Metal Utility Garage/Workshop

[Alan_Retired]

Hi,

Background.
I am on the Olympic Peninsula (across the sound from Seattle, WA) from early May through late October. The weather is very nice during those months but it rains and snows a lot during the rest of the year. The property has a nice pre-built house but no garage.

I took delivery on a L3902 in May. I spent more on the tractor than I did for any car I ever owned. I'd like to shelter my tractor and maybe some attachments from the weather during the months I'm gone. I'd also like to remove it from the sight of anyone walking through the property when I'm away. I also need space for a workshop. I'm looking to acquire a pre-built metal building to meet these needs.

I don't plan on storing another vehicle in the structure but you never know.

Questions
1. What size of a building should I get? What are you thoughts? I'm strongly leaning to a single story building since I don't own a RV or other tall vehicle that needs the height. I am tentatively looking at a 24ft x 24ft building with a 12 foot ceiling (as measured from roof peak). It would have two roll-up doors and a side entry door. I was thinking shelves along the back wall with a work bench along one of the side walls.

2. I saw a youtube video where loader attachments were stored on shelving to conserve space. Any thoughts on storing grapplers, rock buckets vertically instead of placing them on the floor? Has anyone done this?

If you erected a building, PLEASE let me know the size, how you use it and how you laid out your interior space. Do you wish you had done anything different? If your structure already existed, how did you work within the existing structure and what would you change.

Thanks!

 

[Tughill Tom]

24X24 is too small, build it once. The garage I build is 24X30 and I'm kicking myself for not going bigger when I built it.
I bought 2 20ft shipping containers to hold the over flow of tractor stuff and all other stuff.

 

[mcfarmall]

As Tom stated, build as big as possible and if I cold go back I'd go with 16' sidewalls to accommodate pallet rack storage for implements. Utilize that vertical space! You could also incorporate a vehicle lift in one bay for DIY tractor and vehicle maintenance.

 

[bbxlr8]

Almost everyone universally wants more space down the road - you think it's big "enough" & fit for purpose until you start putting stuff in. It's a balance of space, budget and needs.

FYI Check out garagejournal.com I learned a bunch from that group as well. Pole barn is the best bang for the buck but even those costs add up fast these days!

edit & full disclosure of another possibility? - I have a 12x38 Amish-built portable that I brought from my old house. It is way better than it sounds and the odd dimensions were custom to the needs there. I have mostly converted to tractors & implements with some tool & bike storage. In the grand scheme, it was super economical compared to the value of the stuff inside. Has 12' center PT on the floor with 3/4 T&G plywood. Full single garage door on the front, man door and barn doors to fit the Ford in from the side mid/back.

I also have an attached garage plus a 40x40 stick built detached with lower ceilings but upper-floor storage. Not my design or ideal but adapted well to shop/cars

 

[fried1765]

Hi,

Background.
I am on the Olympic Peninsula (across the sound from Seattle, WA) from early May through late October. The weather is very nice during those months but it rains and snows a lot during the rest of the year. The property has a nice pre-built house but no garage.

I took delivery on a L3902 in May. I spent more on the tractor than I did for any car I ever owned. I'd like to shelter my tractor and maybe some attachments from the weather during the months I'm gone. I'd also like to remove it from the sight of anyone walking through the property when I'm away. I also need space for a workshop. I'm looking to acquire a pre-built metal building to meet these needs.

I don't plan on storing another vehicle in the structure but you never know.

Questions
1. What size of a building should I get? What are you thoughts? I'm strongly leaning to a single story building since I don't own a RV or other tall vehicle that needs the height. I am tentatively looking at a 24ft x 24ft building with a 12 foot ceiling (as measured from roof peak). It would have two roll-up doors and a side entry door. I was thinking shelves along the back wall with a work bench along one of the side walls.

2. I saw a youtube video where loader attachments were stored on shelving to conserve space. Any thoughts on storing grapplers, rock buckets vertically instead of placing them on the floor? Has anyone done this?

If you erected a building, PLEASE let me know the size, how you use it and how you laid out your interior space. Do you wish you had done anything different? If your structure already existed, how did you work within the existing structure and what would you change.

Thanks!

You are not going to like my response.
In 1984 I had a 36' x 48' steel pole building put up.
Only 6 years later ( 1990 ) I stick built a 40' x 50' storage building alongside.
I only have three tractors (largest one is 48HP), but over the years I have acquired a lot of other stuff that needs to be kept out of my coastal environment weather.
12' ceiling is probably OK, but 24' x 24' is TOTALLY inadequate.
You will outgrow that space in a very few months.

 

[RCW]

I agree with the others as to size. 24x24 is smaller than our two car attached garage, and it is too small. A tractor that size plus implements will take up some territory.

 

[Poohbear]

Mine is 30/40 with 12 ft sidewalks with 2 10/10 doors & a pass door. I also have a 24/36 with 3 8/8 doors.
I shou.ld have built 40/50 with 14 or 16 ft doors. I could use the room not really the tall doors as our RV as it's own 20/45 cover.
Don't forget insulation. I prefer closed cell spray foam .
Mines full of furniture right now as we r living in our RV building a new home so my equipment is outside now. I keep everything sitting on furniture dollies when I get my space back

 

[DaveFromMi]

We built a 24 x 50 pole barn. It serves as a garage, work area and storage for my hobby farm. I didn't have a tractor at the time. Should have done 10' garage doors. I leave the ROPS up and back out the side.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Probably no need to say.....go bigger and taller. 8' doors will probably let the tractor squeak in. 10'would be better if you can swing it.

