sberry
Banned
We looked at a building 200K, it was a problem. It would cost 500 to sweep the floor,,, haha
Too Much Shop?
- Thread starter bczygan
- Start date
My first 'shop' had been my wife's playhouse growing up, I'm the only person I know that has run 220 power to a 5x8 building.
My current house had a 24x48 shop with a falling in roof. I stripped it down to block walls, raised the walls to 10', and built a roof with steel joists and deck. I'm currently putting a 13x48 shed down one side. Unlike many on this thread, I do way more work in the shop than on the shop, I really need to dedicate some time to it. My electrical is half done, but I have enough to work. All the conduit is there, but I need to pull wire. I just got a bigger air compressor, so I'll need to run air lines soon too. I put a ceiling in the back room, I'm going to do the same to the front to control airflow and reduce rust on my tools.
I just need a *little* more room (hah!) The front room is 24x28 and has one bay for working on vehicles. Beside that is a 4x8 welding table, followed by a mill, lathe, and drill press. One wall has a lot of shelving to hold various wood, metal, and automotive tooling. The back room is 20x24 and has a gym quality bench press and squat rack on one wall. In the middle is a pool table, and on the other wall is a big L shaped bench for working on guns and reloading ammo. The pool table may have to go soon to make room for a dedicated gunsmithing table. I hardly use it, but I hate to let it go, just because.
My biggest complaint is that I don't have a separate room for my blast cabinet, paint booth, and cerakote oven. The air compressor is out under the shed, I'll probably set the blast cabinet beside it when I get the shed complete. I won't use it inside the same room as my lathe and mill. The cerakote oven will be staying inside though.
I have 24x48 now, I think around 30x60 with a shed for vehicles and the tractor outside would be perfect. Mine gets used ALL the time, just ask my wife.
My current house had a 24x48 shop with a falling in roof. I stripped it down to block walls, raised the walls to 10', and built a roof with steel joists and deck. I'm currently putting a 13x48 shed down one side. Unlike many on this thread, I do way more work in the shop than on the shop, I really need to dedicate some time to it. My electrical is half done, but I have enough to work. All the conduit is there, but I need to pull wire. I just got a bigger air compressor, so I'll need to run air lines soon too. I put a ceiling in the back room, I'm going to do the same to the front to control airflow and reduce rust on my tools.
I just need a *little* more room (hah!) The front room is 24x28 and has one bay for working on vehicles. Beside that is a 4x8 welding table, followed by a mill, lathe, and drill press. One wall has a lot of shelving to hold various wood, metal, and automotive tooling. The back room is 20x24 and has a gym quality bench press and squat rack on one wall. In the middle is a pool table, and on the other wall is a big L shaped bench for working on guns and reloading ammo. The pool table may have to go soon to make room for a dedicated gunsmithing table. I hardly use it, but I hate to let it go, just because.
My biggest complaint is that I don't have a separate room for my blast cabinet, paint booth, and cerakote oven. The air compressor is out under the shed, I'll probably set the blast cabinet beside it when I get the shed complete. I won't use it inside the same room as my lathe and mill. The cerakote oven will be staying inside though.
I have 24x48 now, I think around 30x60 with a shed for vehicles and the tractor outside would be perfect. Mine gets used ALL the time, just ask my wife.
Last edited:
4 FN 27
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Did any of you build a shop or garage, and later feel a letdown?
Nope
Did you find the reality wasn't as good as the dream?
The reality is better than the dream. And the process, frustrating at times dealing with a few of the contractors was fun.
Did you find the process was more fun than the end result?
I am a project guy. Building the building is a project and so is everything that goes on in the building. So the fun started the day I cut the first tree down to clear the site and the fun will end the day my beneficiary gets the building.
And does your project sit mostly unused?
Unused? Yes when I am at work or I am out in the yard playing. Otherwise I am typically in the shop doing something.
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?
The only regret is a I should have went 20 feet deeper and I would have sunk the concrete floor in the office so I could put Joists in and lay the reclaimed 1881 Warehouse Floor over it so it would squeak when you walk on it.
I have been very fortunate in my lifetime always having a shop. When I was 18 my Dad had a business and he purchased a Boat Dealership right next door for future expansion of his business. The building sat empty until he asked me to take care of it for him. Handed me the key and that was the start of many projects. I mean a Boat Dealership with all the functions of a real shop. Had a full basement with a ramp access. A mechanics bay and a showroom. My buddies and I hung out there building stuff and restoring cars for 14 years. My Dad in the process collected cars and we kept his fleet running and they were stored in the building.
