Workshop upstairs or down?

[jmroach]

Thanks to all in advance for your help!

I'm moving out of a house with a 3-car attached garage (2-post lift in the garage) and great (20x25+) workshop (primarily woodworking) in the basement.

We're moving into a house with 3-car attached garage and no space for a workshop in the basement. The ceilings in the existing garage are too low to fit my lift. There is space on the property for a 2- or 3-car detached garage. Detached garage must aesthetically match the house (brick + cedar shake roof).

Here's what I'm struggling with. Do I build a...

1) 3-car garage and put the car lift and woodworking shop all on the ground floor

Or

2) 2-car garage with workshop on the second floor?

I'm trying to balance the following considerations:
- difficulty of moving woodworking material, projects, machines
- mess associated with mixing woodworking and auto mechanical work
- cost
- resale (i.e. Ability to convert upstairs into living space)

What are everyone's thoughts? Does anyone have experience with one or the other they can share?

Thanks!!!

-john

 

[2story30x50]

I have a 30 x 50 with a lift on the 1st floor and a 2nd floor wood shop that is about 30 x 36 (full bath and a large storage closet)

 

[rburke65]

I would have to vote for the 3 car and everything on one floor. Keep us posted.

 

[matt_i]

I'd go with separate. The value of "attic space" for resale is pretty small in my book. Sure realtors will advertise the glowing characteristics. But, its kind of like a bonus room which usually has sketchy HVAC and is OK for storing stuff in a better environment than the framed attic, but really isn't very comfortable in any season. You could of course bypass this with your own minisplit or better modification of the existing HVAC.

Also have to think about getting enough structure in the floor to support your machinery and also potential structure for hoist systems. This is just more costly, possible engineering required if you can't fall back on span tables for I-joists or LVLs.

 

[AZ Pete]

One bay with a lift, the rest for your work shop. Divide the work areas with a wall if you don't want wood dust in your lift bay. You already have three car garage, so unless you have a truck that won't fit in it all you should need for automotive is a bay with a lift. I would just make it deep and wide.


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[d.mcfarland]

All on one floor. You'll hate steps and be glad you had the extra floor space for the few times you will need it.

 

[landlord30]

I have a 30 x 50 with a lift on the 1st floor and a 2nd floor wood shop that is about 30 x 36 (full bath and a large storage closet)

Any pictures, that sounds nice!

 

[James-W]

I would go with a larger building instead of a second floor. If the second floor was just for storage, then I would go that route. But since you want a woodworking shop I would go with all one one floor. I would section off a part of the building to put the lift so you can work on your vehicles, and the rest of the building would be a woodworking shop.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

3 car garage and a workshop on the second floor.

 

[James-W]

3 car garage and a workshop on the second floor.

Just a question here, if you have a woodworking shop on the second floor, how are you planning on getting all the equipment up there? What I mean is, some table saws are quite hefty as well as surface planers and drill presses. Having a ladder or a stairs is not a very good way of getting heavy or bulky equipment up to a second floor. Then to, there is all the wood you need to do a project and then you need to get whatever it is that you build back downstairs and out the door. If it is a large or a bulky project, that could pose a problem. Not saying having a second floor workshop is a bad idea, just saying there are things that need to be overcome if that is the way the building is to be constructed.

 

[cheechi]

why not a 3 bay with a full basement? Lube pit instead of a lift isn't ideal but could help you get enough space to separate things well enough while still having room to do things. 2 bays upstairs for auto/metal shop, full bath & kitchen, stairs, man door, etc. 2 bays downstairs for wood shop. lube pit for storage and above it a single car parking. You can frame it with solid walls with the option to add bay doors later.

 

[RVDan]

Go all in. Three car garage and workshop on the main floor, rental space above it, and you might as well put a basement under it for storage.

 

[Tundruz]

Who likes to carry wood material upstairs and finished projects down? Keep it all on the ground level if you can. my .02

 

[nine4gmc]

Call me lazy but I'm not taking the stairs to go to work, or bed on a daily basis.

 

[ard]

Hy invert the low-ceiling attached garage into the woodshop


Build a three car garage w lift fir cars and parking....

 

[jimreed2160]

Hy invert (convert?) the low-ceiling attached garage into the woodshop

Build a three car garage w lift fir cars and parking....

This is my favorite solution. Whatever you do, don't go vertical unless you are cramped for space. Multiple stories means more expensive foundations, walls, floors, etc. The only bonus is stairs.

 

[wssix99]

- resale (i.e. Ability to convert upstairs into living space)

Sounds like you will be selling at, some point.

Then, the stuff about moving materials won't matter if you'll be leaving when you get older.

Conditioned living space is worth much more on resale than garage space.

 

[Jackfre]

You must be young. Otherwise you wouldn't ask this question Not being young, I'd go single floor and rent the upstairs. I don't know what your current dust collection situation is, but I'd suggest that you get a good cyclone and add an ambient air filter box. Depending upon the wood work you do you might consider a bench room upstairs for the hand work, but I wouldn't put the machinery up top. To much $tructure and dealing with material is a giant pitn. Also handling finished goods gets dicey and you may be limited in the size of finished goods you can produce just by the "how the hell do I get this thing out of this place." I had a friend who built an airplane in his house and we pretty much tore the house down to get the airplane out. Don't be him!