Window ideas

[discbrks]

I'm about to begin framing my 32x36. The 32' sides have the gable end and will have a 4'x4' shop fan in them up high towards the peak. One of the 32' walls will be the "work center" - meaning there will be a workbench on most of that wall. I'd like to put windows above the workbench, but not sure if I should but short (like 2'-3' tall) windows there to leave room for tools on the wall; or a taller window (4'+) to let in more light. How are your windows setup?

 

[camarotoolman]

Off topic, but do you go to the Moultry, Ga auto swap meet? Yea FT. Benning!

 

[darkk]

We have no windows, none, zilch, zip, nada.....

 

[rburke65]

In my 32'x56 shop, I have 13'+ side walls. My 5 windows are?? 2' tall x 3' long and the bottoms are 8' off the finished floor. One window on each of the 32' walls, and 3 windows on the 56' back wall? Gives me ambient lighting, a little securing and away from prying eyes. Good luck.

 

[discbrks]

Off topic, but do you go to the Moultry, Ga auto swap meet? Yea FT. Benning!

Sure do... it's coming up next month. Perry swap meet is the weekend before Moultrie.

 

[Zeke]

Some of your decision will come from orientation. E.g., N.S, E, or west facing?

 

[dtep]

I'm building a 26' wide x 36' deep garage with walls 12' 2" high. Like rburke65, I have 5 windows, 2' tall and 3' wide with the bottoms at 8' high. My windows are sliders with four of them on one of the 36' side walls and the other over the man door on the other 36' wall. The only problem is that even though I am 6'4" tall with arms like an orangutan, I am about 3 inches short of being able to lock and unlock the windows. I thought about making sure that I could open and close them, but missed that other detail.

 

[5lima30]

I would keep them up high away from the work area. If the window glass is too close to the work surface a broken window could be in your future. Don't ask how I know!

 

[Falcon67]

I have 2x3 windows in my shop with two over the bench facing the street. The ones over the bench are the right size as they fit between the bench top and the overhead shelf with an 8' wall. Hind sight there, I would have liked 3x3 windows better or maybe even 3x4 wide sliding windows. It's a nice view with trees across the street and all the kids out playing an such. The back window in the work area is 2x3 and can't handle an AC unit larger than 6500 BTU because of the height. All in all though, they fit the space well.

In the work area, I also used 2x3 windows - two on the back wall opposite the big door. Hind sight there would have been to order 2x4 windows because a simple 20" box fan won't sit on the sill without some means of support. Hooks and a bungee cord do it, but a taller window would have been nicer.

 

[Lippyp]

My garage has one each end up high in the gable and they are fixed not openable but then you have to live with what you get when your garage is 100 years old! I'm planning on some skylights in the roof to let more natural light in when I re-roof it. Windows have their pluses and minuses, from a security point of view they are a bit of a risk, easy to smash and it lest people see what you've got in your garage unless you use frosted or rippled glass and some grilles for security.

 

[bgarrett]

We have no windows, none, zilch, zip, nada.....

Is it darkk in there?

 

[discbrks]

I was at Lowes yesterday and saw some 3x3 sliding windows. I like the sliding part, and they were fairly cheap. On the 32' wall, if I install one at 8' and the other at 24', then they "should" look balanced and that gives me 10' of workbench between the windows. What height should they be installed at?

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Some of your decision will come from orientation. E.g., N.S, E, or west facing?

This.

You should think about unwanted radiant heat in the summer and/or needed radiant heat in the winter.

I have several large windows facing southwest adjacent to my bench with blinds rolled up or down depending on the season and then 2 smaller window at my bench to allow in some light (and so I can check in on my chicken in cold weather).

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have three windows in bay window like set up. I have tinted those windows and the blinds are closed at all times. There was another el cheapo window that I replaced with glass block. I'd rather have no windows at all to create 1 less area for someone to break in.

 

[MoparTrucks]

We put in two 3'x3' double hung windows from Lowes along the work bench side of our shop and I am glad the wife talked me into it. My first thought was not to put any windows in but our shop is on a hill overlooking the barnyard and our small orchard and its a nice view. Our windows face west and the other benefit is that if I open both windows and the roll up door we get a good cross breeze. We also have the man door on this side and added a 12 foot covered porch where we can sit out and enjoy a nice day.

We were just starting building the benches, insulating and covering the interior walls with plywood in this photo and the work bench is higher than normal because I have an upper back spinal fusion and its hard for me to bend over a shorter bench.

 

[Fastback]

I did these, they are cheap and when you mount them high enough people cant look in and see what they can steal. And getting through them would be tough. One downside is they cant hold a fan or AC/

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[Steevo]

I used tall narrow windows to reduce the loss of wall space while providing adequate daylight to get around in the shop without turning on lights.
I also put pull-down shades on them to keep anyone from seeing in when I am not there.
I can easily raise the shades and raise the windows to allow air circulation as well.

Although, some are now a little harder to get to:

 

[Outlawmws]

use Skylights, several small ones with security bars...

 

[Kevin54]

I did these, they are cheap and when you mount them high enough people cant look in and see what they can steal. And getting through them would be tough. One downside is they cant hold a fan or AC/

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Fastback.....what does the outside of your garage look like with the inside ceiling looking like that? Do you have a high roof peak

 

[ericburns4]

You should be able to find replacement windows deals. Giving up the windows might seem like a good idea at first, but I bet you will miss the sunlight, even if it's not an ideal view.

 

[ezzzzzzz]

I installed 2x4 awning windows (no grids) in my garage. They are easy to open/close/clean and minimize potential break-in.