So what would you have done different with your new shop?

[KennyG]

A bit off posting (my apologies for that) When you say "foam" did you have it sprayed or are you talking about ridged sheets? Closed-cell-Foaming is one thing I have considered for retro-insulating my ceiling and I'd be interested in other's experience.

I used closed cell foam in my walls and it works well. Blown in cellulose in the ceiling is the easiest most cost effective choice. I was able to get a good deal on a lot of used roofing closed cell (poly-iso) insulation sheets. Would have been shockingly expensive if I had used new material.

Agree with Eddie on 12 foot or more doors. I have one 12 wide door and one 9 foot wide door. Putting my trailer or truck into the 9 foot door is a lot more work than I want it to be.

 

[Rustyiron]

A bit off posting (my apologies for that) When you say "foam" did you have it sprayed or are you talking about ridged sheets? Closed-cell-Foaming is one thing I have considered for retro-insulating my ceiling and I'd be interested in other's experience.

I cut & fit recycled rigid p-iso foam and sealed all edges & seams with can foam, 3" and have room for 3-1/2" fg batts.

 

[flingwing1969]

I used closed cell foam in my walls and it works well. Blown in cellulose in the ceiling is the easiest most cost effective choice. I was able to get a good deal on a lot of used roofing closed cell (poly-iso) insulation sheets. Would have been shockingly expensive if I had used new material.

Agree with Eddie on 12 foot or more doors. I have one 12 wide door and one 9 foot wide door. Putting my trailer or truck into the 9 foot door is a lot more work than I want it to be.

I agree on the door width too. I would rather have two 12' doors in my shop that the two 9-foot and one 12 I have now. When I put my tractor in I have less than 1.5' on either side - a twitch when backing can take out the trim for sure.

 

[Rustyiron]

Bigger amperage and more slots for breakers than you think you need.

:thumbsup:
While not a huge shop @ 38x64, I ran a lot of conduit under the slab and have a 200a service with a 200a panel on each long wall (2 total) to make home runs to the panel easier/shorter. I think that there may have even been a cost saving's with the extra panel when I have a lot of 50a runs that quickly would have eaten up the extra panel cost, esp. with 16' walls.

 

[STx]

My building is 40x50x16, I put in 2 12x12 rollup doors, I wish I'd gone 12wx14h instead.

I also wish I'd run a 2" electrical conduit in the slab. Instead, I'm having to run a 1" overhead and I still haven't "gotten around to it" almost a year later.

Other than that, I'm pretty happy with the way mine came out.

 

[mapper]

I wish I would have used plywood on the interior instead of drywall. The drywall is getting damaged from no heat and moisture. Plus with plywood you can hang things anywhere.

OSB works well for interior walls, less expensive than plywood and a lot smoother than the least expensive plywood.
Paint the finished walls white, makes lighting the shop much easier, dark or unfinished walls soak up a lot of light.

 

[flingwing1969]

OSB works well for interior walls, less expensive than plywood and a lot smoother than the least expensive plywood.

Some people even like the look of it. I've seen folks put it in their homes and varnish it.

 

[woodlandfarms]

OSB on the walls, metal on the ceiling. I actually have T-11 as a wainscot and then 8 feet OSB to ceiling. Looks better than all OSB. What I wish I had done differently is surface mount all the electrical in conduit rather than run through the walls and above the ceiling. Would make insulation and wall/ceiling finish easier and allow easy mods later if necessary.

Kenny, what you are saying is put the electrical on top of the OSB, not in the walls, right? I think you are on to something here.

 

[woodlandfarms]

OK Fantastic stuff. 3 More questions.

If you have a pole barn, would you paint your trusses white or put in a ceiling?

Would you buy a roll up door or a "Panelized Door" I am looking at Panelized because it is inulated but also it can have windows. Downside is when up it is going to block my celing lights.

Rignt now I am working out electrical in my head. the 2 Panel option is interesting. If the quote comes back the way I hope, it will be a 45X72X18 Single Slope pole barn. Divided into thirds, the first third will be entirely closed and become a woodshop on the first floor, and a office and storage on the second. The next two bays will be open, with 12X14H doors. I did plan to put the shop vacuum and the air compressor in an enclosed attached closet outside. I plan on putting an exhaust fan in one end.

What about lighting. Any interesting ideas or complaints?

Oh and is this stupid? The concrete is quoted at 4" thick. I was going to pick a spot to make the concrete 6" thick so I might one day put in an auto lift.

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, when you look at lights in a showroom, they are placed pretty low as compared to where they actually will be in a taller shop. So you think they are plenty bright at 8' high in the display, but they'll be too dim when mounted 12-14' up.