process was more fun than the end result?

And does your project sit mostly unused?

Any shop or garage is a big investment in time and money, not just to create it, but also to maintain it.

Any regret out there? Any buyers remorse?

Bill

 

[toolslut6.0]

My old man put up a 50 by 60 Lester building with a 25 foot door and 14 foot ceiling height. Now we have a newer combine and larger bean platform fo the combine has to have to extension folded down and the header has to be on a header cart. He just added on 40 foot of length to the shop so now it is 50 by 100. It is way better than working outside and it is great for tractors but I will never build a shop with anything less than 18ft ceilings and a 35ft wide power fold door.

 

[pgilmore7]

While I'm happy with the 30x60 shop in the back yard, I find that work and every day life keep me from working in it more than I thought it would. The building also has its maintenance and issues that pop up but that was to be expected. Over all I'm glad I have it and as of right now its an ongoing project, while the build is complete it still needs the finishing touches.

 

[Cyberbear]

I've out grown every shop I've owned or built. My present 30' x 80' shop is my last and I will be here to the end. Bigger is always better, not the other way around.

 

[Responder]

32 X 42 with 10.5' ceilings. Nice three car with heat and plumbed for floor heat as well. Even installed an urnal!! Sad part, as pgilmore7 mentioned above, life seems to be busier than ever and I have less time to go and spend time in the garage.

OR, maybe that is what I am using as an excuse. Maybe it's time I get off my **** and go and do **** out there, FOR ME!!

Interested what people have to say on the topic.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Depends on what a person uses it for I would say....
As a senior now, my only input is that a person should take in to account how aging.... will affect utilizing a large shop. It could end up just being a catch all for the family and friends. The passed years I have went from 3 buildings to work/hobby in, down to my present single car garage. I go in to it now, just to get the car once a week and nick knack around in maybe twice a week. JMO

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Not me, but my in-laws have a towering Borga building on their property that I believe is 40x60. 90% of the time they've had it, they likely would have been better served by a 30x30. It's just a big empty box. I don't understand why they felt the need to build that when they have two three car garages, one of which is 40 foot deep. All that, and they keep seven vehicles and his road grader outdoors. That's over $200k in vehicles stored outdoors and the 40x60 holds mostly **** that they are storing for relatives. Weird priorities if you ask me. I don't think they'd admit it, but it sounds to me like an unsatisfactory purchase.

 

[dcmus]

Several years ago a business consultant said "I think you like a project and once you make it work you're ready to move to something else".She was correct and that little insight has given me pause over the years and saved me some money as well

 

[finn]

I have a garage and two shops, along with three drivers, a couple of collector drivers and and eight or so project cars.

I spend ten times as much time working on the shops than I spend working on the project cars that I acquired the shops for.

The days are too short.

 

[Showkey]

I will say I know several guys where the shop is more of a trophy...........so...........little or no work is done after they built the best of the best shop. Things like a 10,000 lift and a vehicle has never been on the lift. A TIG that has never "TIGGED or press that never "PRESSED".

There is also the opposite where the work ( on vehicles) is never done. They complete a huge project or upgrade.......drive it around the block..........and start on the next upgrade or project. Working is more fun than driving it. I will say I have fallen into the latter with a few vehicles.

 

[My Old Tools]

I built 30x40. That was a nice size for a wood shop with pro tools, but now I have added metal lathes, a mill, a welder, and a 1951 Ford F1. I need a bigger shop, or a second shop for metal and mechanics. It won't happen as long as we stay here, but after I retire....Of course then I'll probably add a boat to the mix.

 

[DonPowers]

Did any of you build a shop or garage, and later feel a letdown?

Not yet, still pecking away at building. Started earthwork in 2009, closed in 2012 and currently working on insulation and finishing second floor. still lots to do on first floor. Both first wife and current wife wanted house ready to move in so this satisfies my need to build itch.

Did you find the reality wasn't as good as the dream?

My original plan was 32 x 60 and ended up with a 32 x 48. Will have to build a 30 x 12 lean to for storage to free up space for projects.

Did you find the process was more fun than the end result?

Yes, as someone in a previous post correctly pointed out that my garage is my hobby. At least for now, as there are a lot of projects waiting to be worked on.

And does your project sit mostly unused?

