My garage is hot no matter the time of year. In the summer it's worse than a sauna and in the FL winters it's still pretty warm and the air doesn't move.

My garage is a two car garage that is detached from my town home. It has attic space but no access panel. I have a neighbor that put in a panel to get into the attic and each garage is sectioned off. There is no insulation in his and I assume the same for mine.

I'm not expecting miracles I just need it more bearable so I can work in it with the door closed or cracked to help airflow.

Ideas and or suggestions? We own the town home by the way.

Umm... fan?

EDIT: Like this unused $20 ceiling fan on CL:

http://orlando.craigslist.org/hsh/5228441284.html

Or you could get one of those large shop fans that are like 30" or whatever.

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Insulate

Amazing what a little insulation can do

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I would look into putting foam insulating panels in the doors if they don't have them already. I'm planning on doing the same to mine since it gets really cold in there in the winter and my small space heater cant make much of a dent. I know you can buy small a/c units that only need a hose to vent outside. Not sure if that is an option though if you are in a townhouse.

I would to four things:

Install an access panel or drop stairs if there's enough room for walking/extra storage up there.
Put insulation in the attic.
Install an exhaust fan in the ceiling.
Install an air conditioner in the wall. A window air conditioner is often designed for wall mounting as well. Just so long as the exterior vents are near the end. I have an 11,000 btu AC in my shop that keeps everything cool even in the peak heat.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

My 2100 sq ft workshop (70 x 30 x 8 ft walls) now stays between 54-64 degrees all year because I insulated the roof, walls and door.

I used this opportunity to reinforce the position of the roof on the walls, since it had only been toe-nailed in place in 8 spots!

I also built storage space across the rafters, requiring a couple of pillars across the center. Plus hurricane clamps on each rafter at top of wall joint.

It isn't hard to do, although tedious. But if your garage is the same one I saw when I bought the 1978 240d, I bet with the rent of a 6 foot scaffold and the help of a friend, you could easily do everything within three weekends. A manual stapler will do the trick, no need for electric.

You will be AMAZED at how much the concrete cools the entire space, once you convert the walls and ceiling into a thermos!

In the back 600 sq ft workshop, one $10.00 oscillating fan moves enough air so that I don't need a dehumidifier. But I might do that this year, not sure, they are $15 on Craiggslist.

I have an extra window air conditioner that I could install-- But now I am asking "why bother? No need!"

Joe -- do it piecemeal if $$ are an issue. It IS worth it, plus it increased my resale of the building by $20,000 up here in Michigan.

You might also want to consider building inexpensive "mezzanine shelves" to store big things that don't weigh too much, they give you optimum use of storage space.

In my case, upper shelving added 480 square feet of storage space for items under 5 foot tall. 2100 sq ft is now 2580 sq.ft!

I now have car bodies and chassis on these shelves, no problemo!

Good luck and PM me if you need info.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

My other issue with the garage is that I only have one outlet for power. A few more would be nice.

I like your idea of making it like a thermos. The front and door can be insulated easily and I wouldn't have to worry about the sides since the other garages are there.

First thing would be to replace the outlet with a gfci protected outlet (about $15 in Home Depot), this will save your life some day. When you get the attic open, it will be an easy job to daisychain a few more outlets to the GFCI outlet by running the wiring up though the walls and across the ceiling joists.

There is an outlet in the ceiling for the opener so I could tap into that for a light and fan up there.

Today, the temp was 34 degrees at 8:00 outside.

In my workshop, the temp was 52.

No heater and the insulation of the front door (8' x 20') is only half done.

Plus one wall 8' x 30' still needs insulation.

But the roof, the other walls and the front are insulated with R-13 or R-19.

I am insulating the workshop at the cost of about 15 cents per square foot, and less when insulation is on discount.

Definitely worth it.

I was in that building when the outside temp was - 1 F and the inside temp was +2 F. Impossible to work even next to a roaring heater.

Like working on Pluto.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6