Everyone else who has posted on this thread have politely offered suggestions about a proposed shop as requested and set aside their feelings about me to make such suggestions and comments, and I very much appreciate it. I would like to politely request that you follow their lead so we can talk about shops and not have to move the thread to ODPR. Thank you.

Use a good quality exterior paint - don't settle for the cheap stuff!

You should call the production company of one of those home improvement realty shows, and see if they would do a few episodes with you!

Think about what you think is more then adequate for space, then double it. Cost differental between a 2500sq/ft building a 5000sq/ft one is fairly small until you break grown. Make sure it's tall enough for a 2 post lift and think about insulation.

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With best regards

Al

Maybe make it a two-story structure and create an apartment to rent on the second floor!

That's what I did. Two levels of garage for up to 5 cars with grade level access.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

So what happens to the "old" shop? If I'm not mistaken, I seen to recall you mentioning it being equipped with a lift and more than most retirees would have.

Sounds like you are planning on starting an automotive repair business.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

I have an insulated 70 foot x 30 foot workshop with an 8 x 28 front rooll-up door. It is already too small and I haven't retired yet.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

You have a good memory Mike.

I actually currently have two buidings other than the house. The one i currently use as a car shop has a 9000 pound assymetcal lift. It is getting crowded and is an adaption of an old hay barn that I poor boyed together when we started rolling hay instead of square baling. It is flimsy and ventilated like, of all things, a hay barn. It has served my purposes well for over ten years now. Before that i used another building that was low ceilinged and is now vehicle storage.

Rather than go over my hobby and business plans on this forum where some people seem to want to criticize anything I do, I will just say that I will have my old lift in one bay and a 12,000 pound extra wide, extra tall lift in a long bay.

To answer and respond to some of the questions and comments that were kindly offered when I requested them:

I will be scratch building, farming out the slab and dirt work and the septic system and then a friend and I will build the building.

I have indeed considered floor and height for the lifts. I am not sure yet if I will insulate and air condition. I have roughed it in non climate controlled shops since I was a little kid in my Dad's auto repair shop of the fifties.

Thanks for all the feedback. Many things I have already considered, but there have been a few suggestions that will be incorporated. Thanks and please keep them coming.

Hay bale adobe might be worth a look for excellent thermal performance...assuming you will control temp.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Look at a steel building. It's been my experience the they are comparable in price to traditional construction, but last longer. You can also have wider and stronger spans in the middle without the need for support posts that can get in the way. You can insulate the interior with basic foam, or build internal walls and fill with traditional insulation. They last a long time.

Personally, twin Quonset huts would work for me, joined together in between by an enclosed pass through, about 8 foot wide. However, I don't think the neighbors would care for the look.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Tom, about 25 or so years ago, I saw a house come together beginning with hay bales stacked and then Adobe or some such material around that. Is that what you are referring to? The house is still standing and being lived in.

The common shop construction in this area is steel, and that is probably I will do, but that doesn't mean I am committed to it yet. What are the advantages to this method beyond the thermal efficiency? Is it significantly less expensive to build?

I'd also recommend looking at steel buildings. I don't have firsthand experience but I have heard they are cheap, quickly and easily constructed for the money. Might depend what weather you're up against (insulation and heating costs, etc). I do envy you guys who have a lot of space, around here it's more buying commercial property than constructing a new building on private property. Interested in hearing what you settle on, keep us posted.


Sent from an abacus

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I was quoted about 25k for a fully constructed 30x40 steel structure including pad. Of course i needed to provide a fully cleared base and no trees or roots in a heavily wooded area, so price would go up, but i waa told it was a 2 day construction process once the slab was down which is real attractive.

Larry could take a long weekend and come home to a fully built structure if he went with one of these national companies.

It seems pole barns are the cheapest and almost as fast, but they seem like a 30 year structure with wood right in the dirt. Id avoid that personally

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It does sound really attractive. The only thing I would wonder is what the quality of those buildings generally is... living in a poorly-constructed house makes me wary of cheap builders in general.

That SO would not fly in MA...

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."