Workshop Ground Up Construction Advice Needed

[Wenyu Zhang]

Hi All,

I'm purchasing a small commercial lot in Florida and planning to build a mechanic shop (wanted to start a small used car dealership as a side hussle). Now I'm facing too issues. First, I need to know where I should start the construction project. I talked to a GC and they said I need to have an engineering plan before they can give me a quote. From my understanding, plumbing should be the first thing to do before pouring the concrete slab. Second, I might need some finance help with the ground up construction. The entire project (utilities + foundation + interior + landscaping + exterior paving ) should be rought at 100k, just very rough estimation from my perspective. Many steel building companies provide installation and rent-to-own option so that should save a lot of upfront cost.

Here's what I'm planning to build: A 1000 sq ft warehouse-like steel building with two 10' x 10' doors and one walk-in door, plus one office and one restroom inside the building. So eventually it will look like a two-bay mechanic shop. 

Can anyone recommend someone who provide engineering plan drawing service in Florida? And what's the step by step for me to start this project?

[Henry Clark]

@Wenyu Zhang

You need someone to help you if your building "purpose built" based on your comments above.  Very few mechanics would want 1,000 sq foot. 

Your 10 x 10 door spec, again, no mechanic would use that building, both from an entry way standpoint and inside they will want to put in at least two vehicle lifts, which your roof line would be pushing it with a 10 foot door (12 foot ceiling??).

Pit area?

Fire sprinkler system?

Concrete thickness?

Drain pits?

Inside space- air compressors, tool area, parts area, work benches, working space for one car say 325 sq feet, etc.  Running out of space.

Parking just for the Mechanic shop, they will want at least 10 to 15 parking spots.

Drive through bays or back up entry?  Need space in front or back.  Point on this comment and the one above, is your loosing parking space awful fast on a "small" lot.

You need someone who has done this before.  It's a good idea, but has to fit the property.