What would you do? Tandem or seperate shop?

[dragginbalz]

I am almost ready to pull the trigger on upgrading my workshop. I am torn between my two options, extending my existing garage to make an attached tandem or building a workshop separated from the house completely. I would like to listen to any comments, suggestions or opinions or either or maybe a completely different option!

I have pros and cons of each

Separate shop:
Pros - Away from house, can make noise without waking anybody up; paint without stinking up the house, etc
Up to 650 sqft total, 13' allowed
Cons - Now I have two workspaces to heat, electric, finish etc
Takes away quite a bit of the yard
Not easily accessible to bring a vehicle back there without extending my driveway quite a bit
Worse for resale value? (not too concerned)

Attached shop:
Pros - Possibly cheaper?
One large space to heat, electric, finish etc
Can be used as a tandem parking space for resale (not too concerned)
Doesn't appear to intrude into the yard quite as much (since attached to main structure)
Can still have a storage shed in backyard to store yard items, etc.
Cons - Attached so more noise, paint fumes, etc track into the house

 

[readhead]

You have clearly thought this through. I would lean toward adding on and here is why. It will be less expensive and as you said you can still have a small out building. The noise and smell can be overcome. I would treat it as a seperate space with a door between the spaces so it could be closed off. Since it appears that the new space will be outside the present building envelope it could be put under negative pressure and keep the smell out of the house. Proper noise reducing construction will keep the sound out. The door could be an insulated coil door so it wouldn't take up much space but still allow a car or equipment to be moved around. Of course a second building would get you out of the house which could also be a good thing from time to time. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Daedalus]

That's a tough one. Depends on your needs. I personally would probably go for (and have gone for) the larger, separate place. I've been doing a lot of home reno work the past year, and the downside for me is the relatively long walk to the garage for tools and to use the larger machine stations (saws, drill press). I could not give up the extra space the separate garage offers.

 

[kyle@hcb]

Another vote for the detached space.

 

[Steevo]

I had to build mine separate and behind much like your drawing, but I have enough side yard that I was able to have a full width driveway all the way back.
The only drawback I see in yours is that it looks like you'd have no way to get anything large (vehicle, trailer) back there to work on it or to deliver something.

 

[Modifieddriver]

Detached. Ask your home insurance provider what will be in your favor. Sifting through the ashes of a detached shop or what's left of a house and shop.

 

[santagary]

Another firm vote for a detached but very close garage with a 20' breezeway to function as a mud/leave your shoes behind and don your slippers place...with hooks for coveralls and those stinking clothes...trust me, the worst fights with my wife (ex) were over my stinking clothes, shoes, smells emanating from the garage, etc., etc. were because of an attached garage, workshop area....DON'T DO IT! In my current space I can play any music I want, as loud as I want, fart, piss on a bush, make smells, make all the machinery noise I want and work on stuff...AND clean it whenever I want and to what level of cleanliness I want. Since you have options...DON'T attach it to your house! You WILL thank me later for this advice! Happy wife, happy life....also buy her a Kubota to move snow.

 

[JimVonBaden]

My situation is both similar and different. I already have a detached garage, but it is small. I plan on adding another 16' to the back side of it as a shop area so we can actually park in the garage!

In your case I can see both your pros and cons. I think the attached is both more astetically pleasing and uses up much less of your back yard. If your back yard doesn't get much use, and you wont notice the missing space, then detached makes the most sense overall.

Jim

 

[stingry]

At 650 sq ft, I would attach it to the house if you can tastefully add it onto the existing house without ruining the architecture of the house. A four car attached house may be a selling point, depending on your location. Any larger of a shop should probably be separate from the house.

Cheers
Steve

 

[BD1]

What is gonna affect your real estate taxes more ?? Snow removal a issue ?
If that is the existing garage with the new separate shop behind, you may add a rear overhead door to get to the new shop via a drive thru. What about electric, water, gas ,etc ? Detached would be a nice get away too. Is there enough room to get a emergency vehicle back there ? Just a thought.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Snow plowing?
Restroom?
Vehicle access?
Your actual use?
Taxes?
Insurance?
Convenience?
Drainage?
Who will use the shop?
Noise and fumes should be dealt with reguardless, especially if you are in town or close to a neighbor...

