What is a good size shop?

[cat320]

Thought I would do a poll on what is a good size shop to have if you could build it from scatch? And how many doors and how big of a door/s yyour would put.

[BWhite]

Always build as big as you can ! I can never imagine me saying ....."this shop is to big "

[snowplowjay]

In my opinion its always good to have too much shop space (room to grow into) than not enough..............


Bigger is better!!!


Jay

[snowjoker]

I would build a 40x60 Quanset hut type building. Less Maintenace and are very solid buildings. 10 foot wide overhead doors on each end of the building and 1 man door on either side of each overhead door.:D

[BKrois]

I think an 80x100 would be a nice size. Radiant floor heat would be nice too.

[blawn]

our shop is 44x112 not quite deep enough for 2 trucks with plow our 2nd building is 32x40 not heated just to keep things out of the weather in the spring a 40x80 with doors on the 40 foot side for drive thur with loaded trailers

[Tileman]

Not sure I have every saw one that was too big. Everyone I have been in still needed more space for something. I think if you start with a 60" x 120" would be a good starting place. But in time it will be to small also.


Rich

[drobson]

Same here, as big as I had space for (and money). But I'd want to have at least 2 overhead doors and have them at least 10' wide and tall. What would be really nice is to have them on both sides fo the building to drive in and out. I know a guy that has an old carriage house with the rotating floor that still works, that is great for his truck, he pulls and and can turn it around and drive out.

Although tall doors are nice, I would also want to make sure the ceilings are not too tall, in the winter it is hard to heat a tall building, unless there is sufficient airflow to push the heat back down.

[wfd44]

No shop is ever big enough. If you can build it you can fill it.

[CraftyBigDog]

Big as you can afford, it will fill fast!

[WoofsPlow]

If you put 200' x 200' I would have picked that - too big is never enough.

[CT18fireman]

May be against the grain but I like having a smaller actual shop. Easier, faster and cheaper to heat, cool and light. In the future I would like to add to the back some unheated uncooled space for vehicles and equipment to be parked in. I would probably set it up to keep it cool heated like at 55. Maybe have the stale air from the shop sent back there.

[Ole JIM]

Originally posted by snowjoker
I would build a 40x60 Quanset hut type building. Less Maintenace and are very solid buildings. 10 foot wide overhead doors on each end of the building and 1 man door on either side of each overhead door.:D WALT are You any relation to Col-GABBY-GRABOWSKI? of WW11 & Korean Fame! I severed under GABBY in KOREA-- the One MAN I would Fly w/ through the very GATES of HELL!--a REAL Fghter Pilot--NOT One to Go Exactally by the BOOK!--& being YOUNG & I pulled a Stupid Stunt?-& having been Called to the Ole Mans Office!--Expecting the ROTA Router Treatment?--I Reported exspecting? the ASS chewing of a Life time!--GABBY chatted as HE Poured ME a Drink--& handed it to ME & as He looked Out the Window! asked ME!--If? I would Do It AGAIN?--YES! SIR!-Being Honest! & Now Exspecting the WORST!--GABBYs Reply--GOOD! Dismissed!--& as I looked at GABBY in the Reflection in the Window!--I noticed He was SMILING!--as though to SAY -- YES! I know I have Done THAT!--NO Big Deal!--Dismissed! WE sure could Use some Men like GABBY Now!-Ole JIM--

[Dwan]

My shop is 30' deep x 56' long with 4 10' w by 12' high doors. Only thing I would change is I would like my doors to be 12' wide. 10' minus trim does not give a lot of room for mirror clearance on a 8'6" wide truck, about 6" per side.

I also would like in floor heat as of now I heat with waste oil which I charge $1.00 a gal to collect from others.
I would also like 1 more bay for washdown and spray painting seperated by a interior wall.

[Ole JIM]

Originally posted by Dwan
My shop is 30' deep x 56' long with 4 10' w by 12' high doors. Only thing I would change is I would like my doors to be 12' wide. 10' minus trim does not give a lot of room for mirror clearance on a 8'6" wide truck, about 6" per side.

