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24x36 shop worth building?

J

Josh in Pa

Member
I am planning to build a dedicated shop for my small farm.
24x36 works really nice with the layout of my farm yard. I was
thinking a 14x12 overhead door offset a little on a 24' side,
benches along the opposite 36' wall. And probably a small
lean to on the back 24' wall to hold compressor, furnace,
electric service, and maybe a bathroom. I could afford bigger,
this size just works nice with the buildings I have now. My
biggest tractor is 100 hp, and combine is 4 rows, both would fit
in shop. Will I regret building this small? I am young and plan
to expand, but bigger machinery is quite a ways off.
Josh
 
I built one the same dimensions as you are planning. It fills up fast, I wish now I would went 40 by 60 instead. You can NEVER have enough room. It seems real crowded, and combines take up alot of room, cant forget the unload auger too, it sticks out a ways.
 
What ever size you build it will not ever be big enough. I built a 40'X 60' and wish I would have built it bigger.
 
My shop is 24x36 and it fills up fast! Although it sounds like you will pit the big door on the 24' side and I have 2 doors on the 36' side of mine which doesn'r leave me much room with a full sized vehicle in there.
If you can afford, go bigger! Even an extra 4' on the 24' side of mine would make a world of difference.
 
I agree with bigboreG... you can never build them too big. I dont' have a shop (yet), but when I built my machine shed, I was thinking 40'x70' or so. The builder talked me into a 50'x80', and I wish it was at least 50'x100'.
 
Josh,From reading your plans, I know that you have comtemplated and thought thru you plans extensively. My experience tells me that bigger is better. Sometimes one forgets the "other" stuff that ends up in our shops. Lawnmowers,yard carts,motorcycles,go-cats,rims and tires,portable generators,gas engine water pump log splitter.Maybe evan a boat. All very nice things to have around the farm,but they take up alot of space. So build as big as the budget will allow with an eye towards an addition or another future building. Wishing you the best. gobble
 
A 24 x 36 building is only a two car garage. If you can afford to go bigger do so. Just my 2 cents worth.
 
Many years back a friend and i built his shop , it was a 40x72 . when we were done with everything he and i stood in the door way and marveled at the size . of the BIG open space . Then we started ADDING , work benches welding table drill press , welder lathe , fridge, got to have a fridge, shelves parts bins air compressor shop press more work benches cherry picker tool boxes oil grease with each piece the floor space got smaller . Then came three semi's but still had enough room to get a couple pick ups in when needed , then came the backhoe .Now something had to set out or be pulled out . IF a 24x36 will work then a 30x40 would be better . That way when you get the work benches in and stuff along the wall you end up with a 24x36 floor space then tear down just one tractor and you will be walking sideways around it .
 
Josh, It doesn't matter what size you build, it will only be half big enough. I built a 42x80 as that is what I could budget. I could easily use another the same size.
 
Sounds good to me. When my cousin built his,he thought he should go bigger than he did. The Morton salesman told him not to do it. Said if it was bigger he'd start storing stuff in it and defeat the purpose of having a bigger shop anyway.
 
If those two things are ALL you ever plan to put in there then by all means do it. I believe you have allready done the measuring and know they will fit. Just hope you have another building you do your repair work in.
 
I agree with the other responses. My shop is 30X40 and wish I had more room. I usually have one short term repair or project, one long term project and if I have to run something in for a oil change, it gets tight. you only get one chance to start it right. Good Luck
 
(quoted from post at 08:53:34 01/29/13) I am planning to build a dedicated shop for my small farm.
24x36 works really nice with the layout of my farm yard. I was
thinking a 14x12 overhead door offset a little on a 24' side,
benches along the opposite 36' wall. And probably a small
lean to on the back 24' wall to hold compressor, furnace,
electric service, and maybe a bathroom. I could afford bigger,
this size just works nice with the buildings I have now. My
biggest tractor is 100 hp, and combine is 4 rows, both would fit
in shop. Will I regret building this small? I am young and plan
to expand, but bigger machinery is quite a ways off.
Josh
Click to expand...
I wnet 60x100 and the shop area is 60x40. The shop area is working out fine but the storage part is filled up to the brim. Another 20-30 feet would have been nice. I'm going to build another storage building in a year or two. If you plan on increasing in size you could start with what you have and put up another for storage later but building it big to start is cheaper from the get go.
 
My shop is 20x30x14, with a 20' wide door. It is that size because I built it over an old slab(shed had burned down) on a hill side. Do I wish it was bigger? Sure. But an old milkhouse attached to it is where all the parts, hardware, welding bench, drill press, compressor, etc. are.
The old F2 Gleaner would fit in with either head. Now the CaseIH 1660 will just fit without a head.
It is easy to heat, and I keep it above freezing at all times. It warms up quickly when the tools aren't frosty!
I see many build a big "shop", only to fill it with junk, or use it for storage. I have several other building to keep machinery in.
So, it's a balancing act. When considering size, how much space you want to heat should be a major factor. Also the door. I think you might want to re-think that size.
My shop has served me well for 20 years. Doesn't owe me anything. And in another 20 years, if I'm still here, I sure won't be able to use it, even if I wanted to!
I suppose someone could insulate and equip one of my storage barns for a shop. I thought the 22' overhead door was big when I built it. But it's a tight fit with the 22' header!
 
There are laws of Physics, no matter how large the work bench is it will get covered with junk. No matter how big your garage is, it will get filled with junk.

My advice is make the barn's doors face your house and put up a security light and security system.

Next, design and locate the barn so it will be easier to add on to in the future.

Then if it a pole barn, have an eve and put a translucent pannel under the eve all the way down both sides for light. You will thank me later.

What you are building is a 3 car garage.

Think about condensation. Today we are 66, moisture is collecting on everything in the barn. Nothing you can do about it, but when the temps go back to normal, 25 in 2 days, you will need lots of ventilation to dry things out.

George
 
I have a heated 32x50. Just about the correct size for three small tractors at one time. And able to work. Wish I had another one un-headed so I could keep baler, and other tractors and equipment in it.
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a99185.jpg
 
24X36? Your tractor and combine alone are going to fill that up pretty quick, let alone leaving room for other equipment. Also remember that you want enough space you can move equipment out without having to take out everything in front of it. Build as big as you can afford, and plan on having to add an addition or build again in the future.
 
My present shop is 22'x36', with a 14'x18' equipment room added on one side. I've worked on two vehicles in it (car and pickp) on occasion, but it's cramped.

I'm in the process of putting up a 30'x48' metal building to be finished into a shop during the course of this year, with plans to add on for storage. I didn't want the shop to be too big to heat to a comfortable temp in the winter. I've never put up a building and said later it was too big, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

I'll then use my present shop for storage, etc.

If you're planning on working on a 100hp tractor or a combine, I'd say you'd wind up being disappointed with a 24'x36' building.
 
There is a balancing act of getting big enough for all the tools and the machine you are working on, vs too big to heat and becoming a trash collecting building.....

That said, you can't get much of a combine in a door less than 14 tall and 24 wide. (You will realize after building, doors cover holes smaller than the size of the door, so you will loose a 1/2 foot on those dimensions....)

And a building less than 40 foot deep, you won't be able to get much in and close the door.

I'd sure think something a tad bigger than you say would work better, and for sure your door is way way too small.

I run a small farm, 4 row combine, dads shed was a 11-4 high door, 17 feet wide, and couldn't get my last 2 combines in it, we cut the header off 2 inches and chiseled out the concrete on the door guide 4 inches to get one in, the current one didnt fit at all, I had to let the air out if the tires to put it away over winter. The 15 header did not fit in the door.

Make a bigger door!

I'd sure put the lean to into the building footprint to start with, give you a little room to work in, you can always add on a lean to for storage later.

