Comments on: Thinking about space and workshops

By: Guy Bouchard

Guy Bouchard — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:38:08 +0000

Last saturday we were meeting a contractor for a big enlargment of our house. The guy (a friend of mine) said we were better take time to think about our space need and what we have right now. In a few hours, we already know the work will be a lot smaller. I am drawing plan right now (flourplanner.com). We will save money and time. I think it will be more efficient too. We have to take time to think!

By: AlexWetmore

AlexWetmore — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:06:57 +0000

Don”t worry Rory. The brewing equipment is still there, it is under the stairs and next to the sink as it’’s always been. I think it’’s the one thing that isn”t moving!

By: Rory "1 less car"

Rory "1 less car" — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:44:12 +0000

ok, but you can”t forget one of the most important things in all our lives.

beer.

where’’s the brewing equipement?

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 01:00:57 +0000

Neat idea, I like the column mounted stand and large work space when the laundry and storage is combined.

I have a very limited laundry/storage area that doubles as bike storage and limited work area as well. I should do some similar sketching and attempt to find a better solution.

By: AlexWetmore

AlexWetmore — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:53:53 +0000

Jimmy,

Great idea about moving the storage to the other side. I combined it with the laundry and this gives me a huge workshop:
http://alexandchristine.smugmug.com/gallery/3344558#222311082-XL-LB

By: AlexWetmore

AlexWetmore — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 01:15:09 +0000

Christine wants to dig out the basement, but I”m worried about having to do foundation work. I think that is the plan if this reconfiguration doesn”t do it.

Putting laundry and storage into a single room could work and give me half of the basement, I”ll have to draw it out.

Our neighbors found a cat skeletan when they dug out their basement too.

See you a Rollo!

By: jimmy livengood

jimmy livengood — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 01:11:14 +0000

Yeah, those columns are a pain, I have a similiar problem in my basement. I like the idea of a column-mounted workstand, especially since there would still be good access to the far side of the bike.

I”d be tempted to run the storage down the center along the columns, and have the full left side as workshop/bike storage.

Of course, you could always dig out the crawlspace and expand the basement. We found a dried, shriveled cat when we did this at my grandfathers place, adventure awaits!

By: AlexWetmore

AlexWetmore — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:00:13 +0000

Jim — I”ve watched enough episodes of “This Old House” to know about replacing the main beam with something stronger, but it still seems like a huge project. For now I”ll live with the columns. Thanks for the photos though, those were fun.

Mike — A column mounted workstand is a good idea. Ultimate makes one too. The other problem with the columns is that they tend to attract stuff. This is an old photo (the chimney is now gone):
http://phred.org/~alex/pictures/house/basement-01-06/reduced/DSCF0268.jpg

Ladders, snowboards, old bicycles, things just lean up against them.

I”d still like to rebuild the retaining wall because the current stone one is very deep and wastes a lot of yard space. However it’’s probably not worth the cost (and permitting since the wall is >3 feet tall) to do so.

By: Mike Jenkins

Mike Jenkins — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:10:15 +0000

It looks like you”ve saved yourself a bundle. Particularly since you”re not going to demolish and reconstruct a retaining wall.

Have you considered the Park PRS-4W wall mounted work stand lag bolted to one of your columns? I love the portability of the tripod stands, but they do seem to take more space in a dedicated shop.

By: Jim G

Jim G — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:53:06 +0000

The house I used to live in (rented the first floor unit) had the basement converted into a 2+ car garage, and in the process several wooden posts were removed and replaced with 2 larger steel posts and a 35ft engineered I-beam. It required some major house jacking (e.g., http://www.flickr.com/photos/salim/1473606/), but it’’s possible.