New grow room

So here's my situation.....I live in a state where MMJ legislation is pending. I recently moved from a state where I had an MMJ card, so I'll definitely get legal here once it is all said and done. This project is really preparation for when that glorious day comes.

My goal is to be able to grow for myself and my wife (who will also be able to get her MMJ card), and depending on how the laws fall into place, supply my surplus meds to other patients or dispensaries as the law allows. No major grow operation, just what would be "legal".

I have this HUGE ass attic.....WAY more room than I would ever consider trying to convert to a grow area (it could actually be made into a small apartment - it's that big). Vents up in the top (roof), plus my house AC/Furnace is in an enclosed area inside this attic. I have relatively easy access to this space, plus there is electric and a water source

So - I want to build a grow room. I was thinking something simple, yet sturdy - perhaps 2x4's, drywall, insulation, maybe 10'x10' or so. Absolute stealth isn't a huge issue - no visitors ever go into my attic, and I can find a ton of ways to deal with light.

I've done a few CFL grows before (in a homemade stealth grow cabinet) with pretty good results, but I am considering graduating to MH and HPS.

What I am thinking is this - build the room - as I mentioned, maybe 10'x10', 8' tall, framed with 2x4's, using drywall and insulation (just like building a room out of insulated partition walls). For the sake of argument, I may go with CFL's, but will most likely do MH and HPS. I'm installing an attic fan separate from this - the attic can get WAY hot in the summer, and WAY cold in the winter (which is the reason for the insulation on my grow room). This exhaust attic fan *should* pull all odor up and out through my roof....and away.

Oh...and by the way - the attic is NOT insulated.

My only concern is ventilation/temperature control. I have a few options, and would like some input. I'll be installing a fan (maybe squirrel-cage) to a duct connected to the ceiling of the grow room, pulling air out and up to the ceiling attic fan. However, the input/vent is where I'm a little uncertain. I could do any of the following:

1. Tie in some ductwork to my existing AC/Furnace unit that sits in the attic already, which would provide direct AC/Heat.
2. Tie in some ductwork to the "cold air return" ducts, which would basically pull in the air that is leaving my living space (I leave the blower on full-time, so it would be within 1-2 degrees of the house, which we leave around 72)
3. Tie in some ductwork to the actual living space, bypassing the AC/Furnace unit altogether.

My thinking is that if I have a constant flow of room-temperature air coming through the grow room, it *should* be enough to keep a room of this size at the right temps. Basically, if I'm exchanging all the air in the room maybe 2-3x per minute, should that keep it cool/warm enough? I'm not concerned at all about the spring and autumn....it's those pesky hot summers and cold winters.

I guess I could build the room and try the easiest option first and see how it goes......although I wouldn't really feel good about growing until I've tested it at temperature extremes.

I'd probably use a single room in the beginning to veg then flower, then if things worked out well, put together a separate seedling/veg room.

Thoughts?

Remember, even if you and your wife both have a valid medical card, you can not grow anymore than 12 plants total in a single residence.no matter how many people. If you push your luck, you will end up on 9news. If you wanna grow more than that, the states requires you to rent a warehouse and get a seperate license to be a grower.

dadio161 said:

Remember, even if you and your wife both have a valid medical card, you can not grow anymore than 12 plants total in a single residence.no matter how many people. If you push your luck, you will end up on 9news. If you wanna grow more than that, the states requires you to rent a warehouse and get a seperate license to be a grower.

Click to expand...

I see you are from CO - that's where I just moved FROM. I believe the guidelines that are being proposed in my new state of residence are very similar, and I have absolutely no intention of exceeding the allowed number of plants. My plan is to stay 100% legal, which is why I mentioned that I am merely preparing now for when we can legally grow. I've done cabinet grows, and just want to have somewhere a little more accommodating to grow my meds.

Thanks for your concern, though.

Each state has different laws, and you can grow more than 12 in Colorado if your are a caregiver for more than 2 people. Sounds like you have some bad information there dadio.

not in Ft. Collins. City just passed new laws in last two weeks. Have you seen 9news about the grower in Highlands Ranch that is now facing Federal Charges ?

You can grow for more than two people, just not in your house.

I would use foam board for walls. Do seperate venting but vent your hvac into the room. use a vented hood or cooltube for light.

I didn't realize Ft. Collins had just passed that law, I am sure many other will follow after a couple houses burn down from people trying to run 30,000 watts in their basement without a licensed electrician.

I did see the guy in Aurora that got busted, he didn't even have paperwork on the plants he was growing, and he was bragging to the news about how many plants he had, and how much he was going to make.... if you wave it in the DEAs face they have to bust you.

He also did not take the plea bargain.... not to bright, I am sure he has to realize he got busted by the Feds, not the state, so even if he was following state law, it doesn't matter. Is he going to say he didn't do it after announcing to 9news that he did?

yea, thats the guy. Thats why Ft. Collins has passed new laws . Here in Ft. Collins, we have approx. 110 licensed dispensaries. LOL , it's a college town and we only have about 60 liquor stores.

Stumps.....I'd like to thank you for actually offering some advice, and sticking to the subject!!! Man - I've used white foamboard (I'm assuming you mean the 8'x4' styrofoam sheets) for other stuff, but never even thought about it for this. That would not only give me my walls, but also the insulation I need AND my nice flat white surface! MANY THANKS!!!

+ Rep to you!