No, I spend most of my time in the garage.

Any shop or garage is a big investment in time and money, not just to create it, but also to maintain it.
Any regret out there? Any buyers remorse?

Only that I should have made it bigger up front. No big deal though as I won't have to undo anything to build the lean to. The issue was identified before installing siding on that end of the building.

 

[Thumper68]

Yes, as someone in a previous post correctly pointed out that my garage is my hobby.
.

This is the same for me, I don't know if it is the same though. Improving the shop, adding tools and equipment, better storage and improving work flow is very enjoyable.

Like others have said I wish I had made it bigger when I built it 10 years ago, but the need to pay cash for it dictated the size at that time.

In the next few years we, oldest son and I really want to add a new section to move the wood working into. When I built I designed for it.

 

[Jon_E]

Several years ago a business consultant said "I think you like a project and once you make it work you're ready to move to something else".She was correct and that little insight has given me pause over the years and saved me some money as well

That hit the nail on the head. I wanted my garage to be a project in itself, so I'm finishing the dried-in shell and expect to take the next 10-15 years to "finish it" inside and out. Once that's done I can retire and work on projects in the garage, and not worry about the garage anymore.

 

[James-W]

I use my garage/workshop quite a lot and besides that, I need a place to put all my tools and equipment. When I need to work on something having a place to do it in is something that I can't really put a price tag on.

But beyond all that, even if I didn't use the garage/workshop much at all, it doesn't really matter because the money it cost isn't gone. It's not like I gambled the money away at the casino and it is gone forever. If and when the wife and I sell the place we will most likely get the money back, and probably with interest. So really, I don't see an issue with building a nice garage/workshop and not using it all that much.

 

[sberry]

Mine is for business, for a hobby type or maybe simpler business would be half the size and a bit more comfy, reduce the walking a bit. I have been in a lot of buildings, most are quickly too small and the concept of a 30x40 is about like putting the door in the center because its the center.
There are cost issues. may of the same fixed cost for a 30x40 as a 40 x50 and the workable difference is huge especially if you want some features.
A couple of 12 ft doors will fit in the gable end of a 40 ftr and in some cases a building of this size needs a single overhead door depending on size and layout.
In the winter I use mostly a single big door and the walk door.

 

[sberry]

The only thing I don't have some is machine tools and a lot is to do with the nature of repairs and parts that didn't exist back in the day. That and I got buds with the stuff mostly unused. I mentioned this to another biz bud saying, I hate to fuk with the tuning I have now by adding more and more distraction in some cases.
My neighbor has a wood working shop too so anything past a table or circ saw and sawzall goes down there.
If a 30x40 is doored from the eves or trusses turned and entered from 30 side it helps with usable storage some but really ***** in inclimate weather. A 24x24 is a one car garage and even 30 wide is cramped along the walls before any benches or boxes etc with 2 cars side by side being worked on.
That's before you store anything but if a house is cramped some relief space can be had for as cheap as it can get in a garage. I will agree it will be a let down if it fills with junk. I had a couple projects want to park themselves and I really had to finally decide if I want this broke tractor parked in front of my welding bench forever where the real estate is most valued?

 

[sberry]

If a guy is maintaining his own cars, fixing the mower, upkeeping the property a garage shop is well worth it. If its stacked full of boxes its a liability. If its keeping you out of trouble elsewhere its worth it. I would seriously evaluate what it took to keep my world around me running and go from there. When I worked out of town, lived in a burb and had 1 car I could keep it all in the trunk and strap a ladder on top if I needed to.
I can see a guy wanting a decent air comp and a small welder. These are very empowering tools, while a Bridgeport is cool and good for the right crowd its way down on my self sufficiency list.
There is a line of collateral accessories and mess to go with it. I was in a shop the other day was beautiful in some sense but was virtually plugged with machine tools and half done large projects that choked it from being useful for routine service work. 10K sq ft and changing oil in the rain in the driveway cause there are piles of half done steel parts everywhere.
It needed a remodel bad.

 

[sberry]

My shop is big and it doesnt look like much is going on. Put a couple guys in a 30x40 with the same tools and it would look busy and my goal every day is to empty it of as much as I can so its ready for either the next crisis or to PM easy as can be and on time as human ambition will allow.
As easy to clean, easy to move, can be pushed out of the way as needed.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Too much shop...

