I'm looking at having a 40 X 60 or so building put up.

Any suggested brands, materials etc...?

A metal building on a concrete pad would be nice. Insulation would be nice, too. Or install a BigAss fan with a large sliding bay door. Fluorescent or LED light fixtures, extra electrical outlets, suspended shelving units, even a hydraulic vehicle lift. Some air compressor line or extension cord bouncers would be handy. It could be fun.

By "fun", I mean pricey.

and , are there advantages of steel or aluminum?

I've decided on a size, it will have concrete floors and probably a 200 Amp electrical service.
It will also have 2 14 X 12 doors, one on each end for a drive thru capability.

What I have not decided on is a steel building, pole barn type construction or stick built. The advantage of steel is no center supports which I like.

Running water, hand washing/eye washing station, bathroom?

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Running water, hand washing/eye washing station, bathroom?

Absolutely have it plumbed with hot and cold water. Ideally have a shitter, but at least have a big sink/laundry tub to wash up. I also hooked up an old washer/dryer that I had for washing shop rags and other grungy stuff, and I ran a hot/cold faucet outside. I highly recommend the latter. It's very handy for washing stuff in warm water vs. cold, and I also hooked up a shower head to it with a hose. It's kind of nice taking an outdoor shower now and then. Of course, if you have neighbors with a view that might not be appropriate. One more benefit to living in the boonies.

No complaints about my pole barn style shop. Get a builder who knows what they're doing and it'll be up and they'll be out of there in a week. Pour the floor, give it another week or so, and you'll be good to go.

Yes, put in twice as many outlets as you think you'll need.

Definitely put in a floor drain. If you decide against the shitter, your sink and whatever else you hook up can drain into the floor drain as it's all grey water, saving you a septic hook up.

Think about exterior lighting now.

Add 12' lean-tos to the sides. The extra space under a roof is awfully nice.

Put in 20 amp outlets with four receptacles in each. Won't cost much more to do when you are building. If 3 phase service is available and reasonable do that too.
Also make any walk in doors 36" wide. They are much easier to carry things through and new construction cost in minimal.
I built my bathrooms to handicap spec.'s because when I eventually sell or rent that could be important.
Use LED shop lights. They don't cost much more now, use much less electricity and last longer. The light isn't 360 degrees requiring a reflector, it all shines down.
Seal or paint the floor before any oil/grease gets on it.

Good ideas gentlemen.

When we built the house, we did 36 inch doors throughout and the handicap specs on the bathrooms. Not getting any younger.

quote:

Originally posted by 95flhr:

What I have not decided on is a steel building, pole barn type construction or stick built. The advantage of steel is no center supports which I like.

I just had a 34'x70' shop built. We went stick framed and it required no center supports. I just had to change to 2x8 studs for the walls because the walls are 18' 6".

I will add that you should go with a standing seam metal roof. Never worry about leaks at the attachment points that way.

Walk right past the fluorescent lights at a brisk pace and proceed directly to the LED.

Brighter, whiter light and no flicker, immune to cold.

Have more than you think you'll need stubbed in whether you actually ever use it or not in the slab.

Get it insulated when it is built, much easier to do during construction then add it later.

Do be sure to go ahead and put in a 220 for welder, big air compressor etc.

Good roll up doors are expensive, bite the bullet and make sure you don't skimp on them.

Depending how far from your home it is whether it is practical or not but I'd suggest a buried conduit run between the shop and the house with several pull strings. You can then run data, intercom, phone, security system etc wires from one building to the next easily.

quote:

Absolutely have it plumbed with hot and cold water. Ideally have a shitter, but at least have a big sink/laundry tub to wash up. I also hooked up an old washer/dryer that I had for washing shop rags and other grungy stuff, and I ran a hot/cold faucet outside. I highly recommend the latter. It's very handy for washing stuff in warm water vs. cold, and I also hooked up a shower head to it with a hose. It's kind of nice taking an outdoor shower now and then. Of course, if you have neighbors with a view that might not be appropriate. One more benefit to living in the boonies.

Good plan, I'll add the water to the list. it might require and additional well.

I'm out in the boonies as well. The house sits back in the woods, as will this building, so outdoor shower might have to get factored in to the plan. My wife will love me having another excuse to run around outdoors nekkid

Unless you have a specific need for it , I'm going to vote no on the 3 phase service . No advantage and it will cost more to get it to the shop and your monthly service charge will be higher . 200 amp single phase will handle the average workshop just fine .
If you have 3 phase power tools then obviously that's a different matter .

quote:

Originally posted by 95flhr:

quote:

Absolutely have it plumbed with hot and cold water. Ideally have a shitter, but at least have a big sink/laundry tub to wash up. I also hooked up an old washer/dryer that I had for washing shop rags and other grungy stuff, and I ran a hot/cold faucet outside. I highly recommend the latter. It's very handy for washing stuff in warm water vs. cold, and I also hooked up a shower head to it with a hose. It's kind of nice taking an outdoor shower now and then. Of course, if you have neighbors with a view that might not be appropriate. One more benefit to living in the boonies.

Good plan, I'll add the water to the list. it might require and additional well.

I'm out in the boonies as well. The house sits back in the woods, as will this building, so outdoor shower might have to get factored in to the plan. My wife will love me having another excuse to run around outdoors nekkid

Chemical spill. Dog wash. All sorts of uses.

When you pick your trusses, pick the ones with a load rating for an attic room. Not much more, and gives you the opportunity for storage or room addition later. Plan for a drop down staircase (not just attic ladder). Think full staircase, with a hinge, electric hoist if you want.

Insulate well, and you can do a basic through the wall mini-split hvac since it's one big room. Will just need a fan to circulate.

Like already mentioned, floor drain.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
and , are there advantages of steel or aluminum?

You’d have to be a Saudi Prince to afford an aluminum building that size.

I like the idea of a floor drain. I’ll have to figure out if I can do it with a dry well type of arrangement. I don’t think I want to get the stuff from a garage floor drain in the septic system.

How about when you pour the slab, you make yourself a nice grease pit to get under things, if you are so inclined.

quote:

Originally posted by tanner:
How about when you pour the slab, you make yourself a nice grease pit to get under things, if you are so inclined.

Looking at a lift instead. I think it might be more versatile.

Spend some time on garagejournal.com
There is a section with pics from builds and you will get lots of good ideas.