New Home Shopping/Clubwork Area

golfer_LD

First time post here,

I am starting the process of looking for a new home, which means also finding a new place for my clubwork area. While I would prefer an nice section of unfinished basement like I currently enjoy, my home budget isn't going to allow me to be that picky. One thought I had was buying one of the outdoor shed kits from Menards and making that my backyard clubwork area. Any thoughts on this idea? I'd like to have something in mind incase I find a home that has everything I want except a preexisiting area for my clubwork.

Thanks for any input/suggestions

Hoss7504

Not sure where you live, but those shed kits have ZERO insulation. My father-in-law put one up in his back yard (for his wood working or something) and when he went to work in the winter, it was absolutely freezing (lives in Northern Ontario, Canada). He ended up insulating it and throwing up drywall so that when he used the space heater, it was like heating a 2 foot pocket of air. Now it works great for him though.

golfer_LD

Hoss7504

Thank you. I live in northern Indiana so if it is something I decided to go with one of those sheds I would have to insulate it as well.

Release

golfer_LD

Don't forget the heat and the humidity from the Summer months.

I had seen one some years ago from a local club builder. He had a mobile shed type of work shop after he had lost the lease on his store. It was parked at the back of a driving range for several years, moved around a few times but eventually he disappeared.
That one was like 10' x 8' and maybe 8' tall. with raised ceiling. Fully insulated with 2 windows. I don't know how much it cost him but it's definitely more than a shed kit.

I also had seen one other case using an old mobile trailer as a work shop, same concept as the Tour Van. It has more room and could set up after the layout of any Tour Van. It's mobile. Only thing is, if there is a C.C. & R. for the neighborhood preventing you to park it in your back yard or side yard. because of the long and narrow shape, It'll get crowded if you put more than 2 persons inside. So depending on if you plan to have company visit you in the work shop, it may not work well.

ptjn1201

Don't forget electrical and water, if you want those conveniently located. You could run a hose and have a bucket for quick cleaning. But lights for evening work, power tools, plugging in the laptop, etc. I have a small (4' x 11') room off the back of the garage with a bench that I used for shaft removal, but I do mostly everything else in the spare bedroom.

DonM

I have used a bench in my garage, and in two basements. The garage is nice from the standpoint of being more dirt tolerant.

In my current house I am set up in the basement. I have been here a year and have not made a permanent setup. I'm using a heavy table, and I have a small vice bolted to the top of a Workmate folding bench. I have to say, that temporary vise setup is working very well.

But I digress. I guess I'm trying to say that if this is just an occasional need, you can get by with materials storage, a flat surface for your workspace, and a small vice mounted on something. I think I could make it work in ANY garage, no matter how tight. I might have to pull the car outside while working, though.

The real question is, how big of a shop are you wanting?

Bankshot

I'm in SE Michigan and have used a workbench in my attached garage for 20 years. Cold in mid winter and hot in mid summer, but never below freezing. Not having to worry about a little dirt or fumes is a big plus.

LBlack14

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sdandrea1

Basement here in VA and garage in Fl. I prefer the garage for dirt tolerance, ez cleanup and paint/solvent odors. I think a shed would be a nice setup with lots of light, ventilation and some temperature insulation.

golfer_LD

Most of the places I've looked at already had work benches set up in either the basement or garage so it looks like I'll be able to find something with one of those options easily enough. Truly appreciate the advice.

kelco9

I have been considering doing the same thing. Lowes is having a grand opening in my town right now and have an 8 x 12 shed for $999 all in. I'm in my basement right now, but somehow solvent fumes, shaft dust, and my furnace pilot light just don't seem like they should be sharing the same space!