Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

Thank you for the info. The floor heating is very efficient. It looks like you have heated the entire floor? So the dye in the floor also seals the concrete? It looks nice, and $900 for that large of an area is very reasonable.

Sean

Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

The dye does not seal the concrete. The contractor used Luster Seal 350. He applied it while the concrete was still curing. After it was done months went by while the inside was being done. Lots of dust and equipment working inside. It left a "white" look to the floor, so I rented a floor washer and scrubbed cleaned and dried it out. Then I applied another coat of Luster Seal at $125 per 5 gal container. Looked great, then slowly started to get "white" again. The rep for Luster seal says I let moisture get in between layers. What about the curing of the concrete, no moisture there huh? Oh well. Still trying to finish it.

The dye in the concrete leaves it all the same color, you chip out a piece, it is still the same color underneath. And yes the entire building is heated through the floor.

Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

Went to a lot of trouble and expense to put the heating loops in the floor and have never hooked it up. I know most of the guys who have floor heat love it. Had a small natural gas furnace so I just used that. ---Trevor

Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

Ken,

I am unsure about it being more efficient, but I really like the WAY it heats. Radiant heat warms objects which inturn warm others and so on. Basically the heat stays with you. Forced warm air is just that warm air movement. Air movement moves things such as dust and dirt also, and it has a blower that creates sometimes more noise.
With the radiant heat in the floor the concrete holds the heat and anything that touchs it becomes warm also. I notice a marked difference in the heat in the shop when the door is opened to move a vehicle our and then the door is shut. Returning to a comfortable temp is very quick because less heat is lost. Warm air may leave the building but the concrete contiues at the same temp. The concrete must be kept at a temp that you desire because should it cool, the process to return it to a given temp becomes very costly and time consuming. Maintaing the temp is much easier.
Finding a person to hook up the system was one of my biggest problem, but I did find the right guy and it works quietly and effortlessly, everything stays warm and dry. I have also noticed that in the summer with no windows I don't get any sun and it does not warm near as much and stays farily cool. I may try a dehumidifier next summer when it gets hot and it may cool it down real well.
I have seen several racers mention this in the past and just continued it further myself. Thanks to classracer for that!

Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

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Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

Hey Steve your place is great looking .I have in floor heat also High efficiant gas boiler,U- Coay it on floors.A key to in floor heat is 2 inches of high dense foam under floor for insulation I heat 5600 sq ft highest bill this winter was $425 and it was a bad winter

Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

Nice job Steve, anymore pictures on your Garage Ken. I was turned down again for a building permit due to the neighbours.lol

Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

Mack can you give me a ball park of what your shop cost? I'm north of you and starting to look into building a shop. Thanks

Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

This Is Our Home shop On one of its cleanest days.

Re: Shop, need suggestions
 

You guys have some really great garages out there. I thought I might throw my garage into the mix. Originally got permission to build by promising my wife a parking spot (heating in the winter). It has been 15 years of updating. I am always moving and adding things.


Notice the pulley system for the one man hood removal and storage (got tied of asking for help to get the hood off). In the last couple of years I also added a small machine shop area for doing modifications.
I live in the northeast so I hade to throe in a picture of my 50 year old Ariens snowblower given to me by my father-in-law. Luckily I did a valve job last year cause I have been working it hard.