He sold the business and the building went in the deal too. I stayed with the company. Thus we had to find something, somewhere to put the Cars and all my tools I had acquired over the years. So we leased 10,000 sq ft and moved everything there.
Well I didn't like the idea of working for somebody else so we my brothers and I started our own business. After 3 years we out grew a 14000 square foot building we rented and built a 52000 square foot tilt up fab-con building (snce then we have added on twice and now have 110000 sq ft). At the same time we built a 10000 sq ft shop for our cars and stuff o the same property and I put together a nice shop in there. Worked out of that building for the last 15 years and always dreamed of building a shop in my back yard so I could walk right out the back door and go play.
In 2007 I found 28 acres 10 miles from work, 5 minutes from town to the east or west and in a community that only allows 10 acre minimum builds. I started my dream shop last August. Cleared about 2 1/2 acres of land and built a 9072 sq ft shop with a 1456 sq ft office attached to the building.
3 weeks from today I move all my equipment in. Mill, Lathe, Press Brake, Welders..ect. Now I can play right in my own backyard.
Prior to this I left the house every day at 6 am and returned home at 10 pm pretty much 7 days a week. My Wife is a saint for putting up with that.
I am grateful. And in the years to come many laughs will be had, beers consumed and dream projects will become reality.
Nope
Did you find the reality wasn't as good as the dream?
The reality is better than the dream. And the process, frustrating at times dealing with a few of the contractors was fun.
Did you find the process was more fun than the end result?
I am a project guy. Building the building is a project and so is everything that goes on in the building. So the fun started the day I cut the first tree down to clear the site and the fun will end the day my beneficiary gets the building.
And does your project sit mostly unused?
Unused? Yes when I am at work or I am out in the yard playing. Otherwise I am typically in the shop doing something.
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?
The only regret is a I should have went 20 feet deeper and I would have sunk the concrete floor in the office so I could put Joists in and lay the reclaimed 1881 Warehouse Floor over it so it would squeak when you walk on it.
I have been very fortunate in my lifetime always having a shop. When I was 18 my Dad had a business and he purchased a Boat Dealership right next door for future expansion of his business. The building sat empty until he asked me to take care of it for him. Handed me the key and that was the start of many projects. I mean a Boat Dealership with all the functions of a real shop. Had a full basement with a ramp access. A mechanics bay and a showroom. My buddies and I hung out there building stuff and restoring cars for 14 years. My Dad in the process collected cars and we kept his fleet running and they were stored in the building.
He sold the business and the building went in the deal too. I stayed with the company. Thus we had to find something, somewhere to put the Cars and all my tools I had acquired over the years. So we leased 10,000 sq ft and moved everything there.
Well I didn't like the idea of working for somebody else so we my brothers and I started our own business. After 3 years we out grew a 14000 square foot building we rented and built a 52000 square foot tilt up fab-con building (snce then we have added on twice and now have 110000 sq ft). At the same time we built a 10000 sq ft shop for our cars and stuff o the same property and I put together a nice shop in there. Worked out of that building for the last 15 years and always dreamed of building a shop in my back yard so I could walk right out the back door and go play.
In 2007 I found 28 acres 10 miles from work, 5 minutes from town to the east or west and in a community that only allows 10 acre minimum builds. I started my dream shop last August. Cleared about 2 1/2 acres of land and built a 9072 sq ft shop with a 1456 sq ft office attached to the building.
3 weeks from today I move all my equipment in. Mill, Lathe, Press Brake, Welders..ect. Now I can play right in my own backyard.
Prior to this I left the house every day at 6 am and returned home at 10 pm pretty much 7 days a week. My Wife is a saint for putting up with that.
I am grateful. And in the years to come many laughs will be had, beers consumed and dream projects will become reality.
fnieto
Well-known member
The only time I think its too much shop is during sweeping and mopping haha,then I feel like a janitor.
reader2580
Well-known member
What I see happen to many people is they build a decent sized shop and then they fill it up with stuff. It gets so they can't work with all the stuff everywhere so they add on or build another building. Sometimes the cycle continues until they run out of land or money or both.
sberry
Banned
When I retire it isn't going to be to work on stuff. I don't want to work on what I have now. My Dad was a farmer and ended up a welder construction worker and then both then a farmer.
