Build Big, Build Smart
- Duncan Farrow
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
If you’re planning to build a shop, here’s my #1 piece of advice: maximize your budget on size.
One of the biggest costs in building a shop is square footage, so the more square footage you can afford, the better. Here’s why:
We’ve never built a shop for someone and heard them say, “It’s too big.” It’s always the opposite. Within the first year or two, it’s full. Whether it’s tools, vehicles, or just “stuff,” space gets eaten up faster than you’d expect.

That’s why I always recommend prioritizing size over features.
You can add things like insulation, windows, or lean-tos later, but you can’t stretch your walls once they’re built.
If your budget is tight, here are a few ways to go bigger without breaking the bank:
Skip insulation for now (unless you need it right away).
Reduce the number of windows. They’re easy to add later.
Focus on a simple design. Keep things basic to save costs upfront.
When you know you’ve maximized your budget on size, you’ll have peace of mind. You won’t look back and think, “I wish I’d made it bigger.”
If you want to chat more about designing a shop that’s built for your future, give us a call.
Comments