Finally pulled the trigger

[Farmerboy72]

I have been contemplating for the past few years about building a shop.the older I get , the harder it is to work on things on a dirt floor . 

I know there was a previous posting about this topic, but I couldn't find it. So I'll start a new one.

[Cool1566]

Congratulations!   I’m sure you will enjoy it once it’s built.

[Wi Ih]

You’ll love it and glad you did it!

[nepoweshiekfarmalls]

You will never regret building it.

[iowaboy1965]

I'm in a similar boat. Getting older and don't really enjoy working in the wind and snow. Nor on the dirt. Had a building put up this last spring. Saving now for concrete and insulation/ interior lining ect.

It will be nice for you when it's done.

 

[iowaboy1965]

What size are you building? 

[Chester5732]

I need something with a bigger door and higher sides. Should have done it 25 years ago. 

[Farmerboy72]

16 minutes ago, iowaboy1965 said:

What size are you building? 

60x80 with 18' ceiling, 24'x16' door on one end and 20x16 on the other end

[Powered by IH]

3 hours ago, Farmerboy72 said:

60x80 with 18' ceiling, 24'x16' door on one end and 20x16 on the other end

Then make sure to put concrete on your wish list for Santa too, maybe it will come in your stocking!

[Qc.Can.IH man]

16 hours ago, iowaboy1965 said:

What size are you building? 

 

15 hours ago, Farmerboy72 said:

60x80 with 18' ceiling, 24'x16' door on one end and 20x16 on the other end

Nice!

But there’s a good chance it will be too small with in 5 years!  Lol

[brewcrew]

18 hours ago, iowaboy1965 said:

I'm in a similar boat. Getting older and don't really enjoy working in the wind and snow. Nor on the dirt. Had a building put up this last spring. Saving now for concrete and insulation/ interior lining ect.

It will be nice for you when it's done.

 

Don’t ever feel bad for building it in stages. That’s how I built my shop. The first stage was concrete foundations and the structure. I had Covid money so I went ahead and had the insulation and interior tin and lighting done too. That first winter I heated a 44 by 60 with a diesel turbo heater, and I could thaw my semi overnight to get it serviced the next day!! The next phase was the floor with heating tubes, the next stage was an office for my wife’s massage business. We’ve done a few smaller things since paying as we went. I have provisions to extend it, but I may or may not ever do that. 

[Farmerboy72]

17 hours ago, Powered by IH said:

Then make sure to put concrete on your wish list for Santa too, maybe it will come in your stocking!

I run a concrete pump truck for the concrete contractor I work full time for. We do all sorts of concrete, from footers to floors. 

So that is a definite "to do"!

[Farmerboy72]

Got the walls poured this week. Really was hoping the snow would miss us this round, so I could get more accomplished. The chance you take starting this sort of project this time of year.

[Diesel Doctor]

On 11/21/2025 at 5:25 PM, nepoweshiekfarmalls said:

You will never regret building it.

The only regret I ever heard from a guy building a shop is:

I should have built it twice as big?

You will enjoy it. Congrats!

[Farmerboy72]

6 hours ago, Diesel Doctor said:

The only regret I ever heard from a guy building a shop is:

I should have built it twice as big?

You will enjoy it. Congrats!

Very true, this fits nicely where it is without cutting into the field. 

[new guy]

You will never regret spending the money. 

[cobfly]

My house could burn down and I would be more than happy to live in my shop.

[Farmerboy72]

3 hours ago, cobfly said:

My house could burn down and I would be more than happy to live in my shop.

Place to hide if I piss off the Mrs!!

[Reichow7120]

12 hours ago, Farmerboy72 said:

Place to hide if I piss off the Mrs!!

Very true. 

You live where the shop is?

Dad and I have a built in advantage on this. Neither of us live where the shop is. So if we go hide in the shop. The women have to literally drive to where we are. It's not a quick walk out of the house. 

Brother lives next door though. So not a option for him lol😆😆😆

[nate]

If you work on your own stuff a shop will save/make you money.   The ambition level is higher in the winter when it is 60 degrees in the shop to get repairs done.  Is that normal for your area to pour footings/poured walls for a shop or did you go that route because of your hourly job?

[Farmerboy72]

2 hours ago, nate said:

If you work on your own stuff a shop will save/make you money.   The ambition level is higher in the winter when it is 60 degrees in the shop to get repairs done.  Is that normal for your area to pour footings/poured walls for a shop or did you go that route because of your hourly job?

In our area , I've seen shops done with a pole barn setup. Not as heat efficient in the winters, but probably a bit cheaper to do. 

I went this route because yes it is , "my other full-time job". I should be able to negate the extra cost. And I prefer this route regardless for what I will use it for.

[1480x3]

I have a 14 ft tall pole building setting on top of a 10 inch thick, 4 ft tall concrete wall. Love it. If i need to straighten a piece of steel i put it on the floor by the wall & bang on it with the skid loader

[brewcrew]

When I built mine they said I could save many thousands of dollars by using a post building, but one of my main goals was to wash my semi in there in the winter, so I wanted the walls to prevent rotted poles.

[cobfly]

On 12/1/2025 at 3:33 PM, Farmerboy72 said:

Place to hide if I piss off the Mrs!!

First off, it's not if, it's when. My wife knows where my shop is.

[Farmerboy72]

Well the weather has straightened out enough for the crew to start framing. Hopefully it cooperates to get it closed in. Gonna look huge next to the old shed!