Once my other half had agreed to allow me to build a shop…MY shop, the research game was afoot! Do I build? Do I buy? Concrete foundation? Wood foundation? So many questions!
The big part of the job came first. We decided to add on to our patio at the same time, and an upgrade to our 100w electrical panel was already going to be necessary as it was maxed out.
The concrete crew was efficient and had it all done in a day. That small 12 x 16 patch with a bump out for future improvements was all mine!
Our pups (Jack and Lily) weren’t so keen about not being allowed out into their own back yard. Lily however, loves her walks. She loves it so much, she skips! I have yet to be able to get a video of it though. Maybe some day!
Fast forward a few weeks to allow for concrete drying time, it was finally time for electrical and to get my shop built! To make a very long story somewhat shorter, I ended up going with a manufactured, 12×16 shed From a local Amish company. I told them I wanted two lofts, and I wanted to side it myself. They trucked it in as pieces, and by the middle of the afternoon, my space was starting to take shape.
I had this wild hair of wanting to try fiber cement siding. I’ve had bad luck with T-111, and I know we’ll be replacing the siding on our house in a few years and really liked the durability and color options. Through a friend of a family member I was able to get a good deal on enough to do practically my whole shop. I only had to buy a few more pieces from a local siding shop to get it done. More than a few sweaty weekends spent with my dad, uncle, and cousin all running nail guns, ladders, etc. to get this job done.
While we worked through the summer getting the siding on, the electricians came and went, wiring up two 20 amp circuits for my shop. For those of you who may be embarking on this journey as well, make certain you take everything into account you’ll be running – from the ceiling fan/heater/AC, to the largest tool you’ll be running, and if you will or will not be adding dust collection.
Once the siding and electrical were up, it was time to start on the inside. It was still August/September and the days were warm still. I wanted to make sure I could make this small space comfortable for working all year round. I installed several rows of LED strip lights on the joists above, and got to work.
One issue I discovered early in the insulation process, is that my shop was taking on water when it rained. We’d made the decision to run the patio/workshop slab up to the back of our garage instead of making them separate. It appeared that was a mistake. I was able to call the concrete guy and have him come over and cut a 4” channel in the concrete next to my shop that could act as a French drain. If you scroll up and check out the last siding picture, you’ll see it there. 🙂 Other than that, I caulked all the way around the plate with elastomeric caulk for concrete on the inside and outside. Lesson learned, and so far so good!
Once that work was complete, there was enough time to paint the doors, install the plywood sheathing on the interior walls, paint, and get all of my tools and accessories moved in from the garage before we were at risk for rainy/snowy/all over icky weather here in central Ohio.
It’s been almost two years since I moved in, and I’ve just reorganized for the second time. I’m still in the process of building French cleat storage and figuring things out. It’s easy to get frustrated that it’s just not coming together all at once, but it’s all about the journey. I’ve learned a lot so much and looking forward to all the other lessons I’ll learn as I build!
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