X2 on the Insulation! I put 100% fireproof Roxul - R42 in the between the 2x12” ceiling joists and R23 in the 2x6” walls, then covered it all with Reflectix foil to reflect heat in the summer to keep the shop cooler! It works great!!! See vid 1 See vid 2
Thanks for the replies. I have plenty of time to think this one over...the earliest I'll be able to get started is probably March.
Lots of good advice here. I'd add to plan on general lighting and put in ceiling outlets so that you can add task lighting where needed. Go LED and go brighter than you think is needed. Also, having a reflective surface above the lights does make a difference. I found that out when I pulled the drywall out of my garage. ceiling. Overhead outlets are nice for freestanding power tools like drill presses, band saws, etc. Consider higher ceilings in case you ever want a vehicle lift. Slope the slab towards the doors if you can for spilled liquids or snow melt.
Have at least two, if not more, overhead doors for work bays. That way you can have one "long-term" project bay, and one for emergency or quick service bay that you can hypothetically keep open for quicky repairs.
Another thing to consider is having a separate room for a compressor, nothing more irritating than listening to one all day long! An exhaust fan of sorts is nice if you do any light painting or staining
I agree.. I have my compressor and dust collector in my storage room on the back of my shop. The dust collector blows everything outside in a small shed that has one open end big enough to get my tractor bucket in. I have a 30 inch belt drive whole house fan in the wall near where I spray finish. Not the most safe thing. I couldn't afford a enclosed motor fan like they have for auto paint rooms at the time. What I have will move some air and is not very loud.
Compressor/dust collector room already on the list. 3 overhead doors...2 on north end....1 on south end. Attic fans in both partitions on list already. I also will build a small, extremely insulated room for hanging deer during warm weather.
Outlets, lighting, insulation. Don't skimp on any, or make it possible to add when funds are caught up. Also if possible make it bigger than you think needed. The last thing you want to do is fit everything in it and 2 years later you need to add on. When I put my shop up it will be 3x the size I think I'll need. Mostly due to I'll be using it to run my business and a plasma table able to cut a 5*10' price of steel takes more than 50square feet. Stuff like that takes A TON of room real quick! I refuse to regret anything when it comes to building it even if it means waiting another year or 2. Not sure your plan but I love the white ribbbed steel lining the inside of shops, super bright, easier to clean than plywood or Drywall, and looks decent. Think about doing a built in shelf around the entire shop? Not sure what the name is for them but I've seen a few, where the bottom 3' or so are set in 6-8" and a shelf on top.
One of the more thoughtfull and creative things I've seen is putting in half inch plate with heavy d rings welded and recessed into the concrete floor.
I have my 27 x 24 garage "just" about set up as good as I am going to get it at this house, not a forever house so I have to keep that in mind at times. But here are a couple of things that I definitely like. My garage isn't full of all my tools and such because I have about a 4000 sq ft shop 20 mins away that is full of everything I need right down the street. -Insulated OSB walls so I can put nails or screws anywhere I want for hanging something. -Wood racks/ Long stacked items hanging from the walls up high so I do not have stacks on the floor -Reflectics on the ceiling for heat and cooling help and light reflection. -Ceiling fan. The one I have is actually a head on each end of the fan "blades" if I am sitting at my bench, I can stop the fan from spinning but it is blowing air on me. Also, I have a buddy with a lot of steel table tops and equipment and just having air moving keeps the tops and equipment from surface rust. -20 amp plug every 4' -Lights on different switches for more or less light and the switches are wired into plugs so I can continue to ad lights as I need. -Wall storage for saws, blowers, weed whackers, gas cans etc. -Good radio #1 most important, just like a building or gun safe, make sure your beer fridge is at least twice as big as you think it should be.
Here is my only question; How much will they tax you on that! Here in NJ they tax you on a Dog house!!!
Most districts that is "mandatory", I was the USCG civilian construction inspector/QA guy for a while and any place of vehicle work require 1" drop per 10ft concrete slope as my memory serves.
Sadly, that's Canada. I have family in St. Johns and they have insane taxes also. I feel for you folks up there.
It's not all bad I guess, I was expecting it, but it still puckers the backside after you open the envelope! There are other areas around here that are way more and way less, but that's life!
My property taxes are under $700 for the year. This shop might add $100 for the year, and it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't change at all. The only record of it existing will be when I pull the building permit. There's no inspection required, and they won't reassess outside of the normal schedule. Nobody from the county will ever officially see it. One of the benefits to living in one of the smallest and poorest counties in the state.