I also would like in floor heat as of now I heat with waste oil which I charge $1.00 a gal to collect from others.
I would also like 1 more bay for washdown and spray painting seperated by a interior wall. -- Dwan--Super NICE!--I have a 24* by 30* garage w/one 10 & one 12 ft doors--& You can LAUGH!-as I often DO!-I have an 86 Marmon twin screw w/a 60" sleeper backed IN then 12 ft Door--the Nose from the Sleeper foward sticking OUT!--as I*M in the Process of beefing UP the frame & Am going to Install a 750 Holmes heavy Duty Wrecker body on IT!-my 10 ft Door is Useable?--but--my Garage is FULL--barley room to get around!--I Gotta Clean it Out this Spring!--but Learned One Thing?--NO Garage is ever Big Enough?--I do have a Furnace!--but--cant afford $2.00 a gallon for Fuel OIL!-so I use a Space Heater!--to DO! small Jobs-- I wish YOU lived Next Door!--YOU can LAUGH NOW!--I don*t Do all that Much in Winter!--& my WIFE Laughs so You can Too!-as I Tinker Out Side! as My Garage is Full!--of Stuff? I don*t want Runined? by sitting out Side!-- as It never Ends?--but--Lifes pretty Good!--Thanks for the Reply! Your Equipment & Garage look Great to ME!--Real NICE!--Ole JIM--

[CraftyBigDog]

Ive thought about it and I want a 100'X200' when I build mine!

[Ole JIM]

Originally posted by CraftyBigDog
Ive thought about it and I want a 100'X200' when I build mine! &if? Your any-thing like the rest of US?--It will Fill UP! No Matter How Big You build IT! but 100 X 200 is a pretty Good Start!--I built a 24 X 30 as a Temp ONE! & never got around to Building a Big One!--now Too OLD?--but I have Some Stuff? I could Put in Yours?--when You get It DONE? --Ole JIM--

[GMC Driver]

We built this shop last Feb/March (2004). We bought an old farmhouse with about 5 acres. I spent all winter reno-ing the house - what a pile of work. As soon as I was close to done the house, we built the shop ourselves. I hired a local contractor to help out with the general construction, so we didn't mess anything up too bad. It's 60x48, with 60x36 interior and a twelve foot overhang off the back. I put up an interior wall half way, with the plan to heat only one half. I'm not complete yet, as I still have concrete and in-floor heat to do.

[Ole JIM]

Originally posted by GMC Driver
We built this shop last Feb/March (2004). We bought an old farmhouse with about 5 acres. I spent all winter reno-ing the house - what a pile of work. As soon as I was close to done the house, we built the shop ourselves. I hired a local contractor to help out with the general construction, so we didn't mess anything up too bad. It's 60x48, with 60x36 interior and a twelve foot overhang off the back. I put up an interior wall half way, with the plan to heat only one half. I'm not complete yet, as I still have concrete and in-floor heat to do. GEE that sure looks Nice to ME! My nephew has a body shop w/ in floor heat--Loves IT!--I worked in It repairing my Truck late One After-noon--very--tired & had a Hard Time Staying Awake!-Nice & Warm on that Creeper!--if I ever built another!--too old!-I*D put In--In floor Heat!--Same Me one Connor! as I have a Lot of Stuff!--NICE!-- Take Care & keep Me Posted!--I like seeing People getting Ahead!--Old JIM--

[dapgar]

If we decide to stay on this property for the long term, i'm going to build a 40x80, maybe 100' if they let me. Radiant floor heat throughout. An office somewhere in the back. My property is longer than it is wide, so I will put the garage doors(two 10'x10') on the 40' front. with a shop in the back. side entrance door in the front. and maybe a leanto on the one 80' side for wood storage and other equipment. for some reason, I think the wife is going to want an addition on the house before I build this garage, but we'll see. I'm the one doing all the work....... lol

[Ole JIM]

Originally posted by dapgar
If we decide to stay on this property for the long term, i'm going to build a 40x80, maybe 100' if they let me. Radiant floor heat throughout. An office somewhere in the back. My property is longer than it is wide, so I will put the garage doors(two 10'x10') on the 40' front. with a shop in the back. side entrance door in the front. and maybe a leanto on the one 80' side for wood storage and other equipment. for some reason, I think the wife is going to want an addition on the house before I build this garage, but we'll see. I'm the one doing all the work....... lol YEH! I hear YA! on the Work Part! I guess? We all have One of Those?--I do any-Way!--Take Care --Ole JIM--

[Scuba875]

Here is the shop I work out of. It's a friends shop I do some repair work for him and he lets me use the shop in exchange. He uses the building for storage and is only in the shop side 3 months out of a year. This is a great building the shop area is 80'X80" and the storage side is 80'X120'. He is talking about putting on another 200' with a paint booth and sand blast room. It works out great for both of us. I put all the tools in the shop and split the electric and gas. He uses my tools when he needs them and I use the building when I need to.

http://www.alpineamusements.com/graphics/buttons/wqsmall.jpg

[Jerre Heyer]

Does he want to move to Erie???

[Scuba875]

Yeah no kidding it's a great situation for me I could never afford to put up a building this size.

