New Garage / Shop Construction "Advice"

[Mike V]

All,

I'm getting ready to break ground on a new garage and shop at my house within the next couple of months.  I've been planning this thing for over 15 years dodging and prioritizing between 2nd story addition, daughter's tuitions, daughter's wedding and all the other daddy debris that goes along with that subject - the list is too long to mention.

My plans are to perform an existing pool in-fill, existing garage demo and new garage / shop structure at 28' x 30' with a 16' wide roll-up door.  I wanted to have double doors but the cost of extending my existing driveway opening is just not cost-effective for me here in the city of San Diego.  If I told you how difficult and expensive it is to get anything done here you would swear I was lying. I'm also building a bathroom in the structure and plan to run coax, Wi-Fi, 220, skylights, large double wash basin, outlets up the wazoo and enough lighting to cause retina burn.  My home away from home to continue restoration projects if you know what I mean.

I'm reaching out to any of you for advice from those who have any personal first-hand experience on recent personal property shop construction and the subject of ... "wish I would have" ...  that is; within reason and financial ability.  My target is a good efficient working structure without "bling".

-Mike V.

[montmil]

Libation area with ice, small bar sink, fridge, 2-3 bar stools, appropriate glassware, flat screen, etc...

Anything is is small potatoes.

 [smiley=beerchug.gif] Mongo approved

[thrang]

Make sure to put a hidden stash box big enough to hold a wee bottle of the finest Scottish inspiration, or in the case of my shed so its available to warm my belly in the depths of winter!

[Mike V]

Tony,

Great idea, I'm also planning on a fridge and safe box pored into the foundation - to keep my NLA parts in a safe place. My sipping bourbon seems be evaporating in the house.

Mongo - a flat screen is in the plans.

I'm planning on drywall interior, wondering about rolling or fixed work benches and if peg board would be a good idea strategically placed on a few walls.

-M

[marcmax]

My only recommendation would be that before anything is put in place have a good concrete finisher float a good epoxy floor over the concrete floor. They can color it, decorate it and do just about anything you want to it and it will be impervious to anything you spill, oil. fuel or the occasional misplaced glass of spirits.

[thrang]

I keep a board of 3x3 ft 3 ply behind my work bench, and some long tacks, ideal for building wiring looms on.  

[montmil]

My only recommendation would be that before anything is put in place have a good concrete finisher float a good epoxy floor over the concrete floor. They can color it, decorate it and do just about anything you want to it and it will be impervious to anything you spill, oil. fuel or the occasional misplaced glass of spirits.

Just so long as it is not a slippery surface finish. Bust your ass in a New York Minute!

At least one solidly anchored bench would be nice to have. One of mine is 3 ft x 8 ft with a 3/4" MDF top treated to six coats of polyurethane. Easy to keep clean and when it gets too banged up, I can remove the countersunk drywall screws and fit a new top inside the 1x2 top frame.

Everything else in my shop has wheels, most with foot-operated wheel locks.

Knowing your excellent craftsmanship, Mike V, we will demand progress photos. Don't make us go all Viking on you. And that soon to be departed pool? Crunch Crenshaw dreams of doing the same with his money pit.

[Mike V]

My only recommendation would be that before anything is put in place have a good concrete finisher float a good epoxy floor over the concrete floor. They can color it, decorate it and do just about anything you want to it and it will be impervious to anything you spill, oil. fuel or the occasional misplaced glass of spirits.  

Marcmax,

Great idea, in fact I'm currently having one of my decks done with epoxy coating and I'm pretty happy with the process. Will be a must for the garage surface.

-M

[Justin B.]

Take your planned outlets and double them.  When I built my shop I put a duplex outlet every four feet and figgered that was more than enough - WRONG!  I should have put an outlet on every stud.  Instead of sheetrock I used roof decking (waferboard) on walls and ceiling and painted the entire interior light grey.  With the waferboard I can drive in a nail and have it reliably hold thing that don't weigh a lot.

I went in with 2x8 ceiling joists with no trusses so I have plenty of attic storage as it's completely floored.

[Luca]

Put a urinal in the bathroom and an "attic fan" somewhere up high for good ventilation.

If you're going to use much compressed air, now would be a good time to design a small, insulated closet that you can put the compressor in.  Some folks even run the compressor intake to the great outdoors for further noise reduction, though I'd be worried about the humidity.  It's very convenient to lay your shop air plumbing alongside your electrical wiring/outlets.

Don't forget to leave some floor space for tool/vehicular expansion.

Lots of fire extinguishers!

[raven]

What is your door opening height and floor to ceiling height? Can you fit a full size hoist? Your door height adequate to fit a van inside? I built a large door opening to my garage but found out later that we are limited to the height for fitting a caravan in.

[BPT]

I was beaten to it but I was going to say tons of electrical outlets as well. High and low and a few in the ceiling makes it convenient.

Also, it depends how it will be situated, but another method of access besides the main roll up door.  If not another roll up, a large single or  some double doors to get stuff in and out from a different direction.