Shop build and heating in 2024

[IXLR8]

I live in VA, on the Eastern Shore. I have a 22x24 shop with an attached 22x24 garage. I put 15K BTU mini-splits in each. They are too big and don't do much for dehumidifying, but handle the hot summers and cool winters fine. I have a 32x44 boat storage building, with 16' ceilings. I am building a room inside this building for woodworking, about 20x20 with 10' ceiling, it is going to have R-29 to the outside walls and ceiling, R-11 for the inside walls. I am going to put a mini-split in it for heating and cooling. Not sure if it will be a 9K or a 12K unit. The more I use mini-splits.... the more I like them. You just need to be able to access them to be able to clean the filters.

 

[gstrom99]

May you post a picture of this set up :

I put the foam board down and around the exterior "rat guard"/footing and with the spray "closed cell" insulation,

Also do these run off like a propane grill tank or would i need to get one of the larger permanent tanks?

I don't have a pic of the foam board / concrete, but I drew up something to show what I did. The heater (100k btu) is tee'd into the 500 gal tank, that the house uses. He said it "would be fine"... He machine trenched the ~40 feet to connect it - used a cool tracked trencher. This part could've been a DIY, but I left it to professionals (it took him 45 mins to run the line - $400).

 

[rocco611]

Radiant floor heating is the best option for comfort, but look at the cost of fuel where you are. Electricity and Propane where I live have gotten real expensive. I stopped heating my home with propane and put in a wood stove, took advantage of the 30% federal biomass fuel rebate. Lots of free firewood where I live. I have a 40x60 insulated steel building, wood stove was my only low cost option for heat. This summer I will be installing solar and mini splits for cooling .

 

[Oaktree]

Radiant floor heating is the best option for comfort, but look at the cost of fuel where you are.

I'd imagine having warm floors would be nice, but how long does a system like that take to heat a room/building from cold? Would seem a better option for living space as opposed to a workshop unless that shop would be heated 24/7.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I'd imagine having warm floors would be nice, but how long does a system like that take to heat a room/building from cold? Would seem a better option for living space as opposed to a workshop unless that shop would be heated 24/7.

Yes, it obviously takes a while to heat up a large slab of concrete. But on the positive side, it retains the heat for quite a while, too.

It may even be more cost effective to leave the floor heat on 24/7. I do, not to save on propane, but so it's warm when going into the garage in the morning.

Some propane is saved by having a zone I don't use much at the lowest setting (45 degrees) while the main area is usually set to 50.

Also, an unexpected saving is due to a screw-up by the builder. A manifold supposed to be in a wall ended up exposed in a smaller room. As a result, that zone does never have to be on.

Heated floors are great, I think, both in the house and the garage.

 

[JethroB]

I don’t believe the type of 12x12 door the OP intends to install has been mentioned. With my corrugated rollup door I found brush seals to be very helpful with air loss and keeping critters out. $180 for my 8x12 door. Simple to install. Good people to work with too.

Protect Your Spaces With Brush Weather Seals | JaCor Brush Seals

Brush weather seals close gaps around all types of commercial doors, sectional doors, garage doors, fabric doors, and roll-up doors. Learn more today.

jacorinc.com

 

[miscjames]

So much good info/ideas keep it coming.

 

[miscjames]

I don’t believe the type of 12x12 door the OP intends to install has been mentioned. With my corrugated rollup door I found brush seals to be very helpful with air loss and keeping critters out. $180 for my 8x12 door. Simple to install. Good people to work with too.

Protect Your Spaces With Brush Weather Seals | JaCor Brush Seals

Brush weather seals close gaps around all types of commercial doors, sectional doors, garage doors, fabric doors, and roll-up doors. Learn more today.

jacorinc.com

View attachment 851691

I will look into these. Thanks

I prices it out and I can get a good quality home garage style door that is insulated. For just a little more then those roll ups that come with the building. And i can get a good steel house door at the box store for what they send with the building. Granted i will have to install my self. But that is the route i am planning on. As i think it will be better in long run

 

[gstrom99]

I don’t believe the type of 12x12 door the OP intends to install has been mentioned. With my corrugated rollup door I found brush seals to be very helpful with air loss and keeping critters out. $180 for my 8x12 door. Simple to install. Good people to work with too.

Protect Your Spaces With Brush Weather Seals | JaCor Brush Seals

Brush weather seals close gaps around all types of commercial doors, sectional doors, garage doors, fabric doors, and roll-up doors. Learn more today.

jacorinc.com

View attachment 851691

Yep. My Overhead Door Co. doors came with those on the sides and top already. Bottom is HD rubber seal. $8k for two doors, installed (8x10 and 8x9). More (way more) $ than I wanted, but they needed "high lift" tracks and I didn't want to mess 'em up by doing them myself.