Thread: Thoughts on the layout for my new shop???

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Shop layout looks good Mike...Good luck with it...I just did a reconstruction on my shop...If you really want to customize it, you got to check out this company I ordered from www.americangarage.com...They have everything...I even got my cabinets from them... It came out really great, I couldn't be happier

Well, I started this thread a bit over a year ago, and tomorrow they break ground to get the pad poured.

I had actually planned on having the pad poured by now but things got pushed back a bit. The floor plan will be what is shown above and 11 Skylights will be added. The final decision on the building construction will be that it will have a trussed shingled roof and the walls will be the corrugated metal like the storage sheds shown in a couple of the background pictures.

Yes basically it will look like a barn That was a conscious decision on my part. One it will look right in place on the property with the horse stables and such, and two who would break into a barn (unless you know what’s in there).

The building itself will probably not actually go up for 18-24 months. This is getting built as I can afford to pay for it. As it is now, I can pay all my bills with my retirement and if my job went away I would still make it, I COULD get a loan and have the whole thing up in 6 months but then I would HAVE to have a job to pay it off.

Anyway if you haven’t guessed I’m pretty excited the first phase is almost underway.

Sounds like a heck of a good plan to me, Mike!!!! All the fun of having a big, fancy shop can sure be soured at the 1st of the month when you have to come up with that big payment!!!!!! Be patient, pay as you go is a heck of a good idea!!!!!

Ummmm... Don't ask me how I learned that, ok?????

Mike I have been finishing concrete for 30 years if you decide to coat your floor do not have finishers cure it with cure this will alow the paint or epoxy coating to stick there are a number of coating we use water soluable, oil base and epoxy all work well. Another thing to think about is expansion joints you can have finshers cut in with jointer at time of pour like city sidewalk or they can what we call soft cut with a saw witch just leaves a small cut in concrete that can be filled with silicone later makes it eaiser to role around tool box or creeper with out getting stuck in joints just some things to think about much eaiser to coat floor when new than waiting also floor has to cure or dry for 2 to 3 weeks before coating is applied. have to let concrete cure.
I am with bob on coating floor much better lasts alot longer loooks good and not that expensive. Also wait untill building is up to coat floor that way any scratchs from framing can be fixed before coating is applied sounds like great shop enjoy. One more thing are finishers going to hand trowel or burn floor in with machine just curious I like to burn them with machine and soft cut joints.

I agree with Bob Lots of lights and recepticals plugs.
I've got about 40 recepticals and thats almost not enough for my little back yard shop.
I've got one 250v line and I should have run three of those.
One for the compressor, one for my welders { 3 }, and one for my metal lathe.
I keep having to switch everything, Plug and uplug, what a pain in the butt.
I've got 12 four foot double bulb florecent lights for my shop that is only 60 x 15.
I was told that there was not a Roll up door that was hurrican approved so I had to put in a regular double door till after the inspection. He did put in a longer header over the doors so after the inspection I could knock out a little wall on each side of the doors and put in a roll up door like I wanted. Gotta keep those inspectors happy. Kurt

The attached picture is of the bench at my house, it shows how I build them..... no legs touching the floor. The front leg (blue 2x4) is bolted into the wall along with the back of the bench. Makes for easy cleanup. And easier to store engines

When I had my big shop I did the same thing. I also hung old metal file drawers to underside of the bench where I stored my power tools, books and other items I didn't want to get dirty.

Mark, I really don't know enough about concrete to even know what to ask for so I took the easy way out and hired a contractor who has a very good reputation and who I feel comfortable with

Any way over the last week and a half or so they dug the footer, leveled and compacted and then poured the slab. They did machine finish it and I guess they did what you call soft cut the day after it was poured.

I hear you on keeping the inspectors happy Kurt. I guess there were 3 inspections already just for the pad. I'm going to be doing most of my own wiring (partially because I'm cheap and partially because I enjoy doing it). They still need an electrical plan on this but what I think they’ll get and what will be done for the final inspection will be 1 light and a switch to turn it on and off (yeah, it just for storage yeah, that's it )

I like your idea Tom but the current plan I have is to build bench tops on some existing drawered and shelved cabinets I have for about 1/2 the benches, and the other will have 4 legs with a shelf underneath for some small stuff.

Anyway this was what went on in the arena over the last week and a half or so.

Thats funny Mike, thats what mine is being used for too. { Storage }.
HE! HE! HE! Kurt

I agree with keeping 2 and 4 post. And I would recommend floor heat and floor coating.

I am re-looking the floor coating thing, but am still up in the air aobut it.

As far as floor heat, it does get chilly here, but on those days I think I'll probably be just hang out in the office (which will be heated).

Speaking of cold, we are under a "Winter Storm Warning" here today, some light showers and 60 degree high.

Thats not a garage, its heaven

Originally Posted by Mike P

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