I will be building a pole barn soon and I have decided to go 32 x 60 x 16. Length and width are in 4' increments to make it simple. The first 40 feet will be enclosed but the other 20 ' of length will just be roof, slab, and 8' of wall from the top to halfway down. That way I have a covered 32 x 20 area for dirty work like grinding, painting, welding, pressure washing, etc., and the 32 x 40 remainder will be a clean area. the 16' heighth (can't spell today) is in 8' increments and leaves me the option to build a second partial floor later on. If it's not big enough I can convert the covered area to enclosed area. If it's still not big enough I'll have to have a yard sale.

 

Dang yall are lucky. Because of space and money constraints I have a 22x20 and it is cramped. I'll have to just put the front half of my truck in if i want much room. I cant wait to move out to the middle of nowhere so I can build a huge shop...

 

40x60x12 at least.

 

40x60x12 is pretty respectable. Its not so big that its hard to heat or long walks to get stuff but allows good working room.

 

40x80x14 just because thats what I have

 

hi ,my garage is 24x28 with 10.5 foot ceiling.my garage door is 16x8h and i have a 20' bench at the rear. my compressor stands in the corner at the back and there is a full sized '79 f150 on one side and i do mechanic work on the other side(to pay for the garage and tools).the garage could always be bigger but it serves my purpose and remember it all adds up to $$$ (lumber,insulation,heating,wiring,lighting and time).10 or 12 years ago i use to work in a small garage everyday, just 2 of us,2 bays ,2 hoists ,a tire rack ,tire changer , tire balancer, 2 large toolboxes,torches,welder ,parts washer ,chain falls and i could go on but you get the idea.the floor space in the two bays was 26x26. there was a small room for the compressor and other misc items.we did alot of work out of that garage and everything had its place(not in the middle of the floor).ORGANIZATION IS THE KEY.

 

alright, here is what i have sketched out. I am looking at a 30 X 48 X at least 10, if not 12. Like many have said, organization will be the key. my plan is to have a two car garage on one end,for reference the south wall, one bay for project truck and the other for the daily driver. the wall next to the project bay, west wall, will consist of a few shallow shelves for tool storage and misc. there will be and enty door on one side, east wall, at about the center of the building. starting behind the door and working around: there will be a work bench with a few bench top tools, grinder, miter box, etc. just out from that will be an assembly table. just past the bench will be a drill press followed by the Bandsaw in the corner. the north wall will have a lumber rack with the table saw just out from it. next to the rack will be an area for the yard equipment, lawn mower, sweeper, tiller. the east wall, next to the lawn equipment, will have a small overhead door. just to the left of that will be some racks for lawn tools, rakes, shovels, other. my air compressor will be next to that, almost straight across from the entry door.
It looks like it will work, at least it does on paper. the only question is, would someone like to float me loan? i could probably you back before i die.

 

I like your length. 40 is really too short. If you can possibly get 6 ft wider yet it will really improve working room for storage or any benches along the walls with cars parked in there. Its like doubling the space in a sense because it allows for all that wall space along cars to be used for other things as it would normally be used for car storage only. If you are limited to stricktly auto work 10 ft hi will do, it doesnt leave much for headroom for doors or a hoist though.

 

well guy's I rent the ultimat shop for poor boys. I use in to build fixe my race cars sizi dunno but here is what I have in it..... you can get 5 cars wide(and still walk between them) you can get a semi truck to pull in and shut the door and have room to walk around tall well just to reach the bottom rafters I had to had a 24 ft ladder in back of a truck to reach the bottom of the raftes I'll measure it this week end

 

i wish i had a garage to work in. mine is full of old crap and an old MG

 

It'll never be big enough(size does matter) but I started out with a 30X42 with 10ft. ceiling and have built 24 ft. more on one end.I also have an 18ft. lean-to on one side and a 14ft. lean-to on the back.If I were doing it over now,I'd go 40x probably 75-80 and definately go with 12ft. minimum ceiling.Lifts can be bought too cheap anymore not to have enough hieght for one.My shop is bigger than my house and my wife thinks I have a problem.

 

Is that redundant?

 

Hey guys. Always go bigger. I started with a 30x50x10 just for storage and tinkering on my cars/trucks/bikes etc. I have now started diong some metal fabbing and it has become too small fast. I saved up for 14 months and just put a down payment onna 54x60x14 shop It will house a small office, bathroom, 2-post used hoist, and to be built & designed paint room( any ideas in that dept appreiciated) My wife also thinks i'm nuts, you'll get used to the looks & stares
It will have 2-10x10 highlift overhead doors and 1 10x12 overhead door. I-36" man door & 1-10x10 slider. So I have been reading with interest the lighting issues brought up in this forum. I also use a Lincoln Powermig255, this welder had worked great for the first 2 years I used it. I was welding an extension on my welding table one day and something happened to it and now hasen't welded worth a dam for over ayear now. All I can say is that customer support is the last thing on Lincolns mind. I will never buy another Lincoln, and will try to talk othersa out of it when I can. My new machine will be True Blue, Miller. I have never heard of a problem with thier equipment. Well thats enough, soory my shed talk turned into welder bashing. Good luck with your shops all.

stumpy

 

Me too! My wife and kids have more than 80 show rabbits in mine! Thinking of building a pole barn, by the way guys, where do you get your poles?

cowkicker59

 

I drafting class we used graft paper. One square equals 1 foot. cut out squares for trucks. Measure with the truck doors open. Cut out for shelfs etc. Also have one door real wide and 10 feet tall. My uncle built it for cars now his truck wont fit in. also he got a tractor to snowblow the yard and it needs the taller door. Are you going with a seconf floor? Are you going to heat the space? You can add extra concrete to the side for an extra bay, that way you can expand later. I like to build with boards that way you dont have to carry plywood up the ladder. I never heard anyone say there three door garage was big enought. Maybe 2, two door garages would be better then a four door garage. Your garage will be bigger then the house. LOL