Sealing garage to use as home office / exercise area -- suggestions?

[Alex]

Hi everyone,

Our two car garage is 18' x 19.5' and though I'd like to park our small car= in it I also want to build a work area for a computer, some books, ham rad= io gear, treadmill, and some other gear which we just have no place for in = the house. I thought about building a small room within the garage, which = still may happen in time, but given our city has some crazy building codes = I don't know if I want to tackle that just yet. So for now I'm looking at = options to insulate and seal the garage door, walls, and ceiling plus getti= ng some cooling and heating setup.

For insulating the garage door I've seen the Owens Corning Garage Door Insu= lation Kit which would get the door itself insulated, but any suggestions o= n how to make the door seal completely around it as to not let bugs and cri= tters inside? I've seen things like the Park Smart Garage Door Threshold S= eal which seals the bottom, but what about the top and sides? Our house is= only a year old so it has the rubber seals there, but would that be suffic= ient?

And for insulating the walls and sealing, I'm still kicking myself for not = having the builder insulate those when we had the house built, but it shoul= dn't be too difficult to put some insulation in the attic, but any caveats = with leaving the walls uninsulated? Two walls are inside walls and one is = the garage door, so it's mainly just the ceiling and one wall I have to wor= ry about.

For cooling and heating I'm looking at a portable AC/heating unit to put in= there, which I've seen for around $400. Even if I have to run a line out = the wall for condensation this is probably our best bet. Also given the ga= rage isn't sealed as well as the house are there any caveats to running a d= ehumidifier when the garage door is closed?

And for the floor I'll probably look at painting it with some epoxy floor p= aint or some rubber coating then use indoor/outdoor carpet around the area = where we're not parking then keep a mat under the car for fluid drips.

All and all I think we can probably pull this off for $1000 - $1300, but wh= at am I missing? Also has anyone ever done a similar setup? I'd love to s= ee pictures or hear what you went through if so.

Thanks --

[jamesgangnc]

ar in it I also want to build a work area for a computer, some books, ham r= adio gear, treadmill, and some other gear which we just have no place for i= n the house. =A0I thought about building a small room within the garage, wh= ich still may happen in time, but given our city has some crazy building co= des I don't know if I want to tackle that just yet. =A0So for now I'm looki= ng at options to insulate and seal the garage door, walls, and ceiling plus= getting some cooling and heating setup.

sulation Kit which would get the door itself insulated, but any suggestions= on how to make the door seal completely around it as to not let bugs and c= ritters inside? =A0I've seen things like the Park Smart Garage Door Thresho= ld Seal which seals the bottom, but what about the top and sides? =A0Our ho= use is only a year old so it has the rubber seals there, but would that be = sufficient?

t having the builder insulate those when we had the house built, but it sho= uldn't be too difficult to put some insulation in the attic, but any caveat= s with leaving the walls uninsulated? =A0Two walls are inside walls and one= is the garage door, so it's mainly just the ceiling and one wall I have to= worry about.

in there, which I've seen for around $400. =A0Even if I have to run a line = out the wall for condensation this is probably our best bet. =A0Also given = the garage isn't sealed as well as the house are there any caveats to runni= ng a dehumidifier when the garage door is closed?

paint or some rubber coating then use indoor/outdoor carpet around the are= a where we're not parking then keep a mat under the car for fluid drips.

what am I missing? =A0Also has anyone ever done a similar setup? =A0I'd lov= e to see pictures or hear what you went through if so.

No windows? I'd go for a window ac if there is a window. You can get them that heat as well as cool.

[mike]

it I also want to build a work area for a computer, some books, ham radio gear, treadmill, and some other gear which we just have no place for in the house. I thought about building a small room within the garage, which still may happen in time, but given our city has some crazy building codes I don't know if I want to tackle that just yet. So for now I'm looking at options to insulate and seal the garage door, walls, and ceiling plus getting some cooling and heating setup.

Insulation Kit which would get the door itself insulated, but any suggestions on how to make the door seal completely around it as to not let bugs and critters inside? I've seen things like the Park Smart Garage Door Threshold Seal which seals the bottom, but what about the top and sides? Our house is only a year old so it has the rubber seals there, but would that be sufficient?

having the builder insulate those when we had the house built, but it shouldn't be too difficult to put some insulation in the attic, but any caveats with leaving the walls uninsulated? Two walls are inside walls and one is the garage door, so it's mainly just the ceiling and one wall I have to worry about.

there, which I've seen for around $400. Even if I have to run a line out the wall for condensation this is probably our best bet. Also given the garage isn't sealed as well as the house are there any caveats to running a dehumidifier when the garage door is closed?

paint or some rubber coating then use indoor/outdoor carpet around the area where we're not parking then keep a mat under the car for fluid drips.

am I missing? Also has anyone ever done a similar setup? I'd love to see pictures or hear what you went through if so.

