Tips for workshop layout please.

[Flash]

Hi guy's,
I've been away for a while and a lot has happened!
We were finding since before Christmas that our shop sales were shrinking but our online sales were increasing. In the New Year we were having trouble justifying our shop rent, business rates & other essential bills so a few weeks ago decided to close the shop and take our business home!
Our home now looks like our business
I have decided enough is enough and I am going to have a 'Log Cabin' constructed up the top of my garden, this will be the new office & workshop
I will have a 'blank canvas' to layout & was wondering if you guys could help me with your joint wealth of knowlege in getting it right!
This could be fun............

Phil

[Kaz]

Make sure you get planning permission for your log cabin first of all

I have all my equipment on tables (apart from my cutter cause it's got it's own stand) that are positioned round the room, in a U shape, all within easy reach

[bms]

Sounds fantastic - make sure the heating's sorted for the Winter.

Don't think you need planning permission as it's not considered a permanent building - be on friendly terms with the neighbours so you don't get caught for business rates though!

[Flash]

Make sure you get planning permission for your log cabin first of all

Checked that one Kaz You do not need planning permission on a 'shed' in the garden which is less than 4 metres in height.

I like your tables idea, I was going to fit worktops all the way round and have a central table.

Sounds fantastic - make sure the heating's sorted for the Winter.

Don't think you need planning permission as it's not considered a permanent building - be on friendly terms with the neighbours so you don't get caught for business rates though!

Cheers Martin, heating and insulation is on the list!
As for business rates, I will put some gardening tools in the corner! This then makes the 'shed' shared useage and NOT solely used for Business purposes Sorted!

Phil

[Glen]

Agree with Martin..heating is a must..also if you are running power from the house make sure its outdoor cables..the heavy duty ones.

[Kaz]

The room I use isn't big enough to have a central table in aswell, or I would have one

I got my tables from Ikea, think they were £15 each. Thought about the worktops round the wall, but the weight of the printer and heat presses put me off that idea.

[Andrew]

We have our place kitted out with various different shelving and units etc but the important parts being the work surfaces are oversized Kitchen worktops. We have lengths of these opposite each other, one side has the different presses whilst the other side is preperation for things like cutting and taping. This side is lower down so you can sit and work whilst the press side is up on cheap kitchen cupboards so a decent standing height. Works well for us anyway.

[TransferGraeme]

From experience - make sure you have far more power points available around the room than you think you'll ever need - in a few months you'll find every socket has a plug in it.

[Flash]

Great tips people! Thanks for all your suggestions. I've got quite a bit to do before putting the new 'shed' up, one of the main things is to lay the new base I will be busy for the next couple of weeks!
I have recently purchased a new camera so I may upload a few piccies of progress over the comming weeks
Thanks again for all of the suggestions, all taken on board.

Phil

[mrs maggot]

i have worktops round the room, with holes at the back to feed the cables through, my sockets are underneath to give me as much empty worktop, and less things for stuff to snag on. i used breakfast bar legs for extra worktop support. i have 2 very large sets of high quality plastic shelf units from costco, they are bracketed to the wall for security, but they go full ceiling height and at the top i store my not used that much stuff. t's are kept in sizes in boxes on the shelves, and i use a IIIIII counting system on the front, crossing them off each time i take one out - its on a printed lable - so when i re-stock the box i just stick a new sticker with all the IIIII on - and start again.

digital radio
phone
and easy access to the kitchen for a cuppa

you will need to check with your local authority if you are receiving home deliveries as part of your work, and also inform your mortgage company as you are obliged to do.