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Question on new workshop layout
I am moving to different premises soon, take the keys in April. The space is huge, and needs to be divided up. I have a good idea of how I want to do it, basically half will be for vehicles and board cutting/storage, the other half will have walls and ceilings built, to create reception, office and workshop areas.
The following query is what I was asking on Warrens post, so seems a bit disjointed, but gets the jist over.
I am definitely having a reception area with a door to the working space (stop those customers following me all over the workshop!) which will also stop some of the rubbish & dust that follows them in. I am in two minds as to whether to create a separate printer room, or whether to keep the printer in the production room. All board cutting will be done in the separate vehicle bay.
If I have a separate print room presumably I should make room for the laminator in there too? Not sure what to do, as the new space will be like a new box, and wont be subject to the same amount of crud that I get now.What sort of lighting would you recommend? Now that there are LEDs to throw into the mix too, there’s too much choice!
🙄Thanks
Lorraine -
10 Replies
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Evening Lorraine,
I’m in a similar position, but a little simpler. I’m looking to move to a larger unit, with vehicle access for installing. 🙂
It’s not large enough to fit dedicated print/finishing rooms. I’ll have printer/plotter/bench in the same room like I do now, but with much more space… provided everything goes to plan. I’m thinking about where to position the machinery so there’s a natural flow of work: Media storage -> printer/ploter -> bench -> laminator -> install/ship
If space permits, I can see the advantage of having a dedicated print/finishing room, that is clean, warm and clutter free.
Cutting boards away from the finishing space would certainly keep things clean, and if it is positioned well would work really well.
I’d be concerned about making the rooms big enough for your current printer, but they might soon become small if you upgrade machinery?
Doesn’t really answer your question… so yes, if space permits and it works smoothly (like Jasons? new finishing room, a clear in-out flow for the jobs) then go for it.
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Might be an idea to post a floor plan Lorraine?
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Hi Harry, floorplan posted. So far, the only things in the space are the two entrances, and the loo/kitchen area, the kitchen being open to the rest of the space.
David, you make a good point about upgrading or adding machinery, hadn’t thought of that. 🙄
The area at the back, the ‘sub-let’ space is floating. My son-in-law needs a workshop area for his carpentry. Now I know this could be an absolute nightmare, so would have to be carefully thought about. He does use proper dust extraction on his tools, as is a clean worker, but he wouldn’t be there full-time, and it would help me out with the additional rent I will be paying.
Anyway, this is it, and all up for discussion, except where the central dividing wall goes, that is restricted to where it is, dead centre.
Lorraine
Oops, jpeg added
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When we moved to a larger unit three years ago I had plans in place to put up partitions segregating a fitting area from the rest of the workshop. We decided to just move in and live with the place before deciding where the divisions would go and I’m now glad we did as I have found it so usefull to have a big open space rather than a compartmentalised workshop. Having a big open space is much more flexible then a series of rooms. The only thing I would suggest is to build a small reception/office area at the front door to keep all the plebs out of your main workshop.
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Hi Phil, how do you get on with having vehicles in & out though? I cant see how that works, when the aim is to keep your print clean (and warm) and stop cr*p getting under the laminate!
Lorraine
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It’s never been a problem. My biggest fear was that we would be cold in the winter in a large open space but again that has turned out to be not an issue in the building we are in.
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Hi Phill, I think you have a new building, do you not? Will be different for me.
I think it will be an issue in our new building, because, although I call it new, it is only new to me, in fact it is extremely old, it looks like bits of corrugated stuff stapled together, with a really high vaulted ceiling and no insulation. In fact it really is pretty cruddy, but, it is in a really good position.
I think I will need to make a semi-insulated box to keep everything free from damp, and to save on heating bills. The fitting area will probably be exposed to the rafters so halogen (?) heaters to the van sides maybe. Unless I can justify the expense of creating a ceiling over the fitting bay. Maybe I can, more food for thought. -
Lorraine
hope this helps, my unit is 7.5mtrs x 15mtrs plus mezz floor. Print room- finishing room & shop are centrally heated, old building but heating copes & not to expensive. The large sliding door allows large panels to be carried in easily, all machinery & benches are on wheels to allow different configuration depending on the work being carried out. One thing that i am going to change is to put the saw into a sealed room to cut down on dust in the fitting bay etc. Recentally put shop front in to make customers more welcome i am on an industrial estate & get a quite a bit of through traffic.hope this gives you some ideas
Kev
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Hi Kevin, thank you for taking the time, your layout looks really good. What is the total length x width of your unit? Also, is the mezzanine insulated/separated from the fitting bay? Did you put in extra support to the lower deck?
Did you expect to need the mezzanine, or did it come later? Last one, do you always work upstairs?Cheers Kevin, appreciated
Lorraine
Sorry, forget sizes, read too quickly, they are there! 🙄
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Lorraine
its actually 22.5mtrs x 7.5mtrs but i rent some out, so i have 15mtrs x 7.5mtrs, the mezz with the router on is open to the fitting bay (don’t run the router if fitting vehicles) mainly due to not having the time to box it in so no insulation there. The printer room is a sealed room & doubles as a office & i central heated, the thermostat is in this room & is set to a minimum setting so if it gets cold overnight it kicks in. Walls are just timber & 12.5mm plasterboard, the building is very old & extremely cold where we don’t have the heating but 7 rads keep the enclosed areas nice & snug when needed.Kev
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