Let's talk garage/workshops

[newbury]

My vote would be for multiple buildings or really big and subdivide. I've got 4 main workshops.

From left to right
A 14' tall RV shed I use for storage and vehicle parking
A 10' tall shed for my sawmill and tractor implements
A 12' tall shop primarily for tractor, vehicle , welding etc.
and on the far right a 10' to 9' workshop I'm going to be using for woodworking and small gardening/maintenance.

When we bought about 2012 I thought it would take me years to fill up. An F350 and a 50 hp tractor helped to fill it up fast.

But with the separate buildings I isolate my sawmill (LOTS OF DUST, woodworking (some dust) and "repair" areas (grease and oil).

Just be sure to include off floor shelving systems for LOT's of storage.

I presently have about 150 linear feet of pallet racking, much of it 12' high with 3 to 6 layers of storage. Virtually all of it still has 1 or 2 layers empty for future storage. About 50' of it has the bottom layer used as a workbench with storage across the back.

 

[HCJtractor]

I would opt for a large heated workshop with unheated shed type roofs extending from both sides. That way no need for heating garage space and could even do without doors for the tractor shed. It's a cheap way to get covered space , and the main shop would stay separate from the vehicles. You could also store wood under the shed roofs. Building entire separate buildings would be ideal but much more expensive

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I have a 24'X32' shop. It is perfectly adequate for my woodworking tools and my mower and other tools. Only problem, I have a 1959 and a 1960 Impala which share the space. It's doable, but very unhandy. I can store one car with a cover and it is still adequate, but now, to do any woodworking I have to move the cars out. I also have a lean-to on one end, which gives a lot of storage. If I had it to do over, I would build as big as I could afford and wall my workshop off from the garage/storage portion. I would put a lean-to on the end and one side and pave as much as I could afford also. I would also insulate the workshop portion and put in a heating/ac unit.

The South side of my shop has 4 large windows, which coupled with the insulation, keeps it about 15 degrees warmer in the Winter, at least when it's sunny.

 

[Coyote machine]

I'd consider what the building size would cost me when completed in extra taxes, etc. in addition to construct costs. One or two, more or same taxes? Heat/ac, etc., how many redundancies?
Fire risk from workshop dust, 2 or one building so 2nd is protected against loss. Additional insurance and what they'd want to see as ideal 'lower risk/insurance cost'.

 

[bigtiller]

1 or 2 humm,, Your choice I guess. try to keep your wood-chip/dust makers separated from your fire/spark makers with a wall.

 

[flusher]

I'd rather have 2 buildings or at least a divided building. As you know woodworking no matter what you do, there will be dust and shavings everywhere. I have an imaginary wall that separates my wood tools from welding and mechanic tools. I have to be vigilant about the dust. I wouldn't want the dust all over my tractors or motorcycles.

Right on. Woodworking is really messy unless your shop is set up like Norm Abrams' on New Yankee Workshop with all the vacuum lines to clean up the debris.

 

[dave1949]

Right on. Woodworking is really messy unless your shop is set up like Norm Abrams' on New Yankee Workshop with all the vacuum lines to clean up the debris.

I firmly believe an "avid woodworker" using power tools should have a dust collection system, enclosed spray booth with exhaust and enough general room exhaust capacity to create a slight negative air pressure.

 

[murphy1244]

I firmly believe an "avid woodworker" using power tools should have a dust collection system, enclosed spray booth with exhaust and enough general room exhaust capacity to create a slight negative air pressure.

Don't forget your EPA license for the Spray booth...

 

[vanguard]

I firmly believe an "avid woodworker" using power tools should have a dust collection system, enclosed spray booth with exhaust and enough general room exhaust capacity to create a slight negative air pressure.

Right on. I never really thought about the slight negative air pressure. My current shop (2 car garage) has a powerful cyclone that will make its way to the home I'm buying. One thing I'm going to enjoy is the lack of neighbors to bother. Even with a high end air filter and a nice cyclone the air quality never matches what I get with open doors and windows. That's going to be the most common state next shop.

As for the building, I'm leaning toward a large center that's the shop flanked by garage bays that the house the toys.

 

[dave1949]

Right on. I never really thought about the slight negative air pressure. My current shop (2 car garage) has a powerful cyclone that will make its way to the home I'm buying. One thing I'm going to enjoy is the lack of neighbors to bother. Even with a high end air filter and a nice cyclone the air quality never matches what I get with open doors and windows. That's going to be the most common state next shop.

As for the building, I'm leaning toward a large center that's the shop flanked by garage bays that the house the toys.

That sounds like a reasonable building plan. For a center area with interior walls on each side natural airflow through windows may be limited.

I really know noting about it but I thought maybe negative pressure in your woodworking area would limit the amount of dust that migrates out. I think it would require a really good room air seal to develop negative pressure, then some controlled way of letting in the correct amount of make-up air. Probably cost and be more bother than it's worth.

We had a neighbor years ago with a whole house vacuum system with the fan motor and dust bin mounted outside. She used it a lot and that thing was loud.