Thread: What's a good size for a workshop?

Single car shed 3.5m wide would be the minimum, you need to open the doors at some stage.
A 3.5x5 is too small for that many machines, ok for hand tool work... like you say your going to put the machines on wheels In my mind you will regret it every time you need to shift every thing around just because you forgot to cut the last piece!(you'll spend more time configuring than woodworking)
If its physically impossible to fit bigger you'll have to make do, but go bigger if you want to use machines if possible.
IMHO minimum would be 5x5 and thats with portable bench machines, remember you need space to do fit ups and finishing.

Thanks Harry, but as much as I'd like a workshop that big, I can really only go 3.5m wide.

I also think I may have found the easy way around council. Looking at the plans I got from them when I bought the place, there is a garage on there in almost the right spot (I want to build about 2m further back) and almost the right size (5.4m x 3.1m). The concrete slab is still there though.

So now the dilemma is, do I just replace what is on the plans, or go through the whole process of getting permits and so forth?

I'd cheat, and build exactly where it was, get a free floor too.

but that's your individual choice.

Unfortunately the concrete slab would have to go. It was obviously poured as an afterthought inside the completed garage. It's very thin around the edges and not at all level and flat. Fine for a car, but not a workshop. It'll only cost me a few hundred bucks for a new one anyway.

The other issue is that it's not where I want to build the new one, not that the plans I have a very detailed (the only measurement is 14' from the end of the house). So, while I could possibly get away with it, I'd be worried about being caught out when I eventually put plans in for an extension. Of course, I might be worried for nothing, because, as the council don't have the complete plans for my house, they'd probably accept whatever the drafty draws up for the extension.

Originally Posted by atregent

I was planning on only having a bench on one side, and the machines on mobile bases, so I can move them over to one side when they're not being used. I could go wider than 3.5, but then I'd be taking up too much of the back yard (yes, I want to have my cake and eat it too!). 3.5 will also fit neatly into the line of the house, so when we extend, it won't be in the way.

I have a fixed bench, with SCMS, on one side of my workshop and the machines on mobile bases against the opposite wall. I cannot use the workbench for everything I want to do so I will be building a woodworkers bench which will most usefully be located in the middle (side to side) of the workshop. My workshop is just over 4.5m wide and I should have just enough room to comfortably work on the bench. If I had 3.5m the workbench wouldn't be an option.

Just something to think about especially if you're building furniture, you'll never have enough clear workbench space to work with and be able to work around the piece to tighten clamps and clean up glue etc.

HH.

ok, really stupid question, what's SCMS?

Sliding Compound Mitre Saw (Fancy drop saw)

HH.

Ah, you learn something every day. I even have one of those! Perhaps a career change isn't such a good idea for me then...!

Originally Posted by atregent

Unfortunately the concrete slab would have to go. It was obviously poured as an afterthought inside the completed garage. It's very thin around the edges and not at all level and flat... ...It'll only cost me a few hundred bucks for a new one anyway.

You will be in for a bit of a shock!

Standard double garage size is 6M x 6M, so halve that for a single, maybe add 1/2 a metre, 6m x 3.5m x 4" x $170p/m2 = $357.00 for supply only of the concrete. And then if you want a good finish...

Ask your local council whether they'll let you move "the existing garage" without any permits (I doubt it...), and whether they even handle the permits anymore. Where I live, the local council handballed all that to independent Building Surveyors, so I didn't have to deal with the council for mine.

That's the sort of price I was expecting. I can't remember what the last slab I did cost me, but that sounds about right per m3. So, 3.5mx5mx100mm is just shy of 2m3, probably about $400ish all up. Although I'm not sure how much reo costs.

I didn't think about an independent surveyor, I'll have a chat to a local one tomorrow and see what they say. There's a part of me that would prefer to go through the proper channels, but then again, I'm not sure how much of a hassle and expense that will be just yet.

Another thought... a shed doesnt allways need to be square or a rectangle, they can be L shaped too!
A lean to off one side can greatly increase your floor area and width for those wide jobs

Anthony, are you able to talk to shed suppliers in your area? They would have a very good idea of what you'd need to do to meet coucil regulations.

When HWMNBO and I got my shed, we ended up with a very easy process of getting the required approval/permit etc etc as the Shed Supplier did everything. They made it very clear what we had to do, information to be supplied, when payments were due (even sent letters and a short, polite email reminder). As a result, I got very close to what I wanted (didn't realise I could have asked for the ultimate shed and be able to get it), with no hassles what so ever.

cheers
Wendy

Another good point to think about, thanks Wendy. I hadn't actually thought about buying a shed as such. I was going to frame up a few walls, some colourbond/laserlight for a roof and clad it all in, um, something.

I'll check out a few shed places tomorrow and see what they have on offer.