Backyard Workshops for People Who Actually Make Things
A workshop is a working building. It needs power where the tools are, room to break down a sheet of plywood, walls you can screw a French cleat into, and a floor that will not complain about a cast-iron table saw. We have been building them by hand in Lynnwood since 1983, out of solid wood, with no OSB in the structure.
Walls You Can Build Into
Woodworkers care about wall construction more than most clients, and for good reason. Our walls are 2×4 Douglas fir at 24 inches on centre with double top plates, and the interior can be finished in CDX plywood or cabinet grade rather than drywall. That means you can hang a cabinet, mount a cleat wall or bolt a vise anywhere you like without hunting for a stud or patching gypsum afterwards.
The floor is 3/4 inch CDX plywood over joists at 16 inches on centre. It takes a jointer, a planer and a full-size table saw without drama. If you plan to roll heavy machines around, mention it early and we can talk about layout, because the difference between a workshop that works and one that annoys you is usually a matter of where the doors and the outfeed space are.
Power, Dust and Daylight
Three things separate a pleasant workshop from a frustrating one. Power comes first: a single circuit will not carry a dust collector and a planer at the same time, so plan for dedicated circuits and think about whether anything in your future needs 240V. Our electrical package covers the building, and we work with electricians who handle the run from the house.
Dust is second. Roof vents and wall vents matter more here than in almost any other build, and an open layout with the collector central beats a cramped corner every time. Daylight is third, and it is the one people underestimate. Picture windows over the bench and a skylight above the main work zone will change how the room feels on a grey February afternoon in the Pacific Northwest.
One recent build shows how this comes together: a 410 square foot Forester with an upgraded 4:12 roof pitch, split internally into a workshop and a separate storage room, designed alongside Housecall Architecture with permitting handled as part of the project. Splitting the space that way keeps the sawdust out of the things you are storing.
Popular workshop specifications
- Electrical package with dedicated circuits
- CDX or cabinet grade interior walls for mounting
- Double shed doors for machinery access
- Roof and wall vents for dust and fumes
- Picture windows and a skylight over the bench
- Insulation and interior heating packages
- Storage loft for offcuts and seasonal tools
- Upgraded wall height for sheet goods
- Composite ramp for rolling machinery in
Sizing a Workshop
Base prices include delivery, installation on a prepped level lot, a single shed door, 30-year architectural shingles and Douglas fir T1-11 siding. Electrical, interior walls, vents, additional doors and lofts are quoted on top.
10×12 Rancher
$6,840
120 sq ft. A bench, a bandsaw and hand tools. Good for carving, finishing and repair work.
12×16 Forester
$11,616
192 sq ft. Table saw with real outfeed, a bench along one wall and storage down the other.
12×20 Forester
$15,048
240 sq ft. Full machine set with room to break down 4×8 sheets, or a split workshop and storage layout.
If you work with sheet goods, 12 feet in one direction is the number that matters. It is what lets you turn a full sheet without walking it outside.
Financing is available through Enhancify. See financing options.
What Workshop Clients Say
The shed was built to plans approved by the local city building inspectors and all materials are wood and no cheap pressboard products. The install only took one day, and the crew was very friendly and professional. I would recommend The Original Mini Barn shed company over the big name shed builders any day!
Mark M.
Tony impressed me from the start. He tolerated every small idea I had and gave me solid advice from his perspective. The team is also outstanding. They care about every detail and try to build the best they can. Almost every detail is out of my expectation.
Hu Q.
Workshop Questions
Can I mount cabinets and a cleat wall directly to the walls?
Yes, and this is one of the main reasons woodworkers choose a plywood interior over drywall. Walls are 2×4 Douglas fir at 24 inches on centre with double top plates, and CDX or cabinet grade interior sheathing lets you fix anywhere across the surface rather than only at studs. If you know a heavy item is going in a specific spot, tell us and we can add blocking.
Can I get 240V for larger machines?
The building can be wired for whatever your equipment needs, but the supply comes from your house, so the answer depends on your existing panel capacity and the run to the building. We offer an electrical package for the structure and work regularly with electricians who handle the trench and the connection. Raise it early, because it affects both cost and permitting.
How do I deal with dust and fumes?
Specify roof vents and wall vents, and plan the layout around your collector rather than fitting it in afterwards. Finishing work in particular benefits from cross-ventilation. Vents are inexpensive at build time and awkward to retrofit neatly.
Will the floor take a cast-iron table saw?
Yes. The floor is 3/4 inch CDX plywood over 2×4 Douglas fir joists at 16 inches on centre, on pressure-treated skids, with no OSB. That is a stiffer floor than many garages. For rolling machines in and out, add a composite ramp at the door.
Do I need a permit for a workshop?
Usually, once you add power. Exemptions cover unconditioned structures not used for human habitation: unincorporated Snohomish County allows up to 200 square feet inside an urban growth area and 400 square feet outside one, unincorporated King County allows 200 square feet with no electrical or mechanical systems, and Seattle allows 120 square feet for unoccupied uses. A workshop with dedicated circuits and a heater falls outside all of those, and anything over 200 square feet needs a permit in most places anyway. We handle permitted projects regularly, including a recent 410 square foot build designed with Housecall Architecture. Our permit guide has the specifics.
Can one building be both a workshop and storage?
Yes, and it is a popular request. An internal dividing wall gives you a clean storage room that stays free of sawdust while the working half takes the mess. The 410 square foot Forester we built recently was laid out exactly this way. It usually costs less than two separate buildings and takes up less of the yard.
Plan Your Workshop
Sketch it in 3D, or send us your tool list and we will help you lay it out.
