To attach or not...

[woodmannie]

I'm going to start construction of the new shop soon. I have a ranch style house, garage on the one end. I am going to put the shop at the back of the garage, but not sure if I want to attach it. There's pros and cons to each way, but thought I'd get some input.

Tom

[Beamer]

Boy that's a tough call ...you might look into what zoning impacts each option has. Pay particular attention to what it may/may not do to your property taxes!

[Joe Lyddon]

From a mere construction aspect, if you Add-on (attach), at least one wall will already be there & will probably be insulated... I think that's a big Plus.

Electrical would be easier to get there.. (I think).

Access for large loads... be sure that's OK. (either way attached or not).

Compare Code requirements...

()

[TDHofstetter]

Don't neglect to check with your homeowner's insurance company, too... very often they'll charge more if it's attached than if it's not.

Boy, so MUCh to think about, huh?

I had a compressor fire some time ago. If the wood around the compressor hadn't been eastern hemlock, it'd've caught & sustained fire, which would've spread like ... like wildfire... throughout the barn, which would've taken the house if it'd been attached. It's not attached, and that wall WAS eastern hemlock, and so part of one wall now has a reminder scorch mark & nothin' else is the worse for wear. The point is... if your shop is attached & something catches fire in there, it can spread to the house if it's attached.

[dicklaxt]

Attaching to an existing structure can sure lead to foundation problems in that the existing is settled in and the new is not and there is really no guarantee what the new is going to do unless you go with drilled piers that you know are not going to move and that can get pricey.

I don't know if you live under the rule of a HOA but if you do they can be a hassle getting permits and putting time restraints on construction phases.It is a chre sometimes convincing an HOA that a private shop is not a commercial venture too or a second residence.The boards of directors of an HOA have a job to do and its hard to deal with them,,,,,,,,,,,


A shop with a crawl space below for utilities and dust collection ducts would be great,just a thpought
dick

[woodmannie]

Code is not a problem
Insurance is the same either way, no propane open flame burners, but I can have a wood stove, odd.
I don't live in a HOA
Tim, about the fire, If I attach, it will have 3 hr fire rating between structures.
For settling, code requires that you are 3' below grade on virgin soil, presure test required. Acsess would be a double door (steel) that had a total width of atleast 6'. I have a garage door on the existing shop, but if Something doesn't fit through the doubles, it will never get into a house. Just more secure. I'm thinking about easy of entry during rain, snow, etc. If I do it seperate, I can put in a breeze way. So I'm looking at prefernces really. And the fact one wall is there means I have to support the trusses while cutting the door opening.

Tom

[TDHofstetter]

Since you're in snow country, and since you're looking to tee off the garage for the shop, it sounds like a breezeway would be a serious necessity if it's not to be attached. Otherwise, all the snow off that side of the garage roof would build up between the garage & the shop. If it's attached, it'll end up in two heaps - one under each valley. Is there room for that?

[woodmannie]

Yep, plenty of room. And since I need to replace the roof on the house anyhoo, it's a toss up. Bonus with the breezeway, is I could stack some firewood there and ditch my shot wood shed.
Hmmmm......

Tom

[TDHofstetter]

If ya stack yer firewood in there... be DANG SURE it's free of carpenter ants...

[woodmannie]

This is true. Ok, rebuild the shed. I can use material from the old shop. After the code inspection. ;D
I can only cover 760 square feet. So, I'm looking at 22'x24' so I have some play room. I may get away without inspections if I don't attach it. Then add the breezeway after all the crap is run through. Still, if I go detached, may not use the 7x8 rollup door. Thinking of just the duals instead. Means all 4 walls studed, but the roof tie in will be alot easier. and, since I have a window on the back of the garage, I can add a single door easier. And remove the side door, install the window there. Better security.
Hmmmm......

Tom

[dburkhart]

I live in PA also the inspection Nazis will go crazy if you don't get a permit whether it is attached or not at least in Montgomery county.Getting the permits and inspections were the biggest pain in my ass i have ever seen.I came from Ohio where you could get a permit for 35 dollars no matter what you wanted to build.I excavated my site myself 2 days later i had a note attached to my door to come to the township building.I went and after they read me the riot act i had to excavate a new site 200 feet from the road .Iwas 180 feet in the beginning.I could have left it but it would have cost me 500 dollars for a variance and maybe i said maybe the board would approve it.Then the complained about the 12x20 shed i built.Then the green house.To make along story short i would build a detached shop with big open garage door.I don't know how many times i was glad i had two huge double doors when i had deliveries.WHETHER IT BE MACHINERY OR 200BF OF WOOD.The permit cost me 600 dollars.

[Jim Brown]

If it were me, I'd go with detached ... fewer interruptions that way!

[Leo Voisine]

Tom,

I also have a ranch style house.

The attached garage is my shop.

I will say YES YES YES -- attached IS - YES - definately IS - the way to go.

I LOVE the convience.

For me - it is the ultimate no brainer - attached.