So what would you have done different with your new shop?

[KennyG]

Kenny, what you are saying is put the electrical on top of the OSB, not in the walls, right? I think you are on to something here.

Right, and don't install ceiling runs for lights until the metal ceiling is installed. That way you don't have to cut holes in the walls and ceilings for electrical, as well as being able to make future changes easily. Standard practice in industrial buildings for a reason.

 

[KennyG]

Definitely white metal ceiling. Easy to install, permanently white, no painting. You'll never regret it. I left my OSB unpainted. Doesn't seem to be a problem. I think the white ceiling is much more important for lighting than the walls. A lot of them are covered by shelving, pegboards, hanging equipment, etc. anyway.

 

[MossRoad]

A white metal ceiling sounds great. Reflects a lot of light back down, and keeps birds out of the rafters. Also, rafters just collect dust and bird poop. But rafters are also a handy place to hang things quickly. Can easily put up hooks to hang though.

 

[Cat_Driver]

An oil change pit, I'm always changing oil on something. Led lighting. A bathroom. Some sort of lifting system to lift heavy items. Security system with video cameras.

 

[4570Man]

I'm not sure that's it's possible to over light a shop. They're not beautiful but it's hard to beat a a cheap porcelain fixture with a 300 watt bulb screwed into it. My shop is fluorescent lights but I've got a lean roof over my wood splitting area that's about 40x40. I've got 4 300 watt bulbs under it and it's nice and bright. I finally put a central vac made for houses in my shop. It's a built in separator unit that vents outside. No filters to clog. I can suck up a 5 gallon bucket of drywall dust if I wanted to. It works great for general clean up and was well worth the money. I'm still lacking on proper dust collection, but an over head air filter was a big improvement.

 

[Redneck in training]

My shop is 75X36X12 with partition at 14 ft. 12X12 panel door and 36" man door. There is shower, toilet, guest room and office/workout room in the partition. I have sink and hot water in the shop. The guest room and the office are heated/AC by two zone mini split. The shop has 6" slab insulated by 2" pink closed cell insulation, has about 18x25 concrete apron outside of the door. 9" R-19 insulated walls and and R30 insulated ceiling. Shop has no windows and is finished in metal inside (I was the cheapest option). All electric wiring is in conduits outside of the walls. Air, 220 and 120 V outlets every 6 ft on one long wall. The shop is heated/AC by 36000 BTU mini split. Originally I wanted floor heating with a heat pump but then decided to invest the money in solar panels and use the mini split and baseboard heat as backup. Problem with PEX in the slab is that you might hit it when anchoring something to the floor. Shop has wired and wifi ethernet and is connected to the house network.
I think the mini split heat pumps are way cheaper to operate than floor heat with a water heater.
1.) The time constant of floor heating is measured in 2-3 hours/deg (I know it because we have it in the house) while the air heat is about 5-7 min/deg even when it is cold outside. In other words the floor heat has to be more or less set to constant higher temperature all the time while I maintain 50 deg when not present and up it to 65 when working there. Since the mini split inside unit is in the middle of the long wall it blows warm air pretty much where the action is.
2.) The mini split heat pump is at least twice energy efficient than a water heater.
3.) Floor heating doesn't do AC.
4.) The minis are very quiet.
5.) Most utilities will pay you energy efficiency rebate for the mini.
Mini split cost from mail order 3600, minus 450 rebate plus 180 to commission it. I did all the installation work, the HVAC guy only connected the lines and vacuumed it. 2 hours of work including travel.

If I do it again I would go to 14 ft high and make the door 14 wide. I am changing fluorescent to LED instead replacing the non working tubes.

 

[dragoneggs]

Great thread! I have immense envy for those of you that have have built large shops! I'm replying here in part so I am subscribed and can recall the great ideas to plan around. I have always been limited to a garage/shop scenario. And even when I build my dedicated shop... it won't be the dream shop due to lack of size. Just no flat real estate unless I want it 'down the hill'. For some reason, I feel strongly that it needs to be connected or within a covered walkway (I want quick and painless access for max usage).

I suppose if I outfit it such that it doubles as a man cave, properly equipped I could locate it away from the house. But that just seems wrong... I'm on my second marriage and don't want to screw this one up. :confused3: Maybe my wife would appreciate the space though?

 

[woodlandfarms]

I have been told by 2 contractors that in the pole barn scenario a 14ft door is costly and complcated. I guess poles are 12 o.c. so a 12 ft wide is adviseable. I was hoping for 14 as well.

I am trying to figure out the room for the compressor and dust collector. Since the beginning I had planned on it being outside, in an attached shed. Just had a friend say that with mice and rain, the dust collectors do better inside a closet inside a building, not outside.

Totally planning on a working bathroom with a low shower (more to wash the dogs) .. As well the wife is requiring a washer/dryer in the shop. I guess my greasy clothes in her "house machine" have worked a major nerve with her.

 

[mcfarmall]

Make a careful, accurate layout of your shop and stub out the electrical and dust collection pipe for your table saw and other stationary tools under the slab. Put transom style windows up near the ceiling for natural light and ventilation while giving maximum wall space. Ten foot ceilings in the wood shop...high enough to swing boards around but not too high to heat. Dust collector outside the shop room but still in the building with a return duct so you aren't sucking all your heated air out of the shop.

I would have made my drive through area with 16 foot sidewalls to allow for a 14 foot high overhead door. This would allow me to park a 5th wheel travel trailer in there in the future and a vehicle lift for car work.

 

[mapper]

Don't put the compressor and dust collector in the same closet, even with 1 micron filter bags they do leak a little bit of very fine dust. I run a cyclone and have a 2hp blower that is located in the attic space to cut down on noise.
If you put duct work under the slab, provide clean outs in case of clogs, not too much of an issue with a table saw, ( I have had small offcuts get into the ducts get jammed and cause a clog) but a floor sweep can put a lot of heavier trash into the system that can settle in the duct and eventually clog it.