Replies

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   Guest_ | Mar 12, 2000 06:36am | #1

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   Tim,

   I was waiting to see what might be suggested, but no one seems to have a definitive answer to your question. I was in Home Depot a few months ago and saw a book that they put out that covered the basics on framing, trim and all the utilities.

   Good luck,

   Ed. Williams

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   Guest_ | Mar 12, 2000 07:55am | #2

   *Tim,Monte Burch has written a couple of books on barn, shop, and similiar small building construction. Check out http://b4ubuild.com/books/barns.shtml for his books and others along the same line. Before you buy on line I suggest you check your local library and chain book store. I got the first edition of his barns, sheds, and outbuildings book used for $2. The newer edition is better. I am putting up a steel truss with wood gert and purlin shop now. I purchased my trusses from http://www.adamstruss.com . This is an economical way to build that is not discussed in any of the books. I am looking at an insulated shop with cold water plumbing and electric for something a little under $10 sq ft. E-mail me if you think I can help you with your project.

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   Guest_ | Mar 12, 2000 11:47pm | #4

   *Tim,Don't know of any great books on shop designs/set-ups, but get a "back issue" of the following from FINE WOODWORKING: Issue No. 129 (April 1998) and Issue No. 131 (August 1998). Both issues give great articles on real working shops. No. 131 deals with a 2 car garage style workshop. This is a typical stick framed building, built atop a few rows of concrete block, and has a concrete floor. No. 129 illustrates a pole framed building complete with radiant heat and wood flooring.If you are serious about putting together a "serious" workshop, get the articles. Both give good insights to shop layout for building, finishing, and storage areas.Also, this month's edition of FINE WOODWORKING, issue No. 141, April 200; has an article on a garage workshop, as well as an article on dust collection. Go out and buy the mag.Ultimately, you must choose what type of construction and layout will work best for you. As far as economy, I built a stick framed structure that was set on top of 2 rows of concrete block; the block was dry stacked and held together with "B-Bond". The bottom row of block were "glued down" with an adhesive to a concrete "floating slab" that was reinforced with a 1/2 inch rebar mat; the slab being approx 8 inches thick. The sole plates of my walls were anchored into the slab itself, every 4 feet; using 1/2 inch dia threaded rod that was imbedded into the slab, and the corresponding block cell was filled with concrete. The plates were bolted to the protruding rod. I used regular wooden trusses (24ft with a 1 foot overhang & 4/12 pitch) 2 foot on center with plywood and asphalt shingles for my roofing. I have 1 large garage door (10" X 9"), one regular man door (36" X 80") and 2 averaged size double hung windows.This building is fully insulated, wired with a 100 amp breaker box, has 9ft high ceilings, a 55,000 BTU gas furnace, completely drywalled on the inside, and vinyl sided on the outside. It's 24 ft deep and 36ft long and contains approx 864 square feet of usuable space (not counting the attic space I made where the trusses allow enough "headroom")Including all materials, help with labor, (I did 90% myself), wiring, furnace work, overhead florescent lighting (I have a lot to make up for limited windows), windows, doors, elctric door opener, etc. etc. etc.; I built this shop for under $8,800. This works out to arond $10.20 square foot. ( Note that I didn't install water/sewage since I am close to my existing house; although now I sorta wished I had included it.) All I'm trying to say is that conventional methods are'nt really that expensive compared to alternative methods. Depending on what part of the country you are from will help decide for you what is most economical to build. Build as big as you can afford! I built as large as I could given my lot restrictions, but sorely wished I could have built larger. Nomatter how big you make it, it will soon become"small." If money was no object, and room was abundant, I would most likely build my next shop modeled after the one listed in Issue No. 129; only bigger!Anyway, don't rush the design process. Figure what tools you plan to house in the new shop, and plan out space for these; as well as for additional tool purchases to come in the future. Also plan for what type of storage you will need, and what type and how many) tool benches you will utilize. All of this on paper first will ultimately help you decide what type of shop you should build.Good luck Tim. Hope its a "Grandaddy" of a shop.Davo

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   Tim_Goins | Mar 12, 2000 11:47pm | #3

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   Can any one tell me a good book on buiding a shop. Just the basic stuff. I know waht I want I need the how to. Like pluming and cold water line. And framing. And roofing. Thanks Tim