Dr.Jeff
True Classic
To be honest I can't imagine building something like this without a concrete floor. I understand cost issues, but to me that is a mandatory part of the cost if you want a garage.Popular vote is concrete right off the bat.
A while back I was required to relocate unexpectedly due to a family matter. The current property only has a standard 2-car garage, while in the past I had a very large shop full of equipment. So just my equipment fills this garage, leaving no space to get any vehicles in or actually do any work (other than on a crowded workbench). The property is large with plenty of space but only dirt and gravel (decorative rock) covering it. At first I tried working on my cars in the gravel by using planks, etc. It was a royal pain in the arse to try and work that way, and it even caused one car to fall off its stands. However this is a temporary situation and not worth investing much to improve things. I ended up covering a large pad with flat pavers and that is where I've been working on my cars. But even that isn't very good. Things like jacks, carts, or creepers get caught on the edges of the pavers as you roll over them. It beats the gravel but nothing can replace having a flat, smooth, level, solid concrete floor to work on. If it absolutely came down to it financially, I'd delay something like the lift in favor of a concrete floor first. And I'm sure the contractor would agree that it is better to lay the concrete before constructing the actual building (I'm sort of surprised they don't require it). Just be sure to plan the concrete for things like mounting the lift later on.