rustic detached garage workshop to do
 

We are buying a home in the country. It's going to need work, and I'm going to be doing a lot of it including a bunch of wood work. There's a garage onsite that I think is probably 100-150' from the house. The garage is very "rustic," but it does have power (small subpanel, 4 breakers right now, don't remember how many circuits total) and it's on a slab.

The garage is basically a 20x23' slab with a frame with a corrugated metal roof, cheap knotty pine boards for walls a door (south) and a big manual garage door (east). The eaves are completely open, and the walls show light through the cracks and knots.

Is there anything that you think would be a must-do or must-have to improve the structure for it to be a workshop (not including the addition of workbench, tools, etc...). I'm not too worried about cold. We don't usually get that cold here.

I'm wondering about adding some sort of opening (door or window) to one or both of the remaining sides for ventilation through the place. Obviously, there will be better/more lighting and probably more outlets.

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Nice to have, Steve. The concrete floor especially. I'm jealous!

Um, what to do?

Use the damn thing. Build a robot that shoots flames.

If you're going to use that as a work-shop for renovating the house, I recommend the following structural fixes:

- Make sure roof is sealed (rain on your projects is no good).

- Make sure the walls and eaves are sealed from rodent/animal intrusion

- Consider a big shop vac or dust extractor that vents to the outside.

- Roof vents for ventilation?

- Gravel path from the garage to the house so you're not tracking mud into either?

Thanks

I think the roof is good, but yes, I'll have to confirm that.

Rodents can absolutely get in. I didn't notice any traps, but then I wasn't looking. I think this would be a huge job as this place is about a sealed as a collander is water tite.

Yes, I'll have some sort of shop vac, for sure. Vented to the outside is a good idea.

I don't think roof vents are vital at just now, but I'll have a better idea once I get there.

Good call on the gravel path. That may be a good thing. Right now, there's plenty of grass between the home and garage, but I don't know how long that will be the case if I get out there and get busy.

Right, I think this is a nice setup. I'd like to eventually have it setup so we could put a car in it if we so choose. Right now, there's probably a 3-5" step from the ground to the door opening.

That's the plan. Closing is next Fri. Then we've got to get out there, get stuff out there to make the whole thing more usable, and I've got to buy a bunch of tools. We won't be living there full time, at least not for several months. We're hoping to have a family gathering (us, kids and grandkids, 8 people) a few days before Christmas. We've got to get somewhere for people to sleep and ensure that we can feed people. I'm thinking a grill would be a good idea.

Roof vent of some kind. I hear TX can get Africa hot so HVAC? Minisplit would be my choice but you gotta shut the opening under the eves.

Personally, I re-frame the roof and insulate it with something and install ridge vents or better power vents (maybe those that run off solar?)

You aint moving out of your current house in 2 weeks? I got something coming to your old place. Dropping off at post office Monday morning

Yes, darn hot and humid. I think sealing and insulating this place would be a big task, especially when the missus has lots of plans for the main house first. That's why I was thinking, it might be nice to have another opening or two for a cross-breeze.

No, we won't be moving until at least March. We've got a lease until then, and I've got to try to get high speed Internet of some sort setup to ensure that I can work (job) out there which may take some work.

Did you ever find the Kampot peppercorns?

No Kampot. I called most of the Cambodian markets off the net within a 30 mile radius of me and they have no idea what I am talking about. I think its mostly language barrier. A few just told me, only chilies no peppers.

These two would be top of my list. I would also make sure that whatever electric you have out there is going to suit your intended use, you can never have enough lighting and running a compressor or a 220 welder means amps. This depends a lot on your envisioned use, though.

I've never lived in your neck of the woods but have had a project car that got some mice in it and I curse the day I told myself that the car was sufficiently mouse proofed... I knew the shop space (which I was renting) was not. Here too depends on use... if you're using the shop to store and maintain your tractor then who cares.

I have my own shop, and the gravel is a great benefit and one of the first things i added. Without it I'm driving whatever vehicle through my backyard and straight into the shop along with whatever grass, leaves, dirt etc wants to come along. In my case I made a ~8' deep patch of gravel (with some landscape timbers to keep it tamed/make mowing easier) directly in front of the shop door, works great for my needs.

Stop looking, some are on the way. They are shipping from the east coast, so they may take 5-7 days.

Hahaha. You are good, dude. Thanks you. Will report back once I try them.

Perfect. Just perfect.

Will look even better with a hoist for the Porsche in it.

My 2 cents: short term just use it as is . As you live there and go through various rain/cold/hot/humid cycles you will start to see the buildings short comings. You will also determine if rodents are an issue .

