[AT] Talking about shops/sheds

[Al Jones]

Not to go into too much detail, my wife and I hope to build a house soon.

Along with it, I want a real, concrete floored, maybe with a woodstove, place to work on my relics out of the rain, shop.  A good friend/colleague and I were talking today, he's a licensed electrician and has done masonry/construction most of his life before he started teaching.  We got on the subject of shops and I asked him what was the "best" in terms of cost.

He's a big fan of cinderblock construction.  I have always leaned towards pole barns, mostly from all of those beautiful Morton Buildings ads in Successful Farming magazine I have looked at since I was a kid....he said by the time I bought the metal for the siding, I could spend about the same amount for cinderblocks.

So I know this has been hashed and re-hashed in some way or another, but what's the "best?"  Pole barn, masonry, or what?  I want this to be my "forever" shop, and want it to last.  I know it won't be big enough, etc. etc. etc.  BTW I'm thinking about something like a 30x50 or 30x60, with part of it being bona-fide shop and the rest storage/machinery parking.  I want at least a 12' high door, for "real" farm equipment as well as antiques, 14' if I can afford it. What kind of cost/square foot to build, etc?

One thing I am thinking on is pouring the floor only for the actual "shop," (about 30x30)and having a wall separating the rest from the "shop" and then gravel for the rest of the floor as a way to cut costs.  Thoughts?

This is a bit rambling I know, but I'd like to  get some thoughts and Ideas.  The #1 consideration is cost, but the building must be durable.  The whole thing may be a pipe dream but if we build a home as we plan, this may be my only chance....

Have at it,
Al