It's going up next week.

[skipdiver]

After a lot of umming and aahing,gnashing of teeth and deliberation,decided to build my workshop out of blockwork mainly because my bricky mate had a slot for next week and was coming to start my utility extension on a building notice.Building control have scuppered that idea because of the proximity of my drains to the external walls,so i need to get permission from water authority which is a drawn out expensive business.I digress.

Instead of wasting the opportunity of my mate having some free time(he is very busy but had a job fall through) i thought why not get him to build my shop?Will cost me more in the long run but will be up and running much quicker.So i thought i would pick a few brains as to size and layout.

Last one i had was 6mtsx5mts but i thought this was a little too square.Was thinking more along the lines of 4ish by 7ish.Any thoughts on that anyone?Would also appreciate any thought on door/window sizes/placement,internal layout.

The last one didnt seem to work right,always seemed to be moving stuff.Any thoughts or ideas on anything shop related would be welcome.

Just realised a lot of folks have gone to the woodwork show but not starting til wednesday anyway.Off to price up skips and mini diggers now.

Will post pictures if i can figure out how.

Thanks.

 

[9fingers]

For a 30 sq m workshop 3 x 10 is too narrow (that is what I have but no option) You found 6 x5 too square so yes 4 x 7.5 sound about right.
You might just as well go for the 30 sq m internal limit without planning permission (in most cases)

I opted for no windows on grounds of security and flexibility to put cupboards anywhere once I had the place built. Not everyones choice but I'm happy with it. Minimal noise escapes and thermal performance is good. No risk of flying lumps of wood breaking DG units either.

Doors: at least a door and a half wide. double doors practical but potentially weak on security. I have a full width door hinged off a half width door .

Locate the door in one corner. Corners can be sources of wasted space so committing one to a door helps.

Posting Pictures?
I thought there was a sticky somewhere but I can find it.

Up load your picture to an online repository such as photobucket and paste in IMG links into your message text.

To see what it should look like, pick an existing thread with pictures in the last post in the thread. Hit reply and then you will see what the raw message looks like.
Then cancel the reply.
Try it for yourself and use preview to check it is working ok.

HTH

Bob

 

[Woody Alan]

My workshop is 3.5 m x 11m and I dream of a squarer workshop. with stuff down each side it's not that easy to move about. If I had a square shop I would consider putting the workbench in the middle. 4m would be my minimum but would look at 4.5m unless you don't intend to put anything much down one of the walls.
all that said I must confess to having too much stuff in my shop at the moment (read junk)

Alan

 

[Mr Ed]

My workshop is 5m X 7.5M, which is pretty much the size and shape you are thinking of. I find the size and shape perfect for the work I do, but I can imagine it would get tight if you did a lot of large pieces.

A couple of pictures to give you an idea of the layout possible with this size/shape;

I lose a little space on one side due to the staircase (this is a first floor workshop) but the elevated position seems slightly better for security to me. I have 4 windows on 3 sides and would say that whilst you must consider security, get all the natural light you can.

As others have said, and as you can see on the pics, a squarer shape allows you to put the saw and bench in the middle which makes a very effective working area I find.

Hope that helps, Ed.

(and hope the pictures come out; not done it before!)

 

[skipdiver]

Thanks for the replies so far,it's helping me decide on what i want to achieve.As i said before,last shop was 6x5 and with saw bench in the centre it seemed to me that i could do with it a little longer.Because of the 30 sq mt rule,extra length comes at the expense of lessening the width.Got to decide size soon as it is going up on wednesday.Got a couple of days longer to decide on doors and windows while the footings and oversite go in.

 

[Michael7]

My workshop is 5M x 5.5M and the square shape can be a bit of a pain. I find that when I bring in an 8 x 4 sheet I'm always trying to squeeze past it. I don't think I would have the room to cut up a full sheet with a table saw so I use a circular saw and guide which I'm happy enough with. I do have though, a 4 foot wide door thats in a corner of the shop which proves practical

 

[9fingers]

One further thought Steve, ceiling height: make sure that you can swing an 8 x4 sheet corner to corner vertically without hitting the ceiling (or the lights!)

So that is 2.75m minimum which puts the design into pitched roof not flat territory.

Bob

 

[skipdiver]

More food for thought thanks.Will be a pitched roof but was going to go 2.4 plus wallplate making ceiling height 2450.Had that height at my last shop and it was a bit of a pain with 8x4 sheets so 2750 sounds bette.Put the braces on top of the wallplate last time but will raise them up on this one.

 

[skipdiver]

Got a skip ordered(£152.00 :shock: ) and a mini digger.Just had a phone call off bricky mate Mark and it's full steam ahead tomorrow.'Twas august 2006 that i sold my house and with it the workshop.Two years is a long time without one.Photo's will follow when i can find a three year old to show me how to do it.

 

[skipdiver]

Got the footings dug and the oversite levelled today.Took lots of pictures.Will try and download/upload? them later.

 

[Digit]

Try Tinypics Skip, it works for me and I'm a computer moron!
You need the 640 X 480 size. If you try it and get stuck, shout!

Roy.

 

[skipdiver]

It'll have to wait til tomorrow now Roy.Shifted a mountain of stuff today and then SWMBO made me do some work on the camper van for upcoming weekend away.Off to bed now,got 2.5 cube of concrete coming at 8am

 

[skipdiver]

Footings concreted by 9.30.Got a lorry load of blocks to barrow in now.

 

[9fingers]

Hey! Skipdiver

How is you workshop coming on? Still waiting for WIP pics

We need something to pick holes in :lol: :lol:

Sorry I meant make constructive comments on!

Bob

 

[Digit]

Stick with the first Bob, it's more fun! :lol: :lol:

Roy.

 

[skipdiver]

Bricky had to go off on another job.He came back today to put in some strengthening pillars.Will try and put some piccies up tomorrow.Never done it before but will figure it out.At the moment it looks like a breeze block bunker.I'm very busy with work at the mo but am hoping to start on the roof this weekend.

 

[9fingers]

I know just what you mean.
It really is not on when the day job gets in the way of important stuff like building workshops.!

I look forward to your pics.

Bob

 

[skipdiver]

There's supposed to be a recession but i am busier than ever.Been without my shop for nearly 2 yrs and it's so close now, i can smell the woodshavings.

 

[Digit]

This week I noticed a local builder advertising in Tesco's, first time that has happened in years.

Roy.

 

[Gary]

There's supposed to be a recession but i am busier than ever.Been without my shop for nearly 2 yrs and it's so close now, i can smell the woodshavings.

Too busy for the pictures then? :wink: