insulated work shop area

Anonymous-0 · Nov 27, 2009

Has anyone had any luck building a small workshop enclosure inside a garage area using styrofoam sheeting? I was thinking about using 2 inch thick styrofoam 4x8 sheets.
Size to be around 8 x 12 x8 ft high.
R value is around 8
Will a small electric heater keep it above 60 degrees on a cold mid-western winter day, or am I wasting my time?

Anonymous-0 · Nov 27, 2009

I used 2 inch thick board in the basement. It was cold down there and after i insulated the concrete wall I never had to turn on the heat again. I think you will be amazed what it will do. Take your time and make the joints fit tight and stay together. Bud

Anonymous-0 · Nov 27, 2009

I have a very small little electric heater in my one car garage that is attached to the house. It keeps it pretty warm. my garage door has about 1 inch of styrofoam type insulation stuck in it. I am not sure about 60 degrees. I can take the temp tonight and get back to you. Is the garage attached to the house? if so it should be ok...

Anonymous-0 · Nov 27, 2009

Make sure you cover it with something, as it is very flameable.

PJH · Nov 27, 2009

Be careful about welding around it. Some types of that foam will really burn hot and fast.

Paul

Gun guru · Nov 27, 2009

2 inch foam board is R10 value. You need to have a gypsum board over the foam board for fire safety.

msb · Nov 27, 2009

I would frame it with 2x4 panels--- 2' on center. Then use R19 fiberglass covered with drywall. Let it poke out on the backside if necessary.You could cover that with visqueen, then attach some feet on the panels if you want to move it occasionally. You would hace a wall with a much higher R factor and at a lower cost.

wijim · Nov 27, 2009

I would use 4" styrofoam then 6ml plastic then sheet it. the 4" stuff i used is R27 good luck. jim

Joe in Neb · Nov 27, 2009

I've done what you are trying to do and while it will sorta work you won't be happy in long run. You could take the money your going to spend on this and just finish off part of the garage and have a much better area to work. Your going to be huddling around the heater most of the time. I did it for several years and then broke down and built a shop. You could insulate roof and walls of garage maybe with fiberglass and plastic with furring strips to hold plastic up and build a removeable wall to make your small workshop area. It will be cheaper and last longer. Course next year you'll end up doing whole garage.

showcrop · Nov 27, 2009

I did something similar. my shop building is 40x50x17. Six inch walls, 12 inches fiberglass overhead. I had been heating it to about 45 degrees with a propane salamander. Four years ago I built an inner room 16x22x10. Now I keep the main building at about 40 degrees and the inner room at about 55 with a catalytic propane unit. last winter my heat was about $270.00

Anonymous-0 · Nov 27, 2009

I will add that if you chose the foam, and as a fire saftey concern it is bad news. Not only with a fire issue, but if it does catch fire you are usualy allowed three breaths of that black smoke--you are then buired in the frozen ground out in the cemetary, no foam needed.

insulated work shop area

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