YOu're saying that the building codes that prevent you from walling off some of the garage are ok with you converting the whole thing to a inhabited room with a car parked in it?

The primary objective in any building project is not to get DEAD. Garages were not meant to be sealed off. There's gas vapor coming out of your car. There may or may not be issues with venting of gas appliances.

Make "not getting dead" your top priority.

[kansascats]

car in it I also want to build a work area for a computer, some books, ham= radio gear, treadmill, and some other gear which we just have no place for= in the house. =A0I thought about building a small room within the garage, = which still may happen in time, but given our city has some crazy building = codes I don't know if I want to tackle that just yet. =A0So for now I'm loo= king at options to insulate and seal the garage door, walls, and ceiling pl= us getting some cooling and heating setup.

Insulation Kit which would get the door itself insulated, but any suggestio= ns on how to make the door seal completely around it as to not let bugs and= critters inside? =A0I've seen things like the Park Smart Garage Door Thres= hold Seal which seals the bottom, but what about the top and sides? =A0Our = house is only a year old so it has the rubber seals there, but would that b= e sufficient?

not having the builder insulate those when we had the house built, but it s= houldn't be too difficult to put some insulation in the attic, but any cave= ats with leaving the walls uninsulated? =A0Two walls are inside walls and o= ne is the garage door, so it's mainly just the ceiling and one wall I have = to worry about.

t in there, which I've seen for around $400. =A0Even if I have to run a lin= e out the wall for condensation this is probably our best bet. =A0Also give= n the garage isn't sealed as well as the house are there any caveats to run= ning a dehumidifier when the garage door is closed?

or paint or some rubber coating then use indoor/outdoor carpet around the a= rea where we're not parking then keep a mat under the car for fluid drips.

t what am I missing? =A0Also has anyone ever done a similar setup? =A0I'd l= ove to see pictures or hear what you went through if so.

I just tried a portable AC unit -- vents hot air out via a window mounted vent -- in my shop. Lousy! Get a real window unit -- or PTAC (aka through the wall) unit. The one I have is a 9000 btu Haier, and it produces too much heat to even offset it's cooling capacity.

If it's a garage -- pull down the exterior (interior should be insulated) wall board and insulate. You will need ceiling insulation

- blow in/ roll-out. You will lose a lot of heat through the concrete floor. Not much you can do if you still plan to park cars there. But if no cars -- then lay down 1/2" or more insulation foam sheets and top with you flooring of choice. Seal off water intrusion though.

On the cheap -- try insulating the ceiling and put in a window AC unit. If no window , you have to cut a hole in the wall. Next notch up -- insulate the walls and while you are at it install a PTAC with AC and heat.

If you are not going to park cars -- and don't need the garage door

--- frame in a wall -- insulate that.

[chaniarts]

look into a small mini-split.

you do know the floor is sloped?

[Steve Barker]

it I also want to build a work area for a computer, some books, ham radio gear, treadmill, and some other gear which we just have no place for in the house. I thought about building a small room within the garage, which still may happen in time, but given our city has some crazy building codes I don't know if I want to tackle that just yet. So for now I'm looking at options to insulate and seal the garage door, walls, and ceiling plus getting some cooling and heating setup.

Insulation Kit which would get the door itself insulated, but any suggestions on how to make the door seal completely around it as to not let bugs and critters inside? I've seen things like the Park Smart Garage Door Threshold Seal which seals the bottom, but what about the top and sides? Our house is only a year old so it has the rubber seals there, but would that be sufficient?

having the builder insulate those when we had the house built, but it shouldn't be too difficult to put some insulation in the attic, but any caveats with leaving the walls uninsulated? Two walls are inside walls and one is the garage door, so it's mainly just the ceiling and one wall I have to worry about.

there, which I've seen for around $400. Even if I have to run a line out the wall for condensation this is probably our best bet. Also given the garage isn't sealed as well as the house are there any caveats to running a dehumidifier when the garage door is closed?

paint or some rubber coating then use indoor/outdoor carpet around the area where we're not parking then keep a mat under the car for fluid drips.

am I missing? Also has anyone ever done a similar setup? I'd love to see pictures or hear what you went through if so.

I can't help you with all the particulars, but i can tell you this.... If you keep the garage door SHUT during construction, you don't need to involve any "BUILDING codes". Just do what you want to do and get on.

[mike]

You just might want to review that process with the adjuster for your fire insurance provider.