[skunkwerks]

Starting to get things ready for a new shop build.

30X50X12 with a cross-draft paint booth.
Getting ready for the concrete and new driveway in the next few weeks.
Trying to decide on what type of building to get. Red-iron vs Cold formed or
a web truss design.
Red-iron is the best but is a little expensive right now. I want to save some money for the paint booth set-up, lifts and HVAC system.
Anyone have experience with the other two types? whom you ordered them from and your likes or dislikes. lead time issues and product reviews.
Any feedback is welcome

So many choices and companies.

[RocktimusPryme]

Go overboard on lighting. I feel like every basic garage/shop has bad lighting. Other than raising the ceilings that the is one thing about mine I wish I had better quality is light.

[grandam1979]

Congratulations on the new building I have a 30x45 only thing I can say is I wish it was a little bigger. I know cost is a factor always but I wish I had gone 40x60. As said good lighting is a plus and lots of outlets around the room. The thing I messed up was no drains in the floor especially if you park a driver vehicle in it.

[triathlonx13]

Suggestions as mented earlier
Good quality LED lights
Add 30 or 50 amp outs for hi amp welding/plasma.
Out side 30 amp outlet for RV.
Good R factor instalation.
Sight build with consideration of add ons and lean-to

Good luck

[johns]

Radiant floor heating if budget allows.

[70oldgoat]

If budget allows...
You can't build it big enough...
Most don't like windows for security reasons, I like mine. They provide cross ventilation.
Alarm the building.
Hot/cold water.
As mentioned; floor drains, lots of lighting, you can't have too many electrical outlets, insulation.
1/2 bath.
Seal the concrete floor (but, it can get slick if you're not careful)
Space for a small desk/chair.
Outside water and electrical outlets.

[fyrffytr1]

I wish I had installed a wall mounted urinal inside a small room. Just big enough for the urinal and a sink. But, if you go with a septic system you can put in a toilet.And, yes on the lighting, not only ceilings but walls, especially lower walls. I would like to put a split A/C unit in, but for now I use a whole house fan mounted in the ceiling and a swamp cooler fan by the shop door

[skunkwerks]

Originally Posted by johns

Radiant floor heating if budget allows.

I am soaked with the paint booth set-up already and all that entails.
would be a nice option.

Do you have that in your shop?

[skunkwerks]

Originally Posted by 70oldgoat

If budget allows...
You can't build it big enough...
Most don't like windows for security reasons, I like mine. They provide cross ventilation.
Alarm the building.
Hot/cold water.
As mentioned; floor drains, lots of lighting, you can't have too many electrical outlets, insulation.
1/2 bath.
Seal the concrete floor (but, it can get slick if you're not careful)
Space for a small desk/chair.
Outside water and electrical outlets.

Yes to the Windows for the cross ventilation for a few months here in Texas.
Yes to the Alarm
Concrete will get epoxy coated.

The outside Electrical and water slipped my mind. Thanks for the heads up.
Hopefully I should have some room for a desk and chair with a TV and stereo system.

[skunkwerks]

Originally Posted by fyrffytr1

I wish I had installed a wall mounted urinal inside a small room. Just big enough for the urinal and a sink. But, if you go with a septic system you can put in a toilet.And, yes on the lighting, not only ceilings but walls, especially lower walls. I would like to put a split A/C unit in, but for now I use a whole house fan mounted in the ceiling and a swamp cooler fan by the shop door

I may have to just tinkle out the rear door for a year or so until I can get one installed.

A/C is a must here in Texas. That is what's soaking up part of the budget.
That and a big ass fan in the ceiling.

[Elarson]

Check your zoning regulations. I built my big garage without running water or bathroom so it would be taxed at the low "agricultural storage building" rate. If it had water and bathroom, it would have been taxed at residential living space rates.

Extra height is cheap in case you want tall doors for trucks, motorhomes or to add a lift.

Lots of good suggestions in the other posts.

Oh, and build it higher than the surrounding terrain so the site sheds rain.

Eric

[johns]

Originally Posted by skunkwerks

I am soaked with the paint booth set-up already and all that entails.
would be a nice option.

Do you have that in your shop?

No-I've got a gas heater. I don't have a/c either but I use fans and dehumidifiers. It works good enough for me except on those really hot days. Best of luck!

