Sounds like some nice shops. I am in 30x30 and when I retire I'd like a "big boy" 60x40 or bigger.
Some little things that make them nice, some may be repeats:
1. Do the bathroom and shower, plus utility sink outside the bathroom with a hand cleaner dispenser (number 1 useful thing to do with plumbing) Make sure you have hot water here and in bathroom.
2. Security
A secure tool room that locks separately from the rest of the shop, security system, reinforced access doors that swing out, fence around the building with a big dog in it, windows up high.
3. Plan your electrical needs, with 2-3 50 amp 240 circuits for welders and plasma, 1 20 amp or better for air compressor, same for lift. Put outlets waist high or higher, to clear work benches and so you don't have to bend over, put outlets in ceiling for cord reels from above. Turn outlets over so ground is top prong and will be safer if flat bars of metal fall onto outlets. Like square footage, you can't have too many outlets.
4. Flat floor if you want to do your own alignments. 6 inches thick where your lift goes. Put some rebar pots in at floor level to hook to to pull things around (like frame straightening)
5. Outside water for washing vehicles, outside outlets as well
6. Separate building for outdoor equipment, wood shop, non-auto
7. Paint booth engine assembly clean room if you can swing it. Fabbing with welders and grinders dust everything with metal dust
8. Plumb in air with air-specific piping for air outlets before you sheetrock or otherwise cover interior. Don't use PVC
9. Insulate walls well, my shop doesn't need heat in winter due to insulation, heated upstairs
10. Don't forget A/C in the south I really need it, but not heat, but had to cut wall out after built to put in window AC unit-AND one more 240V outlet dedicated for this!
11. Have breaker box inside for security such as turning off garage door openers when you are out of town, resetting breakers if one acts up (GFIC's do this with one of my welders when I switch it off)
12. Lofts are great for storage without sacrificing floor space.
13. Consider outside room for air compressor to keep noise down, or insulate tool room and put in there.
14. Separate outbuilding for "dirty" stuff like outdoor power and hand tools, gardening/lawn mowers, wood shop
15. Put everything on wheels so you can move it about, unless you have a ton of room.
16. Paint concrete floor so oil doesn't stain it, reduces dust, looks better. Paint everything white so you can see things (you will get old)
17. Lots of lights, more than you think you need, plus don't scrimp on the fixtures, the better ones light better and don't flicker in the cold. Like outlets, you can't have too many lights. High windows are secure and still let in light. Beware skylights as entry point and leak point, but good for lighting.
18. If possible create drive-thru with doors on both ends for easy dropping or unloading trailers without backing up. Consider access in general and how will you move things that don't roll on their own in and out, where outside things like trailers can be parked
19. Don't forget phone/cable/internet services, internet is almost critical to a shop anymore. (you read it here)
20. No matter how big, plan for storage and accessibility for things like spare metal racks, tire/wheel racks, parts storage, stand up shop tools like bandsaws, drill press, shop press, a desk, multiple workbenches, bench grinders, engine hoist, gantry crane, multiple vises, and if you are lucky tire changers, balancers, parts washers, enclosed sand blasting cabinet, lathe, mill, beer fridge, etc.
21. Can't think of anything else...
Last edited by R-Bo; 02/14/2012 6:29 AM.
