My Workshop Plans

[tobias]

So I'm a bit of a nerd and have been planning a new workshop space. I created some digital plans for myself and hosted it on a website which I want to share. It's a slighly cleaner version of the random notes I have scribbed about in different places but by no means finished. The nice thing is I've set it up to accept inputs such as changes of workshop width & depth and the plans update accordingly.

Spent a good part of last year learning sketchup for the 3D images and last 3ish months working on the website/plans at https://plans.northbayworkshop.co.uk/. The more advanced features of the plans are behind a "pay to upgrade" in the hope down the line I can sell a couple of these upgrades to fund my tools and tinkering a little. But for now I can't say these plans are are in a place that's worth anyones money so anyone reading this just use the access code "UKWORKSHOP".

Like I said still a work in progress and I'll certainly add more as I learn and build the thing later this year Anyone spot anything obviously wrong, missing or ways to improve I'm all ears.

 

[HOJ]

I had a quick look at your plans, I am curious as to how your foundation will work, from what I can tell you are extending the concrete pad out by 500mm, and finishing it below ground level, I get your intention to put a French drain around the perimeter, but with the concrete being underneath will it not just create a pond, and also then potentially wash the sand binder away from underneath the screed.

 

[tobias]

@HOJ yea I see where you're coming from. The concrete itself doesn't extend out but the Hardcore MOT sub-base does. Though with that being compacted I do see pooling possibly being an issue if it doesn't drain well enough.

I have compacted MOT sub-base for the path along the side of my house that over the past year has drained well even in heavy rain. It was meant to be a temporary solution until I got around to paving it but due to it being low my todo list its remained.

On top of the sand around the perimeter I was also going to add a weed barrier (forgot to add that to plans). That should help keep the sand in place and whatever does wash out hopefully will we replaced with dirt/silt that makes it through the gravel above. End result is a gravel border that would be something like the picture below.

Still even with the above it may be best to have the concrete pad end up a few cm above ground level. That way if there is any pooling/flooding that makes it up the 10cm it will first go to the grass away from the workshop instead of into the workshop.