I do understand budgets and physical room and not getting too big, but man you have that cut lean there, I'd go a little bigger.

I put up a storage shed, 48 by 81 with doors 24 wide (you know they come out only 23.5 actual openning?) by 15.5 high.

Now the $250 bean planter I bought I need to fold in the markers to fit in almost scraping the door frame, and this fall I pulled in a hay basket of hay, the bales are piled so high less than a foot of clearance to the door top. They don't make 4 row combines, my next one likely is going to be 6 row, and I hear they hardly squeeze under a 14 foot door (which rarely measure all of 14 feet actual). I should be good with the 15 plus foot door tho.

Anyhow, spend more on a bigger door, or don't build. Waste of money to make that small door.

Any 2 or 8 foot bigger you make the building, you'll thank yourself in 5 years as well. But I understand not getting crazy big, it's a working area not storage. Remember to work on something you have to swing out shields, room to put a ladder, put a tray of tools, pull out a shaft 6 feet long, etc. you need room to work around the machine....

Paul
 
Get the figures on a 30x40 and compare with the 24x36. I would say the 30x40 would be the minimum for what you want to do. Like all other posts say you will never have one big enough. Make sure the openiings are to the south.
 
Josh

Your last line is Your answer; "but bigger machinery is quite a ways off."

The fact that they're in Your plans should
be reason enough to "Go Big".

Good Luck with Your building and Your future.

Steve A W
 
I have a 24x36. Right now it is housing a crank-up camper, three tractors, two gravity box wagons (loaded with grain), a 2 bottom plow, about a ton of bagged stock feed, Some hand tools, a lot of miscellaneous parts... And over crowded to the max. If I had to do it over, I would want at least THREE times as much space, and that would be soon filled. Can hardly walk in there now. Had to do some very creative parking to get it all in.
 
I just built a 24x40x12 on 10ft centers. I plan to add 12ft extensions all around on 3 sides. One side will have a 12x40 heated shop area for machine tools. Back 12 ft extension will be storage that is open so I can back in balers and other equipment to get under cover, last side will be for open storage, horse stuff and a place to get hay under cover in threat of rain before it goes in the loft. Front has a 12 ft slider. 3rd side will also have a 12x9 overhead into main area so I can pull things in from the side. Final dimensions will be 48x52 when done.

Planned it to be multi-use, limit heated area and save on cement for areas where gravel will do for storage needs.

John
 
I have a 24x40 currently. It's main function is a woodshop, for which it is about perfect. easy to heat, plenty of room for my projects.There is also an unheated 24x24 shed off the side for lumber/misc storage.
When I want to pulll a pickup or tractor in to work on, I have to do some major re organizing.
My "dream shop" would have a woodshop of about the same size, with a 10' ceiling. A mechanic/ metal fabrication shop maybe 30x30x10h, and in the middle, a 30x50x16h open bay that could accomodate tractors, equipment etc.
That way, you only have to heat the section you are working, can keep the grease off of the woodwork, and flamable sawdust out of the metal shop.

Maybe one of these days ;-)

Ben
 
Add me to the list....build as big (and tall) as you can afford now and plan to add on or build another building in the future.
 
I wouldn't if the desire is to get bigger. I bought two steel buildings, one 55X50 for general machinery storage and one almost identical to the one you are considering for a shop. Didn't have a real desire to get bigger but did anyway. Later added a 40X80 and thought it would be plenty, but it wasn't and last summer went with a fourth building, a 50X88. Tools, pickup, and other items in the small shed but the stuff used today will not fit so everything is done outside or in the other facilities. I wouldn't build such a small building unless you intend to continue with small machinery. Furthermore I would be somewhat surprised if you can get a a 4 row combine and 100 hp tractor inside that size shed.
 
I thought that was a trick I had. I am just like you , try to keep a long term project, a two/three day quick project then the it just happens things. I watch the weather trying to figure out what comes next. Man never has too much shop but sometimes in extreme cold you do need a heated and then a general open area.
 
