2nd floor?

[woodmannie]

Ok fellers, here's the question.
I can only cove 760 sq ft on my property. I want to build a new shop cause the old one is only 10ft wide.
So, I have 4 options and wondered what ya'll would do.
1. Add onto the back of my garage, attached to my rancher, about 24x30.
2, build 24x30 free standing.
3. same as 2 but add a second floor. The 2nd floor would be shop, bottom for stuff like the garden tractor, tiller, etc.
4. same as 1, but add 2nd floor. This would cover the addition, used for stuff in 3, plus the garage. This would give me a shop on the 2nd floor, about 24x 54.
#sounds good, but it is more involved since I have trusses to remove, beam to add, and most my wires run up there.
SO hit me, what would you do, not just like. And why.

Tom

[lexrex]

I would choose the one that gives you the most space with one qualification, ask a realtor which one adds the most value to your property as a whole. 1 and 2 seems no different other than whether it's attached to the house so I would ask a realtor if there is a difference in value.

[TDHofstetter]

I'd vote for some ground-level space, regardless of the rest of the choices. Woodworking machines really like to live on the ground, not eight to ten feet above the ground. Anything else is pretty happy upstairs, but at least SOME machines really prefer the ground floor.

[woodmannie]

advantage to attached is it can be used as living space, but could increase the taxes.
My back says ground floor. ;D
But did see some nice 2nd floor shops.

Tom

[Ruffnek]

I've seen some very nice 2nd floor shops, too. That's why I would opt for the third scenario...24 x 30 stand-alone building with a second story.

That would give you plenty of room for your non-woodworking tools while also giving you a woodworking shop, office space, finishing, etc.

[Leo Voisine]

Tom a second floor shop is WELL within being reasonable.

Not knowing where you live - but I do know - I would love to be able to use my garage to park the cars. However I use the ground floor for my shop.

If I could have made a second floor shop - with nice stairs to get up there - and easy access to get machines and wood up there - it would be a nice combination.

One shop I saw in detail had 2x12's 12" OC and all machines of a regular shop in the upstairs. There was a deck opening with a hoist in the shop to get stuff upstairs.

All that allows to get the cars inside - during rain and snow.

It also gives you a wood floor - instead of a concrete floor. Though I saw a guy build a house here - with a garage on both levels, One level on the lower side in the back of the house was for cars - and an upper level on the side could also park 2 cars. Both levels had concrete floors.

Sure sounds nice to me.

But - yes - there would definately be special considerations to structural integrity. Think about load per square foot.

House value wise - when I talked with the assessor about my garage - I asked him if I would really add much value considering the shop and how I was going to built it. He said it will add a little value - but it is JUST a garage. Having it heated, fully insulated, low E windows, ceiling - and all the niceties of the shop I have - actually mean little. It's just a garage to a prospective buyer -- unless the guy - is eyeballing a workshop. That is pretty rare.

[mlwmerk]

Check with your insurance agent vis-a-vis a separate sturucture as opposed to an attached add-on.

Also I'm sure you will check with the local building police about adding a separate structure vs increasing the footprint of your existing structure.

The realitor conference is especially a good idea relating to resale of your home after modification and comparable homes in the neighborhood.

I personally would vote for a ground floor shop with a garage type door so that you didn't have to haul all the tools and wood up a flight of stairs and haul your completed furniture down that same flight of stairs.

Walt in CT

[woodmannie]

Actually, if I do #4, I was going to make a lift to the second floor to move the tools, finished projects, etc. This wouldnt be practical in the other design.
I only have to move the tools once. Finshed projects is one thing to consider.
Do kinda like the idea of having the space for my tractor and etc.

Tom

[admin]

I'm not much of a fan of the idea of a 2nd floor shop. I'm known for buying machines and I'd hate to have to wrestle a table saw or my lathe up a set of stairs, or a 2x12 board.

I'd definitely add on to the garage. Keep it all on ground level, then ya don't have to cart stuff up and down stairs. Lotsa logistic problems with lowering a 250 pound whatever down a flight of stairs!

[tw]

I would build a separate building.

Shops have a tendency to burn down and so do houses to a lesser degree. Having separate buildings means spreading the risk.
You do need the garage for other things. I don't like the idea of shifting out the cam shaft drive outside on the driveway in a blizzard. Cars that are kept in garage do also last much longer.

A second storey shop could work if you make a big door on one gable and some kind of chain hoist hanging from a protruding beam outside. Something like they had on old harbour warehouses. They you can use the hoist to get the machinery in and to get heavy products out.
If you have a suitable hill slope you could build a half buried basement storey from blocks with doors on the downhill side. A wooden building on top of that would make for a good shop. Casting a self bearing concrete slab is no problem.

[sawduster]

My cabinet saw weighed something around 500#, and a big battleship jointer or some other tools can easily come in at more than that, so if you do the second story thing, I'd heartily recommend a big door with a hoist of the needed capacity for getting stuff like that up there.

One of the major drawbacks of basement shops is getting stuff down stairs into them, and you'll need to be lifting instead of lowering. Also keep these weights in mind when you're developing your structure for that upstairs area.

I rented an engine hoist when I picked up my cabinet saw and it was still some work unloading it off of my truck and into the garage.

[rrich]

If you are considering a second floor, be aware that you'll have to make the supporting walls stronger to support the second floor. Also, if you are building over a garage, you have span engineering to consider.

[woodmannie]

Well, my saw does way a ton, but it is still in pieces. My BS and others can come apart too. This means realigning every thing, but is an option.
Figured I'd need a door on the gable.
And for the reinforceing the floor, I was figuring 2x12 12" on center the 30' way. supported by 2 LVL beams at 10' OC. LVL instead of steel beam because I can use 2x's for the support instead of lolly columns. This is actually overkill.
Downside of the barn style is the side walls must be about 6' knee walls to make the roof lines correct.
A ground floor shop is the easy way to go. Wondered if anyone has a second floor shop?
Keep the ideas comin. really getting me thinkin.

Tom