Two story Shop on steep grade - Help me Design/Build it!!!

[dragoneggs]

Well I sure do, so now you've "met" one...

You must be a hands on engineer! I can relate.

As stated in my profile... too many interests, that's my problem.

 

[BukitCase]

Now he's met three; (still not a majority, so what??!? )

Metal working - 4 welders, plasma cutter, O/A torches, over a dozen side grinders, dp, mag drill, milling machine, dry cut saw, 3 metal bandsaws (4 counting the portaband), 20 ton press, multiple hand power tools -

wood working - powermatic cabinet saw, 2 radial saws, 2 planers, 2 jointers, 2 miter saws, 2 wood bandsaws, 3 router tables + at least 6 routers, pocket hole station, SEPARATE wood working drill press, 2 belt/disk sanders, copious quantities of power hand tools, cyclone central dust collection...

Still need another area for the metalwork side, but at least I have a level place to put it so a bit less angst than Mark on THAT subject.

Then there's the recording studio, trying to keep up chops on keys, guitar, bass, drums, engineering - did somebody mention too many hobbies??!?

Oh, and lest we forget; aren't we talking about this on a TRACTOR forum? :laughing::laughing::laughing: ... Steve

 

[EddieWalker]

I suppose I could get by with 1000sq ft and create a dry area underneath that could be leveled and maybe create maybe 400ft of level ground for parking tractor, implements, etc. Lots of compromises. Loving the idea of a wood floor for the wood shop. Now the wood/metal shop would have an 'above' grade slab suitable for vehicle load... I suppose that works? Dang it Eddie! You halved my space... did you reduce my cost more than that?

Yes, I believe that if you go one level, and use piers to extend it out over the slope, it will cost you a third of what your original two level plan with massive retaining wall will cost you. Maybe more. I have no idea what your permitting process is like, or what it costs to hire an engineer to create a plan that will meet code there. But in just digging and hauling off the dirt, that's ten grand. Setting forms, rebar and pad prep, then hiring a pump truck and all the concrete, that's got to be 50 grand. A buddy in CA did a half wall and he paid 30 grand for all his concrete work, and that's nothing compared to what you are wanting to do. I'm probably light on my numbers and if they are twice that amount, I wouldn't be too shocked.

As for square footage, you really need to talk to your contractor, or engineer, or whoever you hire to get your plans approved for your permit on how far out he can go over the slope. You can also increase your options if you go with metal over wood, but that's outside my experience and not something that I can say too much about. It does get kind of exciting when you think about cantilevering out your floor joists out over your beam. I'd probably design the wall to be over the beam and then extending the joists out to create a deck/walkway along the outside of the building. I think that would really add to the buildings appeal and make exterior work/maintenance a lot easier.

Not knowing your land, I'm thinking that you build it so it runs along the length of the drop of as long as you can, and then decide the depth of the building by how far out over the drop off that you can go. This will also allow you to have multiple doors along the front that would be really nice to have all opened up on a nice day, or to separate what you do in each area. You could make it look like your existing 2 car garage, but with 4 doors, or more.

 

[EddieWalker]

My wood shop and metal shop with assembly area in between is two floors but the upstairs is an apartment.

While the layout is not the same, I am into the side of a hill and dealing with a lot of the same challenges. Some day I will finish the thread and add the pictures of the finished product but here it is.

New cottage/retirement home near L.../278749-new-cottage-retirement-home-near.html

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/278749-new-cottage-retirement-home-near.html

Is this the link you where trying to post?

First two pages show some pics of the foundation work being done.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Manufacturers learned a long time ago the inefficiency of multi level facilities. Take a farmers field, strip it, and build a BIG flat, one story facility. That lends itself to efficiency and also the FAR easier abilty to add on.

 

[EddieWalker]

... and also the FAR easier abilty to add on.

That makes me think that to save on the budget, or to spread the process out over time as you can afford it, if you build a long rectangle along the edge of the hill, you only have to do so much of it at a time. Build it wide enough for two garage doors now, then next year, or the year after, add on another section with two more garage doors. Then if you want and you have the space, add on another two garage doors later on when you need more space.

 

[Industrial Toys]

We built a Mezanine in our barn years ago with a thought of building an apartment. So glad we didn't. Way too small and terrible little bang for the buck. All the ammennities cost the same whether building big or small. As it is, I built a heated storage area. A real pain to get to via the stairs. Good for excercise though.

 

[Cord]

Here are my thoughts. First step is to approach your local planning/building department and tell them what you want to do. Often local zoning will limit the permitted sqft of a detached structure. Some municipalities will count a two story structure twice so you could be limited in what's permitted. The second comment is that you need to look at what the community will permit for property line setbacks. You might not want to, but you're gonna be better off making the call now than dealing with the consequences later.

I built a two story garage on my property. Actually, I built the lower level and then moved my existing garage over it: Ebling Homestead - Garage Move - YouTube The walls are CMU, about 9' tall with a wood floor. Designing a wood floor for a garage isn't hard, you just have to allow for the point load, take up the shear from the foundation wall and then use treated wood near the door. I currently have a 1917 Cletrac dozer, an atv and two motorcycles parked up there. Good and solid.

 

[dragoneggs]

Cord, good idea... I think I will make a trip down to the county building/land department and try to have a chat with someone that knows far more about what I am up against than me.

Eddie, you are throwing cold water on my dream. But a good dose of reason. Definitely not liking the need vs. want discussion. Since my father passed, I don't have that pragmatic voice to keep me from stretching too far.

 

[ededic]

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/278749-new-cottage-retirement-home-near.html

Is this the link you where trying to post?

First two pages show some pics of the foundation work being done.

Yes, starting on post 19 or so of the thread. Thanks Eddie.