Hi everyone, newbie here in the very early planning stages of preparing to have a 2 car detached garage built. I live in Kentucky (Louisville area), and we have a mix of cool winters that get a little below freezing and hot humid summers. I'm looking forward to using my future garage to work on the family's cars, and I'd like to have a wash bay too that I'd use about twice a week. I'm looking for some recommendations for keeping the space just above freezing in the winter to avoid breaking the pressure washer and plumbing while not going crazy with the budget. Any ideas on keeping the space from being overly humid would be great as well. I'm hoping to get most of the water out just by enclosing the wash bay with curtains and a properly graded floor. Looking forward to your input.
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Kentucky garage insulation/heating
- Thread starter LouKYguy
- Start date
Welcome to the forum. We're also in Louisville. Our 2 car detached uses a PTAC unit that heats and cools. By default the unit is set to maintain temperature of 40 degrees regardless if the unit is turned on or not. That 40 degree number can be adjusted up or down. Our structure is insulated, has drywall, including ceiling which is 10'. Never use it much but it will definitely get the job done. Curious who is building your garage and wish you better luck with your contractor compared to the ****** that we dealt with.Hi everyone, newbie here in the very early planning stages of preparing to have a 2 car detached garage built. I live in Kentucky (Louisville area), and we have a mix of cool winters that get a little below freezing and hot humid summers. I'm looking forward to using my future garage to work on the family's cars, and I'd like to have a wash bay too that I'd use about twice a week. I'm looking for some recommendations for keeping the space just above freezing in the winter to avoid breaking the pressure washer and plumbing while not going crazy with the budget. Any ideas on keeping the space from being overly humid would be great as well. I'm hoping to get most of the water out just by enclosing the wash bay with curtains and a properly graded floor. Looking forward to your input.
Thanks for the reply. I'm probably shooting for something similar as far as dimensions go, so looks like I'll be running something similar. I'm still looking for a contractor, and need to take care of prepping the space prior to going any further with the build. If it wouldn't be too much trouble would you mind letting me know who you used in a private message? I'm hoping to find good positive word of mouth, but at least knowing who to avoid would be good.
I am also in Louisville. I have a 24x40 10' ceilings and I insulated R19 walls, R30 ceiling. The first few years I used electric heat. About 5 years ago I put in a Mr Cool 18k minisplit and would never go back. About $30/month keeps it comfortable year round. I leave it on 62(the lowest it will go) all winter, it will heat up quickly if I want it warmer while working out there. Summer I keep it at 78 unless I am out there, again it runs very rarely.
I just signed a contract for an addition - getting a contractor was an adventure. 4 of the pole building companies never returned my call, the original builder came out and said I would have a quote in 2 weeks, 4 months later never heard a think after numerous phone calls. Finally found and settled on one - not built yet so I can't say for sure how it will turn out but they were my #2 choice for the first building. At this point it isn't who to avoid it is as much finding someone to do it. Most builder's don't want to screw with Louisville because the permitting and inspections are a pain. Mine detached pole building had to go through the building department, the fire department, the health department, and the water company. Total was almost 4 weeks in permitting.
I just signed a contract for an addition - getting a contractor was an adventure. 4 of the pole building companies never returned my call, the original builder came out and said I would have a quote in 2 weeks, 4 months later never heard a think after numerous phone calls. Finally found and settled on one - not built yet so I can't say for sure how it will turn out but they were my #2 choice for the first building. At this point it isn't who to avoid it is as much finding someone to do it. Most builder's don't want to screw with Louisville because the permitting and inspections are a pain. Mine detached pole building had to go through the building department, the fire department, the health department, and the water company. Total was almost 4 weeks in permitting.
For humidity control a mini split is the way to go. Having a wash bay in the summer will add to the humidity problem.
Notgrownup
Well-known member
Im in eastern NC 24x24 stick built well insulated. I have A 18k btu 18 SEER mini split and it works flawlessly. In the summer I keep it on 82 until i need to use it and in the winter I keep it on 60 until I need it. I do this to keep the humidity down.
Was told 18k was overkill but would never struggle. They were right. I could have got by with 12k.
Was told 18k was overkill but would never struggle. They were right. I could have got by with 12k.
Love the specifics here! This is right around the size of the garage I'm looking at.I am also in Louisville. I have a 24x40 10' ceilings and I insulated R19 walls, R30 ceiling. The first few years I used electric heat. About 5 years ago I put in a Mr Cool 18k minisplit and would never go back. About $30/month keeps it comfortable year round. I leave it on 62(the lowest it will go) all winter, it will heat up quickly if I want it warmer while working out there. Summer I keep it at 78 unless I am out there, again it runs very rarely.
I just signed a contract for an addition - getting a contractor was an adventure. 4 of the pole building companies never returned my call, the original builder came out and said I would have a quote in 2 weeks, 4 months later never heard a think after numerous phone calls. Finally found and settled on one - not built yet so I can't say for sure how it will turn out but they were my #2 choice for the first building. At this point it isn't who to avoid it is as much finding someone to do it. Most builder's don't want to screw with Louisville because the permitting and inspections are a pain. Mine detached pole building had to go through the building department, the fire department, the health department, and the water company. Total was almost 4 weeks in permitting.
I'm a little apprehensive about the bad luck everyone's had with contractors here. I'm over in New Albany and hoping I have better luck finding the right contractor.
HoosierBuddy
Well-known member
Man, I know you can find cheaper, but I've not found anyone more professional than Graber Post...if you're thinking about pole type construction. They've done a couple of commercial expansion projects for us at my workplace. They handled all the state required permitting no issues. When the crew shows up it's one driver and a bunch of Amish and they get it done. They are in Montgomery, but I'm pretty sure they work the whole southern part of the state.
Classic Buildings in Clarksville built my original and it was very nicely done and on time, extremely satisfied. Sometime in the past decade they got heavy into homebuilding and seem to care less about the post frame side of their business. 5 phone calls to get someone out, then 4 months later and a few calls and nothing. If it was that hard to get a bid imagine what the construction would be like.