I do a lot for him though. I am just finishing up mounting a 500 kw cat generator in a 28' pup for him that I sound proofed and built a 2,000 gal fuel tank for. I put a Square D I-Line panel and a storage box under the trailer. I also put 4 1,500 W quarts light recessed in the side of the trailer.

This was a big job and he got all the labor for free. It works out good for both of us. He really only needs the place to store his equipment in the winter months and when he does work on his equipment if it's something his guys can't handle I do it for nothing.

I store my boat, rv and service truck there in the winter as well. That alone is worth a lot just to keep that stuff inside and out of the weather.

[Bandit]

Some of You Guy's have some Awesome Shops , I wish I could Be that Lucky .
I was storing Our Party Tents in two 10 X 30 Storage Lockers with only 12 Hr. Access a Day. When a Friend Introduced Me to a Contractor/Farmer that had space for rent ( Very Hard to Find around here ) Just off Rt. 495
I got a 12 X 30 X 10Ft. High Newly Built Shop with a 10 Ft. Door and a BIG Oversized Oil Heater ( turn it on and it's 70 in 15 min. ) for a little more $$ a Month.
Have been working on Customers Air Compressors , repairing My own 4 X 4's and a few clutch jobs in between storms. to pay the bills.
Thinking of getting into Plowing for Myself , Fixing and Selling Plows , Plow Edges, Hydraulic Hoses etc. for next Winter ( the Tent Rental Business gets pretty Slow after Sept.)
Bob
Living in a Duplex and sharing a Driveway , it is really great to have a place to tinker:D

[Scuba875]

Bob a good friend use to own a company called Braun tent rental here in Chicago. It was in his family for years but he found the big corporate companies were getting a lot of the work because of their low prices. They approached him and he sold the business He did big events 100' tents ect do you do big stuff like that or more along the lines of the back yard party size.

Also if you know anyone looking for a big shop compressor I have an Ingersoll Rand Mod # 71T2, it has a 10 hp 3 phase motor. It's a big unit I bought a lot of 3 at an auction and I only need two. What does something like this go for used? I need to get a fitting to hook the head back to the tank but it does work. I was surprised how quiet these units are for their size.


http://scuba875.home.comcast.net/compressor-1.jpg

[GMC Driver]

Just the thing I need - a nice big compressor like that.

[Bandit]

Hi Scuba
I would probly buy something like that around $ 400. to $ 600. or Less. Chk it out and Sell for around $ 1500. Because I would have to warrenty it.
You are right on on Your E-Bay Auction.
The Sullair I am Working on Today (1 1/2 Hrs Ride away) came from E-Bay. I have Rebuilt the air-end , (Bad Bearings ) Put on a New Motor (was 550V ) not the 230V they stated in auction , customer has 200V . Pd almost $5000.
What a Bargin I Love E-Bay. payup payup
What You are Missing is a Vertical Check Valve ( 1 1/4 X 1 in ? ) Allows unit to start with No Load ,Too many Dealers leave out the chk.valve and just use the Valves to Hold Back the Air Pressure , about $ 40.00 at Graingers , But I prefer to use a Kingston. valve ( $90-$120 or more )
As for the Tents , We went after the Small Back Yard Parties 20 x 20 for $200 , 20 x 40 $300 . Word of mouth for 6 yrs. A Lot of Parties , a Couple of Pig Roast , the MBBA ( Ma. Beach Buggies )and a couple of fairs. Have also built a couple of Salt storage tents
In fact , wife took a call last nite for a tent for 100 @ a ShotGun Competition.
We have Donated Tents to the Mass. Jr. Conservation Camp for the last Several Yrs.( a NRA Sponsered Youth Shooting/ Outdoors Camp ) and get a Lot of Leads from that.
Bob
www.partycanopies.com

[Scuba875]

Bob thanks for the info that will help a lot. I figured I paid $1,200 for all three at auction so I thought $400 was fair. These are great units, I run a sandblaster off one and use the other for air tools, air sanders and paint guns. So far so good, I wired the others up with auto drains wired up to a timer set to purge for 10 sec every 5 min. I am not looking to make a killing off this, I just would like to try and recoup the money for that unit.

I thought about keeping it for a back up unit but the thing is so big it just takes up to much space.

[itsgottobegreen]

One that was bought and paid for. I would say at least a 250 x 250 shorage shop and another 100 by 100 work shop complete with over head crane. Plus have Jerre Heyer and Pickering as shop laborers. :rockon

[Got Snow?]

i voted for 30x40 because thats what i built. i put two 9x9 garage doors in. They are ok but I'd suggest 10' wide min or maybe 1 16' wide door. I put a second floor on for a 20x40 bonus (mantown) room. Ceilings are 10' which is good, unless you want a lift.

