Hi folks!
A few years ago, we built a new detached garage with the intention of turning the attached garage into art studio space for my wife. Well, the time has come. She has quit her full time job to stay home with our son and start focusing on getting her art business off the ground. Finishing the attached garage into studio space is now on my list!
I intend to tear off the old 2-car garage door and then frame in the old opening. We'll put a set of french doors in at one end of where the garage door is now, and the rest of the wall will have windows to let in lots of natural light (no, not the kind that comes in a can...).
I will be insulating the space (~300 square feet), adding a ceiling, putting in lighting, putting down some flooring, and essentially "white boxing" it for her.
One key item that I need to take care of is air conditioning and backup heat. Since my HVAC system was never designed to heat that space, I don't want to tie it into the existing system. For primary heat, the stove will be able to handle that. The stove is near the door from the kitchen into the studio, and getting warm air circulated into the studio should be easy enough.
My thought is that a through the wall heat pump would be a great solution. Have any of you guys had any experience with these types of units? Who makes good ones? Any lessons learned that you can share?
I need to plan what I'm going to install before I tear off the old garage door and start framing, since that will be the wall where the unit will be mounted.
-SF
A few years ago, we built a new detached garage with the intention of turning the attached garage into art studio space for my wife. Well, the time has come. She has quit her full time job to stay home with our son and start focusing on getting her art business off the ground. Finishing the attached garage into studio space is now on my list!
I intend to tear off the old 2-car garage door and then frame in the old opening. We'll put a set of french doors in at one end of where the garage door is now, and the rest of the wall will have windows to let in lots of natural light (no, not the kind that comes in a can...).
I will be insulating the space (~300 square feet), adding a ceiling, putting in lighting, putting down some flooring, and essentially "white boxing" it for her.
One key item that I need to take care of is air conditioning and backup heat. Since my HVAC system was never designed to heat that space, I don't want to tie it into the existing system. For primary heat, the stove will be able to handle that. The stove is near the door from the kitchen into the studio, and getting warm air circulated into the studio should be easy enough.
My thought is that a through the wall heat pump would be a great solution. Have any of you guys had any experience with these types of units? Who makes good ones? Any lessons learned that you can share?
I need to plan what I'm going to install before I tear off the old garage door and start framing, since that will be the wall where the unit will be mounted.
-SF
