I've made some improvements to my garage

SouthArk370Z · 06-04-2019, 11:05 AM

Over the last six months or so, I've been fixing up my garage. I added styrofoam panels to the aluminum garage door, installed a small A/C unit, and more than doubled my workbench space.

The styrofoam was cheap and only needed a small hand saw to cut. Cost about $30 to fill most of a 2-car door. Ran out of panels and need to buy a few more before I can call the job done. Made a BIG difference in heat intrusion.
Bought a new seal for bottom of door, but haven't installed yet. $15.

The A/C ($140) is very small - only 5k BTU - but I'm hoping will help keep the humidity down (rH in S AR runs around 80-100%).

Extended workbench along wall to corner and then elbowed so I have an L-shaped bench now. Legs are 4x4s that I salvaged from an old clothes line post. Frame is 2x6s and top is 2x10s and 2x12s (same basic construction as the old part). If I can pick it up, the bench will hold it.

About $135 for lumber, screws, brackets, stain, etc. Waiting for the stain/polyurethane to dry before I install peg board ($20 for about three times what I need) and hooks ($20).

Also added some screw-in hooks to the walls for hanging yard tools, extension cords, etc. $30 or so.

About $400 tied up in parts. Most of the work was done by a buddy for food, conversation, and the left over wood. My main job was to hold the boards while he cut.

Plan on adding some more insulation to the ceiling, but not in a big hurry.

Now I need to get rid of a lot of my junk. I have a Ford 9" rearend (including brake backing plates) out of a 1969 Gran Torino (open diff with, IIRC, 3.9-something gears) that I will sell real cheap or trade. An old IBM mainframe computer that is free-to-good-home. Four-drawer filing cabinet that's got a lot of surface rust and you wouldn't want in the house but the slides still work well and the inside is not rusted, f-t-g-h. All items are pickup in S AR only.

Chuck33079 · 06-04-2019, 11:21 AM

Those garage door panels made a big difference. That and a new seal at the bottom will take care of 75% of the problem. I've still got to figure out a good solution to keep cold air from escaping on the sides.

BettyZ · 06-04-2019, 11:41 AM

Sounds like a great start! Idk if your garage is already walled or the studs are exposed.. mine were originally exposed so I filled the gaps with batting and then put the pegboard over.

Putting in a drop ceiling with insulation makes a HUGE difference. Mine is unceilinged. My neighbors has the drop w insulation. 24 degree difference in temp on a hot hot day.

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Jayhovah · 06-04-2019, 11:45 AM

Where are the pics SouthArk? And don't you dare f@$%ing refer me to the FSM.

SouthArk370Z · 06-04-2019, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyZ

Sounds like a great start! Idk if your garage is already walled or the studs are exposed.. mine were originally exposed so I filled the gaps with batting and then put the pegboard over.

Putting in a drop ceiling with insulation makes a HUGE difference. Mine is unceilinged. My neighbors has the drop w insulation. 24 degree difference in temp on a hot hot day.

Garage had been paneled when I moved in. I have no idea if there is any insulation in the walls, but everything on the house appears to be built right. I'm thinking about blowing some cellulose over the ceiling and might try blowing some into walls if I do that. Outside of walls is brick, so that helps modulate temperatures a little. One wall faces East, so it doesn't get much sunlight. South wall has a wide eave, so that helps. One wall is common to house and feels like it is insulated (but not sure). I have a powered fan to vent the attic; that helps quite a bit.

SouthArk370Z · 06-04-2019, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhovah

Where are the pics SouthArk? And don't you dare f@$%ing refer me to the FSM.

I figured someone would have to make a "Pix or it didn't happen" post.

Garage is still waaayyyy too messy for pics. But two of my buddies have been helping me clean up so I may be able to post some pics in a couple of weeks.

SouthArk370Z · 06-04-2019, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Those garage door panels made a big difference. That and a new seal at the bottom will take care of 75% of the problem. I've still got to figure out a good solution to keep cold air from escaping on the sides.

A BIG difference. Especially when the Sun shines on them late afternoon (luckily, only for a couple of hours and even then it doesn't hit the whole door). Door is dark brown to match rest of house and it soaks up a lot of heat when in the Sun.

Yeah. I've been scratching my head over how to seal the sides, too. I don't see a good way to seal the sides but a baffle of some sort might slow things down - not sure it would do enough good to be worth the trouble/expense of installing. I'm still thinking. Let me know if you come up with something.

BettyZ · 06-04-2019, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

A BIG difference. Especially when the Sun shines on them late afternoon (luckily, only for a couple of hours and even then it doesn't hit the whole door). Door is dark brown to match rest of house and it soaks up a lot of heat when in the Sun.

Yeah. I've been scratching my head over how to seal the sides, too. I don't see a good way to seal the sides but a baffle of some sort might slow things down - not sure it would do enough good to be worth the trouble/expense of installing. I'm still thinking. Let me know if you come up with something.

They sell weather seals for garage doors, mine has them

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JARblue · 06-04-2019, 04:00 PM

I tried weather seals for the side of my garage door. More of a pain than anything. They didn't look good or function well. Ended up removing them. Still haven't figured out the best route.

BettyZ · 06-04-2019, 04:54 PM

These seals, insulated garage door and walls, and plenty of snow on the roof (and 3 oil-filled electric radiators) kept my detached garage above freezing during that week in the Chi when temps were in the -20s.

