Let the sun shine in

1

12345678910

Joined
Jul 13, 2009
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Let the sun shine in -

I think my vision is going dim as I get older and I can use all the light I get
I like Electric Fluorescent light daylight, but It's not the sun.

Even for "garage" vs "shop" use it's easier to see where you're going without having to turn the lights on.



As we know sunlight is the best light.
Plus I think it affects my mood, especially in the winter I should take in as much sunlight as I can get.


It has me thinking about renovations to the shop and what's possible


I've seen these garage doors made of transparent / translucent panels
They let light in, but you still can't see clearly through them


Plus they are more secure than glass, as they can't just be broken


l.jpg



I haven't found local or online info yet, I suppose I have to go for a drive and do some door knocking
and see of they want to talk about their doors

does anyone have any experience or anecdotes ? good or bad




glass block tiles

I find them pretty expensive at 8$ each



I can buy used windows pretty easily locally from window contractors.

I figure I can always just sandblast windows for a privacy factor if I want to to that but still get the light in.


Do the glass tiles offer some sort of insulation qualities that windows don't ?
will they conduct heat directly in or out
remember I'm in Canada, the shop stays pretty cool in the summer, but winter can be very cold and impossible to heat economically without some major expensive renovations.
 
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Check the cost per sq.ft.of skylight versus windows that can be made with smooth frosty panel used in bathrooms that are easy to clean.. If the sun in winter hits a certain wall pickup a wall spot for a floor to ceiling glass block wall. The German made are superior for looks but the Japanese products look nearly as good and both will give a touch of air space for insulation. I work out of my garage and I just open the garage door for light if it is not freezing and when it is cold have a 4 x6 foot window and 12 for foot cool white flourescents to help as well as drafting lamps focused on my grinders. Call a glass company and ask for solutions and estimates. Skylights can really cheer up a shop. I use the same cool white bulbs that are in my kitchen and they aren't so stark and easy on the eyes if mixed with a little natural light.
 
Rust-oleum makes a "frosted glass" spray paint to use on windows you want light through...but don't want people looking through.
 
Nice ideas so far.


I'm not going to consider skylights though, they all eventually leak.

Plus there's an attic above the workspace, it's easier to access the walls and doors.
 
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John Katt said:
I have built a number of pole barns over the years with a 3' row of translucent fiberglass panels around the top and that lets in a surprising amount of light, probably not enough to work but you wont need to turn all your lights on

also I have installed a lot of these over the years and they also let in a surprising amount of light

https://www.google.com/search?q=nat...m=93&ie=UTF-8#q=natural+light+tunnel&tbm=shop
Click to expand...

That's an idea

how well do they hold up to sun and hail ?
 
Search for "lexan polycarbonate green house panels"

Light weight tuff and you can cut to shape, insulates too.
 
The light tunnels are made from a very thick plastic I doubt hail would be a factor, I have never heard back from any of the the home owners so I can only guess they hold up to UV reasonably well

If you were talking about the 3 ft panels on pole barns you can see by this picture that hail isn't something to worry about because they are installed on the walls, I installed translucent green panel's over my parents deck 27 years ago and they have begun to show their age over the last few years

http://media.merchantcircle.com/30902245/20110716-MG7063_full.jpeg
 
12345678910 said:
That's an idea

how well do they hold up to sun and hail ?
Click to expand...

I have had one of these in our living room for the last 14-15 years. Been through 3 major hail storms of golf ball sized hail. No damage to the dome on top.
 
Glass tile does conduct cold and heat very well. If thats the way your headed use acrylic not glass. Just as clear and far moe energy efficient.
Lowes sells a 4 light ultra bright fluorescent lamp that when used with a T4 or T8 daylight bulb puts out a LOT of light for the $
I Sprayed the fixture prior to installing bulbs with Chrome spray paint. Puts out almost twice the light as leaving it white. The silver reflector fixtures were far more expensive...
 
Hankins said:
Glass tile does conduct cold and heat very well. If thats the way your headed use acrylic not glass. Just as clear and far moe energy efficient.
Lowes sells a 4 light ultra bright fluorescent lamp that when used with a T4 or T8 daylight bulb puts out a LOT of light for the $
I Sprayed the fixture prior to installing bulbs with Chrome spray paint. Puts out almost twice the light as leaving it white. The silver reflector fixtures were far more expensive...
Click to expand...

One of the things I took away from Nicks HO light thread is that I want to try a T4 fixture.

I'm not worried about glare, I don't think there is such a thing as too bright.
 
I'm on my third shop built for my knife making. I put in the 4' fluorescents over the workbenchesand down the center where I also have operating equipment. They run end to end and about 4' apart on the width. This shop is entirely below ground but even on the last one with one very large window I had a goose neck lamp at every work station. I would suggest putting up a wall on the inside of the garage doors with a 6" layer of insulation. Which I did on the single garage door I had there. A gas or electric heater or two and an air conditioner will really work well. Your shop will invite you to go there winter or summer. Frank
 
I went with doors rated to R16. They were the best rating at that time. We have radiant floor heat in the garage and shop, and 2x8 walls with injucted insulation. Once at temp, if the doors don't open, we can maintain temp above 65f for about 4 days without any additional heat. :D Its a pretty efficient way to keep warm. The up front costs were pretty high though. It might be cheaper to go with the better insulated doors, and use only one row of Windows in the doors, and use a couple sola tubes. They collect light from all angles as long as it's light outside, quite different from a window which has limited direct light time comparatively.
 
A site note here since you mentioned heating.
I just got a "dark infrared heater" It gives more heat with less electricity compared to electric oil filled radiators.
Big plus is that it doesn't heat the air, only solid objects (human body)
That way you dont lose heat trough windows etc.
If you are redoing your shop, look in to them. It is a pleasant heat.
 
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