Unpossible...

I grew up with grass, gravel, and mud and no cover as my "shop". Finally got a concrete pad...that was heaven sent.

But I lust after a huge shop with plenty of room.

 

[jimgood]

I can imagine a shop getting too big. My current shop is only about 1000 sq feet and I feel cramped for space. But it's a lot to keep tidy. I don't need it immaculate but I don't like clutter and dirt collecting and it takes effort to keep that at bay.

Though, maybe with a larger space, I'd divide it up and separate dirty spaces from "clean" spaces. I don't know.

 

[PelicanPines]

I consider myself good at tetris... i put wheels on things that can move... BUT, my garage has to puke a little when i need to use my table saw or chop saw. I planned it well... it looked good on paper but too many "things" were too nice to pass up or retire.

 

[Kevin54]

I have a pretty large place now @ 2184 sq. ft., and I wish I could have made my bumpout a little larger (7x24 now) It's just not quite large enough. I hated to spend the money at the time, but glad I did. For what it's worth though, I'd do it again. I'm just waiting on my drywall guy to get things finished, so I can enjoy it a little more. So in a nutshell....No regrets.

 

[sberry]

I have been shopless too. Its hard to get your head above it sometimes. A lot has to do with the job. If I was out working 50 or 60 hrs a week at a good job it wouldn't be practical. I would have the oil dumped 2x a year at a station and jack up what I needed to in a crisis with mostly simple hand tools. Sometimes its simply faster and easier to diy as well as big money. We went after 1 problem the other day and find 4 major issues in the same engine. We can control the work, we still miss one once in a while.
Some of it could have been prevented and in a different clime wouldn't been such an issue but a guy in the city simply doesn't need the headache.
A half way decent car that has modest use and issues addressed as they come can go a long time with very little work and a lot of it they do need is simple replacement. So many parts like the quick strut can now be changed with 3 wrenches and a small floor jack. Rack steering has a single outer tie rod end and even in old clunker can buy new economy replacements for 15$ or less.
I never go to the pik and pull for stuff, I price new for stuff and often surprised and lately some new has wend down again. Remans also.

 

[sberry]

I can imagine a shop getting too big. My current shop is only about 1000 sq feet and I feel cramped for space. But it's a lot to keep tidy. I don't need it immaculate but I don't like clutter and dirt collecting and it takes effort to keep that at bay.

Though, maybe with a larger space, I'd divide it up and separate dirty spaces from "clean" spaces. I don't know.

Until one gets a lot of space there really isn't room to divide it up. Even in my shop the object isn't to make as much mess as I can but to contain it or remove it outside or elsewhere.
In milder climates the crucial seasons are shorter and with small garage wouldn't be shy of standing outside when it was practical to grind, wire wheel a bit etc. Open the door and stand outside for a little welding work.
1000 sq ft isn't the worst scenario, enuf room to keep a car and a few tools out of the weather and fix a breakdown which may entail heat and drain and act as car storage in **** weather

 

[Hybridss]

I find it odd even contemplating this question. Not because it is an odd question...its odd because of my perspective. Most of us here built a shop out of necessity for the things we like to do and have a passion for.

If the shop is being built because you have a passion and necessity to do work in it...you'll almost always be fine. The shop its self is secondary and simply a means to an end in this case.

If you simply have a burning passion to have a shop...well that could lead to wasted spending and regret.

I once configured a second living room into a play room with pool table and dart board etc. I did it not because I was an avid pool player and dart player...I did it because I thought it would be cool to have and it might generate "activity". After about a year of non use I gave all the equipment away to whoever would come take it and reconfigured it for "normal" use. Lesson learned.

My 24x 24 garage and 24 x 32 shop on the other hand is strewn with on going projects that change from day to day. Welding, art, antique and vintage refurbishment, small engine repair, lawn and garden, general automotive, property Mx and on and on. I could easily use three times the space I have...all out of necessity.

My advice would be...if you dont have projects or needs for a large shop now...its unlikely you will acquire that need just by building one.

