Vehicles are supposed to live there. They are homes for transportation and recreational equipment, and when we’ve got the space, we build garages to also be places where we can tinker with what we own.
The challenge is that it’s easy for garages to become unpleasant places filled with engine exhaust fumes, and everything from paint fumes to toxic gasses expelled by cleaning supplies. Those unpleasant and unhealthy fumes tend not to go anywhere if your garage isn’t properly ventilated. There are easy ways to add ventilation and make your garage a safer place to be.
Install Windows
Traditional garage construction generally tends to neglect windows. After all, your vehicles and things stored in a garage aren’t interested in the outside view. That’s a valid philosophy, as long as you don’t plan to spend any time in the garage yourself.
Plan to add windows if you’re going to be out in the garage. At least one window on opposite sides of the garage can create cross ventilation, carrying vehicle fumes and chemical smells out one window while drawing in fresh window through the other.
Now is the time to think about windows for ventilation if you’re in the process of planning to build a detached garage. Many property owners who like to take a DIY approach to projects like this appreciate the flexibility of Miracle Truss® designs. Having wood studs every 24 inches allows you to place standard windows you can purchase from anyone, anywhere you like. The same goes for doors and even insulation.
Roof Turbine Vents
You’ve seen them before. They’re usually round and bulbous with open slats. Roof turbine vents sit on top of your roof and spin in the wind currents. As they spin, they pull air up from the garage.
Roof turbine vents are easy to install if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, and you’ll like the cost-effectiveness of this approach because this type of ventilation requires no electricity to power the turbine. Depending on your choice of roofing material, you can even pre-cut the holes for the roof turbine vents prior to installing the roof itself after you’ve raised the trusses into place.
Exhaust Fans
The cathedral ceilings that are hallmark to Miracle Truss® designs also make it easy to install powered exhaust fans. These won’t get in your way, and you can depend on them when mother nature isn’t giving you enough of a breeze that would either work for the windows or the roof turbine vents. Our steel truss designs can handle extra weight on the roof, so you could even consider powering those exhaust fans with solar panels if you wanted.
Be sure to check out our growing collection of customer-supplied photos of their Miracle Truss® garages and shops. Then, use this form to request free building information. There’s a space for comments on the form, so tell us about your plans for ventilation and we’ll give you some options.