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sirnixalot · 06-04-2019, 04:56 PM

well i'll be dipped in **** and rolled in bread crumbs......is that a zip up screen door for a garage door opening?!

BettyZ · 06-04-2019, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirnixalot

well i'll be dipped in **** and rolled in bread crumbs......is that a zip up screen door for a garage door opening?!

Mmm, bread crumbs. Yes sir it is! I am the biggest of fans.

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sirnixalot · 06-04-2019, 05:17 PM

You've just changed my life. The mosquitos here are something awful especially during rainy/hurricane season. I'll be adding that to the garage build list for SURE.

BettyZ · 06-04-2019, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirnixalot

You've just changed my life. The mosquitos here are something awful especially during rainy/hurricane season. I'll be adding that to the garage build list for SURE.

Glad to help! Got mine from Fresh Air Screens, Inc. Made in the USA, so it's well put-together and wants to invade my neighbor's garage to "secure for it the blessings of freedom from mosquitoes."

Chuck33079 · 06-04-2019, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyZ

Glad to help! Got mine from Fresh Air Screens, Inc. Made in the USA, so it's well put-together and wants to invade my neighbor's garage to "secure for it the blessings of freedom from mosquitoes."

What’s something like that cost? Also, where do I get the side seal in your other pic?

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06-04-2019, 11:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	I've made some improvements to my garage Over the last six months or so, I've been fixing up my garage. I added styrofoam panels to the aluminum garage door, installed a small A/C unit, and more than doubled my workbench space. The styrofoam was cheap and only needed a small hand saw to cut. Cost about $30 to fill most of a 2-car door. Ran out of panels and need to buy a few more before I can call the job done. Made a BIG difference in heat intrusion. Bought a new seal for bottom of door, but haven't installed yet. $15. The A/C ($140) is very small - only 5k BTU - but I'm hoping will help keep the humidity down (rH in S AR runs around 80-100%). Extended workbench along wall to corner and then elbowed so I have an L-shaped bench now. Legs are 4x4s that I salvaged from an old clothes line post. Frame is 2x6s and top is 2x10s and 2x12s (same basic construction as the old part). If I can pick it up, the bench will hold it. About $135 for lumber, screws, brackets, stain, etc. Waiting for the stain/polyurethane to dry before I install peg board ($20 for about three times what I need) and hooks ($20). Also added some screw-in hooks to the walls for hanging yard tools, extension cords, etc. $30 or so. About $400 tied up in parts. Most of the work was done by a buddy for food, conversation, and the left over wood. My main job was to hold the boards while he cut. Plan on adding some more insulation to the ceiling, but not in a big hurry. Now I need to get rid of a lot of my junk. I have a Ford 9" rearend (including brake backing plates) out of a 1969 Gran Torino (open diff with, IIRC, 3.9-something gears) that I will sell real cheap or trade. An old IBM mainframe computer that is free-to-good-home. Four-drawer filing cabinet that's got a lot of surface rust and you wouldn't want in the house but the slides still work well and the inside is not rusted, f-t-g-h. All items are pickup in S AR only. cv129, Ghostvette, Fuzzzy and 6 others like this. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

06-04-2019, 11:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	Those garage door panels made a big difference. That and a new seal at the bottom will take care of 75% of the problem. I've still got to figure out a good solution to keep cold air from escaping on the sides. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

06-04-2019, 11:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
BettyZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Chicagoland Age: 38 Posts: 5,261 Drives: A Garage Queen Rep Power: 2684371	Sounds like a great start! Idk if your garage is already walled or the studs are exposed.. mine were originally exposed so I filled the gaps with batting and then put the pegboard over. Putting in a drop ceiling with insulation makes a HUGE difference. Mine is unceilinged. My neighbors has the drop w insulation. 24 degree difference in temp on a hot hot day. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk __________________ '14 MB Nismo \| Boost Lab 6870 1.32 AR 553 HP / 471 ft.-lbs. Betty Mods

06-04-2019, 04:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 44 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684441	I tried weather seals for the side of my garage door. More of a pain than anything. They didn't look good or function well. Ended up removing them. Still haven't figured out the best route. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

06-04-2019, 04:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
BettyZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Chicagoland Age: 38 Posts: 5,261 Drives: A Garage Queen Rep Power: 2684371	These seals, insulated garage door and walls, and plenty of snow on the roof (and 3 oil-filled electric radiators) kept my detached garage above freezing during that week in the Chi when temps were in the -20s. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk SouthArk370Z and sirnixalot like this. __________________ '14 MB Nismo \| Boost Lab 6870 1.32 AR 553 HP / 471 ft.-lbs. Betty Mods

06-04-2019, 04:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
sirnixalot Track Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Cayman Islands Posts: 685 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 57454	well i'll be dipped in **** and rolled in bread crumbs......is that a zip up screen door for a garage door opening?! madwi, Ghostvette, sx moneypit and 2 others like this. __________________ 2010 Sport - LS3 swap loading 2012 Frontier - BTWTuning VK56DE swap

06-04-2019, 05:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
sirnixalot Track Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Cayman Islands Posts: 685 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 57454	You've just changed my life. The mosquitos here are something awful especially during rainy/hurricane season. I'll be adding that to the garage build list for SURE. -ZS-Carpenter and BettyZ like this. __________________ 2010 Sport - LS3 swap loading 2012 Frontier - BTWTuning VK56DE swap

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