Solar Air Screen Collector Design - Heating My 12x12 Shed

[unt0uchable]

Wow that stuff looks awesome! We are actually going to be replacing most of the fascia next year when we paint the house. That will be a good product to put up instead of just regular old lumber. Thanks for the tip!

[Naptown]

Look into a product called GAF Cobra Fascia flow.
It replaces the existing fascia and allows ventilation.

[unt0uchable]

You essentially had almost no attic ventilation for venting heat

Exactly. It was stagnant air up there. No movement. The idiots we bought the house from really truly had no idea what they were doing. Every project I start and finish just shows me more and more of this. The soffit vent is only on the south facing side of the home. The north side actually doesn't have an overhang to cut into, otherwise I would have done both. Hope that doesn't have a negative affect on things.

[Naptown]

The soffit vents won't do much in the winter other than help prevent ice dams and condensation.
However will drastically reduce air conditioning costs.
You essentially had almost no attic ventilation for venting heat

[unt0uchable]

There was a continuous ridge vent installed when the roof was redone in 2006. I like the soffit and ridge combination much more than the gable/ridge. I could feel it working with the first baffle in place.

And I'm hoping for lower heating bills THIS winter, lol. Brand new fiber glass windows with triple low e coating and argon filed in June 2012, and now the insulation in the attic. Hoping for some benefit to the $270 utility bills...

[Naptown]

I figured as much. That's alright, I'll just go get the aluminum stuff. Haven't started on this project yet though. Still working on insulating my attic. We put in a continuous soffit vent 2 days ago, installed the baffles in the attic last night. All we need to do now is build up around the attic door and close off my gable end vents. Then we can start spraying in insulation. Yippeee.

I hope you have a ridge vent if you are closing off the gable vents

[russ]

. Yippeee.

Next winter when you have a lower utility bill you can really go Yippeee!

[unt0uchable]

I figured as much. That's alright, I'll just go get the aluminum stuff. Haven't started on this project yet though. Still working on insulating my attic. We put in a continuous soffit vent 2 days ago, installed the baffles in the attic last night. All we need to do now is build up around the attic door and close off my gable end vents. Then we can start spraying in insulation. Yippeee.

[russ]

So, is it eminent that I use the aluminum screen inside of one of these? My reason for asking is because I had to purchase a 25' roll of the cheaper fiberglass stuff to use on some soffit vents we are putting in before I insulate the attic more.

Would that be acceptable to use in the solar air heater? It is black already, but I wasn't sure how well it would work as opposed to the aluminum screen.

Thanks for any other tips.

For heat transfer the fibreglass stuff is useless.

[unt0uchable]

So, is it eminent that I use the aluminum screen inside of one of these? My reason for asking is because I had to purchase a 25' roll of the cheaper fiberglass stuff to use on some soffit vents we are putting in before I insulate the attic more.

Would that be acceptable to use in the solar air heater? It is black already, but I wasn't sure how well it would work as opposed to the aluminum screen.

Thanks for any other tips.

[unt0uchable]

Holy crap I totally forgot about the Menards up the road! I'll have to start searching there website. I do have a bundle of shingles I need to return there...

[ChrisJ]

The glazing is called kal wall I believe and looks very similar to what you described. It is also a bit better insulated this will hold up longer than the light diffusers

I think it's called twin wall polycarbonate, some greenhouse kits come with it.

Big box stores don't carry it, unless you live in a part of the US that has a Menards store, they carry it.

Chris

[unt0uchable]

I will have to check when I go to Lowes if they have a lifetime guarantee. That'd be nice. Every few years, get a new cover for it. Maybe by that time, I'll be rich like all these polycarbonate sales guys

[russ]

You got it - Polycarbonate is not cheap! Typically they should give some guaranteed lifetime - all will yellow after a number of years.

[unt0uchable]

Well good news! I found that my local Lowes actually carries the roofing panels and I'll only need one to complete the 4x4 unit. Shown here, this is what I've seen some others using. Should work fine. Doesn't look as clean as clear acrylic but lexan, plexi, it all costs too damn much to make this project worth while. This sheeting is $22 and once it's cut in half, will cover my whole unit. Just going to have to buy the foam mounting cushions to keep it well insulation. That's another $10 so, for around $35, I'll be happy. Unless someone knows of a smoking deal on some (thick enough) polycarbonate sheeting...