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First winter with my radiant floor heat setup. It's a 120k propane condensing boiler heating 3,200sf of concrete. 16' walls with scissor trusses. R20 walls and R55 blown-in ceiling insulation. Concrete is 6" thick with 2" foam board insulation underneath and around perimeter. Thermostat is...

Just commissioned the radiant floor heat system in my 44x64 shop. 120k btu condensing boiler connected to a pre-made panel from Menards. I have what I believe to be is significant heat loss between the boiler and the manifold. The first significant heat loss appears to be immediately on the...

Getting the 20x20 “bump out” in the back corner of my shop spray foamed, and these are the option pricing the contractor gave me. Which one would you guys choose? 5” open walls, 3” closed ceiling - $3,000 5” open walls, 7” open ceiling - $2,400 5” open walls, 5” open ceiling - $2,150 3”...

I'm closing in on wrapping up my 44x64x16 shop, which includes a 44x18 loft along one end. Shop is heated and cooled. My shop is intended to be a work space for my hobbies, an entertainment space, and a family hangout space. I'm interested in maximizing the 'family hangout' aspect of that...

My 44x64 shop was built with a radiant heat floor system in mind, I've got the insulation under the slab and pex ran for a single-zone system. I had Menards (Sioux Chief) "design" the system layout for me, and they recommended a 199k BTU boiler. As I have very little understanding of how these...

I'm DIY'ing the duct in my new shop, and learning as I go. I've read a ton about sizing ductwork using the Ductulator (very helpful) and now I'm trying to figure out the best way to actually get the air from the AHU to the different parts of the shop. The AHU will be sitting on the 'ground...

I’m building a loft on one end of my pole barn. It will be 35’ long and 18’ wide and will be using floor trusses to span the 18’ width. On one side the floor trusses will bear on top of a 2x6 interior wall that separates the room below from the main shop area. My question is concerning...

My new shop has two centrally located ceiling fans that I'd like to add high-bay LED lights to. Has anyone modified a ceiling fan without factory lights to add a high-bay LED light? I can buy an add-on light kit, but the wattage is extremely low and would not work with the 20' ceiling, so I'd...

I bought a used system to put in my shop, it's a 5-ton air handler and a 4-ton condenser unit. My understanding is that this is not terribly uncommon. I will be doing the ductwork myself, but I am a total amateur. Do I size the ductwork based on the air-handler or condenser? My gut is...

Shop is up and I didn’t plan a sleeve to bring electric into the building. I’ll be trenching underground from the house panel over to the shop. When I come up out of the ground next to the shop, what’s the best way to get through the wall to the panel inside? Giant LB? It will be 2” conduit...

I'm putting a 4ton AC system in my shop. The air handler is up-sized to 5 ton. The air handler will be isolated in an 8x16 mechanical room. Do I need to run return duct out to the main shop area, or can I just leave the 'return' hole in the side of the air handler open (filter only) with no...

Apparently I’m too stupid to do a Manual J calculation, because it said I only needed 8,400 btu’s of cooling. So I’m wondering what everyone else has used for AC size in their shops? Mine is 44x64x~18’ ceilings. R21 batt walls. R60 blown-in ceiling. R18 OH doors west facing, 14x14 and a...

I’ve got about 2,800sf of metal ceiling to install in my new shop. 16’ sidewalls, with scissor trusses making the center height about 21’. So far I’ve received a labor + materials quote of $9,300 (they will use my scissor lift), and a labor only quote of $8,400. Does anyone have some recent...

I found good pricing on some R13 48” wide x 100’ long fiberglass blankets, does anyone see a problem with using these to insulate the walls in my post-frame building? I’d end up doing two rolls side by side in each wall cavity between 8’ O.C. posts, but doubled up for R26. I figured I’d use a...

I'm getting ready to run interior girts around my pole barn that I will attach the the vertical tongue & groove boards to that will make my interior walls. I'd like to run some blocking behind the t&G for a more secure upper-cabinet mounting location, vs just relying on screwing into the t&G...

Title mostly says it...I can have a company come spray Open cell foam in my walls at R-19 for $6,500, or I can buy R-19 batts and install myself for $4,500. Shop is 'post-frame' construction, but built on a full foundation wall. Has in-floor heat with an insulated slab. Walls were wrapped...

Installed the 14x14 Clopay garage door in my new shop. They specified 12.8 turns on each spring. After winding them, it’s still very difficult to lift the door…do able but damn near threw my back out getting it up all the way. Is this normal? Can I add turns to make it a little lighter...

I'm nearly ready to start running Electrical and Plumbing in my new pole barn, and I'm wondering on the best way to get water from one side of the building to the other. I've got my water supply line stubbing up inside the building in the mechanical room, but I'd like to have a water spigot on...

I'm building a 44x64 pole barn and am at the point where I am nearly ready to install the roof metal. I've attached a pic of where I am at today. My question is regarding install synthetic underlayment on top of the purlins before I install the roof metal - should I do it? I purchased it, but...

Here’s where we are at on Day 5, it’s me and my 70yr old father. We usually start at 8 or 9 and knock off around 1 or 2 when the sun starts getting too hot. Probably should have just paid someone to put it up, but I’m enjoying the time with my dad.