This week the excavators started on something I have worked for over many years, a stand alone shop to work on my project cars. First it took many years and three changes of neighbors before I could buy the extra ½ acre I needed (our township determines the allowable size for out-buildings based on your property acreage). Then it took much of a year to get 21 signatures from surrounding land owners to get a building restriction on the land removed. After that Covid hit and material prices went through the roof, convincing me to hold off for a while. Finally, later this year I decided to go for it, as prices improved somewhat and realizing that next year could actually be worse. I was very lucky to find an enthusiastic contractor who could line up all the subs, so I pulled the trigger.
It’s going to be a three bay 39’x40’ shop, with a 12’ ceiling in the center to allow for a hoist in one stall, a nice sized shop area, 200@ electrical service, fully insulated, with water and heat. I am going to have to do a lot of my own finishing to hold the (already blown) budget down, but if the things that are on backorder (overhead doors, service doors, windows, roofing) arrive in time (6-8 weeks depending on what it is), I could be turning wrenches in December.
More to come as construction progresses.
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Full Version: Realizing a Life-long Dream
Congrats. I'm looking forward to updates as this progresses.
Congratulations. Nice project. Look forward to seeing it completed.
Congratulations! That is very exciting and I look forward to watching the construction progress. What other specifications do you have for the shop? Polished concrete floor? Lift? Whatever lighting you think you need, double it. What kind of cabinets? Loft storage? Have fun and enjoy the build. 
CONGRATS
What lift did you choose?
Stay Safe
What lift did you choose?
Stay Safe
Congrats pfreiburger, thats going to be a great shop. Post more pictures and of your projects. Nice to have more 914's in Wisconsin. Best, Mark
Exciting, please keep us posted as it is built.
With cold winters like yours, I would imagine this will be a real game changer. Congrats
I hope you are putting in radiant in floor heating. Even if you are not it would be smart to place PEX tubing in the concrete pour so you could do it later. The tubing is fairly cheap.
Thanks for sharing; looking forward to the progress.
CONGRATULATIONS!
I know the feeling well, having started my attached "dream Shop & Garage" ten years ago! It's been a joy ever since, a bit of heaven for me. Sons and I built it ourselves as we did our log home 21 years ago.
40' x 26' with 10' ceiling except in lift bay ceiling is 15'. 2/3 has 2nd floor. No insulation and heat - yet. Just too expensive. Have 4 ton Heat Pump in good working condition we replaced from house I hope to install sometime after insulating.
Please keep us posted on progress.
GN
This week the excavators started on something I have worked for over many years, a stand alone shop to work on my project cars. First it took many years and three changes of neighbors before I could buy the extra ½ acre I needed (our township determines the allowable size for out-buildings based on your property acreage). Then it took much of a year to get 21 signatures from surrounding land owners to get a building restriction on the land removed. After that Covid hit and material prices went through the roof, convincing me to hold off for a while. Finally, later this year I decided to go for it, as prices improved somewhat and realizing that next year could actually be worse. I was very lucky to find an enthusiastic contractor who could line up all the subs, so I pulled the trigger.
It’s going to be a three bay 39’x40’ shop, with a 12’ ceiling in the center to allow for a hoist in one stall, a nice sized shop area, 200@ electrical service, fully insulated, with water and heat. I am going to have to do a lot of my own finishing to hold the (already blown) budget down, but if the things that are on backorder (overhead doors, service doors, windows, roofing) arrive in time (6-8 weeks depending on what it is), I could be turning wrenches in December.
More to come as construction progresses.
I know the feeling well, having started my attached "dream Shop & Garage" ten years ago! It's been a joy ever since, a bit of heaven for me. Sons and I built it ourselves as we did our log home 21 years ago.
40' x 26' with 10' ceiling except in lift bay ceiling is 15'. 2/3 has 2nd floor. No insulation and heat - yet. Just too expensive. Have 4 ton Heat Pump in good working condition we replaced from house I hope to install sometime after insulating.
Please keep us posted on progress.
GN
QUOTE(pfreiburger @ Oct 24 2021, 12:34 AM) 
This week the excavators started on something I have worked for over many years, a stand alone shop to work on my project cars. First it took many years and three changes of neighbors before I could buy the extra ½ acre I needed (our township determines the allowable size for out-buildings based on your property acreage). Then it took much of a year to get 21 signatures from surrounding land owners to get a building restriction on the land removed. After that Covid hit and material prices went through the roof, convincing me to hold off for a while. Finally, later this year I decided to go for it, as prices improved somewhat and realizing that next year could actually be worse. I was very lucky to find an enthusiastic contractor who could line up all the subs, so I pulled the trigger.