Your neighbors may not appreciate a " Bubba Operation", whether it is attached or detatched... If Bubba is comming your way, well,,, lets just be civil and build a detached shop on your neighbor's property.. or in your mother-inlaw's back yard...
Point is==== the Who and What type of projects==== ssooo much in this choice?

 

[Kevin54]

I'm with Santagary. Detached but with a breezeway, or detached with a closed breezeway (hallway) joining the two.

If you decide to go attached, just make sure you are well insulated between the garage and house and noise shouldn't be a problem.

My garage is detached from the house, but it's not built where I originally wanted to have it. I would have liked it to have been closer to the house and on the other side of the property, but at the time, we had a pond that went all the way across the back of the property. 3/4 acres of water. I was going to build it closer to the house but the wife didn't think it would look right, so we decided on the other side of the property. Now HER building sets where I wanted my garage. She knew what she was doing I guess and I fell for it.

Take a picture of your house from the front, then sketch in what it will look like. You can print off quite a few pics or screw with it in Paint to see what will look the best. One thing to remember is that if you really like the looks of your house as it is along with the landscaping, then a detached may be the best way to go. You also need to check with your local regulations to see IF you can build an attached or detached and see what sort of setbacks you need. When it comes to sewer, septic, electric, and such, it may just dictate what you can or cannot do and it will make up your mind for you.

 

[musgofasta]

Attached all day long. One big space, less concrete to poor, minimizes the amount of duplication

 

[JMURiz]

I like attached, if I could have gone attached I would have done it. I had trekking out to the shop in the rain/cold/snow.

 

[Kev442]

It is your choice.

But from experience, are you prepared to buy another tool box and fill it, along with another shop vac, small compressor, etc, etc. You will get awfully tired of what you need being in the wrong garage otherwise.

At 650 ft, I would attach with a rollup and service door between front and back to isolate noise and paint.

 

[Joe B.]

Could you put an additional door at the back of your current garage to make it possible to drive through to your rear Garage?

I would do everything I could to build it detached.

 

[pendragon1998]

Detatched. If it burns down you are less likely to lose the house too.

 

[J66442]

I built a 40X60 detached metal building and I love it. Only problem was adding to my insurance policy. Insurance company would only insure 10% of the value of house for outbuildings. Somehow insurance agent got it fixed.

 

[Big A]

Detached, for all the reasons already stated.

When my father build his detached garage behind the original single car garage he added another door to the back of the existing garage and made a "driveway" with perforated interlocking pavers. They give a solid surface to drive on, but they drain well and once grass grows up through them it looks great.

Search "turfstone" if you're interested.

 

[zjrog]

Turfstone is what I was looking for. Wanting to make a fire pit/seating area in a corner of the yard this summer. Turfstone looks like the perfect base...

 

[KPSquared]

Detached for one reason only: Your wife is 1000 times less likely to bother you in a detached vs one where she can wander out in her slippers. . . No further thought needed.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Move?

 

[dragginbalz]

You guys have all brought up some very good points! Some things that I have not thought about.

No there is not enough room on the side for an emergency vehicle to get to the back shop (only about 7 feet at the widest point and 24" overhang off the attached garage) I don't think anything could get back there if needed.

I did call the tax assessor when thinking about the detached, but did not contact them about the attached yet, good point.

I did not contact my insurance agent at all, good point!

A lot of people are worried about garages burning down! Is that really that big of an issue?

Right now, I do not stink up the house too bad, unless I am doing a lot of painting, which is rare. With the attached addition, that should have enough separation from the main living area to not make too much noise, fumes etc.

As far as the type of work I do, I am all over the freaking place! Today I came home and cut and welded for about 3 hours, which is rare these days! I do more woodworking these days. I do paint on occasion, but mainly smaller things like bicycle frames, mailboxes, etc. No bathroom. The rear lot is no where near any neighbors. Even the attached is a good distance from the neighbors.

Move? haha I think I can work with what I have, even if I keep what I have without any modifications. It is not common in my area for a house with a decent garage in my price range and geographic area.

I appreciate all the feedback! Gave me some more to think about. Keep it coming!

 

[Modifieddriver]

I did not contact my insurance agent at all, good point!

A lot of people are worried about garages burning down! Is that really that big of an issue?
QUOTE]

Just remember, it always happens to the other guy .