I bulit mine like a house. (stick frame, insulated) so it gets to be expensive (and time consuming)

There's a ton of room, and yes you fill it up quickly, but with good organization there's plenty of room for storage, working and 2 trucks with blizzards attached!

[cat320]

for a home garage that is a good size .but your right 9' wide doors are way to tight with 30' wide you could of did 2 10' or 12' wide ones.Any pics of the finished garage and the MAN ROOM ?

[jsaunders]

I boult a 32x48 with 12' walls- I also had a 24' door put in. I need more room- I think I'm going to build a lean-to off of one side.
Joel

[S Kennedy]

I have been looking into new building prices over the last few mths.
80x100 for me but if i could afford bigger i would build bigger.
You can never have to much room.
"My wife carn't wait till we start building so she can have some of the garage back to park her car".

[King of Diamonds]

Hi

I have two shops, one is a coomercial garage I use to run my business out of , its a 60'x60' prefab steel building with 14' O/H doors. It is a professional Truck, Auto & Rv collision shop, with a spray booth, lift and frame machine.

My home shop is 26' x 30', heated, plastered, large compressor, welding and full compliment of automotive tools. Kinda like my play-room its painted up like Horsepower TV's set, and very functional.

Both of my shops are nice but you can never build them big enough!, you can never have too much room!

[lorentzlawnsnow]

why does this thread always show up like there are new posts. but there never are?

[Dwan]

why does this thread always show up like there are new posts. but there never are?

Because someone has answered the poll but has not poasted any comments

[Mark Oomkes]

We have a 40X48 right now. Office is about 16X22 inside that so we are really limited on shop space. Throw in a bathroom and storage room and everything's really tight.

I think something in the range of at least 80X100 or 100X100 would be great. I'd probably try to section it off to have some cold storage, maybe have one of those sliding doors to move equipment around without going outside. Walls would have to be pretty high, at least 16' so I can get some nice tall, wide doors installed. I'd go with at least 16' wide maybe even 20 and another small one. Either floor heat or those infrared tube heaters to warm up the equipment fast and melt the snow off. A hoist would be nice as well.

And now that I've woken up from my dream I need to get back to work.

[lorentzlawnsnow]

i am preparing the plans to build a small shop this summer and have to ask you guys to settle an argument for me. i'm going to put a 2 post lift in the garage, and feel it would be best to have a 6 inch floor. my grandpa is arguing that i don't need any more than 4. what's your input?

[GFX]

i am preparing the plans to build a small shop this summer and have to ask you guys to settle an argument for me. i'm going to put a 2 post lift in the garage, and feel it would be best to have a 6 inch floor. my grandpa is arguing that i don't need any more than 4. what's your input?

What size lift are you going with? I used to install them for a living.

[lorentzlawnsnow]

10,000 #. the thing that scares me is the 2 post. i won't have room for a 4 post to disburse the weight.

[GFX]

4" 4000psi would be plenty for that hoist. I've installed them on thinner that that, not that I really wanted to. The base plates are much larger on a 2 post then they are on a 4 post.

I'd recomend a Rotary brand lift. Symetrical arms if your lifting trucks most of the time.

[atgreene]

Heres some pics of where my father works. 36' x 58', heated, bathroom and full upstairs. Excavtor, 1 ton, 75 hp Kubota, RTV and a boat are all inside. 20' front door, 14' rear door. Nice set-up.

[Dwan]

My old shop listed earler is gitting to small so here is what I want to put up this summer. it is 70' x 120' 35' tall in the center w/ 6" cement heated floors

[cat320]

Looks like a great building but I have one question or maybe 2 is the top half a coverit building? and how would you keep the heat in the building with out something beside vinyl to keep the heat inside?

[Dwan]

another brand like coverit Cover-all, the truss system is 4' thick with an inter liner. insulation can be applied between the inter liner and outer sheeting.
this is a different unit but the same princible.

[BrockwayMT]

I also would like in floor heat as of now I heat with waste oil which I charge $1.00 a gal to collect from others.


Wow. I guess that's good if you can get away with it. I give mine to a friend with a waste oil furnace and I keep telling him he should be paying me for the oil. I'd burn the stuff outside in a barrel (done that before) before I paid somebody to take it away. But then I'm cheap like that.

Anyhow the biggest size garage you can have is best. It is never big enough.

[jsaunders]

Well I added to my garage- I had a 32x48 with 12' walls w/24' garage door- on top of that I have a second story with 8' walls (storage)
I've just started to build a "lean to" of of the garage 20x27 with 10'+ walls- this is so I can store all of the winter/summer tires- mowers/equipment-fert...........

Everything fills up to fast.