Questions for you guys who own shops/businesses...

I'm getting ready to have to relocate due to a new highway coming through where I live. I've been tossing around the idea of having a large metal building built and either a) having it fairly tall so I can put a decent sized apartment in a section of the overhead or b) making it longer with the apartment attached onto the side.

This shop will eventually house my paint and body & custom shop down the road so I need it to have a fair amount of space. But, I'm unsure on what would be recommended as far as floor space goes.

Im thinking (if i go the single level, long shop route) about going with say a 40'x100' and using either 40x40 or 40x30 for the apartment and having the remaining 40x60-70 for use as my shop.

Id like to have room for a lift and possibly a paint booth (unless building a seperate paint booth next to the shop would be more cost efficient)

Anyway, as you can see I have alot of questions about sizing and all that. Any info you guys can give will be MUCH appreciated! Thanks!

My biggest concern would be the fumes if they attached. Not sure if those fumes rise but def something to consider. For my money having them seperate is the best bet. Good luck and sounds like you going ot have a good set up.

Yeah, the fumes from general use would be my concern too having the apartment in the overhead. The paint would be contained in the booth and directed out of the shop (or not a factor at all if i go with a seperate booth).

i assume you will be living alone? lol. seems like you would have a hard time finding a girl that wants to live in a shop or above a paint booth. sounds like a sweet idea. sucks they got a damn road going right where you live now.

hahaha, yes i live alone for now...which is why im going with the apartment area. The piece of land i buy will be big enough to build a house on later down the road.

and finding a girl will be no problem...already got a girl thats as much into paint and body as i am; just got to get her ass moved down here!

I built a 30x100 and I rent out 25 feet of one end, so my working space is much like what you are talking about. It is a fairly good size chunk that is still left, plenty to run a buisness out of. I think that I would go the 40x100 route, you will always wish that you had more space.

Thanks Max! You do paint in your shop or have a seperate booth?

Edited: 8/2/2007 10:35:23 AM by draggindakota

I would go 40x100, with 25' bays. That way you can wall off one bay for the apartment and still have 4 bays worth of shop area. Paint booth would take one bay, the lift would take another, so you'd be left with 2 open bays.

You would probably run into some NFPA & Life safety issues is the apartment was 2 floor inside the shop, especailly with a paint booth in there.

I have a friend that runs a mechanic shop that has what your talkiin about..he has his wife and kids stayin there with him..I would guess his shop is 40 x130...with 50 x40 used as the house..he has another large chunk as his office..actually too much..but he would be doin really good if it werent for the larger then neccesary office

I had the same idea but ended up buying a house. I had the GF talked into it and everything. They do make some damn nice steel buildings that are finished with brick on the front.