The Framers Forum

I'm looking around for premises and I'm thinking about 450 sq ft would be enough for a framing workshop - does that sound sensible?

Thanks
Calico

I've been toying with getting a workshop and wondering what footage I would need. I worked out something around the 300 sq ft mark would be adequate so I would say 450 is more so. Depends on how quickly you are looking to expand as you don't really want to be moving premises all the time.

I used to frame out of a basement in a shop about 500sq ft and it felt small. My second workshop was 800sq ft split over two floors and that also was small. I now have 3600sq ft a lot of which is unused but 2500 sq ft is fully utilised.

I would say 700-800 would be a better size.

Well Alistair, you've seen my 'workplace'....300 sq ft is luxury to me!

But I think I have got my calculations wrong in the transfer from sq m to sq ft......I was meaning 10m x 10m, which actually equates to 30 ft x 30 ft = 900 sq ft. So Alistair's assessment is a lot more accurate!

900 sq ft it is then!

thanks everyone
Calico

The Law of Workshop Space is: It you have a workshop the size of an aircraft hangar, you will find enough stuff to fill it.

Or someone else will.

That is too try I have 1500sq ft of other peoples rubbish.

When I first started I found the 450 sq ft I had was fine for day to day custom framing (private work), although it was not that practical for higher volume hand finished jobs for trade/artist customers.
900 sq ft was a very good size.

I'm working out of half of a double garage, sorry workshop which is a little longer than a normal garage so I get 250ft. I'm working on a 51% controlling interest on the other half...Space is a little tight and will get worse especially when I get round to getting the CMC.