Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to build a building for my collection and get them out of the spare room. I plan to build a metal building with weld up frame. I will spray in foam insulation for insulation. My question is what is everyone's thoughts on how I should heat the building and regulate the temps.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Shawn

Where is going the building going to be ?

Not only we have people from all around USA, but from all around the world.

In Canada, we don't have the same weather some have in Florida, California, etc.... So the building have to differ...
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love this world, don't hate it.

It will be in Oklahoma.

the thicker the foam the better....inside and out....cool...
...as for heat...you will have to use what works....start with small electric heaters.....I use them....but in winter you may need to bump it up...if the building is BIG???....you may have to really bump it up......

let's say.....20 x 40 foot room???....you might as well hookup an oil heater or propane...whatever you prefer...(house heater)...

...good luck...wish I could build...(without paperwork from the township)......
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......JY

The building is going to be 15x20. I was hoping a window heat/ac unit would be enough to maintain temps. I was told that with the closed cell foam sprayed in, it would be pretty much air tight. The heat put off from the racks and cages would do most of the heating and the window unit would rarely kick on. I also have a generator on standby incase of power outings. Something I hope I never have to use!!!

Shawn

Will it be necessary to prep the metal so that the foam adheres to it?

You might want to look into trying to do greenhouse roofing panles on a portion of the roof. Some people can get green houses that are 90 degrees on a 15 degree day in the middle of winter. Then you could cover the greenhouse panels with some light colored material in the summer.

I was told green absorbs heat better than black (for roofs)...so I was told...??...makes sense...plants are green for a reason...

....sounds tight....should heat fast....

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......JY

Well I talked to the guy that is going to be building the building and he recomended puting opaque panels as the ridge cap acting as a skylight. I thught that would be a good idea, not for heat, but for great natural light that would help with breeding. I can put the photo cell night drops in the window and they would mirror the schedule of the sun through the sky light. Do you see any issues with this that I may be looking past?
Thanks
Shawn