Garage Renovation

The UM FLAT garage renovation is an effort to convert the pre-existing double wide, 750 square foot garage into a community demonstration center where student groups and the community will be able to meet together under one roof to advance sustainability solutions. The renovation has been an exciting collaborative effort involving students from several college departments, the College of Technology carpentry and energy technology program, the Montana State University School of Architecture and many community volunteers and businesses. In the Winter of 2008, the College of Technology Carpentry students broke ground on our renovation by literally breaking the ground, replacing the garage doors with efficient Clawson Northslope Windows, poured a new footing, and constructed engineered trusses to support our new 'solar ready' roof that will one day hold solar PV and solar hot water panels to offset the domestic energy use of our site. 

The garage renovation is quickly developing quite the story of its own and we will update this site with more details in the near future. 

/> See photos

Some of the features of the garage renovation will include:

• Double-studded walls offset to increase depth of installed insulation
• Use of reclaimed and reused materials and timbers when appropriate
• Adding a radiant floor heat system and insulation to the concrete slab
• Utilization of a real-time energy monitoring system 
• Adding several types of insulation as demonstration resources
• Measuring the performance of the insulation types: R-value and Humidity
• Replacing existing garage doors with Clawson Northslope, high efficiency windows
• Installing trombe walls for capture of passive solar energy and heat
• Installing a straw bale wall demonstration on West wall
• Use of natural clay and lime plasters for finishing walls
• Rebuilding three solar-ready roof assemblies in 1/3 sections of the garage roof
• *appropriate insulation and venting systems will be installed in each roof section
          Structural attic space for battery banks and water storage accessible via drop-down ladder
   Construction of structural trusses with existing roof joists
  Construction of scissor trusses for a vaulted ceiling
• Utilization of solar hot-water heater and/or pellet stove
• Shading trellis on exterior West wall
• Reclaiming exterior siding by turning the cedar shingles backwards and refinishing 

Brief History:

In March of 2009, we began renovating the detached garage into a useful community and demonstration space for use of student groups and community demonstrations. The architectural work has been donated by Andy Lemman of MMW Architectute of Missoula. Several community interests have also played a crucial role in assisting the development of this project.  Thank You !!

2009-10: The interior electrical work is done through generous donations of time and skill, allowing us to proceed with the framing permit and insulation. We also received a generous donation of cedar shingles from Ryan Alter of Alterenterprise to supplement the reclaimed shingles to be installed on the garage exterior.

This fall, we have begun mixing cob and plastering the first wall, with insulation coming soon.