It’s going to be a three bay 39’x40’ shop, with a 12’ ceiling in the center to allow for a hoist in one stall, a nice sized shop area, 200@ electrical service, fully insulated, with water and heat. I am going to have to do a lot of my own finishing to hold the (already blown) budget down, but if the things that are on backorder (overhead doors, service doors, windows, roofing) arrive in time (6-8 weeks depending on what it is), I could be turning wrenches in December.
More to come as construction progresses.
GN, love your garage doors and transom windows. Nice job, show us some inside pictures. Mark
Livin’ tha dream! 
QUOTE(live free & drive @ Oct 24 2021, 08:52 AM)
I hope you are putting in radiant in floor heating. Even if you are not it would be smart to place PEX tubing in the concrete pour so you could do it later. The tubing is fairly cheap.
100% correct. Pex tubing is cheap. I have radiant heat in my 200 year old house, My parents have also, in the pool room the floor is so warm.
If your bones are warm pain is less. I know pain daily.
Matt
Awesome! Living the dream!
Great looking space for a large shop. We started permitting with the city in 2018 and got the permit in early 2020, and after a year of spurious construction we have our garage with one challenger two post lift and challenger stackers, once the equipment is in I’ll take some pics. We plan on growing into the space 
but like the loft that forced the roof higher.
We went with 8” floors and radiant heat
but like the loft that forced the roof higher.We went with 8” floors and radiant heat
Regarding the other details, I have good reports on TSR floor coatings so I will probably go with that next year after I build the checking account back up. I do have attic storage planned. The 1st 20’ of the building has 12’6” ceilings, but the next 20’ has 10’ ceilings with the trusses structured for storage. I have been using metal office cabinets (they are perfect for a shop) in my current garage/shop over the years and will move them over. I have a hoist tagged at Midwest equipment and the brochure is attached, it’s the 9,000 lb. Big Block model. https://liftsuperstore.com/wp-content/uploa...re-122820-1.pdf
I have used a Canarm exhaust fan in my current garage/shop and really liked it so I ordered another for the new shop. As long as I was plumbing for a utility sink, I am having a toilet roughed in for later installation (budget again). If the budget allows I will have the ceiling drywalled and insulated (drywall is currently MUCH cheaper than most other options) and finish the sidewalls myself. An electrician will do the service entrance, panel and lighting and I will do everything else.
I would have really liked to go radiant heat, but I had to cut the budget where possible. I will be installing a ceiling suspended LP heater myself. Water was a must and is turning out to be a major expense. The picture below is of a contractor digging a trench for the water line. What is usually a simple, narrow bucket excavation (or even less extensive boring job) turned into 2-3 days of a much-bigger deal, breaking up ledge rock that was too close to the surface to go over, and too deep to bore under. The bill for that is going to hurt.
GN – Wow, that is one beautiful shop. Mine will match the house but will not be anywhere near as good looking as yours.
Jett – That looks to be the size of a football field, very awesome! Planning on a big collection, eh?
Mlindner – Yes, we will have to start a WI 914 chapter! I have been collecting parts for my 6 conversion for the last year, with the suspension all rounded up and brake parts being collected now; various other bits have been sourced as I come across them. While collecting parts I plan on just enjoying the car as is. In the meantime we should compare notes.
Shortages notwithstanding, hoping to be in sometime in December. Progress reports to follow.
Click to view attachment
I have used a Canarm exhaust fan in my current garage/shop and really liked it so I ordered another for the new shop. As long as I was plumbing for a utility sink, I am having a toilet roughed in for later installation (budget again). If the budget allows I will have the ceiling drywalled and insulated (drywall is currently MUCH cheaper than most other options) and finish the sidewalls myself. An electrician will do the service entrance, panel and lighting and I will do everything else.
I would have really liked to go radiant heat, but I had to cut the budget where possible. I will be installing a ceiling suspended LP heater myself. Water was a must and is turning out to be a major expense. The picture below is of a contractor digging a trench for the water line. What is usually a simple, narrow bucket excavation (or even less extensive boring job) turned into 2-3 days of a much-bigger deal, breaking up ledge rock that was too close to the surface to go over, and too deep to bore under. The bill for that is going to hurt.
GN – Wow, that is one beautiful shop. Mine will match the house but will not be anywhere near as good looking as yours.
Jett – That looks to be the size of a football field, very awesome! Planning on a big collection, eh?
Mlindner – Yes, we will have to start a WI 914 chapter! I have been collecting parts for my 6 conversion for the last year, with the suspension all rounded up and brake parts being collected now; various other bits have been sourced as I come across them. While collecting parts I plan on just enjoying the car as is. In the meantime we should compare notes.
