Security Vs. Natural Light

[DynoDave]

I just wanted to collect a few opinions on this. I wasn't planning much in the way of windows for my shop, mostly for security reasons. The drawing currently has one 3x3 over my bench, and that's it. I live in a nice, low crime area, but why ask for trouble?

So I'm reading through a garage planning book, and thinking how nice it would be to have some natural light. As a refresher, my 2nd garage will be:
26 deep, 36 wide, and as tall as the law will allow (15' at the midpoint of the truss). So we're looking at a 10' + wall sitting on a row or 2 of cement block. The end bay will be for a storage lift, so it will have scissor trusses over it, adding an additional 2'2" of height at the peak.

While talking to a truss company today, I was asking about the gable trusses, and how we might make them flush to the wall (Thanks Byrdman). I also asked about framing for a small/short window. The company suggested just using 1 additional scissor truss for the gable end. I thought that was a great idea, so now I'm going to go shopping for a stock window shape (good luck) that might fit into this short (2'2") wedge shaped opening under a scissor truss.

My thinking is that this window will be at least 12' off the ground, up in the gable. I think a little natural light might be nice, and worth the (low) securiy risk and heat lost in the winter. Does that seem reasonable?

 

[ZRWON]

We found SolaTube ( http://www.solatube.com/ ) to be an inexpensive way to get Natural light inside with their unique round reflective tube-thru-the-roof system. In 1998 we had three 10 inch units installed in each of 2 bathrooms where no windows were possible and one in the central hall which was very dark. We have since seen similar products advertised. Installation is very simple and easy...think we paid ~$225-259 each for them and worth every penny.

 

[Wile1Coyote]

Yep Dave, Do it, that high up in the wall you will be safe. Given any thought to skylights? That is the thing that I always wrestle with, the light would be great and the ventialtion too if you got the kind that open up but the cost and potential for leaks and headache makes for strong arguments against. Decisions decisions.

 

[Old Moparz]

Dave,

Your idea for the windows way up off the ground is the same one I had when I was in the process of building mine. I never planned on installing windows, but when the building was framed up I started to realize that the 1st floor was like a cave with no natural light. I didn't want windows for the same security reasons & always figured that what they can't see, they won't want. Mine are up 10 feet, & the ones on the overhead doors are above 6 feet.

Sky lights would cool, but only on the 2nd floor in my case. I also didn't want to risk an eventual leak. They were replacing windows in the office where I work the same time I was builing the garage. The old windows were double pane, sliders that were drafty. They were getting tossed, so I took them, removed the double pane glass from the aluminum frame & used 4 of them as fixed (non-opening) windows in the garage. You can see how they look in the following photo.

It was cheap to cut 4 rectangle holes, bend up some aluminum for flashing, set the panes into the opening, caulk & trim them. It isn't enough light to do work on cars, but it's nice to be able to go in the shop to get something & not have to turn on the lights. The other plus, is that just glancing up I can see if it got dark or if the sun came up. Then I know I've been in there too long.

 

[DynoDave]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Anyone else have any other ideas?

I share some of the concerns above about leaks over time from a skylight. My pitch is very shallow (4/12), and I'm not sure I want to risk it. Still, it would be nice.

You can't beat free windows, and something like that would be perfect. Stupid me...they just tore down a grocery store by me that had long rectangular windows up high like that. Would have been perfect to salvage. Oh well, they're in the landfill now.

I have to watch cost pretty carefully. I'm already over budget, and I haven't broken ground yet! There was nothing in my financial plan for gable windows. Custom shapes to fit the 2/12 pitch of the gable will be out of the question. I was thinking some glass block might work, but I'm not sure what's required to support them.

