The Workshop Build Is Finished!
I cannot believe how fast this happened. They started building this workshop around 8:30 yesterday morning, left around 4:30pm, came back at 7:30 this morning, and finished at 11:00. The build is done! It’s painted, shingled, and finished. I still need a garage door, but they contract that out to an overhead door company, and I think they’ll be here later today to install that.
But here’s my finished-for-now workshop.
Here’s how it’s oriented in the back yard. It sits right behind the carport, set back 14 feet. The front door of the workshop faces in towards the back yard.
The building is 18′ x 27′. I had to keep it under 500 square feet so that the city wouldn’t require an engineered foundation. I worked with the building company to get it as large as I could without exceeding the 500-square-feet maximum. This building comes in at 486 square feet.
It’s bigger than our carport, which I’ve been using as my workshop for years now. So I think this will be plenty of space for me to use and store my tools.
Of course, just because their part is finished, that doesn’t mean that the building is actually finished. It’s just a very basic building right now, but eventually, I’ll take some time to make it cute.
But for now, I’m just thankful to have this building. I’ve been waiting for workshop for years and years!! And to finally have that dream become a reality is so incredibly exciting. This is the one wall that doesn’t have a window or door. I wanted one full, uninterrupted wall, so I chose this side — the side that faces the back of the yard.
So the four windows are on the front wall and the back wall of the building. These are windows that I purchased years ago when I had the crazy idea to turn our carport into my workshop. I’m so glad I didn’t do that, but then these windows ended up sitting in our storage shed ever since then. I was so glad that this company was willing to use these windows (which match the windows on our house) instead of using their own.
The inside looks huge. This is 87 square feet bigger than my studio, and my studio feels huge to me.
I can’t wait to design the inside of this with storage, worktops, etc. I’ll actually have room for a proper table saw now!
I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do with the walls or floor. Drywall on the walls? What kind of flooring? I haven’t even given these details any thought yet. I haven’t thought past just getting the building built.
Other than the garage door, the rest is up to me to finish. Of course, I’ll be adding some blue shutters and a coral front door to match our house. They’ve already painted it Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray to match our house. And I’ll be building some front steps to the front door. I’ll also be adding some skirting of some sort to hide all of the underneath area and to keep critters out of there.
And I’ll be building a much needed ramp going from the end of the carport into the garage door of the workshop to make it very easy to wheel heavy supplies and tools in and out, if needed, and so that Matt can get into the workshop easily if he wants to visit. It’ll be a very nice, wide ramp. I had considered having a concrete ramp poured, but I’m going to think through that more. I might stick with wood, but I’ll make that decision later after I’ve given it more thought.
So that’s it! Years and years of dreaming, and it came together in just over one day. It would be hard to believe if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes and documented the entire process from start to finish with pictures. I’ll share those tomorrow and show you every single step from start to finish. But until then, I’m going to go sit in my workshop for a bit and do a bit of planning, dreaming, and admiring.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
So happy for you!!
I love the shed! Are you about done with the work room, I’m so excited to see it all done!
It’s so close to finished! I got the electrical finished up. Just a few more small details, and it’s finished.
I love that feeling of having a dream becoming a reality! Right now is a great time to just dream about the finished product! So many projects and at times it must seem like so little time. You have enough projects for the next 20 years!
Can you remind us of the cost again please? So exciting to for you to have a place to do all your projects.
I’ll look that up and include it in tomorrow’s post when I share the whole process.
:waves at the kitty: What’s this cat’s name?
Congrats! Can’t wait to see what you create in this space.
Congratulations!
It looks great. You will enjoy this so much. I am so excited for you. Go with a concrete ramp so it is sturdy and safe for years. I can’t wait to how you will decorate it. It will be a darling place to play! I mean work.
Ok, 1, 2, 3 What order are projects in now. Finish the studio including trim and electric. Start the closet/laundry room. Finish the front porch and skirting around workshop.
You have so many projects you have to put them in order. I need to do the same. I’m having back surgery on 10-14 so I’m thanking of books I can read.
I am so happy for you.