Shortages notwithstanding, hoping to be in sometime in December. Progress reports to follow.
Click to view attachment
QUOTE(mate914 @ Oct 24 2021, 06:58 AM)
QUOTE(live free & drive @ Oct 24 2021, 08:52 AM)
I hope you are putting in radiant in floor heating. Even if you are not it would be smart to place PEX tubing in the concrete pour so you could do it later. The tubing is fairly cheap.
100% correct. Pex tubing is cheap. I have radiant heat in my 200 year old house, My parents have also, in the pool room the floor is so warm.
If your bones are warm pain is less. I know pain daily.
Matt
Radiant heat is that luxury that keeps on giving. Ranks right up there with a lift. Must feel great after navigating all the steps for approval and then finding a willing contractor...cause for a happy dance.
My own two cents worth is install a motion sensor light on the inside, pointing at the entry door. That way you'll always have light coming or going. Also, IMO lighting is best placed around the perimeter of a bay, rather than down the middle.
Congratulations on living the dream!
I am an EE and this is right-on advice - 2 - 8' double lamp strip lights down each side of each bay end-to-end with 2' or 3' between the ends. As I built mine in 2012, I used HO commercial lights that are extra bright and come on at 0 degrees. Today get LED lights.
A nice addition would be one more 8' light at end of bay where you will do most of your engine work, perpendicular to the lights between the bays, just past the front bumper so it will light the engine bay. Extra $$$ tho.
GN
My own two cents worth is install a motion sensor light on the inside, pointing at the entry door. That way you'll always have light coming or going. Also, IMO lighting is best placed around the perimeter of a bay, rather than down the middle.
A nice addition would be one more 8' light at end of bay where you will do most of your engine work, perpendicular to the lights between the bays, just past the front bumper so it will light the engine bay. Extra $$$ tho.
GN
My own two cents worth is install a motion sensor light on the inside, pointing at the entry door. That way you'll always have light coming or going. Also, IMO lighting is best placed around the perimeter of a bay, rather than down the middle.
As an EE to an EE I was at first sceptic as to the LED lights, then I found some 2x4's and centralized the power supply, (one supply could power 10+ panels and they provide one for every panel!) and put the whole shebang on RadioRA2 Lutron dimmer. Ahhhh.
Don't even think about incandescent, fluorescent, or any of the others....I have excellent light, warm color, even have a floor light (for the car when it is in the air) and there is no transformer buzzing, heat radiating.......very pleased with the results and the concept of LED.
I am an EE and this is right-on advice - 2 - 8' double lamp strip lights down each side of each bay end-to-end with 2' or 3' between the ends. As I built mine in 2012, I used HO commercial lights that are extra bright and come on at 0 degrees. Today get LED lights.
A nice addition would be one more 8' light at end of bay where you will do most of your engine work, perpendicular to the lights between the bays, just past the front bumper so it will light the engine bay. Extra $$$ tho.
GN
My own two cents worth is install a motion sensor light on the inside, pointing at the entry door. That way you'll always have light coming or going. Also, IMO lighting is best placed around the perimeter of a bay, rather than down the middle.
Don't even think about incandescent, fluorescent, or any of the others....I have excellent light, warm color, even have a floor light (for the car when it is in the air) and there is no transformer buzzing, heat radiating.......very pleased with the results and the concept of LED.
QUOTE(Gatornapper @ Oct 24 2021, 08:15 PM)
I am an EE and this is right-on advice - 2 - 8' double lamp strip lights down each side of each bay end-to-end with 2' or 3' between the ends. As I built mine in 2012, I used HO commercial lights that are extra bright and come on at 0 degrees. Today get LED lights.
A nice addition would be one more 8' light at end of bay where you will do most of your engine work, perpendicular to the lights between the bays, just past the front bumper so it will light the engine bay. Extra $$$ tho.
GN
My own two cents worth is install a motion sensor light on the inside, pointing at the entry door. That way you'll always have light coming or going. Also, IMO lighting is best placed around the perimeter of a bay, rather than down the middle.
Your going to have the best Christmas ever. Took me over 6 years to finish my 914-6 GT Tribute. The last two months driving have been a blast. Best, MarkClick to view attachment Click to view attachment
Very exciting! Having a dedicated place to tinker on toys is truly a dream.
QUOTE(mlindner @ Oct 25 2021, 10:05 AM)
Your going to have the best Christmas ever. Took me over 6 years to finish my 914-6 GT Tribute. The last two months driving have been a blast. Best, MarkClick to view attachment Click to view attachment
Your 914 looks great, the black trim & wheel centers really work with that paint color. Maybe a road trip could happen some time, would love to see it in person. Paul
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