 

[JMartens]

Might check with a real estate agent as well. When I was exploring options for my garage I had the possibilty of a small 3 car or a large 2 car. The 3 car was going to take some work and money to get some things arranged. The realitor said that no buyers in the square footage I was at were wanting 3 cars. If I wanted 3 car that was fine, but the comparables would have been for 2 cars.

I ended up building a tandem so to speak. The original garage (20 x 24) was converted to my woodworking shop and tool room and the new garage was added to it (22 x 28). In the end I have 20/22 x 52 feet of shop/garage space and am quite pleased. The woodworking area makes for a nice, clean area to work on projects/crafts/etc and acts like a rear foyer buffering things before they hit the house.

Prior to re building my garage, I rented a garage down the street. It was about 150 feet from my back door and I thought it wouldn't be that big of a deal but found it to be a pain. I ended up buying a small all in one tool kit to keep at the house as I hated not having sockets and wrenches at the house.

Keep in mind running electric and water to a detached will cost more as well.

 

[onewaydave]

For all practical purposes, everything distinguishing the 2 besides insurance and taxes could be thwarted with technology.

Ante-room for separation of the air chambers, fumes, dust, and to avoid that long walk in the blizzard to the shop. Also acts as insulation in the event you wanted to allow the shop to cool and keep the house warm.

Separate air handling system for the shop with dust collection, filters, etc.

Commercial fire systems.

Then there is the social issue. Separate is separate. Attached allows kids/family the since that you didn't leave, you're just out in the garage/shop. While access isn't all that different/difficult, it seems easier.

My shop is about 200 yards walking, and about 3/4 mile driving. No cell service. i am in another world when I'm in the shop. That can be a good thing or not, depending on your perspective.

In January, 10' F and 15 mph winds, it is a cold walk out to start the fire and a cold walk back to drink a cup of coffee while it warms up. Its a cold walk out to work and few want to make that walk to visit/bring me lunch/let me know that the lottery called to say I've won, etc.

But when I want to be alone, even a 200 yd-away shop can be too close.

Dave.

 

[BD1]

I did not contact my insurance agent at all, good point!

A lot of people are worried about garages burning down! Is that really that big of an issue?
QUOTE]

Just remember, it always happens to the other guy .

My neighbors garage burned down WITH HOUSE ATTACHED ! I'm in rural area no hydrants. By the time the tanks for water were set up garage was gone and half of the wood cedar house. They were having painting and staining done in house. Materials were left in garage . Guys were smoking in garage and bucket of staining rags some how caught fire from butts after they were gone.

 

[ed_v]

I might go against everyones advice on this for one reason. How large of a yard do you have? I like having a large amount of yard space. Will just adding on save some yard space for you?

The seperate tandam garage would be a pain in the *** if you have to pull through one to get to the back detached garage. I might not be grasping your concept correctly though.

Ed

 

[Modifieddriver]

I did not contact my insurance agent at all, good point!

A lot of people are worried about garages burning down! Is that really that big of an issue?
QUOTE]

Just remember, it always happens to the other guy .

Recently a big local car collector had his place go up in flames. 40 cars burnt to a crisp. Why? Because of a catalytic converter and some weeds in the yard. If this was attached to his house, which has more cars, the results would be worse.

I'll take that walk out to the shop in the cold to preserve the fire safety of the house.

Like I said before: "It always happens to the other guy ."

 

[Modifieddriver]

I might go against everyones advice on this for one reason. How large of a yard do you have? I like having a large amount of yard space. Will just adding on save some yard space for you?

The seperate tandam garage would be a pain in the *** if you have to pull through one to get to the back detached garage. I might not be grasping your concept correctly though.

Ed

I always thought X# sq.ft =s X# sq.ft. even if it was on the Moon.

 

[tomshep]

Detached. You already have an attached for your drivers. Your detached doesn't look that far from the house so a short walk would be invigorating. Detached means you can do what you want and not bother anyone. No compressor noise, no odors, less cutting and hammering noise.

Tom

 

[BDT/NWMN]

My neighbors garage burned down WITH HOUSE ATTACHED ! I'm in rural area no hydrants. By the time the tanks for water were set up garage was gone and half of the wood cedar house. They were having painting and staining done in house. Materials were left in garage . Guys were smoking in garage and bucket of staining rags some how caught fire from butts after they were gone.

