Greetings again, seeking garage/shop construction advice

[aarond]

I haven't logged on in quite some time. I hope the regulars are doing well, hopefully some new folks too, I've enjoyed this group for going on two decades. As I'm currently deployed again I don't have any audio related projects going on but I do have some questions on a topic that I hope at least some of you are familiar with. My wife bought a new to us house a last month, it's something we talked about for quite a while and in those discussions it was agreed that if the house didn't come with a shop then it would need the space to build one. While exact dimensions still need to be determined the footprint will be in the neighborhood of 30x50.

I have zero experience in planning such a space, in the past I've been happy to drag lots of tools out of my way to crowded garage and work in my very sloped driveway when the extremes of the midwest weather permitted. My biggest concern in the planning stage is to try and take into consideration details that would be impossible/expensive to add later that were overlooked in the planning/building stage. The problem is that I don't know what I don't know.

Any advice for a newb? I'm particularly interested in thoughts regarding heating and lighting but I am also concerned about the entire picture.

Thanks,
Aaron

[tomzarbo]

Someone on this board just documented their outbuilding project within the past year or so. Lots of good info on that thread as I recall, interesting to read as well.
TomZ

[andykriech]

Yeah, Tom, that is the same i was thinking about....Pole Barn or something like that.
Very ambitious project on his own.

There are also quite a few woodworking periodicals that pertain to shop building (though usually in a garage).
Heating, cooling, lighting and dust collection would be important to consider in the planning stages.

Andy.

[jhollander]

Some things you can't get later... High ceilings, Wide opening garage door, Good access to the driveway for loading, unloading, and backing the trailer. Electrical service to support a 200 amp panel for a shop that big. Gas service line for your heater. Internet service. Good insulation with decent finished walls and ceilings. I'm a fan of white painted drywall. Think about water and sewer service. Windows, it's not fun to work in shop without windows. LED strip lights vacuums, dust collectors, and ventilation can all come later.

I have a friend who did auto shop where he made sure his lift and A-frame gantry would fit. He also thickened the concrete floor to about 6 inches for mounting the lift. Some guys like a wash bay with sloping floors to a drain vs.out the door.

My shop is a 12 x 20 foot space in the basement. I have the opportunity to move to a garage shop, but with all the hassles of moding the garage I'm going to build another basement shop for the convenience.

[dawnut]

I recommend a ductless heating/cooling system. I used one in my garage/shop.Looks like you need about 24,000 btu for 1500 sq ft space.

[tomzarbo]

Found it.

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/forum/tech-talk-forum/67345-ot-new-shop

TomZ

[ugly woofer]

I would consider in floor heating to be a must and possibly in floor dust collection. I saw under floor dust collection once in a commercial shop.....fantastic!

[Psycoacoustics]

220/240 volt OUTLETS! I could have had this done when my house was being built, would have been cheaper! Had to add it recently and am still kicking myself!

AND,,,,, good DUST collection as was mentioned above.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes. Mark

[tomzarbo]

Just thinking, though it's not too hard to do afterwards...

...but I'd love to have built in air lines with lots of quick-connect hookups and have the compressor anywhere but where I'm working.

Maybe put it in it's own dedicated insulated, isolated, segregated and otherwise 'elsewhere' cubby so you can enjoy what you're doing without feeling like you're working literally inside a Harley Davidson engine running at full bore.

It might be relevant to do beforehand if you're planning on doing more finished walls or such. I've seen a lot of 'kits' at Northern Tool's online, at least for some ideas.

TomZ

[Psycoacoustics]

Just thinking, though it's not too hard to do afterwards...

...but I'd love to have built in air lines with lots of quick-connect hookups and have the compressor anywhere but where I'm working.

Maybe put it in it's own dedicated insulated, isolated, segregated and otherwise 'elsewhere' cubby so you can enjoy what you're doing without feeling like you're working literally inside a Harley Davidson engine running at full bore.

It might be relevant to do beforehand if you're planning on doing more finished walls or such. I've seen a lot of 'kits' at Northern Tool's online, at least for some ideas.

TomZ

Good call! Compressed air where you need it is a good thing! I have it in my garage but it's just for filling tires. I don't have the CFM to run air tools or a paint sprayer. And yes, compressors are LOUD!

However, my Harley is music to my ears! An air compressor,,,,, not so much. As Tom said, put dat bitc# in it's own room. LOL!

[dynamo]

Minimum 100A 240v service, as many outlets as you think you ever will need plus 10!, lights lights and more lights, outlets in the ceiling for cord reels, hard compressed air lines with multiple connection points, water gas and Cat5/6 run underground, heated floor, 12’ ceilings for a hoist if you ever want it, room in attic upstairs storage, white steel interior for fire resistance and brightness.

[dynamo]

Good call! Compressed air where you need it is a good thing! I have it in my garage but it's just for filling tires. I don't have the CFM to run air tools or a paint sprayer. And yes, compressors are LOUD!

However, my Harley is music to my ears! An air compressor,,,,, not so much. As Tom said, put dat bitc# in it's own room. LOL!

The only compressors that are annoyingly loud are the ever popular oil-less ones, which have half the life of oil units. Buy a good large dual stage unit and mount it in an insulated room. Thank yourself later.

[isaeagle4031]

For an air compressor, consider a unit from California air. Really quiet, efficient, and just plain great gear. i have a smaller portable unit for when I am doing trim work inside and it does a fantastic job.

In floor heating is great if you can do it. With a shop that size, I would break it down into zones though. Why heat 1500sq ft if you are using a 1/3 of that? High ceilings are great, 10ft at least. LED lightning of course. I prefer to keep the lights close to the ceiling and use 5000k.

[scottvalentin]

How many tools really need 240v? I am in the early stages of a home build and have the in-floor heat for the garage and had planned just to do a few 20amp circuits for the workshop. In my thinking I just need to be able to run the dust collector and one other tool at the same time. My table saw is 120v, planer is 120v. What would be 240v?

[dynamo]

How many tools really need 240v? I am in the early stages of a home build and have the in-floor heat for the garage and had planned just to do a few 20amp circuits for the workshop. In my thinking I just need to be able to run the dust collector and one other tool at the same time. My table saw is 120v, planer is 120v. What would be 240v?

Better to have it and not need it..

i use use it for my welder and planer