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Well... afer being at the same location for 9 years, my landlords in this economy (can you belive it!!!) gave me a 30% rent increase! I have an acre of land and am going to build a new shop at home. Anyone have any ideas about the whole process of designing a shop and or getting plans done? It seems that all the architects are to busy to get this done ASAP. There alot on line but nothing really aimed at this type of business. We do alot of large trucks and really need a 12' door plus shop and office space. Any help or advise would really be appreciated we are just getting killed on the rent here! Thanks in advavce!
-------------------- Raychel Greenwald Lexington Signs & Grafix 1474 Mass Ave Arlington, MA 02476 Lexsigns@aol.com Posts: 3 | From: 29 adams St, Burlington, Ma | Registered: Oct 2001
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Raychel, before we type out long comments of suggestions from those of us that have been there done that, please use the search engine on this site because it's been discussed at length more than once.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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This economy?? Architecs too busy! 30% rent increase.
Sounds like things are busting loose up your way. You might try aluminum buildings. Overhead doors work well and they cost about 25% less than conventional construction. Portable models can be had in various sizes.
We were looking into a building a while back... The steel buildings seemed to be he most economical. There are lots of manufacturers to choose from (look them on the internet.)
They often have buildings they have prefabbbed for clients that change their mind... These go for less to get rid of inventory.
They offer a host of options/packages and it might be worth looking into.
They also go up real fast.
So have fun with your project!
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!!
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Depending on the requirements zoning dictates in your area, I would put the facility on the extreame rear boundry of your parcel, with parking in the front.Metal structures are wonderfull for commercial applications, in fact check out Karen Souza's shop in Bedford Mass.
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Raychel...we are in the process of putting together our own building.I have posted two installments so far and am putting together the next installment as I post here.
It cost us $1,200. to have an architect put together our building plans. (contact a local university or large contractor they all have young architects that can do this a small cost) as a side project .
We hired an engineer to do the site plan and foundation work.
Our new building (3000 square feet) will cost us $19,000 (structure only). The total cost on this project we are estimating to be around $107,000. (includes property cost, concrete,plumbing,electrical,heat and air and all finish work.Our goal was to keep it to $100,000. (or it would have been even higher)
The bank will back us to $150,000.(I don't even want to think about that).
We will occupy 2000 sq ft and lease out the other 1000 sq ft (that will pay half our mortgage) If the lot were bigger we would have done 4000 sq ft leased out half and let the tenant pay all our rent(oh well)maybe next time!
Watch the BB I will post the next installment soon (we aer waiting now for the bank money and building permit...once we have those two things I'll post and give everyone an ongoing account of construction, bookkeeping and woes along with the happy times (I hope).
Wish us luck...we hope yours goes good as well!
[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: Monte Jumper ]
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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A Building is just a "box" to keep the weather out Your metal type,as mentioned are the lest expensive in cost and installation. I have 3 pre-fabricated 12'x24'buildings connected on a concrete slab. A "SHOP" is how you arrange your working area as per your needs. In my case:All vehicles are done outside in the parking area.Walls,Windows,Boats,Murals are done on location. I enjoy the outside to much to be cooped up all day in a box. Hope this helps.
[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: PKing ]
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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If you're in a residential neighborhood you need to make sure zoning allows for you to conduct business there.
If a metal shed would be out of character for your neighborhood, spend more and build something that could be later converted into a large house. This will increase both your and your neighbors property values. That's part of our retirement.
Make drawings of floor plans. Use different colored markers to show paths from one station to another. Where will tables go? Saws? Lettering bench? How will you get to the paint when a truck is inside? Which way will the air flow? The lighting? Will there be any glare? How about moving heat? Air flow for removing fumes? By drawing all these paths you discover things in the way and extra steps. Imagine following some imaginary jobs through the shop. Materials come in, boards get cutin one place, painted in another,lettered in another, out the door. Make it flow. Can you use the wood tools when there is wet paint on some panels?
Trucks here have a maximum legal height of 12'6". To get them in requires a better than 14' opening, which requires a 16' ceiling height.
Many shops make the roll up door opening only 10' wide. 12'and 14' doors allow for easy entry without banging mirrors.
Plan your lighting well. There are lights that reproduce color in a natural way, others make everyone look like they should be hospitalized. Most architects want to evenly light the interior of the shop, but sign shops require more lighting around the walls. I've seen shops go dark when the big box truck came in.