 

[86turbodsl]

This is starting to sound like a lessons learned thread. Ok, i'll throw some thoughts in:

1. I found my plan had to change over the years as my needs changed.
2. You can never build big enough. I started with 40x64 and now adding 20x64 to it.
3. Determine your needs right up front and add 50%
4. If you're a DIY type you really need to determine your capabilities. I am, but i also didn't have the cash to get it done all right away, so i have had some missteps.
5. There does seem to be a balance point between too large, cash to complete, and a few other factors. There's probably an equation in there somewhere.
6. How much energy do you have? You'll need a lot.
7. The pain is worth it when you start to pull off jobs that save money you would have spent, and you can show a return on your investment to those who matter to you. I'm almost there after 15 years. I've had to toot my own horn a bit because my wife doesn't really pay attention too much, but we're getting there.

 

[rburke65]

The only thing I can say is that I should have built in 20 to 30 years ago and not wait until I retired. 32'x 56'x 13' ......should have been bigger.

 

[ilovevocs]

I went from a 50 x 60, to a 32 x 24, to a 24 x 24. The 50x60 was just right. Had a fab room, a machine room, pain prep area, and a paint booth. The rest was used for assembly, maintenance and storage.

I personally feel that a 50x60 is large enough to make me happy and has sufficient storage for the toys I want to own. At one point I had so many vehicles, trailers and other toys they wouldn't all fit in the 50x60. I stored allot outside. At some juncture i felt a pole barn with gravel floor would be nice to keep my depreciable investments from depreciating at an accelerated rate. However, i now choose to own less "stuff", more tools, and spend more time building than maintaining things I don't use.

For me a Saturday night is about having a few drinks and burning some metal. Like someone had previously mentioned I enjoy the build more than I do owning the final product.

 

[Nermal43]

At 11x24 currently, I sure intend to find out some day.

 

[sberry]

My world is tailored to keep as few things as possible from stopping me from doing what I want. Sometimes its easier to do the work than prep for every occasion so as much as we can is designed like a vise grip or adjustable wrench.

 

[countryroad82]

I have a 30X50 pole barn. Wish I had done at least another 10' wider and longer. I also wish I had turned the shop sideways to where I would have 3 bay doors instead of just one on the end. Let down by my shop? No. I built it to work in and have a place to hide/hangout when there's no work to be done (very rare I might add). But my place was never intended to be a showpiece either so most of the time it gets cleaned up just enough to roll the next vehicle in so I can fix it. I really need to take a weekend with some extra help and just clean the place out top to bottom. Get all the clutter out and gain some space back because right now I do well to work on 1 vehicle.

Before I used to be able to comfortably work on 4 at a time which was great for production. I could have 1 car that needed metal work so while I was waiting on body filler to dry on one I would go to it and beat out dents, while at the same time I might have another that needed put together. I could jump back and forth between vehicles and it kept me busy. I would like to get myself set back up to where I can work on my own project cars as I'm working on a customers again so I might at least be able to unload the one I don't care about and fix my first love!!

But too much shop? Not possible for this cat!!!

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Well, it took me years to build my shop in phases. And it became an end in itself, and a distraction from the things I really wanted it for. And I neglected the house, which is almost 200 years old, and was in need of few things.

So yes, there came a point where I was feeling a letdown, and I wasn't using my garage for the intended purposes, so it did seem a bit like, is that all there is ? Then of course I had to turn to the house, which meant more time away from the hobbies, cars and garage. But the garage was still there, and lo and behold, there was a space for cars, and a space for a wood shop, and a lot of storage. So I segued into actually using the shop to support my home restoration, and gradually found that I could also use the garage portion for larger car projects that could remain there uninterrupted for as long as it took me to get back to them.

So I have a 30X26 garage, a 22x26 woodworking shop, a 9x13 machine storage area, and a large second story studio. I could reconfigure it any time I want to, but from the outside it looks like an old fashioned barn with shed wings. And it ISN'T too big, and it WASN'T too much, and it Was Worth It in the long run.

Is that all there is ? No. There is life after your garage project is finished, no matter how long or how draining it may be. And after the let down, it sits there and abides, waiting for the day that you feel like doing something besides stuffing things in there.

