As home improvement has so far been outside of my wheelhouse and I learn Best Buy doing I acquired a 10′ x 18′ barn. I wanted it unfinished so I could have that as the project. The conclusion of which is to have a home office. When I say unfinished what I mean is there is an exposed plywood subfloor, exposed studs and cavity between, with a plywood ceiling. From the exterior there is nothing to be done as it has a small front porch, roof and exterior walls.
Life has taught me to have the basic common sense to ask others with far more mileage on their tires than I do in subjects where I have not even touched the road yet. So please let me know if I am far outside my skis in my idea on how to proceed.
with a bit of research online for what that is worth and a call to a flooring store that I have a pretty good relationship with many of the workers this is what I have so far.
for interior insulation using mineral wool is what I would like. As I will not be using this office when it is done to show off to others and I could not care less what it looks like only that it functions as best for what my income allows mea hardibacker set of panels screwed down should if I understand right help protect said plywood subfloor. Buy protect I mean general wear and tear and liquids otherwise would have been spelled on the plywood material itself. I have been told I do not need interior walls apart from the mineral wool unless I wanted it for aesthetics. For the sake of being able to hang hooks on the wall I thought I would opt for either using the same material as the floor on the wall. At this point I should also point out I do not plan on wiring for electricity or plumbing. Since the building is not far from my home I have a outdoor extension cable for the moment bringing power from my home to the building for the little that I will need. Mineral wool was my choice not my preference because I was told it is easier to install then needing to acquire a hazmat suit ha if I wanted to do traditional fiberglass insulation.
there are two windows on either side wall with a front window that I have attached a 6000 BTU window air conditioner. As it is 180 square-foot my hope was when the insulation was done that 6000 BTU would be sufficient to keep it tolerable during the summer.
that is the rough sketch so far and I say I have no specific preference on how to proceed. As this is for pleasure I do not have a set timeframe and look forward to learning quite a bit about the process and home improvement from it.
I will be doing this by myself so recommendations from that perspective are also appreciated. In my uneducated opinion the hardibacker panels for the floor and wall should do well enough and the mineral wool as I am told is easy enough to stuff in the cavities. Going on a highly subjective opinion since the roof is angled and has a plywood ceiling my hope is there are venting components but that can be a future concern for now. Otherwise I may have good insulation but between 11 and 1 let’s say during the summer be warmer than I expect. Ha.
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I would not use hardi for a finished floor.
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Hardi on the plywood to me would be a dust/dirt collector.
Would wear, unlike a poured concrete floor.
Garden shed? I wouldn’t use it there either.
Stained and sealed ply with a couple cheap throw rugs to soften noise.
Walls? Ply painted a light color to brighten the space.
Shoot, drywall would be fine, sharpen your finishing skills.
Rockwool insulation if sized to fit would stay up fine till covered.
Just a dumb carpenter.
Retired.
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Thomas,
I didn’t mean to offend.
Calvin,
I apologize for taking so long to see this post I was a bit busy as my first post indicated. I was not offended in the slightest and I apologize for coming across as if I was by deleting the posts. It was simply a matter of I thought I had said way more than was necessary and deleted the comments to keep things Brief. For as long as this post is seen by others I was also not offended that nobody else had responded either. Enclosing thank you Calvin for your thoughts as it did help me quite a bit.
One of the lasting beauties of this forum has been the duration and multitude of posts.
If not all topics have been discussed several times over I’d be surprised.
The only deletions that should happen are the worthless scam or spam posts. And now with unintelligent auto posts being made, spewing either ads, links or repetative nonsense…….
So feel free to ask or discuss and also leave your posts visible. Down the road it might help someone else.
As an aside, I have met and even made some lasting friends here. Around 2000 we had a yearly series of “Fests” start. Members shared their homes for group gatherings for a weekend. Now, those were a blast!
I can imagine so. Thank you for sharing the story. You mentioned how they had been a blast are these annual gatherings not there anymore then?
Nope, not any official gatherings.
Some of us do still get together. 5 couples met again last summer across the water from the original settlement of Jamestown for a week of relaxing bs’ing, food and drink.
We have camped around the country the past 10 yrs and make it a point to re-connect with folks.
Several yrs ago a breakaway group started another website and most of the old guard still dwells there. The comraderie is something that can’t be beat! I stick around here in case a former member returns and might need direction.
That does sincerely sound like a thing to do. Especially in that sort of environment. You have my best wishes it continues for many years to come. I came across this site as a search for community involving home improvement. 27 years work experience never once had me with a hammer or screwdriver so in my mid fourties I figured I would fix the issue by learning at least the basics And go from there.
Your plan sounds solid for a DIY project! Using mineral wool for insulation is a good choice for ease of installation and thermal performance. Hardibacker panels will offer durability for both flooring and walls. For the summer heat, the 6000 BTU AC should be sufficient, but insulation and ventilation will play a key role in maintaining comfort. Ensure proper ventilation in the ceiling and consider adding a fan to help with air circulation. Since you're working solo, take your time and prioritize safety. Good luck with your barn conversion!
Hey Thomas! I like mineral wool it is very easy to put up with a serrated knife when needed. We put that high dollar material they used to say was needed but folks just sent to builder’s plastic.
On your floor, I would get a water resistant plank. We chose one that didn't require anything but a saw, measuring tape and a soft blow hammer. The double sides soft blow was better for us than the rubber mallet. I already had a compound miter saw and used it rather than a circular saw or jig saw. We purchased ours at a local flooring store and have been really happy with it as the dogs don’t seem to scratch it.
I would also suggest that you think about installing electrical needs now even if you’re not going to be using it. If you decide later you want or need the lighting the wires are already there
Since you say this is for a home office I think computer first off. Possibly a router. You could go with a mesh system but computer, laptop or tablet will need to be charged at some point. And the Eero or whatever you have will probably need to be plugged in. You will definitely need lighting for those overcast or rainy days. I’ve found planning ahead saves money in the long run. Don’t forget you may need to get a small space heater as well.
For walls I would also use Sheetrock. It’s not prohibitively expensive and easy to work. Just run the boards horizontally so you won’t have as many joints to patch up.
Depending where you reside, you may need to improve the ventilation. It’s my experience that these prefab units are incredibly hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
Hi Thomas! Mineral wool is a solid choice,easy to install and great for insulation. Hardibacker panels on the floor will definitely help protect the subfloor from wear and moisture, but for the walls, consider using plywood. It's easier to work with and strong enough to hang things.
For ventilation, you might want to add a roof vent later to avoid overheating during hot summer days. Since you're working alone, take it step by step, and don't rush. You’ll gain valuable experience while creating a functional home office.
Mathew, Luke, and where’s John?
Why hardibacker for a floor?
To protect the subfloor?
You’re kidding, right?
Semi artificial intelligent?