New workshop and a blank canvas

[WannabeFramer]

My casual quest for new premises has finally paid off and I will shortly be upping sticks and moving….. next door.

I have a few weeks yet, so in the meantime I am starting to plan things out.

The space isn’t huge (approx 32 sqm) but is a complete blank canvas that I can fit-out how I wish. The floor is on two levels which lends itself to a customer entrance/area at the lower end (maybe 2.5 x 4 meters), then a small step to the rest of the workshop creating a natural divide and ‘no-go area’. That is as far as I have got.

So I am looking for ideas from your many and varied set-ups if you would be so kind please. Things you have found useful (or not), things you wished you could do differently.

Any great ideas, and those not so great. Especially for multi-purpose areas, zones, multi-functional benches, storage ideas etc.

My budget isn’t huge, but I am happy to spend where needed. The bare minimum is complete redecoration and flooring in the customer area at least.

(Mmm, do I actually need flooring in the workshop area or just garage paint over the concrete? )

I will also only have four weeks to turn around all the work, move and then redecorate my current place ready to hand back. That isn’t as long as it sounds.

Also, there is no current heating. Any opinions for gas or diesel space heaters, vs portable radiators? I will have a dehumidifier 24/7 as per now.

So, please hit me with your ideas.

[Rainbow]

(Mmm, do I actually need flooring in the workshop area or just garage paint over the concrete? )

Personally I wouldn't like to stand on concrete all day. Too cold, too hard.

Congratulations on your new premises. It's been great following your progress from wannabee framer to ... shouldn't you change your username now that you're a proper framer

[JFeig]

Knowing the workshops length and width is more important than just the square area. This will give us a better idea of the wall area for hanging everything, placement of a chopper or saw and where to stack moulding etc. What do you expect to hang/store in the clients area that is not on the same level? What about the electrical, for lighting and power tools?
Either a CAD layout program or an engineering pad with a grid of squares would assist in your design efforts. You can cut out of paper the outlines of what you have and move them around on the grid of squares that match to scale that you have and what you plan to acquire. Don't forget to allow for isles for yourself and the handling of equipment and bulky supplies of at least 1-1.5m.

[WannabeFramer]

JFeig:I have had my first proper look around today and had a chance to measure up the various areas, noting there are plenty plug sockets - bonus. I will be having a play around with some graph paper over the next few days. The customer area has two complete walls I can use for displays, I may construct a divider of some description to enclose it away from the work area. Things to ponder.

Has anyone incorporated a Hotpress into a workbench? I have seen a picture of one dropped into a bench with a hinged worktop above. Is that practical or just a pain? Mine currently masquerades as the design bench, which is mostly fine until the rare times I want to use it and a customer walks in.

I am going to design a new workbench incorporating my underpinner and I need to think carefully about glass storage and handling. The main reason for moving is to have the one big open plan space. My current workshop is the same size, but divided into 3 rooms + kitchenette, which restricts where I place things - moving glass sheets around feels like running a gauntlet! I will have to think about that step and carrying the sheets.

I need to think about heating. There is no insulation, unlike my current pad. Electricity will be expensive!

Did I mention I am rather excited? This is a complete blank canvas. It has been with the same tenant since 1994 so is rarer than a rare thing for me to get my hands on. It is also more visible to passers-by, so hopefully attracts some interest into our little row of craft units.


Rainbow: There seems to be a manhole cover in one corner, so I will need to keep that accessible. I might look at the cost of vinyl, although paint would be much cheaper. I currently have carpet which is comfy but a complete pain to keep clean.

I will forever be a wannabe - everyday is a school day and I rarely trust myself

[JKX]

We had a concrete workshop floor and covered it, well the bits not under plan chests etc, with that click together rubber matting you can get from B&Q etc.

It’s a good idea to lay things out in work order. We had an island workbench. You start at the Excalibur - boards and glass stored each side of it - and cut everything that fits in the frame, then take a couple of paces to one side and cut a hole/some holes in the mount board.
Then around the other side - mount the art, turn around, cut and join the frame. Then back to the side you started from for final fitting.
The layout also worked well with two people - I’d usually be the chopper/joiner/mounter, not the materials cutter/stressed out flumb fighter!

[JFeig]

Now that you tell all of us that the location is uninsulated as well as unheated you might reconsider this move. It's prior use might have not been susceptible to its current environmental status; however, handling and storing art will be another very expensive story. Being penny wise and Pound or Euro foolish is what I see.

[Rainbow]

Does your lease allow you to paint the floor?

Leases typically provide for the premises to be returned to their original condition when the tenant vacates. I'd hate to have to remove all that paint!

[pramsay13]

There are a few threads on workshop layouts, I've commented a few times with my layout.
My workshop is 5m x 3m so quite small but space for everything I need.

[WannabeFramer]

Thanks for the comments JFeig. I am very happy with my choice.

Rainbow, yes I can do as I wish and will not need to remove any paint etc so all good on that front.

[Fruitini]

Yes we’ve set our hotpress into our bench. It’s a fantastic space saver. It takes up practically no additional room. We are fortunate to have a beam running centrally along the length of the bench which we suspend handy shelving from (repurposed industrial electrical cabling trays), and also hang chains from to hold the hinged bench up when accessing the hotpress.

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[Tudor Rose]

Definitely put something down over the concrete floor. I don't know if you remember the flooring we have here when you visited. They are industrial quality tiles that lock together. Very robust but slight cushion feeling underfoot. We laid laminate flooring gold underlay down first - it acts as a moisture barrier and insulating layer. We laid the whole thing ourselves and worth every penny.

We started off with painted areas and carpet areas - they not only caused a lot more dust, are harder to keep clean but looked terrible in comparison and were far colder.

As you are starting with a lovely blank canvas, do the floor first and then fit everything else on top. That way if you want to move things later you haven't got cut out sections in your flooring.

And you are totally right - nothing wrong at all with the decision you've made on making this move. Sounds like a great next step for you.

[WannabeFramer]

That is a great idea Frutini - exactly what I was looking for thanks!

JXK: thanks - good idea for the island route.

Thanks Jo - I vaguely remember the flooring and it looks like the way to go. The carpet I currently have is a pain so I am definitely not repeating. I am happy to spend as necessary, but I do only want to spend once and spend right. It will be a few weeks before I gain entry so have plenty of time to plan.

Regarding adding extra insulation, yes this is in my mind. I will be boarding out and plastering as a minimum but internal wall insulation is more complicated with the building's construction, potential restrictions, and thus likely not feasible right now. Having said that, my current place only has loft insulation, so next door is no different in that respect.

The main difference is it was used as a carpenters workshop with the bare bones only. Mine was revamped to be an office/classroom with plasterboard and carpet. It isn't a huge jump to bring the new place up to the same standard.

Regarding heaters - my current place has wall panel heaters which I don't actually use anyway (too much stuff in front). Instead I rely on a basic oil radiator and fan heater for a boost. It does get cold hence running the dehumidifier. In the new place I can look at different options that might be more economical.