Building a new shop and would like advice

Our wind is mainly south southeast. Does this arrangement seem like it will move enough air thought the shop without damming.

My most desired way is to install the 1 end door at the north side for conveinence,(thats the side the driveway is on) but I'm afraid I will not get the air flow needed in the summer time.

Next, are the open/close type roof vents worth the money, will they help air flow or mainly help vent the heat?

Next, I will have a 6hp 220v air compressor, a Lincoln AC/DC cracker box, and several hi-intensity lights. I will pull power from from my homes meter box and run it about 250' to the shop. What is a good wire size? 2-0?

Thanks, for any ideas.

Roof wind powered turbine vents are very effictive if the roof has the proper pitch. The higher the pitch the cooler the shop will stay without insulating. Remember heat rises so use that to vent the shop. A normal house needs 4 air changes per/hr for comfort and a shop would need about 30 air changes/hr for comfort. That would mean you need 9000cfm of air venting for your size of shop. They also make a vented ridge cap that lets hot air out but keeps water, etc: out. If a over lapping roof ridge design is used then no additional roof venting is required but not too many people like this design any more but is how the old timers did it.

If you screen the windows, remember screen cuts the air flow down by 75%.

You can use a natural cool air under ground system . This uses a under ground space, pipes, chamber void, water trap, etc:, 8ft under ground. At 8ft the ground temp does not change temperature year around.

If you run your electrical under ground, besure to use plastic pipe for the wires. See plastic pipe does have a use! Too many rodents like the taste of wire insulation. If you bury it deep enough 24", I used 1/2" sch10 PVC, one for each wire, and yes I know it's against code!!! but it was cheap and mine was not a code install.

T_Bone

Next best thing to making the whole shop underground. That's my plan. A little more difficult in flatland but on this mountain I live under 2' of dirt, have 8' tall windows, have an air change every 2 hours, and have little need for heat or air conditioning. I now have to heat the shop to keep contents, occupants included, from freezing. Next one is going underground.

Material cost for the shell comes in at $10.50/ sq. ft. which includes a forever roof. This is cast-in-place concrete and some serious steel. I just picked up a pile of bar joists at auction for $70. Cost just went down to around $5/ft. Dehumidification in a humid climate is something to be serious about but sure makes it comfortable inside. And make mildew and rust a non-issue. And, yes, my neighbors, who all have their stoves going hard on this 20* morning, think I'm strange.

Depending on where you are located and how the building will be used, here's something else to think about. If you have much ground moisture, put a heavy polyethylene vapor barrier under the floor slab. A lot of moisture can migrate into your shop through a concrete floor. It makes a noticable difference to machinery, equipment, and parts. If you plan to heat the building a layer of foam insulation under the floor makes it a lot more comfortable and easier to heat. And finally, wire reinforcement in the floor won't stop it from cracking. But it will keep the cracks you do get even and tight. Good luck...Al English

I don't really expect too many problems with theives out here, but heck, about the time you feel safe someone empties an entire house just blocks down the road.

I think I will put 2 big doors on the west wall and the 1 big door on the North end wall. I think I can see an advantage right off, I can limited the amount of wind with the North Door and South Windows. Too much wind can be a pain sometimes like when building an engine, or trying to weld!

Insulation? I've thought hard about it, but I'm wondering how well it will actually benefit me in the summer.