Bubba and Equgor shouldn't have been allowed on property in the first place.
Allowing smoking on your property can be asking for trouble.
Buckets of staining rags, oil rags, oil dry sweepings sould never be
stored inside. They belong in a trash can stored away from any buildings..


All the above should apply whether the garage is attached or not...

Keep Bubba and Equgor under the shade tree where they belong..

 

[BD1]

Bubba and Equgor shouldn't have been allowed on property in the first place.
Allowing smoking on your property can be asking for trouble.
Buckets of staining rags, oil rags, oil dry sweepings sould never be
stored inside. They belong in a trash can stored away from any buildings..


All the above should apply whether the garage is attached or not...

Keep Bubba and Equgor under the shade tree where they belong..

You are right. They got the cheapest ding dongs for the job and it showed it.

 

[The Naked Mechanic]

I have the same dilema. I'm trying to decide between the two. While I have nothing to offer in the way of advice I do want to thank you all for the great ideas and advice. I am still stuck between the convenience of the attached but also want the benifits of the detached. I think the bottom line will be the intial cost combined with the long term costs, if all other things are equal then maybe overall cost should be your determining factor.

 

[1938flatty]

I tore down my detached garage for lots of reasons but one of the biggest was I hated walking through snow and rain to get to it. I built an attached 30 X 40 and was thinking about adding some more to the back. I would use my back 8 X 9 garage door to separate the two spaces for heat, dust and maybe slowdown the fire issue?

 

[Kevin54]

If I had room at the time, I would have either added on to the side of my garage (setbacks prevented that) or I would have went back with it (wife prevented that), so I built a detached on the other side of the property.

I can't remember the members name right now as I have CRS when it comes to name, but he has been featured here and in one of the garage mags. He has the white sided garage, white interior to the garage, a setting lounge area, and black and brown epoxy floor, and drives the BMW. You go from one garage through a garage door into the other garage. His place is a showplace, but he also uses it to work. Damn I hate not remembering names. Someone will know who I'm talking about.

 

[starquestMM]

I'd build an attached personally. One thing I didnt see mentioned here is IMO attached bonus space is more easily convertible/usable by a future owner than detached. Which means it should be worth a little more.

If you are concerned about fire, do a sprinkler system in both the workshop and the garage. Then you'll have the attached garage covered also and its one of the common places for a fire to start.

 

[Kevin54]

Found it

The "M" Garage http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25148

 

[SPDMETL]

I think alot of the attached/detached debate depends on where you live...I see the OP lives in Illinois, where I know it gets "winter" cold, not "southern" cold. I vote for attached. Going by the diagram, though, it looks like you want to build onto the front. May I suggest, as a Real Estate agent, that you add to the back so as to avoid negatively affecting the Curb Appeal/appearance of your house. You may even be able to work the zoning in your favor (size) by "recategorizing" your addition!

 

[dragginbalz]

I think alot of the attached/detached debate depends on where you live...I see the OP lives in Illinois, where I know it gets "winter" cold, not "southern" cold. I vote for attached. Going by the diagram, though, it looks like you want to build onto the front. May I suggest, as a Real Estate agent, that you add to the back so as to avoid negatively affecting the Curb Appeal/appearance of your house. You may even be able to work the zoning in your favor (size) by "recategorizing" your addition!

I do live in Illinois. Maybe it is hard to tell in the drawing, but I would be adding to the rear of the garage. From the front, the house and attached garage (existing) would like the same. It would just extend more into the back of the yard about even with the deck.

I appreciate all the feedback! I am going to talk to my insurance agent, tax assessor and garage builder to get an idea of which would be economical before I make a decision. I may have not been clear, but I am only allowed 650 total of accessory buildings. Currently I have a 16x10 (160sqft) shed in the back yard. If I add to the existing garage, I will still have the storage shed (maybe rebuild slightly larger since it isn't in the best shape) which I like, to be able to store the lawn stuff, etc. If I build a detached shop, I would need to use some of that 650' workspace for a storage shed or use the existing attached garage as a storage shed, which I am not convinced I would want to do.
Decisions, decisions...

Thanks everyone!