I need help building something for myself?
Ok. I want to build a workshop or laboratory where I can work on things in peace. I am either going to place it underground or on top of my garage. Can someone please give me a list of the materials I will need and a free software for me to design it. Thank you.
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You can’t make a material list without making all the design decisions first. 1 Where will it be built, 2 How long, wide and tall, 3 Needs like electricity or plumbing, windows, Roof or ceiling type, What kind of work (metal, wood, chemical lab, etc) will you be doing in the workshop, What kind and how many tools will you use, What are the dimensions of material you will work on, How much "elbow" room will you need. How sturdy, chemical resistant, etc do the work surfaces need to be. Do you need power ventilation or dust collection. How big a door do you need to get stuff in and out. Will you need soundproofing, Will you need heat or ac, If on roof do you need an outside stairway.
Suggest you start with tool and workspace requirements and lay out a floor plan. Just put down the equipment in a drawing on a tablet. Then graph it out. Decide where you want it on your property, Then think about all the other requirement and design wall, window, doors, HVAC, electric outlets and lights, any plumbing and ceiling confiuration. Only then will you have a document that a materials list could be made from. Don’t forget to check with city or county building department to see about their requierments. They are friendly to home owners. I don’t suggest design software for a small project like this. There is a steep learning curve. Grid paper and pencils are cheap and easy.
What tools and skills do you possess. What tools will you need for each part of the project. What labor is realistic for you to do. What are you going to need help with. How can you access that help (friends, hired help)
How to books, online sites (google do it yourself) librarys, etc are sources for decision making.
Answer all these question and any more you can think of on a list on a tablet. You should then be able to design your project. Most building supply companies like Lowes or Home Depot will do a material list for you from your design. They are located at the Contractor Desk in the store. You might call them first to see if they have a person like this at a location near you. I bet they do. Good luck. How ever much work you think this will be. multiply what you think by five. Do not put much credence in someone telling you "it’s easy". Nothing in building is easy. I haven’t ever found an easy task in 40 years as a contractor. Anything is do-able. It’s just hard.
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You can’t make a material list without making all the design decisions first. 1 Where will it be built, 2 How long, wide and tall, 3 Needs like electricity or plumbing, windows, Roof or ceiling type, What kind of work (metal, wood, chemical lab, etc) will you be doing in the workshop, What kind and how many tools will you use, What are the dimensions of material you will work on, How much "elbow" room will you need. How sturdy, chemical resistant, etc do the work surfaces need to be. Do you need power ventilation or dust collection. How big a door do you need to get stuff in and out. Will you need soundproofing, Will you need heat or ac, If on roof do you need an outside stairway.
Suggest you start with tool and workspace requirements and lay out a floor plan. Just put down the equipment in a drawing on a tablet. Then graph it out. Decide where you want it on your property, Then think about all the other requirement and design wall, window, doors, HVAC, electric outlets and lights, any plumbing and ceiling confiuration. Only then will you have a document that a materials list could be made from. Don’t forget to check with city or county building department to see about their requierments. They are friendly to home owners. I don’t suggest design software for a small project like this. There is a steep learning curve. Grid paper and pencils are cheap and easy.
What tools and skills do you possess. What tools will you need for each part of the project. What labor is realistic for you to do. What are you going to need help with. How can you access that help (friends, hired help)
How to books, online sites (google do it yourself) librarys, etc are sources for decision making.
Answer all these question and any more you can think of on a list on a tablet. You should then be able to design your project. Most building supply companies like Lowes or Home Depot will do a material list for you from your design. They are located at the Contractor Desk in the store. You might call them first to see if they have a person like this at a location near you. I bet they do. Good luck. How ever much work you think this will be. multiply what you think by five. Do not put much credence in someone telling you "it’s easy". Nothing in building is easy. I haven’t ever found an easy task in 40 years as a contractor. Anything is do-able. It’s just hard.
References :
Google, Home Depot, Lowes
Comment by Beatrice L — August 26, 2010 @ 4:27 am