Best way to insulate a room?

[Dankgravy]

I'm helping out a friend build a small room and I'm taking suggestions on the best way to insulate the room. Where we live it will be 90 every day in the summer and will reach 100 regularly as well as 110+ occasionally so insulation is going to be important. I was in there today and it wasnt even that hot outside but it was a good 10 degrees hotter in the garage.

On top of that he can only use a portable ac because there are no windows and he doesn't want to install one through the wall.

On to the dimensions of the room. 5'X5' by 5' high approximately. There will be one 1K ran vertically in a cooltube in a sealed room. Probably a dehumidifier too but its a dry climate and only 6 plants so we'll see. Never needed one on my grows but they were much more open and def not sealed. But we'll take that as it comes. This will be cooled by a 6 inch fan that blows from above and out through the bottom. The fan wont actually be in the room.

My plan so far is to frame up the room using 2x6 instead of 2x4 and maybe using both normal insulation (fiberglass stuff) as well as the foamboard insulation. Would I be better off just doubling up on the fiberglass insulation?

Heat is going to be a bitch, but my thought is that with a ridiculously insulated room he will be able to keep it cool relatively easy.

Also, lights will obviously be ran at night, but the temp at night will still be 80+ easily. Also I want to keep the room under 85 even during lights out, which will be the middle of the day when it is 100.

 

[messn'n'gommin']

They make insulation to fit in 2x6 walls, so you won't have to double up on the 2x4 variety. You can use 6 mil plastic to quasi-seal the outside of the room so the insulation isn't exposed.

hth

 

[Dankgravy]

I'm going to drywall the outside as well so that it isn't exposed..

 

[rives]

Check the R values of the foam insulation vs the fiberglass and do the math. From what I remember, foam has a much higher value for equivalent thicknesses. Stacking the fiberglass isn't a good idea if it involves compressing it to less than it's design thickness (2 layers of 4" insulation in an 6" wall, for instance). It needs the loft in order to get the insulation value. You could also use much wider studs or double rows if you want the "super insulated" effect.

You would be better off pulling cool air in the bottom and exhausting from the top if there is any way to make it work in your case.

 

[Hovz]

Yup frame it up with 2x6's and use the thicker insulation, then also u can cover with two layers of drywall the first one horizontal across and the next vertically.

 

[Dankgravy]

I like the double drywall idea.. I will probably do that as well.

Its going to be pretty interesting to see if it works.. I'm not sure how well a portable AC is going to be able to work when the ambient temp is so hot..

 

[soil margin]

could you run two portable AC's?

 

[RomulusUSA]

I have a couple of tips. I'm no pro, and have no experience, but I did do a bit of research for my 11x11 buildout. I'd do drywall + 2x6 framing + R19 fiberglass insulation. The cost difference between foam, at least with my non-biz suppliers, was not worth it. Plus I went R13 due to my climate so YMMV. I'd also consider NOT doing a portable AC, as they fricking suck. Look into boxing off a window banger. There are guides on here.

 

[Dankgravy]

I have a couple of tips. I'm no pro, and have no experience, but I did do a bit of research for my 11x11 buildout. I'd do drywall + 2x6 framing + R19 fiberglass insulation. The cost difference between foam, at least with my non-biz suppliers, was not worth it. Plus I went R13 due to my climate so YMMV. I'd also consider NOT doing a portable AC, as they fricking suck. Look into boxing off a window banger. There are guides on here.

Portable ac's do suck, but I had another friend try to box off a window banger and it sucked equally.. haha. But I'm thinking probably because he didnt have a big enough fan in the box venting the hot air out..

I might give that one a try instead of the portable though..

 

[supermanlives]

they make a foam like insulation in sheets like 4x8. and it dont retain water like fiberglass stuff . then use reflectix for inside and your set. dont listen to anyone suggesting useeing materials that hold water. do it the right way the first time. you asked the best way and i told ya

 

[Dankgravy]

they make a foam like insulation in sheets like 4x8. and it dont retain water like fiberglass stuff . then use reflectix for inside and your set. dont listen to anyone suggesting useeing materials that hold water. do it the right way the first time. you asked the best way and i told ya

Why are you so adamant about not using materials that hold water? Just curious. I should also mention that we live in a pretty dry climate.

I saw the 4x8 foam like insulation, but my concern is that won't insulate as well as the fiberglass. My main concern is keeping the heat down in there

 

[darthvapor]

I would recommend a mini-split ac. You only need to drill a small 3inch hole which is easily patched up later. perhaps you already have a hole or small vent you could use already

 

[RomulusUSA]

Water shouldn't be a problem with proper drywall. Most guys even run normal non-green drywall without issue, after many many seasons...

Check the R value of the foam vs cost vs space. It has a good R value, but I found it to be quite expensive compared to fiberglass... While I'm don't like to 'cheap out', it was a -lot- more for me.

 

[rives]

Foam is actually a better insulator than fiberglass, but as Romulus said, it is far more expensive.

 

[supermanlives]

you asked the BEST WAY not the cheapest.

 

[supermanlives]

i went the cheap way once. i built a room with fiberglass insulation and installed sheetrock. then i put a window banger in there. weell it backed up with debris and water found its way into the insulation . then mold appeared even tho i had used killz. so i had to re do it. now adays i use materials that withstand water not absorb it . thats the best way

 

[Dr.Dank]

In Florida when I was running 14k per flowering room 2 to be exact in hottest city in Florida... used to run Sealed rooms in a 4 car garage that was drywall nicely sealed all holes drill holes cracks ect.... ton of insulation in the middle... on top of that the penguin reflective foam sheets they sell at homedepot on all walls but the roof... And everything else was cover with reflective insulation bubbly rolls from homedepot.. Room was like a fridge... Then a water-cooled air conditioner cooling itself with the outside pool ;p and this was all pretty close to other homes... No smell I have yet to buy a carbo filter never needed them... Rooms had double doors and pressure was strong all the best hope this helps.

 

[Lain]

https://www.plasmacool.com/

 

[Dankgravy]

you asked the BEST WAY not the cheapest.

And I stand by that. I have never grown in a room that was not already insulated, so that is why my insulation knowledge is not where it needs to be. I was genuinely interested in your answer.

So I didn't know this...

Foam is actually a better insulator than fiberglass, but as Romulus said, it is far more expensive.

That is probably going to be the way we go then. I saw some 2 inch thick stuff at Home Depot. Hopefully that will do a pretty good job.

And while I know a mini split would be a great option, it is not my budget to work with and that would definitely be out of the budget. $1k for an AC for a personal 1000w is a lot even for my friend. haha

 

[darthvapor]

I got my minisplit of craigslist.org for dirt cheap. Figured it was good for 6 more months while I save for a new one. solved alot of headaces for me. It would prob work even better if the room was properly insulated. good luck

Dr dank I want to do something similar. do you have a scetch or diagram of how things were set up or maybe a pic