Here We Grow ! Ideas for shop layouts

[TonyD]

well i guess this is a good problem to have we have outgrown our current facility, we have been at this location goin on 20 years and we just need more room , and would like the asset of owning our own facility. currently we are running out of a 2300 square foot facility 3 bays. we are putting to gather a deal to purchase a property close by but we would have to bulid a shop on the site . the issues i have are they layout i know what i dont want. just want to bounce some ideas from guys that are in the trenches the architects cant relate to all the circumstances. that we encounter on a daily. what i a leaning on is not your "midas" style layout with six drive in bays i would like to use a more open layout about 4000 square feet . drive in from the side and have stalls on left and right and a drive threw door on the other side. my questions are if any of you are utilizing this type of setup any pros and cons to it . we hope the town will approve a footprint of 70x60 or 60X50 if the make us scale it back. my question are if any of your shops are similar to this do u have any issues with fitting larger vehicles ie trucks and vans, or work flow . also if you have recommendations of sources that may have designs that may be viewed or purchased . we are in the north east so winters are a factor right now we are entertaining block and or metal construction.

thank you guys for taking the time to view this post , Happy Wrenching!

[ATLAuto]

Interesting question on an open, barn-style layout vs. a midas-style multiple bay layout. I see pros and cons on both sides here:

 

Open style pros:

- Cheaper to build

- Cheaper to heat with one door (important for you up in Mass)

- Able to centralize and move about the shop easier

 

Midas style pros:

- Looks better from the street (subject to opinion, but most would agree that this appeals more than this)

- Vehicle are in and out much quicker, no traffic jam at the door (the shops in our city do 50-60 cars a day)

 

Personally, I'm a fan of the Midas style, and we are actually in the middle of renovating our building as such. However, we are in Atlanta. In Mass, weather becomes a concern, which makes me understand the open style.

[Big_K]

There has been discussion about renovating our current site for the past 15 years! I hope that 2014 is when it comes to fruition. My biggest goal would be workflow. So this is something I am always talking and thinking about..

 

I know of a shop with the exact setup you're talking about, although I haven't spoken to him about workflow...it seems to be working. Do you have a lot of separate parking? I could see it being an issue if you don't since the midas setup may have less of a foot print, but I assume you'd put the "Next cars" in the middle section, or constantly keep it clear?

 

 

I would consider a similar style. We are always wasting time with backing cars out, while new customers are coming in...and then I get to run traffic control.

 

I wanted to build a hybrid of your idea... basically an L shape. 4 bays midas style. and 2 bays that are purely drive-through for quick jobs.They would essentially be leaving through the alleyway.

Edited January 28, 2014 by Big_K

[mmotley]

I'll soon be having meetings with a general contractor about plans for my new shop. I'm trying to avoid the Midas design, but that is more so because of my business model. I wan't a more upscale business front, with a shop in the back. 1 enter door, 1 exit door. I also like this for a heated/cooled shop. Also less door maintenance (not sure how much this equates to in dollars per year). Parking would still be outside, probably behind the shop.

 

"more so because of my business model"... For some reason, after I read that I felt like that may come across as 'snoby' or that I feel Midas design is ugly. Not so. Midas design is quick/fast/efficient and profitable. My business model and clientele simply prefer a 'clean' business front.

 

I think it really comes down to personal preference and what type of business you operate. Quick lube lanes will probably call for a 'drive thru' stall. Custom audio/performance shop probably would do better with big wide open work space with fewer entrances and exits...

Edited January 28, 2014 by mmotley

[TonyD]

all great suggestions and ideas , there are definitely benefits to both layouts .

[xrac]

We have one door in and one door out and I love it. We were forced into building in this style due to our subdivision developer. It is easy to heat and you only have two doors to maintain. Really important in this layout is properly positioning switches to control the door. We currently have 7 bays but could add one more if we reworked things. Sometimes we will have ten cars in the shop at once working on them because we are working on three cars in the center. Our bays are pulled into at an angle. We do have trouble with the quad cab one tons being too long for our drive on lifts and too heavy for our two posts. If I could do it over I would widen our building another ten feet.