Planning a shop on steep terrain - thoughts?

[dragoneggs]

I have been pondering how I might add a dedicated shop on my property. We live on 1.5+ acres on a fairly steep property with a priceless view. House and detached two car garage are at top of property.

I have come up with 4 options but of course each has it's definite pro's and con's.

1. Expand the garage - biggest negatives are I am limited in the additional space I can create because of property lines. I would have to build towards the house and it would not be aesthetically pleasing. 'Curb appeal' would suck. Most practical solution though. Water and power would be a bit of a challenge, due to the slightly elevated position relative to the house (gravity feed from my well that is up the hill, and my service panel is at other end of the house.

2. Expand one side of house. Wife would like the extra main floor space but my shop would be in the daylight basement underneath. Not crazy about a basement shop with living area above, and access would be a curved sloped driveway. Not easy to maneuver truck/trailer equipment. Easiest location to tie into existing plumbing and power service both at the end I would be expanding.

3. Build the shop at the lower end of the property but would have to create separate access and likely an easement across my neighbors property or a steep uphill driveway if I try to access direct from a shared driveway. Lots of space for a nice one story footprint, but quite the hike up/down the property to access. I know this would stop me from running out to do quick things and my tools would end up both in the garage and shop but never where I am at. It also would be a bit of an eyesore staring down at it as our view is very picturesque. Also power and water feed would be the most costly of the locations.

4. Build the shop at the top of my property at same elevation as my house and garage but at the other end of my property. Direct access from my drive way but is on a very steep unimproved area. This would probably then be a two story shop, maybe entrance floor would be a wood shop, and the basement floor a metal shop and tractor storage area. I am warming up to this idea but I will have access issues to the basement with a vehicle other than my tractor. This location is also next to power so it will be easy to wire and add a separate feed should I want to make it a business area.

That said, #4 has me thinking the most about. Anyone have a two story shop? Especially built on a steep slope? I will try to post pics that better describe the plot at some point. Basically, the steep terrain is my bane. Really hoping some of you can chime in that have dealt with steep slopes in locating and building your shop.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

A picture is worth a thousand words... Give us a view of what you’re dealing with.

I pondered the same thing but eventually built a little further away from the house where I could get level out an large enough area.

Two storey with parking on the top can be done with steel or prestressed concrete(I think it’s called) but for me the engineering and material costs would have been prohibitive. I’d still go this route before having a serious shop attached to the house though.

Do some searches on The Garage Journal, there are examples of every possible design, many with step by step story of the construction.

 

[bcp]

I've seen old barns built on a hillside so there was ground-level access to both upper and lower levels. Here are the first three I found to illustrate the idea.

Bruce

 

[RNeumann]

You need to talk to a building contractor, grading contractor and or an architect. 1 and 3 don’t sound good at all. 2, if designed properly, could work. And 4 seems like the best bet....based on the description.

But you will need someone who can walk the site and help guide you.

 

[oosik]

Whatever you decide - don't foul up your priceless view. NOBODY wants to look over or beyond a work shop to see a priceless view.

 

[EddieWalker]

I would focus on option one the most. But instead of adding on to my existing garage, I would consider what I could build there if the existing garage didn't exist. Could I make it big enough to do what I wanted and make it attractive next to the house? Don't limit your design by what is already there. Design it as if it wasn't there. Then decide if you can modify what you already have, or is it's more cost effective to tear it down and build new.

 

[bigtiller]

With plan 4. being your favorite, could you incorporate it into plan 1.?
Instead of expanding "out" with the garage, go up. Make a 2 story garage.

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Yeah, #3 is out...

Eddie, big tiller, honestly, I didn't think of making the existing garage area a 'clean' slate but I did think of going up. My concerns going up were two. First, I just don't know that want a shop level that I don't have vehicle access to. Additionally, I was really hoping that the garage would become home to my car and truck. They both have been sitting outside for the past 10 years as my garage is a cramped with floor tools and a lot of other storage junk.

Bruce, I am dealing with significantly more slope. Will try to post pics today.

 

[EddieWalker]

Another thought, and it's out there. Look around for a place with everything that you want, and see if it makes more sense to buy it then what it will cost to build on that steep slope.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay found some pics, one from our recent record snow of 18in. I am clearing the shared driveway and entrance to our house.



These other two I took with my drone last year when my next neighbor had a new retaining wall built on an easement between me and the neighbor above. Notice the fill from the retaining wall project went on my steep slope giving me access around my greenhouse. Prior, I could not walk around the backside of it. The trees to the right in these two pics is where my #4 option would reside. Again very steep. Hope this helps describe the situation.