Where do I start?

[Blk88GT]

I' currently own a 1 acre chunk of land that has my 1050sqft home with a 36x46 shop and have enjoyed it for almost 10 years.

On Friday my wife and I put in an offer on a 4.75 acre place out in the country, but it lacks a shop. The house has a 24x30 garage that I intend to keep some of my stuff in to free up room in the shop.

I'll be building the shop with help from my dad and my best man who is a contractor and does this for a living. Between the three of us an our contacts, we have all the equipment required to build a shop of nearly any size.

I've been pouring over the survey certificate and building codes trying to find a location for the shop, and then decide on a size for the shop on top of it all.

The shop will house a couple muscle cars and my Duramax. It will have a hoist, plumbed in air lines, in floor heat, etc.

This is the last time I plan on ever moving and I want to make sure I do it right.

Where do I start?

 

[koditten]

Sounds like you've already started.

Location

Size

Style of building ie., stick built or pole style etc.

Heating/cooling

From there you can start answering some of your detailed questions.

Others will be glad to offer more once these first questions are dealt with.

Later

KO

 

[Blk88GT]

Size - 36 deep by 36 - 46 wide. I don't feel I need any bigger than that. I want to also include cold storage for my enclosed trailer on the backside (12x30 required with 10 ft clearance)

Style - Stick built. Metal siding/roof. Would like to do some stone on the front of it to keep the place looking warm and inviting, not a machine shed.

Heating - In floor heat, no AC req'd

Hope this helps.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Ian, you you haven't already scan over the gallery section at some of the build there.

Do you want the trailer completely inside or just covered over top ?

Setting up the garage would also depend on the orientation of where it sits on the proerty in relation to the house and driveway.

 

[ddawg16]

Yea....it does sound like your off to a good start.....

But location is the most important.....

The shop needs to be close enough that you don't mind the walk to it....or getting utilities to it....hint....look at all the threads where guys have issues with internet and power.....

If it was me....I would stand at the back of the existing house and look out....what view do I want? What do I not want to see?

Without seeing pics of the new place....I would think that a drive down the side of the house next to the existing garage (allows you to have a really wide drive in front of your existing garage)....the new shop would be behind and off to the side of the house....that gives the view from the back of the house of the woods (or lack of)....

I suspect that your thinking pole barn......just remember what is going to be seen from the street....the less it looks like a pole barn, the less people think you have something they might want.....

 

[Blk88GT]

I've looked through the galleries and have picked a few that I like.

The trailer needs to be covered completely. It's too nice to leave out in the weather

The house is set back from the front road ~400-500 feet. There is no visibility to anything from out front.

Here's a link to the virtual tour: http://www.myvisuallistings.com/fsvt/80969

I'd like to put the shop close by the existing garage. However, I have to stay 100 feet from the creek water line which will make things difficult in that area.

 

[jerkyboy]

One thing I can tell you (based on my experience) is if you're thinking 36x36 or 36x46, definitely go 36x46!!! I originally was going to go 36x42 but my architect somehow convinced me to go 24x36. As I was framing it, I knew it was too small so I had to cut the one foundation wall, have the excavator come back, repour another wall, change x,y,z.... So now I have a 32x36 that I wish was 36x42. Hopefully you'll get it right the first time.

 

[NUTTSGT]

What's the ditch coming out from the front of the house ?

 

[csp]

#1 factor, in my opinion, is how big can you afford to build.

#2 is location

 

[Blk88GT]

The ditch empties into a creek, and actually flows down the side of the driveway towards the house. The little indentation from under the front deck is for drainage away from the house. I don't think the previous owner was much of a deck builder or landscaper from what I can tell.

There is some finish landscaping to be done all around the house, but I have a great wife and a diesel Kubota tractor that will make quick work of that

 

[SuitorsGarage]

This is the last time I plan on ever moving and I want to make sure I do it right.

Where do I start?

Make it as big as possible! Shops always seem to shrink in size over time.

 

[Blk88GT]

Believe me, I get the size stuff.

My current shop is 1656 sqft and I put ALL my stuff in it. Daily driver included.

The new house has a 720sqft garage to house alot of the "non shop" stuff like the kids quads, the daily driver and my Kubota tractor. That leaves me the shop for my stuff, tooling etc.

How high of an interior ceiling do I need for the Bend Pak 10k lift? I'm assuming 12ft. Remember, I don't want an industrial looking building on the outside. I currently have 12'6" walls at the peak and 11'6" at the corners and I find this sufficient for my needs.

What do I need to think about as far as placement on the lot?

 

[gc427]

Build it bigger than you think you will need.

If you are going to stay there for more than 5 years you will need the extra space. New tools, toys, and other collections of guy stuff will fill up and you will need to expand or build another building.