I am still more suited to ram rodding a gang of ornery malcontents than farming although we really resemble a small general contractor with a auto/fab shop in the nature of our work.
I built new buildings tailored to the farming. We have had less than half a dozen jobs or service calls hired out in 25 years.
I am still more suited to ram rodding a gang of ornery malcontents than farming although we really resemble a small general contractor with a auto/fab shop in the nature of our work.
I built new buildings tailored to the farming. We have had less than half a dozen jobs or service calls hired out in 25 years.
sberry
Banned
Yes, I know a couple of them rent garages and storage shoved full of cardboard boxes for the most part. I know one has a tarp over the tool box outside due to the fact the garage is piled full of broke engine parts.
They would have been great cash at one point for scrap, would have been a pretty good chunk.
rodsnratfinks
Well-known member
No. Finally got a 30'x40' shop with a 10'x40' covered overhang attached. Best thing I have EVER done!!! Don't know why I waited so long. Oh yea NO MONEY!
So tired of working in the driveway or worse always out in the weather. I now ENJOY working on things. As was posted above I wish it was bigger but it does force me to spend time organizing things.
I put my blast box on wheels as well as almost everything else I have. Still debating if the HF 20T press should be on wheels or not. But it would be handy to move it around so easy.
Now working on the lift and am getting pricing from a GJ group buy. Silly thing is my HOA allowed me to build a shop but it can't "look like a shop". So I have brick and windows which is OK but adds to the price.
.
.
.
So tired of working in the driveway or worse always out in the weather. I now ENJOY working on things. As was posted above I wish it was bigger but it does force me to spend time organizing things.
I put my blast box on wheels as well as almost everything else I have. Still debating if the HF 20T press should be on wheels or not. But it would be handy to move it around so easy.
Now working on the lift and am getting pricing from a GJ group buy. Silly thing is my HOA allowed me to build a shop but it can't "look like a shop". So I have brick and windows which is OK but adds to the price.
.
.
.
sberry
Banned
That's probably a pretty substantial structure in a HOA environment. The overhang can help a lot.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Did any of you build a shop or garage, and later feel a letdown?
Not really. There is always a little letdown at the end of every project. Which causes me to find the next project to maintain the high.
Did you find the reality wasn't as good as the dream?
This is pretty much exactly my dream.
Did you find the process was more fun than the end result?
No. I enjoy most projects. This was just one more. A very large, very long term one, that's coming to a close in the next year.
And does your project sit mostly unused?
Absolutely. I am forced to work for a living, so I only get frantic evenings when I am not exhausted and weekends. The employed part of my life is coming to close. At which point I expect to be able to spend more quality time with my shop .
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?
Real regrets? Not like make me cry at night. Minor? A couple. A foot higher ceilings and foot wider bays would be nice. But, what's done is done and it's a grand place to work in. I've also had smaller, bigger, more commercial, completely crude, but this is geared to support my interests and will be adaptable should my attention turn to other pursuits.
I think my current 720 sq ft is perfect for any foreseeable personal and light commercial use I might put it to.
Not really. There is always a little letdown at the end of every project. Which causes me to find the next project to maintain the high.
Did you find the reality wasn't as good as the dream?
This is pretty much exactly my dream.
Did you find the process was more fun than the end result?
No. I enjoy most projects. This was just one more. A very large, very long term one, that's coming to a close in the next year.
And does your project sit mostly unused?
Absolutely. I am forced to work for a living, so I only get frantic evenings when I am not exhausted and weekends. The employed part of my life is coming to close. At which point I expect to be able to spend more quality time with my shop .
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?
Real regrets? Not like make me cry at night. Minor? A couple. A foot higher ceilings and foot wider bays would be nice. But, what's done is done and it's a grand place to work in. I've also had smaller, bigger, more commercial, completely crude, but this is geared to support my interests and will be adaptable should my attention turn to other pursuits.
I think my current 720 sq ft is perfect for any foreseeable personal and light commercial use I might put it to.
bazzateer
Well-known member
hotdogstand
Well-known member
By the time I got a car my parents had moved to a modular with nothing but a driveway. I worked on a cold concrete slab at a rented storage unit until I bought my house 4 years ago. With a one-car detached, I quickly found myself hurting for space. I built a shed to move all the lawn and garden **** out, but since I am not dead set on staying here I can't just fit the expense of tearing down or building on to the existing garage. I'm military, so the possibility of needing to move very far away is always looming...