How big to make a shop?

[surlyjoe]

Hi guys. I have been trying to figure out what size is big enough for a shop. It will be used for general projects anything from motor swap to body work to oil change. I need enough room to have 2 cars in and be able to work on either without too much pain. I have an attached garage for drivers and plan for a storage shed also so it should be for work only. I have a 32x36 in mind with 12 foot walls and scissor trusses. I may put a lift in at some point if I can afford it.

Thanks

[Modo Innovations]

I have a 20x30 with 1 car in it. I don't have near enough room. If I build another one it will be at least a 30x40.

[astroracer]

I just added a 26 x 30 addition to my 30 x 48 and actually have enough room to work on cars now... But that is AFTER going through and cleaning, rearranging and pitching a ton of junk... If you don't need a lot of storage I would think a 30 x 40 or 48 would be perfect. It was for me for a long time.
Mark

[rocketman]

well mine is 60x120, the whole building is 160x120.

[Beegs]

www.garagejunkies.net


Beegs

[dropit69]

mine is 44 wide 30 deep...still not big enough..lol..but its my only parking place so holds daily drivers too

[shmoov69]

How much $ do you have? That is how big to make the shop!
Mine is 26 x 32 and is ok for one car, but completely sucks for two. But better than outside by far!

[surlyjoe]

Well money is a factor same as everybody. The total building size would be a 32x56. 32x36 for cars, 20x20 wood shop, 12x20 shed. I am considering putting a mezzanine above the wood shop and shed. Can't do much work up there but would be good storage and maybe a work bench for smaller stuff, maybe even a tv and beer fridge. I would like to get it done for 30k but not more than 40k. I will do most of the work myself. Sounds like a 30x40 is about right. So I am not far off. I have a 2 car garage already and plan to add some other storage as well so in the shop if it can have 2 cars in it with room to work that would be cool.

[mikey]

It does'nt matter how big you make it because it never fails your stuff will expand to fill all available space:hmm: I currently have a 2 car attached and am looking to build big as the city will allow out back. It seemed to be the right size 7 years ago when we moved in. Now 3 daily drivers 24' trailer, truck and Camaro sit outside while my daughters wrecked Escort and 2 mini sprints take up my work space.

[surlyjoe]

Yeah I know it will end up full whether I like it or not. That seems to be the never ending answer. Even a 40x80 would end up full. My plan is to build what I can afford and it will hopefully work for a while.

[speedfreak]

we are just about done building our garage 30x40 ..steel building, its got radiant in the floor,epoxied floor, anchor pots, 2 10x10 doors,80 gal 7 hp compressor ( 4 post "moveable lift" will be coming soon)..me and dad did most of it(other than the epoxy and boiler install) with a little help from friends here and there..going on a yr and a half since we started....wish it went faster but it takes 2 things were short on time and money ..were planning a appx 7'x27' loft for storage with all the benches and tool boxes and crap underneath in the work area..we figure we'll be able to get 2 cars in one side as "works in process" and keep one bay open for getting cars in an out for little jobs(brakes,oil change,etc)..but the problem i now see is im hoping to pick up some equipment in the next few years(mill,lathe,press,brake/shear,..maybe and english wheel..etc)so there goes one bay....anyways go as big as you can possibly afford..cause its never enough...oh yeah and keep rising fuel prices in mind...price to heat this almost doubled from what we figured in late 2004..ouch...ill try to post some pics tomorrow..maybe...it full of all kinds of crap..which will hopefully be more organized once the loft is up....yeah right