Building a shop/garage options

Depends on what your local zoning rules dictate. A 6" would be good with a four-post lift, but I'd double that for a two-post. Measure out exactly where you'd put a two-post, and have your concrete guys dig a pair of roughly 24" x 24" holes, and reinforce that to accommodate the mounting bolts for the lift. A buddy did that in his shop, and he has zero issues with stability or cracking with his two-post.

My shop: Patrick66s Shop
 
I built my shop on the slab of my old house, which was totalled out in a tornado in 2003. The slab is 63' x 38, which is an odd size, granted; but utilizing that saved my nearly $20K in concrete (at '03 prices, double that now). Plus, where my old patio was in front, became a carport/patio, which is 12' x 24'. The building is angle iron, with steel corrugated walls and foam insulation. For what you are wanting, I'd go with a 30'x40' at a minimum. After I had the shop built, I was still having the new house built adjacent to that, so I had a 34' fifth wheel TT, four cars, two tractors, and a lawn tractor inside. Plus tools and parts. Oh, and I had a bathroom built where the old one stood, so that is a 3/4-bath. And I have two BIG shelving units in one corner for all my heavy/big parts. No lift, even after nearly 18 years. That may change very soon.

I can park my '66 Imperial and my '66 Coronet end-to-end, with the roll-ups at each end, with one inch between the car bumpers and the doors, and about four inches to squueze myself through the car bumpers, parked nose-to-nose. The third roll-up is powered, and I can get five smaller cars, or four larger cars or pickups, (along with the tractor and mower) in that space and have decent room to work and manuever.

My Dad and I did the basic wiring, with four 220V circuits and several 110V circuits. I still need more lighting! I have two overhead doors in front and one in back (one has a power opener), two windows and two walk-in doors. Ceiling height is 14', with 12' doors. We utilized bits from the old house where we could, so one window, the bathroom door, and the 200A breaker box were all used in the shop build, as well as my heavy industrial shelving. It is NOT air conditioned or heated, so I can't simply walk out anytime to a 60* workspace, like some here have. Two BIG floor fans for the Summer, and one big propane patio heater for Winter. It is what it is.

Plan your shop for what you do now and for anything you can figure the future holds...including resale value added to the property.

Total cost for the building and doors was $33K. Wiring materials was another $3K. The bathroom build was $5K. So, $41K in 2003. In 2021 dollars (not including the slab!) is $60K. Add concrete, you are another $30K min to build my shop again.

I don't plan on moving anytime soon.
I am so freaking jealous right now :lol:

I shouldn’t be following this thread :lol:
 
That's why I'm also looking at land. No restrictions, no HOA's, no B.S.
 
With our near future plans of leaving Illinois and relocating to Tennessee, I've been searching property with existing pole barns and have found a few that would've fit the bill for what I was looking for, but the properties with existing pole barns in TN are selling quickly. If fact, everything in TN is selling quickly! We may just buy a piece of land and build.
Agreeing with what others have mentioned, go bigger than with your first thought.
When I bought my building with the shop space being 27x45, I thought I'd never run out of space, but it filled up pretty quickly.
Been checking the prices on 40x60 pole barns online to get a ball park number of the purchase and construction costs.
40x60 Metal Building | Steel Building Kits include Free Delivery and Install. (eversafebuildings.com)


It's not just Tennessee, it's everywhere that is selling fast. There is a housing shortage, and mortgage rates are VERY low.
A lot of all cash buyers out there, states like Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Arizona, Idaho are being overrun by the exodus of those seeking a better life from Illinois, NJ, NY, PA and California.
When you find, be prepared to buy. Better have your approval letter or cash. Be prepared to offer asking or over asking if you really like it otherwise, you'll lose it.
I bought the Idaho home 18 months ago, it has gone up 60% of its purchase price in that short time.
 
Ideally, finding a tract of land with a small, rundown house that could be torn down would be the best purchase route to take if building, since the electric & sewer would already be in place. Those two utilities would add a substantial cost to new construction if not already there.
 
Ideally, finding a tract of land with a small, rundown house that could be torn down would be the best purchase route to take if building, since the electric & sewer would already be in place. Those two utilities would add a substantial cost to new construction if not already there.

AND would make a land mortgage easier to obtain.
 
When you find, be prepared to buy.
Very true.
I've been watching the listings in areas I would like to move, and have seen the listing prices increase quite a bit since doing so.
I even see homes relisting (not sold) with an "new" higher price. Sometimes $50K/$75K more than what it was originally listed for.
I figure if we don't buy soon, we'll be priced out of the market for any property with land, by the way things are selling in TN.
 
Very true.
I've been watching the listings in areas I would like to move, and have seen the listing prices increase quite a bit since doing so.
I even see homes relisting (not sold) with an "new" higher price. Sometimes $50K/$75K more than what it was originally listed for.
I figure if we don't buy soon, we'll be priced out of the market for any property with land, by the way things are selling in TN.

I was a bit nervous about selling when I did. I wanted to take advantage of the market, I likely could have sold for another 25Gs if I waited 6 more months.
 
When you find, be prepared to buy. Better have your approval letter or cash. Be prepared to offer asking or over asking if you really like it otherwise, you'll lose it.

Around here 5% over asking is becoming common. I have a few friends who are relators telling me they are getting multiple offers on properties under $400K within hours of listing. The real estate market is nuts out here and just like you said many of them are running from the deep blue states.
 
Yes, at 4000 or 4500 psi and proper compaction and preparation, absolutely. Especially a four post since you now have spread the weight more.

I'd be far more concerned over a two-post lift versus a four-post, as the two-post has all of the weight on just two small footprints, versus a wider displacement of weight on four posts.
 
I'd be far more concerned over a two-post lift versus a four-post, as the two-post has all of the weight on just two small footprints, versus a wider displacement of weight on four posts.

Understood. However it'll handle the two post lift also. How big is the lift footprint, 12" x 12" under each leg? 4000 psi is just that, That's plenty strong.
The concrete will never crush. Again, the underslab prep is key, especially compaction.
 
Very true.
I've been watching the listings in areas I would like to move, and have seen the listing prices increase quite a bit since doing so.
I even see homes relisting (not sold) with an "new" higher price. Sometimes $50K/$75K more than what it was originally listed for.
I figure if we don't buy soon, we'll be priced out of the market for any property with land, by the way things are selling in TN.
Location change, but ready for a big shop:

https://www.trulia.com/p/sd/beresford/46826-295th-st-beresford-sd-57004--2056272526
 
Look at the numbers and go big. Stubs is correct ( it kills me to admit it) 30 x 50 sounds like what you want..

I know you hate me but I'm being honest and helpful and not be a dick. Thanks

It's not just Tennessee, it's everywhere that is selling fast. There is a housing shortage, and mortgage rates are VERY low.
A lot of all cash buyers out there, states like Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Arizona, Idaho are being overrun by the exodus of those seeking a better life from Illinois, NJ, NY, PA and California.
When you find, be prepared to buy. Better have your approval letter or cash. Be prepared to offer asking or over asking if you really like it otherwise, you'll lose it.
I bought the Idaho home 18 months ago, it has gone up 60% of its purchase price in that short time.

I find it totally amazing and disappointed at the same time that the market has gone from a buyers to a sellers market in as short as 7 months, now look at the timeline and tell me why! NO DON"T!
 
I know you hate me but I'm being honest and helpful and not be a dick. Thanks



I find it totally amazing and disappointed at the same time that the market has gone from a buyers to a sellers market in as short as 7 months, now look at the timeline and tell me why! NO DON"T!

The market has been a sellers market longer than 7 months. IMO..
 
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