Building a New Shop, Any Suggestions

[Air&Road]

I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on building a new shop for my upcoming retirement years. I'm in the early planning stages. I want one long bay, big enough to pull the cab on a crew cab long bed and one or two smaller bays with another lift in one of them. I also want an enclosed bay that can serve as a wash bay and a poor boys paint booth. I also want a welding area and a place for my tire machine and wheel balancer. I also want a small office and 1/2 bath.

For those of you with shop experience, what are your suggestions, small or large as to items to think about at this stage of planning?

[t walgamuth]

You gonna go premanufactured or scratch built?

[P.C.]

Just be sure that whatever you come up with comports to applicable land use codes in your community. Putting up an unregulated paint booth might give your environmental protection officials a case of the vapors.

[P.C.]

Are you planning to run the drain from your wash bay into an existing septic tank?

[P.C.]

Any thoughts on the roofing materials? What about colors? Have you decided on the office furniture? Get good sturdy furniture - don't use cheap patio furniture. Heat? If you plan to spray paint items inside the building, you probably don't want open flames in the vacinity.

[P.C.]

I would also have a concrete floor in the shop, as a dirt floor can raise a lot of dust which can ruin the finish on fresh paint.

[P.C.]

Some windows are nice, too. They can allow sunlight in to aid visibility, and serve as a potential escape route if you accidentally create a fire. Speaking of fire, I would also buy and strategically deploy a few fire extinguishers in the shop.

[P.C.]

I assume that you want at least one garage door. My experience with garage doors in shops leads me to recommend the overhead door type, as opposed to doors which are hinged on the side. Make sure that the door is tall enough to allow a 4WD pickup to enter easily. Many garage doors for residential use are borderline in this regard.

[P.C.]

Good wall and roof insulation is a must in a hot climate. It will definitely improve on the habitability of the shop in summer, and reduce any heating needs in the winter.

[P.C.]

Do you plan to install a vehicle lift? If so, plan ceiling heights in that area accordingly.

[P.C.]

Make sure that your plans include ample space for storage. Work areas and offices co-opted for storage can really hamper the utility of a shop.

[P.C.]

I would also make sure that you set the place up for a refrigerator, a microwave and a tv. A workshop can make a handy refuge in the event that the little Missus is on the warpath.

[P.C.]

Assume that you are going to add additional power-consuming devices in the future, and build a little reserve into the design of the electrical service. Also, you can never have too many wall outlets in a shop.

[P.C.]

A vehicle service pit would be a good idea if you plan to do a lot if work on vehicles. You just have to be careful not to accidentally step into an open pit.

[P.C.]

Don't stint on workbenches! I've never heard anyone complain that their workbench was too sturdy and well-built.