 

[sca037]

Dave,

I'm in a low crime (rural) area too, but still had the same concerns. We decided on having no windows in the street-facing insulated main garage doors, and made up for it with a doorwall at the back of the large bay that backs to woods (think Cameron's garage in "Ferris Beuller's Day Off" )
It's great for light.....and with the sliding screen door, ventilation too. The bottom of the doorwall is 9' from ground level, so you would need to drag a tall ladder back behind the house to case the joint (a real PITA for me, let alone any potential miscreants )
At our old place we put 2 skylights in the Western slope of the roof, which gave a lot of excellent light, especially in the afternoon / evening. We have 2 "solartube" type skylights in our current house, and they are even better.
You will never regret getting more natural light into your space!

Brian

 

[Old Moparz]

What about some of the local home improvement centers or lumber yards? Sometimes they will discount materials that were ordered & never picked up, or possibly ordered in the wrong size. I got lucky with the 2nd floor windows by doing it this way. I think I lived in 3 different lumber yards during the year I built the garage, & one yard actually has a separate store for surplus & discontinued items. I got 3 matching Pella windows clad in brown trim. One was a smaller one for $75, & the other two were larger for $125. All of them had screens too.

Again, I didn't plan on putting them in right away, but the price was right. All I had to do was some alterations by cutting the hole in the plywood & 2"x 4"s before the siding went on. You could check the classifieds to see if someone has something from a remodelling project.

 

[M-Funf]

Privacy Glass.

I replace two garage doors on the front of my garage. I wanted windows in the doors, but anybody walking on the sidewalk could look down the driveway and see into the garage. Since I have lots of $$ in tools and cars in the garage, I decided to go with privacy glass. I get all the light, but nobody can see inside. It's hard to tell by this picture since the lights are off, but the glass is actually clear...

 

[Rex Ruby]

I installed a 2' X 6' fixed insulated glass on the lift side of my garage about 9' off the ground. I too wasn't planning on any windows until my brother suggested this idea. Real glad I did it.

 

[Hartz]

I just replaced my old garage windows with glass block. It looks nice and is very secure. It lets in light, but you really don't get a good solid look at the goodies inside. I have gotten a couple of compliments from the neighbors on it, so it must not look too bad.

Hartz

 

[DynoDave]

I just replaced my old garage windows with glass block. It looks nice and is very secure. It lets in light, but you really don't get a good solid look at the goodies inside. I have gotten a couple of compliments from the neighbors on it, so it must not look too bad.

Hartz

Hey Hartz, how is that glass block "framed"? I have no experience with it. I was thinking about putting some up in the open gable, but I don't know what I'd have to build for it to sit on, or what holds it in.

 

[red caddy]

I have "suntubes" in my house,( 3-12 in, 2- 18 in.) and really like them, even on a 4-12 pitch roof, they let in an amazing ammount of light, so when I spec'ed the shop I priced it out with 'tubes and 2 ftX6 ft insulated skylites. The skylites came in at almost $900.00 each, with a 2 year "no leak" warrenty, the 18 in. tubes installed on the steel roof, were $240.00 each with a 30 year warranty, the 22 in. were $30.00 more, and both had a higher "average lumen level" than the skylites, and much lower heat transfer.
I decided on 8-22 in. for general shop lighting, and 2- 18 in. for the 15 X 18 ft machine shop/clean room. I'll box them in for protection as they pass thru the loft/storage area on top of the room, just to stop me from getting @#%%#@ when I over stuff the loft, LOL. RED.

 

[Hartz]

Hey Hartz, how is that glass block "framed"? I have no experience with it. I was thinking about putting some up in the open gable, but I don't know what I'd have to build for it to sit on, or what holds it in.

My walls are actually concrete block so the windows were cemented in place.

 

[Old Moparz]

Check this out, imitation glass block.

http://doityourself.com/glass/glassblock.htm

Probably not cheap, but very interesting if you like the look & need privacy.

Dave,

You can always plan for adding windows later by framing up the wall for a standard size window. It will be covered with plywood & siding, but that can be removed & a window popped in later. I also think smaller, fixed glass windows should be fairly inexpensive if you look around.