Finally pulled the trigger on the workshop build. Here’s what I learned from day one.
Hey everyone! Wanted to kick things off here in the community by sharing something I’ve been putting off way too long: actually getting the workshop set up.
Phase one is done, and I documented the whole thing over on the blog (Getting Started With the Workshop: Phase One Complete) if you want the full breakdown with photos. But I figured this was worth bringing here too because honestly, I made some pretty classic first-timer mistakes and I’m curious if you all have been in the same boat.
The spray painting situation
The biggest thing I walked away from phase one thinking about was the painting process. I went in with an air compressor to spray the walls, which… yeah. Turns out four gallons isn’t nearly enough to get through a full wall section without constantly stopping and waiting for the compressor to refill. Total spray and pray situation. No technique, lots of patience, mixed results.
The wall looks rough. I know it looks rough. But for a first pass in a working shop, I’m good with it.
The drywall vs. concrete problem
One thing I wasn’t fully prepared for was dealing with two totally different surfaces. The drywall section had old paint flaking off, so I had to sand that down before doing anything else. The concrete side though? Textured concrete is a whole different beast, and I ended up not doing much with it. Still figuring out the right approach there.
Where things stand
The clutter is mostly cleared, the scrap wood pile is starting to get organized, and the wall is painted (for better or worse). It’s slow going but it’s moving, and that’s the whole point.
So here’s my question for you all: what do you wish you had known before tackling your first shop build or major shop overhaul? I feel like I’m learning a lot of “note for past me” lessons and I’d love to hear what yours were.
More phases coming. Talk soon.