So while this settles I’d recommend shopping a portable ramp. I’d get one that works for Matt, can be left outside, an can fit in the van (to be a multi tasker). It could help to cross the distance from carport to workshop. If that distance is too long. Then build permanent things for that ramp to work and possibly be left out. Remember how life-changing the carport ramp was for moving in/out big tool things. Also until you get temp control out there. Store the paint in the house. I can’t remember where it is in sunroom or studio right now.
Love the spaciousness. Bigger than I thought it would be!
When you do the electrical, put all the outlets about 3 or 4 ft from the floor. Much easier on the back and knees. LOTS of circuits! And at least one 220 outlet (or 2 if you use a window AC.)
The best thing I ever did with my new build is to use spray foam insulation in walls and against roof decking. My electric bill for the new house with HVAC running 24/7 here in FL Panhandle, has been $150. Plus because the garage has only one exterior wall, it stays cool too! The building is about 6700 sq ft. My old house with batt insulation is 2500 sq ft and electric is about $300/mo in the summer.
You might consider running a water line to a front corner and putting a cold water sink that drains outside as graywater. You could wash your hands there after working in the shop. And have an outside faucet as well for landscaping.
I would suggest NOT using drywall. Too easily damaged. I have a studio in a steel building. Built a 2 x 4 wall around the perimeter. Insulated between steel skin and new wall with R-30 batts. Put underlayment panels (4×8) “landscape” around the lower perimeter and pegboard above that. There are about 4 gazillion cones of thread hanging as well as baskets, etc. In your case, I wouldn’t put a ceiling in either. The rafters are great storage space. I see all kinds of hoist set-ups to raise and lower a platform with storage bins on it. Love Family Handyman magazine!
Can’t wait to see what you do with it! I am so excited!
Crystal, are you just as disappointed as I am with the recent changes to Family Handyman? I miss the old features and sad to see so many “decor”/light DIY features, but maybe that’s just me.
I am : (. We are losing print magazines with handy and informative articles. This Old House is gone, Fine Homebuilding has some few helpful articles. Thank goodness we have Kristi! I guess YouTube has snagged a lot of inquiring DIY’ers too. I have them to thank for tips on changing broken ceiling fan chains and PEX plumbing tutorials.
When my husband and I first got our shop set up that is what I did…..I sat in it and drew pans for making it efficient and beautiful. This looks great….enjoy. So fun having a designated place for messy work of sawing and painting.
Don’t forget to insure it!
How exciting! It looks great. Honestly Kristie I think you should encase it in nice ply wood and put up shelves for your tools. Expend more of your energy fixing the inside of your home and continue on all those projects you have coming up the pike. Obviously do the shutters and paint the door etc to make it look nice on the outside. Have you thought of putting in a cement pathway to the work room that is ramped up to the entrance? Somehow wood seems out of place considering you will eventually have everything landscaped. Just a thought….
Plywood on the walls, nice side out. It allows for easy mounting of just about anything anywhere, and adds flexibility while you’re figuring out where everything goes.
So happy for you Kristi. Dreams realized.
My suggestion is to paint the floor for protection while it is empty. When you are ready to upgrade the plywood will be in better shape than raw plywood. It’s an awesome building. Keep clearing out the sawdust in mind as you add things in. It builds up fast.
Congrats! That’s about the same sq ft as my studio space. You might look into LVP flooring. It’s waterproof, crazy durable and give the space a finished look without breaking the bank. Can’t wait to see what creative ideas you come up with tool and supply storage!
I am so happy for you!
I love this for you! First the studio finished (or so close) and now a workshop. Dreams do come true! YAY Kristi!
Be careful using plywood as a ramp. My son has it and it is very slick when wet. Ask me how I know! Thankfully I didn’t break anything.
I asked Matt what he thought, and he prefers concrete. So I have a concrete guy coming on Monday to give us an estimate. I prefer concrete, too.
So wonderful, Kristi. You are going to have a great time finishing and then storing all your goodies.
Good suggestions are pouring in from your generous followers. They teach me a lot, as do you.
I agree with one person’s comment re: drywall. Surely there can be a better solution that that. Such material does not seem suited for the inevitable knocks the walls will encounter. I know you will think about all the details and make good decisions.
