shop with living space
 

Has anyone ever build a shop and put living space on one end of it. I'm a single guy and will probably stay that way for the next few years. I was thinking I could build a pretty good sized shop and just put a two bedroom, two bath living area on one end of it. That way when I'm ready to settle down, I already have a shop plus a place for in-laws to stay.

Re: shop with living space
 

I would consider putting it on TOP of it as opposed to one end. It costs a whole lot less to go up versus what it does to add on to the end.

I have several friends who have done this. They purchased their ideal lot, built a garage with apartment upstairs and then later built their house and converted the upstairs apartment to a game room / man cave.

Nothing like have somewhere to go with heat/air, running water and cable if the little lady gets sideways with ya ... and all your tools are within walking distance is just an added bonus. :lol:

Re: shop with living space
 

Tried to do this w/ my wife. If your going to do it stay single :lol:

On a side note, alot of peeps around here have also done it. It will
save you alot towards the house later. Yes it is cheaper to go up.

Re: shop with living space
 

plus if you live above you can put in skylites so you can see your stuff

Re: shop with living space
 

I dont see a downside to that plan...except maybe having the inlaws around ;)

Re: shop with living space
 

I built a hangar this way - added a 20'x84' two-story living space on the side of my 64x84 hangar. My only suggestion is to make it liveable...if it's just a "man room" you'll never be able to sell it if and when...

Re: shop with living space
 

Check local codes ! some places won't let you build a garage first , may not be how you look at it , gotta play by there rules !
I always thought it would be cool to find a nice lot w/ a trailer on it then you
could add a garage (shop) then dispose of the trailer , ya it'll cost you but if your single you should be able to afford it !:lol:

Re: shop with living space
 

Our son and wife are building a 40x60 shop/w living area on top. The property is on steep slope. Dug out so shop entry is ground level on one end, Living area entry from ground level opposite end from street. Most of 3 sides of shop area will be underground.
They have a 1895 Victorian home to restore on adjoining property.
Rural Montana, so minimum codes to live with.
Looks like a handy multi-purpose building. Rent out or have storage in living area when old house completed.
They found upper space much cheaper than ground space.
Cayoterun

Re: shop with living space
 

I know in the town I live, this would essentially follow the same codes related to building a house with an attached garage -- which are fairly strict in regards to fire/vapor barriers between the two spaces.

B

Re: shop with living space
 

My oldest friend was a single guy his entire life. he died last year. He built a
30x40 block structure with 12ft ceilings and had a 3 bedroom appartment on top. I will find a picture and post it later. There were stipulations from the finance companies (bathrooms and bedroom amounts and sizes)and county fire codes that had to be followed. Other than that he had no problems.

Now.......if you own the land its out in the woods where no one will rat on you and you are paying cash for the structure......built it to county codes as a garage......have the sewer, water and electrical all done. Once all the inspections are done..........go in and add your living space. EASY

I have an unfinished living space/loft in mine (still in progress) bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and good size den.

Re: shop with living space
 

Some years ago,a friend & fellow racer owned his own repair business .it was a large pole bldg. the entire one side was his house. Inside was simialer to a single wide mobile home. had its own furnace & ac. There were no doors leading into the shop from the house, for security reasons, there was also a fire wall constructed between the 2 areas. From the outside, youd never know he lived there, from the inside of the house, youd never know it was in a pole barn.

Re: shop with living space
 

Had a buddy who rented a warehouse from one of his relatives.The coffee area was converted to a kitchen,added a fireplace to waiting area and remodeled the baths.He and his family lived there for several years.The 'home' was about 2300 sq.ft. the shop was 75' wide X 125' long with a maint.shop 30x50 teed off one side.He used the maint shop for projects and one end of the warehouse for storage.The rest of the warehouse made a great playspace for his kids in bad weather.The lot was also huge for parking and had about an acre of grass,too.

Re: shop with living space
 

Shane please don't use the expression man cave! It excites Andy and with the pictures he posts we don't want that!

Back to the subject a huge shop with a living space above was my dream growing up, hell I am still single I still might do it :) Can't be worse than having an atv in my living room can it?

Re: shop with living space
 

Here is a bad picture of my buddies place........30 x 40 12" ceilings built with 12" block. Heat and AC up and down. Bathroom up and down. 3 bedroom, large open kitchen opening up into large vaulted ceiling den. Had a 9K lift but it was sold when he died.
It sits on 10 private acres and has a newer 40 x 120 dirt floor pole building also

Its in S.E. Virginia (Dinwiddie) and is for sale