Hi all,
Happy to report that my new barn/shop project is finally underway--the concrete crew has just about completed the formwork and hopefully they'll be ready to pour on Friday.
I still haven't decided whether to use a sliding door (on tracks, sort of like the big door on Norm's shop) or just hinged, z-braced double-doors for the vehicle/load entrance. I don't plan to keep a vehicle in the building--just be able to back in to load and unload. The opening will be about 9' or 10' wide and 7' high (or whatever is typical of garage doors--I guess I should measure a full-size truck to see what's required).
My main concern about the sliding door option is air-tightness. The main floor of the shop will be insulated. I haven't seen a lot of sliding doors (except in pictures), but my sense is that it's not really possible to make them very weather-tight (air comes in around the edges and top) since there's no jamb. So heat and cool air loss would be a problem. Does that sound right, or does someone know of/have experience with a sliding door that's designed for insulated spaces?
Thanks for your advice, all! (Pictures forthcoming...as soon as there's something more than a big pile of sand and sod to photograph.)
Happy to report that my new barn/shop project is finally underway--the concrete crew has just about completed the formwork and hopefully they'll be ready to pour on Friday.
I still haven't decided whether to use a sliding door (on tracks, sort of like the big door on Norm's shop) or just hinged, z-braced double-doors for the vehicle/load entrance. I don't plan to keep a vehicle in the building--just be able to back in to load and unload. The opening will be about 9' or 10' wide and 7' high (or whatever is typical of garage doors--I guess I should measure a full-size truck to see what's required).
My main concern about the sliding door option is air-tightness. The main floor of the shop will be insulated. I haven't seen a lot of sliding doors (except in pictures), but my sense is that it's not really possible to make them very weather-tight (air comes in around the edges and top) since there's no jamb. So heat and cool air loss would be a problem. Does that sound right, or does someone know of/have experience with a sliding door that's designed for insulated spaces?
Thanks for your advice, all! (Pictures forthcoming...as soon as there's something more than a big pile of sand and sod to photograph.)