YAY!
Wow, it’s huge! I am so excited for you to have a place to do your hardcore work so you don’t have to clutter up your carport and your new studio.
Cute enough to live in! I would.☺️
Congrats.
Awesome!
I don’t post here often but hot dang.. congrats!!
We have an out building like this that is our woodworking shop. We chose to use 1/4″ plywood for the walls instead of sheetrock. One whack with a board to sheetrock and you’ve got a hole to patch. The plywood walls have stood up to over 18 years of projects with no holes.
The floors we used 1/2″ plywood and painted with several coats of exterior porch paint. They have held up well also. YMMV.
Yay! Congratulations, that’s so exciting! I can’t wait to see how you finish it!
I love the building and so happy for you to finally be able to realize a well deserved workshop. You are going to have so much fun thinking of all the ways you can use and decorate your work area. One thing that struck me when I first saw your layout is that you have the perfect setup for a roof to connect the two structures and make a breezeway so as to not get anything wet when it rains while you are working out of the large opening area. You can go back and forth from your garage into the work building completely covered. Just a thought. Bless you both.
Congratulations! You have a whole new house to decorate, inside and out. I’m sure it will be the best and cutest workshop in Waco.
April Wilkerson has a good series about finishing the inside of her (admittedly gigantic) shop, with lots of useful tips.
Will you include dust collection?
That’s definitely on my wish list.
I’m so happy for you Kristi…no one needs or deserves such a great space more than you.
We will get to see lots of projects out of that building, starting with setting it up the way you want. SO exciting. Best wishes. Enjoy the process!
We used cedar fence posts to make our skirting and ramp, and its held up great!!!
I’d love to see a picture of it if you’re willing to share! No pressure, but if you are willing, my email is [email protected]
Wow! That was fast! So happy for you. My husband has had a few shops over the years. He put lots of peg board and attachments to peg board for tools, organization of hardware etc. He also installed saw dust sucking system. Cut down on mess. Lighting. Lots of electrical outlets. Shelving for stains, oils etc. He built custom lathe table with storage. He built work benches with custom spaces for smaller power tools and stands for large ones with storage. Racks in ceiling for wood storage. Can’t wait to see your progress.
One of the best decisions my husband made for his woodshop was covering the floor with inexpensive rolled linoleum-type flooring. We installed it first, before moving anything else in there. Super easy to install and so easy to keep swept clean.
I admire that space and think it will be so great for your projects (as well as featuring as another project itself!)! I do have a question as the pictures are a bit confusing for me though: where do you park your car(s)? It looks like the space between the workshop and carport is too narrow to actually get the car into the carport. Did I miss something? Bc I thought that carport access is necessary so that Matt can enter your house via the ramp? I hope I’m not too curious or intruding…
You are partially correct. The way I’ve been getting Matt in and out of the van is by pulling to the back of the carport and backing into the carport. I can no longer do that. BUT that was never the long term plan. The only reason I did that is because the proper access into the carport, which is via the side of the carport, has too high of a lip from the concrete down to the ground for the van to get over right now. But as soon as we have our driveway poured (which may be sooner than later, as I’m meeting with a concrete guy on Monday), that will be rectified and I’ll be able to pull into the carport the proper way, which is via the side rather than via the back of the carport.
Until then, if Matt needs to go somewhere, I can wheel him down off of the concrete, to the ground, using the rubber ramp that is there to allow him easy access to the back yard, and over to the van. It won’t be nearly as convenient, but it’s not difficult, either. And it will be temporary.
Thanks for explaining! That makes so much sense but it never occured to me 🙂 I hope you get that access poured sooner rather than later to make life easier for both Matt and you in that respect!
I’m thrilled for you! When you start shopping for table saws, please please please get a SawStop (or equivalent), especially since you’ll be working alone and a bit isolated from your house and hence help.
So, so happy for you Kristi.
This has been a dream come true for you!
Oh, and it’s super cute already!!
I’m so glad you’ve got a secure place for your tools now, instead of out in the open carport. Can’t wait to see how you decide to organize and use it!
Yay for you!