 

[Russell King]

You should place it so it can be lengthed if needed. Pole barn construction is built so that you can add extra bays on the length.

Since you may have lots of logs, you might want to consider cordwood construction for the walls.

 

[NCL4701]

Agree with others, 24’x24’ is mighty small. From an equipment storage standpoint I have a 24’x24’ carport that houses just the equipment trailer, a 32’x65’ drive-in basement of a house with 9’ doors, and a 24’x40’ pole shed with 9’ high sliding doors. Any shop type work except the most simple stuff is in a 32’x32’ portion of another drive-in basement at my house, which also has 9’ doors. Two tractors with loaders, a near derelict 16’ boat, a couple of 8’ trailers, a bunch of attachments I use now and a bunch more (such as a two share plow, etc.) we used back in the day but for which we have no current use. Rafters of the pole shed are slam full of red oak and cedar lumber. Of course a decent amount of random stuff as well.

Not nearly as nice as what several here have and not ideal for our current situation but it just kind of grew into that as people came and went from the property. Still, that’s a bit over 3600SF of floor space not counting the shop space. While everything is under roof there isn’t much room left over.

That and having the 24’x24’ carport it’s pretty easy to envision what could fit in there. A tractor, a few implements (how many depending on what they are) and not much else. 24’x24’ is really small.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

We built a 24 x 50 pole barn. It serves as a garage, work area and storage for my hobby farm. I didn't have a tractor at the time. Should have done 10' garage doors. I leave the ROPS up and back out the side.
View attachment 106723 View attachment 106724

I agree, maybe 30x50. With the door in the middle of a long wall, we back the Ford in at an angle with the brush cutter (most often) tail wheel in the corner. Back blade, disk, 2-bottom plow and pond scoop fit along side and end walls. Door access is still clear and OP would have room for storage and workshop. 9' door clearance should be sufficient, but I'd double check if tractor has R1's.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

No matter what size you make, it's already too small...especially once friends,family and neighbours see where THEY can now store THEIR stuff !
You'll have to consider 'snow loading' for correctly pitched and built trusses. Maybe 24 is a 'standard' width in your area, though 30 would be better. agree laying it out so you can 'extend' it in the future is a great idea ! 12' tall walls and 10' doors ( at least one) should be 'on the plans'. I could just get the BX23S through an 8' door with ROPS up and NO sunshade on it. With 12' walls you can build mezzanines as required and install industrial racking. Also consider putting 'twinwall'panels alobg the top 2' section of the walls. They'll let in a LOT of free light when Mr. Sun is up ! For interior, fully insulate, sheath with say 3/8" ply horizontally,strap 1x6 along the joints, then run CONDUIT for all electrical on the strapping. Don't prewire INSIDE the wall cavities. Put PEX into the floor before you pour. While you may not need infloor heating now, it's cheap to add PEX now. 2 years from now you can easily add a 'heating plant' and have warm, toasty feet while turning wrenches.

 

[pokey1416]

32x40 here, built in 2012 just finished inside last year and built out 16x20 she shed inside. Plan to add 12’ wide shed addition on side. I went with 10’ sidewalls and 9’ OH doors. One is standard 9’ wide and the other is 12’ wide. I really like the wider door. Two zone mini split heats and cools just fine. Remember to put in a floor drain.

 

[CGMKCM]

I did 40' x 40' with 12' walls. The doors are 2 panels 11' x 9' and gives me 18' width when both are open. The rear of the building has the same sized doors. I also have 12'X 40' lean toos on each side of the building.

What I would do differently?
I should have spent more and hired a better builder like these guys Morton. I should have done a pole barn for added floor space, insulated the building, run 100a service instead of 60a. I should have not built a house and should have built a Barndominium.

 

[GeoHorn]

I built a 50X50X18 hangar and within 4 years ran out of room and added a side-shed for the boat and out of room again.
Stuff fills the space available.

 

[fried1765]

I did 40' x 40' with 12' walls. The doors are 2 panels 11' x 9' and gives me 18' width when both are open. The rear of the building has the same sized doors. I also have 12'X 40' lean toos on each side of the building.

What I would do differently?
I should have spent more and hired a better builder like these guys Morton. I should have done a pole barn for added floor space, insulated the building, run 100a service instead of 60a. I should have not built a house and should have built a Barndominium.

I cannot say enough good things about Morton.
They built my 36' x 48' pole barn 39 years ago, and it still looks great.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

Here is another happy Morton Building owner…I’d would not hesitate to consider them when I build the next one.

Here’s a couple things to think about if you have not already:
1. How much free space you want to be able to walk around you machine?
2. When it comes to shelving if you are tight on space, if you are planning to have shelves that hold implements it could a challenge to utilize shelves near corners (it just take a bit of space to manuever)
3. Wider doors sure make things easier going in and out if you need to manuever.
4. Do you have a trailer or plan to have one? If so do you think you might ever want to back it in and unhook? If you plan to shelves behind it on the wall that is even a deeper space.
5. Door size and location can make a big difference on what you can easily get in / out of building.
6. Don’t forget space for fridge/kegerator and a comfy chair.
Good luck.

 

[skeets]

A simple rule is figure what you think you need and go at least 20% larger! I went 30x40 and thought yeah I will never need anymore,,,, WRONG !!!!!!

 

[fried1765]

A simple rule is figure what you think you need and go at least 20% larger! I went 30x40 and thought yeah I will never need anymore,,,, WRONG !!!!!!

I thought the same, and built 1728 square feet (36 x 48).
Only SIX years later I built another 2000 square feet (40 x 50).