Thread: Help me design my shed

The layout should integrate the dust extraction from the start so you don't end up with doors and windows in the wrong place.
Leave a space outside for the DC.

[QUOTE=pippin88;1869874] Options floor size wise:
4 m means you can use an island bench - very handy. I'd go for that over any advantages provided by wall space.

Purpose
I do both metal and woodwork.

Consider lining one end in fire proof materials for metal work - I used miniorb with rock wool insulation underneath -its one of he best things I every did in my shed.
I can grind, weld plasma cut etc with reduced worries.
Noise-wise Miniorb is very good - way better than I thought it would be, much better than regular core
see my shed thread - https://www.woodworkforums.com/f245/bobls-shed-fit-134670

Double door at garden end.

Not necessary as you lose wall space - you just need a door wide enough to get bug gear in (1.2m should cover it)

Possibly single door with window towards house end.

Two doors is a good idea if you have the room - as you can use it to create a cross flow for ventilation

Cladding
Inside
Planning on 12-18mm plywood or oriented strand board (OSB)
Considering prefinished plywood - white laminate?

I ended up with lots of cupboards up against my walls so I used gyprock in the WW half of the shed, otherwise I would have gone for the ply.

Outside
I'm considering corrugated sheeting, run horizontally. Possibly mini-orb if the price is not tooooo bad
However, noise sealing is a significant consideration for me. So I was thinking of using a flat sheet cladding then the corro essentially for aesthetic cover.

Corro - 50mm mm of bulk soft sound absorber (insulation) - then Minorb on top (inside) would be effective enough.
Miniorb is about $40/m²
If Minorb too expensive then replace the minor with 12 - 17 mm ply -cabout $12 - $30 /m² depending on thickness

Insulation
Noise insulation is probably the priority.

Miniorb is surprisingly effective - it is sold and used as an internal sound scatterer

Organisation
I've been inspired by a thread at garagejournal and am planning to use french cleats extensively.

I was thinking of french cleats but didn't end up using any.

I'd go for a 4x5 shed as well for the reason BobL gave. My current shed is 6x3 and it is just not wide enough for larger projects, I mean it's ok but not the best use of space IMO.

SB

Hi Pippin,
Is it possible to go 6 X 4, you'd be surprised as to how much extra room you'd have with the extra metre. With regards to the centre bench,
why not put it on castors with locking screws, so that you have the best of both worlds, it can be pushed up against a wall under cupboard type storage, when a big space is required, ie cutting sheet material. Pulled out, to assemble the stuff you just cut .
Mounting large machinery on rolling frames is probably the best way to go, as if it's not needed, it's out of the way. There would be nothing stopping you from using the backs of doors, for a place to hang stuff, ext. cords, long clamps etc, or for storage space of screws nails etc.
I made a clam shell cupboard, that takes peanut paste containers, for my nails and screws, doubling the storage space. You could make 2 of them, one for woodwork stuff and another for metal work, pop rivets, bolts, nuts etc. Shelving can be set so that cans of PP paint could go there also. Try using cupboards with doors as dust seems to be attracted to shelving, no matter how you try, just look at stuff inside the house. She'll clean it one day and the next it's back.
Don't plan for what you have at the moment, but what will come, bandsaw, jointer etc. With regards to the metre away from the fence, a lot use this area for storage of long timber, steel, by putting a frame with supports coming out and a roof over it under the fence line so that next door can't see it, unless they sticky beak over the fence.
A good book to get hold of is "How to Build a Great Home Workshop" by Wood Magazine, published by Sterling ISBN-13: 978-1-4027-1177-0
ISBN-10: 1-4027-1177-8, it has a lot of handy hints on setting up the Shed. You should be able to borrow it from the Local Library or cost is about $30.00. Extremely good value, for the amount of info. A couple of items made from the book.
Regards
Kryn
DSCF0127.jpgDSCF0128.jpgDSCF0129.jpg
Now you don't Now you see it Clamp rack

Thanks for the replies.

I plan to have dust extraction and air compressor in silencer boxes on the fence side of the shed.

I don't plan to weld and grind in the shed as I hate the mess it creates. I prefer to just do it outside. My metalwork is mostly mill and lathe work.

Side passage down the house is 1.2m, so a 1.2m door does make sense.

Will do some model arrangements to work on the width vs length and what will fit best.
Current shed is 3m wide, and works ok, but certainly no potential for an island.

The reason for the size is that it should fall under exempt development, meaning I don't need council approval. Council approval takes time and is associated with plenty of fees.

Depending on how keen you are you could dig a hole and put a basement workshop in the same size as the top one. I did this and have never regretted the work but it will be expensive.

I am currently siting in a 3.3 x 5.1 mtr room, and would definitely recommend something wider. The 5 x 4 mtr size is what I would go for.

Depending on funds, I also really like the basement approach (maybe for slow drying timber?). Don't forget ventilation if you go this way.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Depending on how keen you are you could dig a hole and put a basement workshop in the same size as the top one. I did this and have never regretted the work but it will be expensive.

I have a friend who did this, 2 shipping containers side by side, painted them with bitchomine paint to slow down rust and put in a sump with submersible pump. Just don't tell the neighbours what's in there. .
Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

I have a friend who did this, 2 shipping containers side by side, painted them with bitchomine paint to slow down rust and put in a sump with submersible pump. Just don't tell the neighbours what's in there. .
Kryn

Ships?

Originally Posted by cava

I am currently siting in a 3.3 x 5.1 mtr room, and would definitely recommend something wider. The 5 x 4 mtr size is what I would go for.

Depending on funds, I also really like the basement approach (maybe for slow drying timber?). Don't forget ventilation if you go this way.

I put Solar Tubes in and a Solar vent fan as we found without that the area became very dank. They run from the through the main workshop up against one wall and add heaps of light and the fan never stops working. With those and white painted walls it is possible to work without lights. It is what the Americans would call a walk out basement only being underground for about 3/4 of the area and took me a year to dig the hole.

My mate was lucky, as our friend, does some work for someone with all the right gear, tippers, excavators, bobcats, laser levels. Just on weekends, took about 2 months, hardest part, was getting the excavator out from 3m below, truck towing the bobcat, towing the excavator, on a concrete driveway.
Kryn

Hah, I'd love a double level shed, but in a complete flat block without access for excavators it ain't going to happen.

5x4 with a compact mobile central bench is looking good. Probably a bench with fold down extensions.

Windows
I'm looking at prefabbed / ready made windows. Can anyone recommend a source? Anyone used the Bunnings ones (Polar Eco-view)?

An initial layout:

Layout 1.jpg

A view from above.
5m long, 4m wide.

On the left my CNC benchtop mill sits between two windows. I would have cupboards / shelves under the windows.

In the middle is an island bench on wheels.
At the top is my CNC lathe.
At the bottom is my CNC router.

On the right is a 700mm deep bench the whole length of the shed. It will have cupboards and shelves below, and above.

I also need to fit:
4x6" metal bandsaw (will be on a cart)
ShopVac on a cart with a Dust Deputy cyclone.

Thoughts?

Well, thanks for all the input, but things have taken a different direction.

After 5 weeks of being stuffed around on a house (after they accepted our offer) we've found another one. Nearly got gazumped on this second one today! But contracts have been exchanged.

It has a two car garage, so I won't need to build and can move straight in! 6.5x5.5m