To me it all revolves around the siding . If the existing siding is in good shape and you like it then that is one path moving forward . If the siding is not in great shape and/or you don't like it that is a different path forward .

Keep the siding I would look for used sheets of foam insulation and cut to fit in between studs . This helps seal/insulate and helps with rodents . If you decide to replace siding then you plywood the exterior and house wrap then siding of your choice.

I wouldn't do either until you use the building for a while , you may find its perfect as is.

I like killer robot idea. Go build robot. Use the space. See what works for you. See what doesn't.

Like- layout- Where workbenches/outlets were intuitively placed my garage weren't necessarily where I needed them.

Beef up electrical as needed - lighting and outlets while the interior is so open/ not cluttered/ covered over. Once you use the space, you'll have a better idea where outlets are needed. I like at least some outlets next to the garage door- so I can get a line to outside project easy.

I have two out garages. One has finished white drywall. The other, unfinished walls like you have. It is amazing how much darker the unfinished garage is. It's sucks up light like a black hole.

Definitely add some 240v lines if you can. Compressor. Welder. Etc. Also some heavy duty 120v lines.

Extra doors- I'd sure like to have a door between the main space and the covered overhang, but I'd want to make sure it's swing path doesn't eat into storage space on either side interfering with where things are parked. So maybe. Maybe not.

I'd also spent some time out there when it's damp so make sure the walls are dry. Looks like previous moisture was on inside. I'd want to make sure the walls aren't still seeping. Id powerwash/strip the damaged paint on the exposed side to evaluate condition before doing much on inside.

Actually, forget the garage.

Focus on the robot. Use the cooker you have as the frame. Make a steam powered, fire breathing, robot of death, programmed to patrol the perimeter of your new yard. Don't introduce yourself to your new neighbors.

No. That's exactly what they will be expecting.
Let them talk to the robot.

If not AC then how about some big honkin' ceiling fans to move air around?

I have two old tobacco barns. I turned one into a work shop, one side with ac/heat, the other side with two large doors for ventilation. I run large fans as well.

I concreted the floors and insulated/covered the a/c side and added tons of lights, improved the electric panel, etc.

I went with metal sheeting that I applied directly over the old barn wood. I re-roofed both as well.

The large barn is for equipment storage only.

I waited about 12 years before I did all of the above and can't believe how stupid I was for waiting so long.

During:

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After (backside)
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Frankly, I'd get the shop sorted first since stagging our of there will be a big deal as you move forward.

Great place!

BTW, for insulation I used this stuff: https://www.ecofoil.com/pages/pole-barn-insulation

Very easy to install and works great.

I also sealed in rat poison as I insulated and paneled the inside of the shop.

Spray foam insulation on the inside roof, at least. That metal roof will be a nice radiant heater in the summer.

That is a beast of a smoker!!!

Good luck with your purchase.
Going with metal and the insulation that Seahawk suggested makes sense to me especially if you are planning to do any work in there and will have A/C with heat pump capabilities.

I guess since the smoker is on a trailer, it isn't part of the deal...

It will be nice to be able to do some routine maintenance vs having to pay shop prices, but I'm probably not likely to be pulling a motor any time soon.

+1 to what 911_dude says about the spray foam.
My brother added that to the new shop building he had put up. Before insulating it you couldn't touch the outside during summer (Atascadero CA) it got so hot. Now it is still is warm buy not burn your hand if you touch it hot. With fans it made it livable inside.
Is that a box fan I see in one of your pictures?

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Did I get the orientation correct on your picture?

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Based on my experience up at my brother's place, a gravel driveway will help a lot vs tracking mud all over the place.

If the box fan comes with it, make an opening for it and use it to ventilate the place. Or just stick it up in the rafters near the vents at the top of the walls.

You need to convince your wife that house projects will be a lot easier if the shop is setup first. Trying to get things done while 'making do' out there will only slow progress down in the long run.

Good advice. That's similar to our plans for the house, get in and look at the house and really think about what we want to do so we can hopefully, do it once and be really happy with what we've done.
I suspect when it rains and is windy, water comes through the cracks and knot holes and runs down the inside of the walls. THe good news is that everything is so open, I suspect it dries quickly and thoroughly.
Hahahah
I think the current owners may have some old ceiling fans laying around. Who knows if they'll take them or not.
Good info, thanks tons.
Yeah, I was looking up at that yesterday thinking the same thing. The good news is that I think there will be good airflow when there's any kind of breeze. That's why I'm wondering about adding a door(s) or window(s) on the two walls that don't have anything, for a cross breeze.
Yes, there's the smoker on the trailer, the tractor behind it and then another trailer full of tractor implements. I'm sure they won't be leaving those.


