Shop Houses in Arkansas

Shop houses in Arkansas put a working shop and a home in one building, and for many owners the shop is the whole point of a barndominium. We plan the shop around what goes in it, a tractor, a bass boat, an RV, a welding bench or a small business, and build the living quarters to the same standard as any house.

Start with the shop

Door height and width, clear span, sidewall height and slab thickness come from the equipment. An RV bay needs a tall door and a long, straight approach; a mechanic's bay may need a thicker slab section, floor drains and heavier electrical service. We size those first, then fit the living space alongside or upstairs.

Separating the shop from the house

Fumes, noise and dust belong on the shop side. We plan a fire-rated separation between garage or shop and living space, a mudroom or laundry as a buffer, and separate HVAC zones so you are not paying to cool a 2,000-square-foot shop in July.

Get a Free Estimate

What shop houses cost

Angi's size table puts a 40x60 barndominium at about $225,600 to $288,000 and a 60x60 at about $338,400 to $432,000. Shop space usually costs less per square foot to finish than living space, which is one reason shop houses can be economical. Concrete is a large line: HomeGuide lists a slab at $6 to $14 per square foot, and a big shop slab adds up quickly.

Arkansas ground under a big slab

Large slabs are where soil matters most. The Arkansas Geological Survey describes the Porters Creek Clay, which outcrops from south of Hope to near Arkadelphia, as highly expansive. In the Delta, clay pans lie beneath much of the farm ground, and in the Ozarks rock can sit close to the surface. We look at the soil before we design the slab and the pad.

Power, water and drainage for the shop

Shops often need more than a house circuit: 240-volt outlets for welders and compressors, bright lighting and sometimes a separate subpanel. We plan the service size with you. Floor drains, a utility sink and a hose bib inside the shop door are worth considering, and the drain plan has to fit the septic design, because shop washwater and oil do not belong in a drain field. Outside, the apron and driveway are graded so rain runs away from the overhead doors.

Thinking about resale

A shop house appeals to a specific buyer. Finishing the living side to the standard of a normal house, and keeping the shop side clean and simple, keeps the most options open later.