The whole process can be fun and work well. Hope this helps.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
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Hi All, Thaks for all your advise! My house is in a residential area so metal (unfortunatly) is pretty out of the question. As far as zoning I am allowed to do signs there (yippee). With all the frustration trying to get plans done I think I will now try doing it myself while I wait for someone to call me back, any one suggest a good CAD program?
-------------------- Raychel Greenwald Lexington Signs & Grafix 1474 Mass Ave Arlington, MA 02476 Lexsigns@aol.com Posts: 3 | From: 29 adams St, Burlington, Ma | Registered: Oct 2001
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We recently had plans drawn up to build a 30x38 shop on my property. Like you, we cannot have metal buildings.
We got a local architect to do them for $1200. He is a small one man business and normally does home plans. He also drew up the plans for all aspects of the shop including the fill we would need, electrical, water, and all the other stuff I can't remember that would of cost us extra if we had to hire someone else. He even delt with our idiot City Hall people because they couldn't get the minds made up about how far we should be from the property line.
Maybe you can find someone like that to help you out. Good luck!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address
Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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I use Broderbund 3 D Home Architect Deluxe. Works for me. I designed my New Studio/ Workshop with it. And I am building it myself in my spare time. The building is mostly metal on a concrete slab. Total square ft. is 1520'. Photos of progress below. These were taken just after I installed the septic system around Oct 16. I will add more windows and stone to the entrance area at a later date.
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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You can draw plans yourself showing floor plan, plot plan, designing sewer and water hook ups, electric drop, and some elevation drawings. Then there are many drafting firms that can do the foundation and roof anchoring section drawings. The requirements are usually not as stringent for owner-builders as they are for a contractor. You can get the permits your self and save a bundle.
It's seldom seen that anything is actually built by the plans. Architects expect builders to cover their butts by fixing their shortsightedness.
Most any contractor know how to calculate how many studs by the wall length and the number of doors and windows. You don't need a program to draw it, and you should be able to get a firm price from preliminary drawings.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
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iam a draftman, and worked at a BUTLER metal building builder. we built some building you wouldnt know they were a metal building. the basic interior structure was the only thing that gave it away as a metal building. also there are a lot of constuction co. that will build you a slab, and exterior wall building for very little money ...check some of the local contractors and ask for a "garage" type bilding no frills...and see what they can do it for.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm with Rick, Draw the plans yourself or contact a qualified builder to see if they may already have suitable plans to fit your needs. They will know what meets codes. $1200 for a custom set of plans is throwing money away, if you are on a tight budget.
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Raychel, We are in the process of building a new shop too. This is a tentative layout for our new 50x30 steel building. The 24x20 building is already set up. Hope this ain't too big. it didn't work. Here's a link. Don't look at the rest of the site. It ain't finished. http://woodesigns1.tripod.com/webbsignstudio/id3.html
[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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I would like to have a new building, too, but at my age, I am not going to swing a mortgage to do one. But if I did, oh boy.
24x32 minimum, probably a 14 foot door (some of those trucks are tall) insulated overhead door(s) and insulate the bejeepers in the side walls.
Save some $ and finish off the inside yourself-- the wallboard painting and whatnot.
A killer setup would be one in which the ceiling could be raised or lowered on cables and pulleys to save on heat when you don't have tall projects inside. I have not seen such a setup, and don't know if it could be done, but I can dream. Such a setup would probably require your doors to be something other than overhead type.
A building like this IMHO does not need the services of an architect-- it is, after all is said and done, a work building and not something to be featured in Better Homes and Gardens.
One last thought-- paint the inside white, and if you use fluorescent lighting go with the daylight type tubes. Some of the others can do strange things to your perception of colors.
Just my 2 cents.
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA
Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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Signcraft magazine has had some excellent internal layouts for the most efficient way to set up. I think I may have saw them in some of last years issues but I am sure it will pay off for you to do a little research there. Hope this helps.
-------------------- Drane Signs Sunshine Coast Nambour, Qld. dranesigns@bigpond.com Downunder "To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer" Posts: 965 | From: Nambour, Qld. Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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My new shop is a double garage below, and an office on top. The best decision I made was having LOTS of BIG windows in the office area, with the bottoms starting at desk height. A small thing really, but I love sitting at my desk and not having to stand up to see outside.
it didn't work.
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