POLY PANELS for DIVIDER

[Ramper]

I want to divide my 30x40 shop so I can heat only half. The shop is insulated well, but I simply do not use half the shop on most days. I have a lead on some poly-carbonate panels (see pic). I am considering making a sliding wall out of these panels. With the shelving around the shop I only need to have about 24 feet of divider. They are asking $100 for 7 panels. They are 6'7" tall and range from in size, but I think they will cover the distance.. I have power tools and a table that I could put the wall behind. The center would be solid and then the two sides would slide to allow access. It could be as small as 8 feet wide and less than 1 foot deep.

THOUGHTS?

 

[tyme2par4]

If you're heating the shop full time, it probably won't make much difference, but if you only turn the heat on when you need it, it will probably help. They aren't insulated, so they will allow a lot of heat transfer, but if it's only a couple hours at a time, it's a lot better than open air.

 

[Git]

What is the ceiling height?

 

[Ramper]

I am getting them for $60 (for 7 of them). I plan to make them sliding. I will build a frame around them with the bottom being insulation between the two skins of corrugated metal siding.

Since this is inside an insulated shop, I guess I am more worried about air movement than insulation. Maybe these are not a great idea.

 

[Radix2]

Personally, I don't think subdividing will make all that much of a difference in a insulated shop. So unless you get some other benefit that makes you want to divide anyway, it seems like a the loss of space and openness is a bad compromise. Turning the heat down a few more degrees and wearing a sweatshirt will do more, and cost less.

 

[Ramper]

I have it planned out so that the "wall" will be behind a rolling work table. The other side has saws (band saw, table saw, miter saw). It will be find. When "open" the "wall" will take up a less than 6 inches wide (in a 40 foot shop) and will be the length of the work table.

I understand that it might not save loads of money, but heating a smaller area will allow more heat to stay where I am when I am working.

 

[Lonstar]

You guys would be surprised how much it helps. When I put a ductless mini split A/C unit in my garage this past summer I cut the garage in half to hold the cold air in the area I work. I bought 2 room divider curtains and hung them on ceiling track with sliders. Each is 15'w x 9'h, enough to cover the full width and height of my garage. They're fairly thick and insulate well. Big difference in temperature from one side to the other. When I open the curtain a few feet to go to the other side and forget to close it when I come back, it doesn't take long before I can tell it's open.

I still haven't put my gas heater up, waiting for new vent pipe to be delivered, so I've been using the mini split heater. Same thing, big difference when the curtains are open vs closed. Attached is a pic of the curtain I bought, got them and the track from Amazon.

Ramper, $60 is a deal, far less than what the curtains and track cost. You should find it'll do what you want to achieve.

 

[Marctrees]

Lonstar - Could you give the specific link to the curtains you have ?

Thank you, Marc