Frequently asked questions

A commercial shop is permitted under the Florida Building Code, and the steel plans carry an engineer's seal for the lot's design wind. The fire marshal also checks the plans against the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and the city or county reviews the site plan and confirms vehicle repair is allowed in that zoning district.

Yes. The parts a customer uses, such as the parking, the route to the door, the service counter, the waiting room and the restrooms, carry ADA accessibility requirements. Lay those out with the bays so the office end of the building is not squeezed later.

Tall enough for the tallest vehicle you work on raised to full lift height, plus room for the overhead door when it is open. Lift makers publish a minimum ceiling height for each model, so pick the lifts first and let them set the eave height and the door track style.

Start from the technicians you have now and the ones you plan to hire, then add room for a bay that holds a car waiting on parts. Many owners also leave space on the lot to extend the building later, which is easier when the end wall is designed to come off.

They help where cars move in a steady line, such as quick lube, tire and inspection work, because nobody backs out across the shop. They also mean twice the overhead doors and a frame braced around openings on both walls, so price both layouts before deciding.

Not always. Lift anchors need concrete of a minimum thickness and strength under each post, and the lift maker states what that is. Tell the contractor which lifts you plan to install so the slab or the lift pads are designed for them before the concrete is placed.

Insulate the roof and walls so the panels don't sweat and drip on cars, then plan for moving air: exhaust fans, ridge or wall vents, and a way to pull vehicle exhaust out of the bays. Insulation is far easier to install while the building goes up than after the shop is open.