Build what you can afford,whatever you build now won't be what you need 10 years down the road as plans and things change.Large shops outfitted with great equipment are nice but if you can't afford it it'll always be a problem.
 
Mine is 24 x 32 and when I'm restoring a tractor there's no room for anything else. Even at that I'm stumbling over compressor, welder cart, etc. Right now I'm not working on anything, there's three tractors and one small trailer in it, and walking around is like a maze. I have had two tractors apart at one time and it was a disaster. I'd go bigger, and for sure go tall enough to get whatever you want into it.
 
If you build the walls tall enough, it is easy to add sheds on the sides, then you can eventually enclose the sheds. But, the sheds shut off light to the windows.

Gene
 
Like the others have said, too small. My neighbors new 2 stall garage is that size.

We got a 28 X 48 X 14 high with bare essentials for tools and there aint much fits in it anymore equipment wise. We got a 20 ft door on the end, so that helps but most of the larger equipment jobs get done outside on the apron. Most of my equipment is from the 60's era. It is still getting by, but not for long. I would try to deesign your building so you can make it bigger as your needs grow. I totally understand not being able to afford more at the moment but try not to limit your options in the future by building in a spot that will be to small later.
 
Asolutely.

My only suggestion would be to go tall so that it can be added onto over the years and continue the slope of the roof.

Best of luck to this young fella. We all have to start somewhere.

Mark
 
My shop is 24x40x8.5

There is a 16' wide x 7' high door on the 40'side.

24' trusses are cheap.. Carter lumber here in Michigan keep them in stock, and I think they were like $50.00 each, as opposed to $96.00 for 30 foot trusses, IIRC (we rebuilt our shop in 2006, so I'm sure the prices have changed since then)

I do wish that my shop was taller, with a taller door.. and I wish the door was on the 24' end.. It's tight to pull my longbed extended cab truck in and work on it and be able to walk around it.

It wasn't my choice to build it this size.. Our original shop was 18x40x7.. we lifted the roof, changed the location of the door, and widened it to 24'.. It's dad's building, so we had to do it his way.

Here's a couple pictures:

0707small.jpg

0700small.jpg


I am in the process of buying my own place now, and it too has a 18x40 that I plan to make my shop.. My plan is to raise the roof to 10-12 feet high, 24' trusses, then "lean to" off the back another 6-8 feet, leaving me a 30 or 32x 40 shop, 24' being 10 to 12' high, and the remaining 6-8' sloping lower.. But, I don't actively farm, and I don't see myself ever buying "big" tractors, so it should be fine for me.. I'm trying to keep it a relatively inexpensive build, but have a decent sized building that is economical to heat in the end.

I will agree that the bigger you build it, the more stuff you will shove into it. I try to only keep projects in my shop for the most part, and either my loader tractor (in the pictures), or my Cub in there, since they start and drive, and can quickly moved outside to pull something else is inside. The door being closer to one end than the other helps too.. There's about 8' "north" of the big door, then the 16' door.. that leaves enough room to the south that I can park 2 of my "small, long term project" tractors side by side, have room to walk all around them, and they are not hanging into the doorway.

Like a few of the others have said: Do what you can afford.

Brad
 
If all you have room for is 24x36, then build a 24x36. But it doesn't sound like this is the case, since you mention adding a "lean-to" on the back. If there's room for an addition, why not just blow it out to 40 feet? By the way if this is a post-frame building, standard lengths are in increments of 8 feet, so it would need to be either 32 or 40 feet long.

You say you want a 12 foot tall overhead door. That will require 14 foot sidewalls to accommodate the tracks and opener. 14 foot sidewalls are going to look peculiar on 24 foot wide building. Going 30 feet wide will make it look a lot more balanced, and give some thought to going to 12 foot sidewalls and a door that's 16 feet wide by 10 feet tall. I suppose your door dimensions are dictated by your combine, but will you really ever pull the combine into a 24x36 shop?
 
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