A Brightly Lit Workshop and Garage

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yesterday after buying the Studebaker, I drove up to Benton Harbor, Michigan to visit a friend, who runs a tire store. He has a large greenhouse that he bought used. Right away my first thought was what a nice garage and workshop it would make. Just from the sunlight, it's very bright inside and stays quite warm when it's cold outside. Something I didn't know is that the large plastic covering is actually a double layer and uses a small squirrel cage fan to blow warm inside air between the layers. This helps to create an insulating air layer, and it keeps the plastic tight, so the wind doesn't make it flex and crack. Sure wish I had it in my backyard. I wonder what the city or neighbors would say about it? That's why it's best to live in the country. BTW, the guy I bought the Studebaker from also had 4 large empty greenhouses.

[Big-Foot]

I would think the months from June to September would be a little warm in there...

[Tom Wesenberg]

I would think the months from June to September would be a little warm in there...

Yes, my friend in Benton Harbor said it does get quite warm. I'll have to check it out when I'm back there in May.

[BudP]

It seems like snow load and the effect of below zero degrees f. on plastic would also be factors to address.

[Tom Wesenberg]

It seems like snow load and the effect of below zero degrees f. on plastic would also be factors to address.

That was my thought also, but the small fan blowing air between the two layers keeps it snug and most of the snow will blow or slide off. The fan uses the warm inside air, so it might even keep the outside plastic warm enough to melt the snow.