On the rodent front, I've been very surprised that I haven't seen any traps or poison laying around anywhere. It wouldn't surprise me for there to be rodents out there. Maybe there are a bunch of raptors to keep them in check. I'll definitely keep an eye out.

+2, I have had a few friends that have done this in metal buildings and WOW, did it make a huge difference. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607273918.jpg
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I know you said lights and outlets are being added. Let me emphasis - lots of lighting!!!

And, nobody said this but a critical, absolutely indispensable part of a garage is a cranking stereo.

Also, you have a KILLER setup! Love it!

Good call. I'll be doing something up there I'm sure. Fortunately, I should have a few months before that's urgent (but I'll want to get it done before it's urgent).

Yes, there's a box fan sitting there. No idea how much of the stuff laying around the house the current owners plan to remove. I'm kind of thinking of telling them that anything that they don't want to bother with they can just leave.

Yes, the door orientation that you have is exactly correct.

I agree, and I think the missus will be behind me starting with getting the shop setup first. Our son wants to get married on the property in March. We've discussed not doing much other than cleaning and fixing anything urgent before that. That should give me at least a few months to start getting the shop in shape before I have to start bigger work on the house.

Yes, lots of light. My eyes are getting old and the more light the merrier.

We do love the setup. We think the house is great and we can make it even better.

THAT looks like the kind of problem that I'd love to be saddled with.

Nice shop and toys!

Nice looking property you found there! Nice having trees around the house and shop.

Your shop building is quite similar to the one on my place here in the Fl panhandle.
Except mine doesn't even have a good roof. But Ive got a big pile of material stacked right in front now.
I'm doing all of the work myself, and am about to start tearing off the roof soon.

Very similar with open eves, but Ive added a few Windows and a sliding glass door in the back, building new doors, will be adding new siding as the exterior wall are tightened up. The car ports will house my motorhome and the one in back will become more storage and wood shop when that is happening.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607278402.jpg

Looks like you have some good plans for your new place, all the best way in making it yours, will enjoy seeing your progress.

Cheers Richard

There are lots going in that place.

I suggest against spray form if its going to be use as a general shop. spray foam traps lots of dirt and you can't get it out once the dust settles in. The walls must be covered. I really like rigid foam, great insulating value easy to cut and install. We cut it with a table saw when we did my house. Since that's something we do not install, there's no need for fancy tools just to cut the simple foam. Drywall or cheap paneling on top of that to keep the dirt out. I know humidity is high in TX. That will ruin your tools so a coat of oil is a must on all your cast iron table tops when not in use.

id start with putting vented blocks in between the trusses at the top of the walls. 2x6 blocks with 2"holes drilled in them with 1/8" galvanized screen covering the vent holes. install them from the outside 90* off the eve tail.

since the roof is corrugated you will need to find a way to fill the voids atop the block. a strip of precut stuff or fill with an expanding foam.

Here is what is in the other garage. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607301342.jpg
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Back to the spray foam, one of my friends 1st used it around 20 years ago, in a metal building, and it made, and still makes a huge difference in the sometimes brutal Florida heat. I have literally seen the foam outlast a building. :D

Looks like you've got a lot of good stuff going on there!
Good thoughts. If the walls get filled in, I like Seahawk's idea of putting some rat poison in the walls. When we were onsite and I was looking at the garage with our realtor this weekend, she said it was good not to have finished the walls because then you end up with rodents' nests. Poison may help that, if they are an issue.
I've used the spray foam to seal corrugated roof to straight boards before when screening in a porch. I filled and then trimmed the foam and painted it. I can see doing that in this case.

That wouldn't surprise me. Another sad garage.

Yeah, what if they decided to die in the wall cavity? Hey, at least you can say to your wife, "Go clean up that siht in the garage".

Couple years ago, I had to help a friend cut a hole in the ceiling in his garage to get out a dead racoon. That thing crawled in through a hold from rotted siding way up near the. It was a flat roof, so there's no attic. This was in the dead middle of socal summer. He lived inland, Glendora so the avg temp was a toasty 90 degrees . That smell is horrible cooking that thing for at least 2-3 weeks under the hot sun. How did I get called for this, I don't know.

Hahah.

I think the theory is that when they eat rat poison, they are supposed to get thirsty and go try to find water. So in theory, they won't die where they eat the poison, but I'm sure that's not fool-proof.