Shop Build...should be a fun journey...

[Tim Janssen]

Congratulations with starting the building of your new shop. If you haven't considered it yet, I recommend that you paint walls and ceiling white if at all possible.
It will virtualy eliminate shadows.
Cheers,

Tim

[Jim Becker]

Tim, while most areas will be a light color, I will not rule out some contrasts. I don't like boring spaces. So I can assure you it will not be one big, stark white space as that would be very uncomfortable for "me". What I decide to actually clad the walls with will also factor in. For example, in my old shop, half the space was clad with T1-11 left natural. It was light enough to not cause issues with light levels but warm enough to make it a comfortable space to spend a lot of time in.

[Mr. Jeff Smith]

Congrats on kicking it off, I know you have been waiting quite a while. I look forward to following along.

[Andrew Seemann]

I did semigloss white paint on my walls and have a white acoustic tile ceiling. I regretted the pure white walls pretty quickly (unfortunately not quickly enough to repaint them before covering the walls). I think I would have been better off with an off white or light tan color. I'm fine with the white ceiling, but a little warmer color on the walls would have been more pleasant. Now the walls are covered with enough stuff that it isn't so bad, but I probably would repaint if the opportunity presented itself.

[Von Bickley]

Looking forward to following this build.

[Jim Becker]

I did semigloss white paint on my walls and have a white acoustic tile ceiling. I regretted the pure white walls pretty quickly (unfortunately not quickly enough to repaint them before covering the walls). I think I would have been better off with an off white or light tan color. I'm fine with the white ceiling, but a little warmer color on the walls would have been more pleasant. Now the walls are covered with enough stuff that it isn't so bad, but I probably would repaint if the opportunity presented itself.

You express my own concern pretty well. There really can be a "too white" situation and in such a large, open space, it can really smack hard. But I'm a long way from having to worry about it...sadly. LOL

[Leigh Betsch]

I went the T1-11 route. It’s really the only disappointment I have in my shop. I bought the T1-11 at the peak of the lumber crunch and had to take what I could get. It was horrible quality, many complete sand thru spots where the veneer was completely sanded thru. I returned 10 complete sheets that I wouldn’t have used on a hog barn. But I did use the rest and tried to put the bad spots in hidden area’s. Lots of football patches too.
my walls are 10’ and the T1-11 that I could get was only 9’. So I put a 1’ border right at the electrical outlet level. Painted below and MinWax floor poly on the top. Trimmed on top and bottom with pine 1x4. I do like the finished look.

[Adam Herman]

I went the T1-11 route. It’s really the only disappointment I have in my shop. I bought the T1-11 at the peak of the lumber crunch and had to take what I could get. It was horrible quality, many complete sand thru spots where the veneer was completely sanded thru. I returned 10 complete sheets that I wouldn’t have used on a hog barn. But I did use the rest and tried to put the bad spots in hidden area’s. Lots of football patches too.
my walls are 10’ and the T1-11 that I could get was only 9’. So I put a 1’ border right at the electrical outlet level. Painted below and MinWax floor poly on the top. Trimmed on top and bottom with pine 1x4. I do like the finished look.

i think you came up with a very handsome look with the stripe and tan bottom, even with the sub par material.

[Jim Becker]

I agree with Adam that your choices worked well. I actually wouldn't mind doing a a raceway for machine wiring rather than conduit so I could end up with a similar situation. My plan is for 10' walls and that gives some flexibility around the idea.

[Lawrence Duckworth]

Another shop question I don't see addressed is fire suppression. I have a small and medium extinguisher at two locations in my 3 car garage shop.

Charles, my shop/studio is a metal building, even so, I have 3 fire extinguisher updated and inspected regularly. People have ask me why

[Peter Mich]

Jim, I’m glad you’re taking the time to share your efforts and journey with us and for the opportunity for each of us to offer our insights. After all, as they say, it takes a village to raise a workshop. This will be a rich thread to follow.

[Jim Becker]

Another shop question I don't see addressed is fire suppression. I have a small and medium extinguisher at two locations in my 3 car garage shop.

Sorry, I missed this question previously. I have multiple, readily accessible, fire extinguishers available in my shop...even in the temporary shop.


Lawrence, a lot of folks don't realize that metal "burns", too. Sometimes literally. But it's also weakened physically/chemically by high heat. So yea...a fire can and will be a problem for a metal structure, too.

[Charles Coolidge]

Lawrence, a lot of folks don't realize that metal "burns", too.

A few years back a hobbyist caught his metal lathe on fire turning Titanium.

[Frank Pratt]

A few years back a hobbyist caught his metal lathe on fire turning Titanium.

Was that titanium or perhaps magnesium? Titanium is known for withstanding extremely high temperatures.

[Jim Becker]

Humanity never fails to have at least one person who does the amazing...even if it's something ill-advised.