Shop build questions

[Gomer pyle]

I'm finally starting my shop! I've decided on a 36'x48'. I plan to put two doors on the 36' side, a 16' in the center and a 10' or 12' on one end for a lift. I've also thought about a smaller door and/or windows on the back side for a draft. The final picture has a 24' lean to off the back for storage and tractor/equipment parking. I plan to stick build it with 2x6 walls on 2' centers with battin insulation. I have already dug the footer and now need to start on block(my 8 yr old thinks he and I need to lay them ourselves)
A couple of questions I have:
1. How tall should I build the walls? I originally thought 12' but now I'm leaning towards 14'
2. I've planned to go 3 block high on the walls(filled with concrete) and then build on top of that. This would keep moisture off my wood, protect from an accidental fourwheeler bump, and allow me to wash it out if I ever wanted to. Is this a good/bad idea? Should I do 6 block high instead?

I'm sure my list of questions is going to go up as I get farther into the build. I have kept up with some of the other builds on here and have gotten a lot of ideas from them. I'm trying to pay as I go on this so it is going to be slow but I won't owe in the end.

 

[RNeumann]

Typically walk height is about 2’ above door height. You can do most things with 16’ walls. If you don’t have a specific need for tall doors (typically a special RV) then 12’ door left and 14’ walls would work. A 12’ door will get most boats and most RVs inside. The higher you go not only drives cost to build but also heating. Plus you are doing some tricks to get lights changed at 16’.

I typically curb my garages and shops 2-6”. It varies as I also slope the floor. I see no interior advantage to going above a few inches. The only exception would be someplace with a fork lift etc- then I’d go 3’. Honesty you won’t have much blank wall for things to run into. Give yourself 6-12 months and magically all the walls will be covered/blocked with your crap......wasting the need for block walls.

 

[ovrszd]

Mine is 39x48. 14ft eaves. Two 12x12 overheads in one end with a glass panel in each. Two man doors, one each side, near the end where the overheads are. Four 4x4 windows scattered around the other three sides. I have a four post hoist setting in line with one door but at the rear end of the building. Can park a vehicle in the bay behind the hoist.

Not sure how well your door ideas are going to work. 36ft building minus 28ft of doors = 8ft. This 8ft will be divided into three pieces. If you use 2ft between the doors, which would be minimum, this leaves you with 6ft divided by two. So your door openings are going to be 3ft from the side walls.

What is the purpose of the 16ft door?

I would try to avoid a 10ft wide door. That's very narrow for a full size truck with trailer mirrors.

My building is on poured footings with a slab on them. Then 2x6 stud built on top of the slab.

 

[ovrszd]

This is the best pic I've got in regards to door spacing from the inside. Gives you an idea of how critical door spacing is from the exterior side walls as well as space between two. Keep in mind I hadn't moved all my stuff in yet when this was taken. And you are 3ft narrower than this.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've planned to go 3 block high on the walls(filled with concrete) and then build on top of that. This would keep moisture off my wood, protect from an accidental fourwheeler bump, and allow me to wash it out if I ever wanted to. Is this a good/bad idea? Should I do 6 block high instead?

I've seen something like this for livestock. Pretty sure I've seen it done on a dairy farm that a friend of a friend owned. But why would you wash out a shop? I'm on my second shop right now and I've begun clearing the trees for my ultimate shop, which will have 12 foot walls with 2x6's for studs on 16 inch centers bolted to the concrete slab with either plywood or OSB on the interior walls,. I have zero plans of ever washing out my shop, or hosing anything off in there. It will be full of tools, so sweeping will be never ending, but that's about all I'll ever do to clean it up.

My current shop has a 10x10 roll up door. That's proven to be a mistake. It should have been 12 feet wide like I had in my previous shop. It's a huge difference whey trying to back a trailer into it with a pallet of concrete sacks and the thunder storm has already started!!!!

 

[Tractor X]

I'm finally starting my shop! I've decided on a 36'x48'. I plan to put two doors on the 36' side, a 16' in the center and a 10' or 12' on one end for a lift. I've also thought about a smaller door and/or windows on the back side for a draft. The final picture has a 24' lean to off the back for storage and tractor/equipment parking. I plan to stick build it with 2x6 walls on 2' centers with battin insulation. I have already dug the footer and now need to start on block(my 8 yr old thinks he and I need to lay them ourselves)
A couple of questions I have:
1. How tall should I build the walls? I originally thought 12' but now I'm leaning towards 14'
2. I've planned to go 3 block high on the walls(filled with concrete) and then build on top of that. This would keep moisture off my wood, protect from an accidental fourwheeler bump, and allow me to wash it out if I ever wanted to. Is this a good/bad idea? Should I do 6 block high instead?

I'm sure my list of questions is going to go up as I get farther into the build. I have kept up with some of the other builds on here and have gotten a lot of ideas from them. I'm trying to pay as I go on this so it is going to be slow but I won't owe in the end.

why not a monolithic slab with a brick ledge (1 pour), then add either brick, stone or concrete wainscoting. i would recommend balloon framing walls either 12' or 16' for and better yield on 4x8 material, osb, plywood, drywall etc.

 

[geblackwell]

It has been mentioned before on this site that anyone interested in a pole barn should look on YouTube at "R&R Builders". There are hours of information here. This guy builds pole barns like he is dealing with fine cabinet work. I was very impressed!!

 

[ericm979]

Many 2 post lifts need a bit more than 12' clearance. There are a number that fit in 12'. But 12' may not be tall enough for lifting tall vehicles to full height.

 

[ovrszd]

Eddie, I clean my shop with an air nozzle. Catch the wind in the right direction and open the windows and overheads. Blow everything outside.

 

[MFWD]

Hello,
I agree with the statement from "ericm979. Sometimes a 12' ceiling height is not enough for some vehicles.


MFWD