A Workshop Should Be Designed Around the Work

A workshop isn't simply a building with a large garage door. The right building needs enough space for equipment, vehicles, tools, workbenches and storage while still leaving room for people to work comfortably. Whether you're planning a mechanic shop, welding shop, fabrication building, woodworking shop, farm repair facility or large personal workshop, an I-beam steel building gives you the ability to design the structure around how you actually intend to use it.

Start With the Equipment

Before choosing your building dimensions, make a list of everything that needs to fit inside.

That could include:

Cars and trucks
Vehicle lifts
Tractors
Heavy equipment
Trailers
Welding equipment
Workbenches
Toolboxes
Compressors
Parts storage
Material racks

Then think about how those items need to move through the building.

A 40-foot-wide building may physically hold your equipment, for example, but that doesn't necessarily mean it provides enough room to comfortably maneuver and work around it.

Why Clear-Span Space Matters

One of the biggest advantages of an I-beam steel workshop is the ability to create large clear-span interiors. Reducing interior columns gives you greater freedom when laying out equipment and work areas. That can be particularly important for automotive shops, equipment repair facilities and fabrication businesses where floor space needs to remain flexible. Your business may change. Your building layout should be able to change with it.

Think About Building Height

Width and length get most of the attention, but eave height can be just as important.

A taller building may be necessary for:

Automotive lifts
Large trucks
Farm equipment
Overhead equipment
Mezzanines
Tall storage racks
Large overhead doors

It's generally easier to plan adequate height before ordering the building than to discover later that the building limits the equipment you want to install.

Plan Your Doors Around Your Largest Equipment

Your biggest piece of equipment should help determine your largest door opening. Consider both width and height. If trucks, tractors or trailers will regularly enter the building, provide enough clearance to make access comfortable rather than designing an opening that barely fits. Door location matters too. Multiple overhead doors can allow vehicles to move through different work bays without interfering with one another. Some shops may even benefit from doors on opposite ends of the building to create a drive-through configuration.

Don't Forget the Space Around the Shop

The interior is only part of the equation. Consider how vehicles will approach the building, where trailers will turn and whether delivery trucks need access. Exterior layout and interior workflow should work together.

Consider a Mezzanine

If floor space is valuable, a mezzanine can create additional usable area without increasing the building footprint. Depending on the building design and engineering requirements, mezzanine space may be used for offices, parts storage, break areas or other functions. If you think you may want a mezzanine, discuss it during the building design process so the structure can be properly engineered for the intended loads.

Build the Shop Around Your Business

A steel workshop should make your operation more efficient. Duro Beam custom I-beam steel buildings can be designed around your required width, length, eave height, roof pitch, door openings and local building requirements. Whether you're building a personal workshop, mechanic shop, fabrication facility or commercial service building, we'll help you configure the building around your operation.

Call Duro Beam at 800-445-0412 to discuss your steel workshop project and request a custom quote.