The extra cost to build a shop 50' x 50' vs. the cost of a 36' x 46' is minimal.

Figuring that you will build yourself with help with friends keeps the cost way down and I would suggest that you build as big of a shop as you can afford.

Personally I would build 60' x 100' and section it off with an area for parking cars, working shop area for projects, and storage area for stuff.

It sounds like you have a good start. Good luck moving forward!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Two of the biggest considerations for placement is (IMHO)

1. the area is ok to build on, septic, water run-off and solid ground
2. backing of the car trailer

 

[e-tek]

WOW - lgreat lot! It looks a LOT like the 40 Acre parcel we had in Porcupine Plain. The new owners have built a house somewhat like yours there too.

Do you have to save some budget for updating the house and landscaping? What about a HotTub?!

What I would consider is how far you want the shop to be from the house. Far enough not to hear the noise coming from it, close enough not to freeze to death getting there! I would even consider a breeze-way between house and shop!

Your heights are bang on for a lift. Sounds like you have enough room in your current shop, so maybe you don't need much more room than that? One thing about a lift - it can "save" space if just used for parking, but it generally "takes up" space if used for working on.

In MB you're going to want to park both your DD's inside - yes? If so, there won't be a lot of room for quads and stuff in an attached garage - unless the wife parks in one side and you park in the shop.... or it's a 3-bay. After years on GJ and years with my cuurent set up, I feel I have it pretty good: a 2-car attached for our daily drivers and some smaller storage, a shop for my cars and tools and storage sheds for all "non-shop" stuff: garden, bikes, trampoline, etc.

Not sure if that helps, but it's a start!

 

[e-tek]

One thing I can tell you (based on my experience) is if you're thinking 36x36 or 36x46, definitely go 36x46!!! I originally was going to go 36x42 but my architect somehow convinced me to go 24x36. As I was framing it, I knew it was too small so I had to cut the one foundation wall, have the excavator come back, repour another wall, change x,y,z.... So now I have a 32x36 that I wish was 36x42. Hopefully you'll get it right the first time.

OUCH. I feel your pain.

 

[Blk88GT]

I will park my race car, cruiser and truck in the shop. That leaves plenty of room for other projects. Down the road I may invest in a 4 post lift to stack cars if required. I have a 24 foot enclosed trailer I use for drag racing that I'd like to keep in a covered cold storage section as well.

I don't want to heat an enormous empty building. I'll use it a fair bit, but it's not my source of income and I'm sure property taxes will take a jump when it's done.

Right now I'm leaning towards a 36x46 with 3 -10 foot doors plus the cold storage. I'll should find out today from the municipality where I can place the building. I have an area in mind that would allow very easy access for the trailer cold storage. If not, back to the drawing board.

I take possession of the place on July 31st, so I have a bit of time to sort it out but I'd like to get the building permit/variance process moving as soon as possible.

There is always budget for landscaping etc. I'll sort that out as we go, or next summer. I actually enjoy landscaping, so it won't take long to whip this place into shape with the use of my Kubota

 

[jerkyboy]

How high of an interior ceiling do I need for the Bend Pak 10k lift? I'm assuming 12ft

I have a 12 ft ceiling in my garage and installed a 10K Bend Pak two post lift. I had to cut a chaseway the depth of the sheet rock (1/2") to raise the posts...go f'n figure. So my advice is go with 12 ft and change for ceiling height. If you know the exact model, you can look up the post height specs on BP's website.

 

[Blk88GT]

Thanks, I noticed it was just a hair over 12' but wanted to be sure.

 

[NUTTSGT]

How high of an interior ceiling do I need for the Bend Pak 10k lift? I'm assuming 12ft

I have a 12 ft ceiling in my garage and installed a 10K Bend Pak two post lift. I had to cut a chaseway the depth of the sheet rock (1/2") to raise the posts...go f'n figure. So my advice is go with 12 ft and change for ceiling height. If you know the exact model, you can look up the post height specs on BP's website.

Would 12' walls with scissor trusses have gotten you the proper clearance ?

 

[Blk88GT]

What program are you guys using to map out your floorplans?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think some of these guys have used Google sketch up. I never have but it does get mentioned a few times around here.

 

[Blk88GT]

Thanks for the info. I ended up using floorplanner.com for the basic stuff.

I pick up the engineer stamped drawings on Monday

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

You need 12'1" for that BendPak lift.

Google SketchUp is great for floorplans and especially for visualizing your plans in 3D.

The size thing - I don't know if you have children or plan on having any, but the average family will fill up a garage fast!

Enjoy your planning and your new build!

 

[Blk88GT]

I've got 3 kids and have planned accordingly, thank you for the advice. I was warned about that by a friend too.