[pi71]

Ok our house is almost done and i m looking to put in my shop. im not gonna ask size because that is an age old argument..but. what do you guys prefer?
1. wood based shop either it be pole barn or just 2x4 contruction
2. metal based shop. if so which type round pole type or 4x4 metal
3. ROOF. tall roof? slanted slightly. loft for parts? it will definetly have an outdoor covered area to work outside as well.

some of you current shop owners chime in here..

[forestrytodd]

My shop (24x30) is 2x4 construction on a slab with 9 ft celing. The rafters are redy built trusses and a shengel (sp) roof. Vinal sided. I built it this way because it was cheep to do and could put it up quick.

Here is my complaints...........celing to low to install a lift, hard to store anyting in the attic, installed standard garge doors that were not wide enough to get the new trailer inside (clearance priced doors ).

Other than that I love the shop. The studs offer plenty of places to attach cabnets (from the kitchen remodel), peg board, and shelves. Love the floor, easy to clean and great to work on.

If I built it again it would have a taller celing and some type loft or better attic space for storage (the wife keeps wanting to put stuff in there). And as any one with a home shop will tell you, You can't build it big enough, just build what is in your budget!

[OneMoreTime]

My minimum 2 car garage would be 28 by 28 with 10 foot walls a 16ft wide door that is 9 ft high..That will give you enough to work in and will not bend the budget too bad..I have found that 0ne really needs 14' wide service bays in order to easily get around a car on a lift or jack-stands with an engine hoist..Depending on climate I may even go to a 2x6 wall stud so I can have R-19 wall insulation and R-38 ceiling insulation..Of course you can add on a carport area for covered parking and storage..

if possible use the same sort of siding, trim and roof on the garage as on the house so it looks like it belongs there..helps with resale

Sam

[loctite]

I just finished my garage about 2 months ago. The county would only let me have 1000 sq feet so its 25x40 with 10 foot walls and custom made trusses to give it a 14 foot inside hight. I'm only on a 1/2 arce lot so I didn't want to push my luck and build it larger. this county will make you tear it down if over the size. I wanted a 40 x 40. It is 2x4s and hardy plank siding. Its a little more cost but i went with 2x4x 10s to get the inside hight to have a 4 post lift. The lift works great with plenty of hight room. You can have your trussed custom made for not alot of money to give you another 4 and half feet inside hight. I have 3 garage doors and 1 walk thru. I wanted 9x8 but the cost was out of sight! About $1000 more for 3 doors to go another foot tall. I settled fro 9x7. I did all the work myself but the concrete. I used 34 yards to fill a 50x 40 area. A parking space in front is worth it. I plumed the shop with steel pipe for my compressed air and wired 220 plugs for my welders. It also has 2 exhaust fans with fillters that works great when painting. welding fumes and car fumes. The cupolas on the roof is where the exhaust vents.

[schnitz]

Loctite, would you mind putting up a shot of the truss design you have? You know what they say about curiosity. It's a nasty little thing..


In a while, Chet.

[loctite]

. I had all the trussed and the 2 end truss 24 on center custom made to my building delivered 55 miles from thier shop for $1400. Thats my 51 merc on the lift. The lift is all the way up. I had to redo the garage door so the lift would go up all the way.

[Countilaw]

Rule #1 Build it twice as big as you think you'll need.
Rule #2 Build a little room outside the shop for your air compressor.
Rule #3 11 ft ceiling for installation of future lift.
Rule #4 Each bay door should be a single douple car garage door roll up.
Rule #5 Have at least one drain in the middle of the floor.
Rule #6 Dedicate one corner for a future paint booth.

And most important----- a refrigerator for storing the cool ones in.

Frank

[NEW INTERIORS]

Originally Posted by Countilaw

Rule #1 Build it twice as big as you think you'll need.
Rule #2 Build a little room outside the shop for your air compressor.
Rule #3 11 ft ceiling for installation of future lift.
Rule #4 Each bay door should be a single douple car garage door roll up.
Rule #5 Have at least one drain in the middle of the floor.
Rule #6 Dedicate one corner for a future paint booth.

And most important----- a refrigerator for storing the cool ones in.

Frank

Rule #1 Build it twice as big as you think you'll need. This is a very important thing to remember.''IT WILL NEVER BE TO BIG.''

[schnitz]

From the view you put up, it looks like the trusses are "there enough" structurally to not allow any unwanted movement in high winds. Which was my primary "focus of concern"... Thanks for the pictures.


In a while, Chet.

[loctite]

The trusses are made by a place that this is all they do. They are by code and will take high winds and snow weight. There is a name for this type of truss and the way its made but I can't think of it now.With the 10 foot walls it gives me a 14 1/2 to top center. at a 7-12 pitch.

[sharpe427]

I built mine to 40x40, 12' inside. Steel span roof trusses, 6" thick reinforced concrete floor (just about min. for a lift) and walls of split faced concrete block (no painting, great insulation and lasts forever). I added an oversized shower with a large bathroom to change in so you can keep your cars and house CLEAN. Installed a walled office. Heated and air conditioned the whole shop (musts in TX for a 365/24/7). I also paid a little extra and had drains installed in the slab, going into a separator tank so the city would leave me alone and I could keep the work areas spotless. Added a loft over the office and machine (mill and lathe) room for storage. Added satellite dish, internet and phone on a bundled service as soon as I could in my area and would not go back to land line stuff. Single best add was having the floor epoxy coated by a professional. Worth every penny and has a lifetime warranty. Makes the floor very easy to clean, or spot nuts/bolts/tools/spills/etc..Also is much less slick in inclement weather than plain concrete. Ditto on the fridge, add a microwave and a small sink. Put 110v electric at work height (4') every 6' around the perimeter. Add 220v every other outlet for welders, etc.