What ever your dreams are, what ever you built it for, it can do all of those things, or more, whenever you get the notion. After I replaced the old sills in my house, and rewired the outer walls, insulated and installed the new back doors, I got sick of working on the house, and rebuilt a tired old convertible. When I had that running, I built a new deck off the back of my house. I then set up the wood shop to build the cabinets for my all new bathroom. Now I'm building cabinets for somebody else.

SO I'm off and running. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was my garage. But slow and steady wins the race, even if you take four left turns and get totally sidetracked on the way to places you never even thought of going. It's ALL good, once you figure out that it is all GOOD.

 

[sberry]

I will stop in the middle to clean up a mess and will definitely take a couple days to turn a 1 car in to a 4. I aint above moving a door either if its what it took to make it work wise.

I really need to take a weekend with some extra help and just clean the place out top to bottom. Get all the clutter out and gain some space back because right now I do well to work on 1 vehicle.

Before I used to be able to comfortably work on 4 at a time which was great for production.

Its like a huge free addition without spending in a hurry. Yesterday isn't too soon.

 

[T_R]

No regrets. Mine is just a simple 24x24x8, but I like what I built. If I had more money and help, I might have built bigger and taller. So far it does exactly what I need it too.

 

[VictorBravo]

24X24 is probably nobody's idea of too much shop, but certainly no let down here.

I've maintained all my vehicles and equipment since I was 13. For the majority of my adult life (after I left home and Dad's 30X60 shop), I did that maintenance on gravel or grass.

When we moved here to Eastern Washington on a few acres, my job was to do a total remodel of the house. My wife said, "you need a shop. I'm getting you one."

So she arranged for a quality pole barn contractor to put in the 24X24 shop on really good concrete, complete with an adjacent 14X24 car port.

All for less than the price of her used Audi. Of course, I wired it, but no regrets at all. Could be considered small, but I keep adding shelves and it stays OK.

 

[NUTTSGT]

While I didn't build my place, I refurbed the heck out of it, adding on and rebuilding alot of it. It became a hobby and still is a hobby to work on it. I also enjoyed working on it, bringing the vision I had for it into fruition.

I added a small shed on the back corner and I have found it invaluable and well worth what it cost me to build.

Is it too much, no. . . . . too much is just enough.

Do I use it all the time, no but when I need it, it's there. I can go out there, work, relax or do whatever. It has been well worth the investment for me. Keeping my sanity is priceless.

 

[macgyver37]

I went from no shop/garage and rolling around on the gravel to a rental house with a 2 car garage in terrible shape to renting a 1600 sq ft really nice shop and then 3 years ago bought the building I have now. It is 48x120 and I will say that I have noticed many times that I get tired of making the trek from one end to the other if I am working on a project that I end up dragging supplies from one end to the other. I have also had a couple friends' projects in there and it is hard to say no since I have been on the other side of it. I did just get a good sized pile of stored parts back to my buddies house and it feels good to have the stuff out of there.

I make my living out of the shop and I do not regret getting it at all, it allows me to do what I need to do and also have some of my toys in there as well. I will say that due to the size of it any upgrades I am doing have to be done in stages as I can't afford it all at once. So, to be honest if I weren't working out of it, I have a hard time justifying it.

I don't fantasize anymore about having a huge hanger size shop to play in, I just see overhead and work.

Another thing that has helped me is I can't add on or put anything outside as I don't own anymore than the footprint of the building, so it keeps me from getting more stuff than I can fit inside which is a good thing. I actually have been getting rid of unused stuff to be able to use the facility like I want, not just as mostly storage.

I was looking at a place 10 yrs ago and thought that it would be about right for me as a personal shop, it was 50x80 with the front 30x50 concrete and walled off, the rest was just a barn for storage. I liked that idea of still 50x50 under roof but not heated etc, use it as storage and have the front part as workspace. To explain, my toys are mostly trucks and cars, so that is why that would have fit well for me at that time.

 

[langss]

We just bought a new house with a three car garage. It was my wife's idea and I love her for it, but its no way big enough for all my stuff. I will probably have to give up at least two of my projects, because there simply wont be outside parking for them. So no "Bigger" is Always Better.

 

[sberry]

120 long is quite a hike. Mine is 80x80 and its a bit much and in a more hobby shop 50x60 would be more in line. If I was outright in welding/machine would have stretched mine to 100 mainly for tools along walls and to let me cluster up some machines without eating in to floor space.