Polycarbonate Wall Panels vs more lighting

[JamesW84]

Just a standard multi-purpose workshop w/ a mono slope.

I plan to build a 16x64x10 "room" inside to insulate and heat when I'm out there. I would probably use the shop mostly on weekends with no real specialty.

I was planning to put windows in about 6-8' from the ground (for security). Today, I thought about polycarbonate panels like these: http://www.palramamericas.com/Products/diy-faves

Would you recommened polycarbonate panels, windows, or just more gooder, better lighting? Thinking about white metal panels for the ceiling also.

Attaching a sketch-up of my planned workshop with translucent wall panels.

 

[matt_i]

The natural daylight is really nice light. Also my thought is an actual window is much easier to flash with Vycor and a drip cap than any kind of corrugated material. Think of how you would deal with the moisture collected at the bottom of the panel and divert it back out to the exterior of your siding. I'm sure its possible but its not trivial.

 

[rburke65]

I have 13'+walls and I put my windows at 8' to the sill. They do t open and I get some natural light. Stil going to need lighting.....it gets dark at night.

 

[Bert_]

I think the idea of the panels is that they are the same pattern as the siding. There is no opening to flash, just continuous siding some of which lets light through.

 

[JamesW84]

I think the idea of the panels is that they are the same pattern as the siding. There is no opening to flash, just continuous siding some of which lets light through.

This was my original thought too, but I don't think they make panels that will be the same profile/pattern as my siding. I guess I'd have to flash all around it. Z flashing on the bottom would catch the condensation, I suppose.

 

[kaiser715]

I have gone back and forth on this for the past few weeks....in the next week or so will be putting deposit on a 42-60 metal building, so got to make a final decision soon.

Cost to run the polycarbonate panels down one 60' wall (the top 3' of wall) is @1200 bucks.

Upside is: lots of light

Downsides are: no light benefit at night, would have doors open anyway when working for 7-8 months of the year, no insulation for that 180sq ft of wall space, potential for hail damage (?), those panels look grubby after a few years, additional cost

I had a buddy that used to have a commercial shop. They made up a framed panel (2x4's) with those polycarb panels on both sides. It had short legs each side (like an office partition) with casters. They'd roll it into an open shop door, bring the door down to sit on top of it, and stuff some open cell foam shipping blocks in on either side to seal it up. Worked pretty well. It did take up floor space in the shop when not in use....there is always a downside. Could probably have used some rubber conveyor belt material to make a flap seal, rather than the foam.

DP

 

[tinysparky]

This is a great question - windowls vs clear wall panels. We are planning on clear panels for 3' on our one side....but maybe 6 windows makes sense.....

 

[Homerr]

Frank Howarth's shop has some of this:

 

[MagKarl]

I have 2 foot overhangs and 3 foot tall translucent panels at the top of the side walls. They are not clear, they are whitish, like a milk jug. They let in a ton of light, I'm very pleased with them. It's only been a couple years, but the overhangs keep them clean.

 

[Marctrees]

Palram makes high quality products.

We had 6 full sheets of the clear polycarb on roof of 4800 ft sq steel Mueller building.

Very happy.

Sidelights would be most trouble free, highly recommend.

Roof panels can have leak problems, I'm told due to expansion/ contraction.

And for the lighting thing - If it's a shop used like scheduled 40 hr/ wk every day, I dunno, no big advantage maybe.

BUT - In typical home shop use, where you just pass through, they are great.

And even to do non critical light needing work, where just general lighting is needed to move around, excellent. Marc

 

[kbs2244]

Unless otherwise taken care of the ability to open windows for ventilation would lead me to windows.
They also have a better history of how to install weather tight.

 

[RWorth]

James I don't think you mentioned if you were going to heat it, I don't see a problem with the panels if you're not going to heat, but not sure how you'd insulate if you do.