[400 4spd.]

If you're in the market for a compressor, check out this company. I'm extremely satisfied with the one I bought 12 years ago, and it runs every day.

https://eatoncompressor.com/product-...nid=1673323435

[triathlonx13]

Ceiling fans, heat, and A/C a must (if budget allows. - 40 x 60 in minimum... wish we did that! 32x32 is just enough ... but....

[dataway]

My biggest advice would be to try to honestly assess how you will use the shop. Is it a showroom for hanging out with friends, is it a working shop, is it a use case where you can just say nah, don't feel like working when it's hot or cold, or do you HAVE to get work done in it in any weather.

How tall do you really NEED it. Bear in mind you have to heat, cool and light that extra volume.

What kind of interior wall surface do you need? Plywood is VERY convenient for mounting things. Do you really need a glossy smooth floor, it's a substantial cost.

A biggie is don't imagine building a Jay Leno garage on a pole barn budget. In the long run you'd be better served by floor space than fine finishes.

Don't skimp on the slab, minimum 6" 3,000 psi fiber concrete.

In a high wind location keep the height as low as possible.

As others have said, make sure you have a proper ground grade down and away from the building. Install gutters.

Situations will vary, but if possible, wire outlets and lights yourself, it's not rocket science and it's VERY expensive to pay for this.

If you plan to heat or cool, spring for the insulation.

Even running LED lights for any substantial hours a day can get expensive, in my case about 1 kw per hour. My advice here differs from most. Light the shop well enough to see like a normal room, in most cases where you need extra light, underhood, in fender wells, under the car etc. no amount of overhead light will do anyway, build a bad-ass light panel and use that instead of lighting the whole shop at operating room levels. My shop is 40x60x12 and if you forget and leave the lights on for a couple of days you WILL notice it on your bill. All my benches have their own "undershelf" lighting (they are pallet racks, so the light for a bench is attached to the underside of the shelf above). I can go in at night and just turn on the bench lights for detail work without having to light the whole shop.

Again, be very honest with yourself about what you NEED compared to what you WANT.

I thought I was going to have a cool showroom/garage shop, turns out I have to work on filthy tractors, skid steer, excavator, mowers, wood projects, welding projects etc. I still love it, but it's not a museum.

To be honest, my favorite kind of shop ... a 50 year old barn with a good floor, lots of character, every square inch of wood hanging with parts and memorabilia, and if you want to change something you get out a saw and hammer.

[triathlonx13]

All good suggestions for sure. One topic that can be discussed and put the time thinking about... is driveways, length, width, etc.

Do you have room to put your shop in a place that you can pull through a good size trailer? Will you want to back up your trailer, if so, need to have turning radius, etc. Do you think you might have friends or other trailer you might need to park near your shop?

[Lemans64]

Be careful on the 12ft height, My 2 post hoist is 12'1 and then needed some xtra height to stand it up. I went with 13 ft ceiling.

[triathlonx13]

Agreed with Lemans64.

Be sure to know your lift measurements if going with 2 post lifts. 12'3" to 12'4" is how you might consider making your finished ceiling height for most lifts

[skunkwerks]

Originally Posted by Elarson

Check your zoning regulations. I built my big garage without running water or bathroom so it would be taxed at the low "agricultural storage building" rate. If it had water and bathroom, it would have been taxed at residential living space rates.

Extra height is cheap in case you want tall doors for trucks, motorhomes or to add a lift.

Lots of good suggestions in the other posts.

Oh, and build it higher than the surrounding terrain so the site sheds rain.

Eric

Good points. Since I live outside the city limits the tax rates are different for Ag buildings versus housing. I will check that out.
I will have a stub up for water and maybe run it later if I need it.

[skunkwerks]

Originally Posted by Lemans64

Be careful on the 12ft height, My 2 post hoist is 12'1 and then needed some xtra height to stand it up. I went with 13 ft ceiling.

Good point.

To the peak of the roof with a 4:12 pitch should be 12' + 4' to where my lifts are going to be located. Total peak of roof will be 17 feet in the middle.
Will have two two-post lifts located 12 feet in from the doors.
I am also going to use garage doors with the tracks that go up the ceiling pitch for clearance.
Most two post lifts max height is 78" so I should have enough room to clear the ceiling with a car fully lifted hopefully if I figured it correctly.