Pro's and con's of layout in separate building away from the house.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Once again the wife is on the hunt for more land and a more remote place to live. One of the issues that comes up is where the layout will go. She has absolutely no problems with it being in the house. However we have looked at some properties with nice heated outbuildings that would also accommodate a layout.

I think I really want the layout in the house as it is now. I often find myself going into the trainroom for just a few spare minutes and working on something or running a train. I know that if I had to trudge a hundred feet or so to an outbuilding to the layout it just wouldn’t happen unless I was going to spend some time there.There should be plenty of room in any house we buy for a layout the size I would like. That would be around 500 to a 1000 square feet and hopefully in a basement.

Any thoughts or experiences about having a layout in a building away from the house would be appreciated. Pro’s and con’s of both locations. As always thanks.

Brent[C):-)]

2

At one time I was thinking of building an outside layout building but winter would take a lot of heat to maintain it. Would have to have some comforts such as a bathroom and prbably another electric meter. And going out to the building in winter through two feet of snow wouldn’t be much fun.

So I rebuilt an atic room in the house that had to bedrooms into a 23 x 9 foot layout room that is no problem to go upstairs and play. Glad I did the layout room this way. And not far from the refig!

3

I have the worst of both worlds. My layout is in an attached garage that can only be reached from an external (to the living space) entrance.

Pro:

  • Not accessible to or visible to casual visitors.
  • Mess can’t make its way into the living area (shredded foam, sawdust, etc.)
  • No noise issues, either from power tools in use or from TV or unwanted music.

Con:

  • Have to dress for outdoors to work on layout (vs. PJs or undershirt.)
  • Separate climate control - or lack of.
  • (for a really separate outbuilding) electrical service (and water, if desired) separate.
  • Separate lock (with, in my case, a different key.)

IMHO, the first con is the reason that I’ve been considering a modification thet would enclose both my dwelling entrance and the garage entrance in a Japanese-style genkan, with only one door visible from the street and a solid wall enclosing the space between the house and garage doors (which face each other across a roofed space about seven feet wide.)

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

4

As long as you have heat and A/C it would be great! Pro Wife won’t bug me every 10 minutes. She will all wise come in and want to talk about some silly when I am in the middle of something.`

Ken

5

Another thing to consider is security…I wouldn’t want a layout in a separate building unless I installed a alarm after all they do break into backyard storage sheds.

6

The biggest problem I see is trekking out to the out building in bad weather - snow, rain, cold, dark, etc. And of course if there’s no bathroom the extra trips back to the house. The farther away the building the more of an issue this becomes.

The other issue is cost which may or not may not matter to you. This would include how much extra you’re paying because it has the building. Plus the extra heating system, electric panel, roof, etc. that has to be maintained.

Not that a basement isn’t without issues as I learned after the mice chewed through the rubber hose that hooked up the dishwasher, but it sure is convenient.

Enjoy

Paul

7

I plan on building a 4 to 6 car garage with a loft for my layout and a slot car track when I retire. I never thought about weather issues or sneaking away for 10 minutes or so or even what I wear. All good points to think about.

8

My layout room is located on the second floor of my 32’ x 40’ detached garage. It is about 40’ from the house. It is fully insulated and has gas heat and A/C. The layout room is 22’ x 40’.

Pros:

Model railroad guests don’t have go through the house.

No house mechanical systems in the way of the layout or above the layout to have to be worked on over the layout, or to ever leak on to the layout.

The HVAC for the layout room is in the attic above it, and the train room has its own electrical sub panel.

Only two small windows.

Close to the wood shop in the garage below for constructing benchwork sections and other modeling projects.

Cons:

Stairs - but basements have those too.

Traveling to/from the house - not a big deal most of the time - but bad weather can be a pain.

Transporting models - while the layout is out there, the model “workshop” is in the basement. The house was built in 1901 - not exactly the kind of basement you want to build a layout in - ceiling too low - too many posts - too many pipes, ducts, boiler, A/C air handler, well pump and tank, oil tanks, extra washer and dryer, etc, etc.

We are currently looking for a rewtirement home - this one is just WAY too big. I am open to either case, a nice basement or another out building. If I have to build something it will be similar to what I have - or, maybe even a ground level building just for the trains.

Someone mentioned security problems - our garage is alarmed, my gun is loaded, the alarm turns on all the outdoor lighting on the property - so I have a good shot.

Having done both the basement thing and the this, I see them both as equally good - just different.

Sheldon

9

I am proposing to build a layout in the western corner of my detached shed.

Pros…

Less space issues. A much greater space to work with. Creating my man cave, a dedicated space for the Proposed RR with all my other man stuff.

The wife thinks she now has control of the house and therefore has won. (Makes her happy)

Able to quickly whip up modules or anything structural as it is in the same space as my timber tools/machines.

I am not taking up room in my house (except for the room my test layout is in now)

Loud noises are kept away from the new additions to my family for now.

Moving the layout is made easy with 2 roller doors and detachable transom.(drive in shed)

Cons…

Cold in winter, hot in summer (needs insulation and temp control) the humidity in summer is a real problem

No dunny (toilet or sink @ the moment)

Even with dust extraction fine dust manages to find its way all over the shed. ( I will need to create an area of positive pressure around the layout)

Higher power bill due to the above.

The fact that I may never venture back into the house ever again because I have everything at my fingertips (except waste management)

I am totally looking forward to moving my trains out to the shed. I just need to figure out how to stop the area hitting 60 degrees C in summer. Once this problem is rectified, say goodbye to the cramped spare room.

Cheers Chris from Australia

10

My layout is in the shed about 20-30 feet from the front door. It is no big deal to go out and work on the layout even when the kids are asleep since it is far enough away to not wake them with the noise. Yes it can get a little warm or cold, the cold is fixed with a ceramic heater and the warm well fans. I have had layouts in the house before and while it was convenient it was a mess for the rest of the house as well. I would not build another in a spare bedroom but a basement/ attic sure.

Massey

11

For me, inside the house in a dedicated room is best. That way, friends and and family can easily view it if they are interested, without tromping through the snow, rain, heat, or whatever. Some will only watch it for a few minutes, others for much longer. But they can all mingle and enjoy each others company.

On the other hand, it all of your viewers will be hard core dedicated model railroaders, an outside building might be better.

12

Keep it in the house if you can. You will use it more, and be more comfortable.

My layout is in the garage. I do have both a wood stove and a gas heater, but it is unheated when I’m not out there. The temperature extremes can buckle track, especially if it is soldered. I have a problem with spiders, when I haven’t used the layout for a while. The first train through the tunnel comes out covered with spider webs. I can warm the garage to 70 or better in the winter with the wood stove, but the cold floor gets all wet from condensation. In the winter, it takes several hours to warm it up to a comfortable level, so I don’t bother with it much of the time. It was the only option for me at the cottage. But I would prefer a nice heated basement under a large ranch home if I had the choice.

13

I have my RR in a detached garage. All comments about the RR being in a separate building apply.

However, I did make it a point to have a modeling workbench in the house so I wouldn’t be spending too much time away from the family environment. I always try an have a project going on it. Of course this means that I have to have to duplicate some tools. But it does keep the peace. (My wife also has a hobby bench in the house for the same purpose.)

14

Our layout is in a dedicated room at the end of the house. If it was in another building, I couldn’t just wander in to dream/plan. Sometimes putting a coat on would too much effort. Also, when we delivered our old layout to an uncle, the track had buckled from just being outside.

Love it in the house. Just shut the door if you don’t like the mess.

Sue