What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Shop building advice, pointers & tips

MTMike

MTMike

1/2 ton status
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Posts
2,987
Reaction score
0
Location
Billings, Montana
Hey guys,

Building my new house and part of the house is a 40x60 pole-barn shop. Wondering what people have for suggestions.

Here's what I've got so far:
- Radiant floor heat with PEX coils under the slab, a LPG-fired tankless water heater, a pump and a manifold. (I will insulate it later)
- 220V power
- 3 12x12 doors 2 on 1 side, one on the other for a drive-thru capability.

5536_1055480962039_1676286673_118436_4978949_n.jpg

5536_1055481042041_1676286673_118437_3397055_n.jpg


Thoughts, suggestions, comments?
 
If the brown is the road I would get it further away then that

Why not put it behind the house and off the side ?
 
Sorry, I forgot to mention a man door, but 2 would be better..... one on each side. Good suggestion.

The brown is a gravel road, yes, but there's only 1 house beyond me on the road, so it's kind of like a rural cul-de-sac. I will still probably set it back further from the road than I have in this rendering.

As for the radiant heat in the driveway, I've just barely got my wife convinced of the cost of the heat in my shop, and I'm certainly not going to press the issue of the driveway with her..

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
The extra cost to do the drive way is goin gto be minimal and the pay off in the winter is worth every penny. I would do the whole house if you can swing it nothing like walking on to a warm barthroom floor in the morning.
 
How many acres or lots are you sitting on? If its a bit, I'd move the shop further away from the house so as not to ruin the curb appeal. Being so close to the house makes it look "cluttered" or "gaudy", so I'd put it back a bit more.
 
separate power to the building with a 400 amp panel. I am so glad I did that. I even have it as an agricultural meter, so cost is minimal. $30 a month bill max.
 
remember that LPG gives off a lot of condensation if not vented. Does the water heater mean you will have hot/cold water in the shop?
Think about A/C.....I love mine in the shop. think about overhead storage, and plan trusses for load bearing capability.
 
I built a separate room in the shop for fab work to keep the vehicles clean. Did not loose any floor space because it has stairs to the top.

Fab room
DSCF0008.jpg

DSCF0007.jpg

DSCF0006.jpg

DSCF0004.jpg


A lift is a must.
DSCF0041.jpg

DSCF0040.jpg

DSCF0039.jpg
 
I always dreamed of having an in-wall cooler (like a gas station) for beer or what have you, but the cost would probably be prohibitive. :crazy:

x2 on running a separate electrical service for the shop.

I GC'd three 50' x 100' pole buildings and we ran 110 outlets and air chucks to every other pole just so tenants wouldn't have to stretch long extension cords and air lines everywhere. On shops that got lifts we also dropped air chucks down from the truss so you'd have a hookup right there next to the rig.

A bathroom with a big utility sink is a must IMO.

I'd sure love to have one, myself. :D:doah::(
 
Last edited:
I hate it when ktm posts up pics of his shop. His seperate fab room is bigger, nicer, and better equiped than my whole garage. :rolleyes: :D
 
Thanks for the suggestions! All good ones. I probably should have mentioned that my budget for the shop is roughly $20k (out of the construction loan for the house), so pretty much I have enough money for concrete, frame, truss and a steel shell and a little bit extra for the home-brewed heating system.

I like the idea of separate power service. I"ll find out from the contractor if that's feasable and what the cost may be.

I'm not planning on putting water service out there because I would then HAVE to keep it heated all winter long. The radiant heat will be a closed-loop coolant/antifreeze system.

thatK30guy: we're on 20 acres, but the property is split by the road. There is roughly 2 acres on the east side of the road (1-acre usable) and that is where we're building the house, due to the location of the well, power, phone and views. The other 18 is going to be horse pasture and barn in the future. It will be further form the house than it looks in the rendering, but I do want to keep it in fairly close proximity so that it's easy to move tools and stuff between the attached garage and the shop.

Thanks for the suggestions and keep 'em coming! Just because I can't do them now doesn't mean it cant happen in the future :)
 
My shop is 30x50with 12' ceilings AND YES a shower and craper is a must.If your place is like mine wife and kids want the hot water for themselves.Fine I go to the shop.Go and run you some cable or wire from your sat. box
 
The extra cost to do the drive way is goin gto be minimal and the pay off in the winter is worth every penny.
Click to expand...
I would guess it would cost a small fortune in Montana to keep the drive melted off with LP.
 
I have only heard good things about infloor heat, but haven't experianced it myself yet. But, when I build my shop (40x60 also) I plan on dividing it up. One 40x40 room and one 40x20. I only plan on heating the 40x40 section to try and be more efficient. I also plan on using a wood stove though. In that 40x40 area I plan on having a lift, weld table, benchs, grinder, drill press, etc... I plan on putting the air compressor in the smaller section and plumbing the air in. I problably don't even need the heated area to be that big, I get by just fine with my two car garage. My shop/barn will mainly be used for storage of my toys.

Having a fridge/microwave/oven would be nice. The oven could be used to do your own powder coating. A tv/good sound system is always a plus too. And more lights than you think you'll need, I can't stand to work in a dark garage.
 
I have worked in a shop with a heated floor it was awesome, warm all the time and where you needed, and not blowing in your face.
 
Power and air every 4ft along the walls

good drainage

its nice to have power and air In floor as well with an access cover



You'll love in floor heat
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom