I'm building a shop and I'm looking for input on size. Yes I know go as big as possible, but I'm thinking 40' X 64' with 18' wall height to get a 800sf loft/appt at one end. Appartment on ground floor, and loft poker/billards room up top.
That would leave me with 3 bays (44'x40) along the long wall. Room for the Crew cab, boat and one bay to work on the fab projects.

Anything you would change? I'm going to do the push out in the next few weeks.

put the apt above the rec area. that way you can more easily reclaim the space from the rec area as is at shop level if you need to extra room. also you wont have as much noise in the apt if the rec area is being used.

What about fumes and the general stink involved in having a garage attached to a house? How do you control that? Do you not put any intior doors between the shop and apt?

put the apt above the rec area. that way you can more easily reclaim the space from the rec area as is at shop level if you need to extra room. also you wont have as much noise in the apt if the rec area is being used.
I agree. Then the poker players won't fall down the stairs on their way home. :beer:

What about fumes and the general stink involved in having a garage attached to a house? How do you control that? Do you not put any intior doors between the shop and apt?

Drywall 1 hour Fire Rated (meaning hung verticle and seams on studs) and you have to have a solid masonry wall 12" up or so (check your codes), and a fire Rated exterior door as well peferably steel. I don't believe the Door can break the masonry wall, I could be wrong on that one though...

Sounds similar to what my bro is building.... 60'x72' garage. 18' to the trusses. 30x43' mezzanine/appt. Outside walls are 2x6" studs.

I should take some pics... this thing is a monster :smokin:

Definitely check the codes about separation between living space and shop space. Depending on what you're doing with the shop space, you may need a two hour separation between the two.

A loft/mezzanine is typically just for storage... now what you do with it later.... :goofball:

I agree with that up to a point. But when you cannot get homeowner's insurance or a claim is denied when there is a problem or when someone is injured/killed due to a fire...

If you were putting a game room in and didn't want to do the hassle for the separation because it is just you and a few friends that hang out there, that is sort of one thing. But if you're sleeping there and there's a fire, that is a different kind of story...

You might want to step up to a 20 foot eave. With a 18 your going to have a clear 15ft height at best near the beams if this is a std steel building.