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.

 

[HOJ]

@tobias Apologies, I meant hardcore rather concrete, however, I would suggest a review on how you are detailing the foundation/slab.

In standard timber frame construction, you need to have any timber elements at least 150mm above the adjacent ground level, in order to minimise the effect of rain splashing up and therefore leading to premature rotting out and failure.

There are a lot of options in how this is achieved, but it does tend to be site specific and dictated by the ground conditions, and more critical the wallet capacity.

Worth having a look at an old thread that Mike G posted using simpler methods: build-a-shed-mikes-way-without-concrete

 

[tobias]

Ah you're right! Now you've mentioned rain splashing I would be at risk of that even if the gravel border drains well.

Just read through that thread and really good details in there. A quick look at lintel prices this would hit the wallet a bit. Would also lose 15cm internal ceiling height which I thought I was being smart by maximising with my ground level slab (but I don't think I can get around this now).

Glad to get this reviewed before I start building though so I dont make costly mistakes early on so cheers for this.

Think I need to keep thinking on this as the lintel solution Mike gives may be too expensive. I dont want to raise the floor on pillars due to rodents. I could drop the idea of having the slab top at ground level, have it be 15cm and hardcore it sits on be ground level... Cogs slowly turn in my head