New grow site looking for feedback

ImeenImeen

Member
Hey farmers just was given the opportunity to start this basement project i have limited experience growing last year outdoors with success but understand indoor can be significantly more difficult.
Right now the basement at 7ft ceilings not surr if that's tall enough it has dirt floors i have dug about a foot already to get it to 7ft but can dig if needed.
After ceiling height is correct i plan to use 6 mil plastic on the floor to create a vapor barrior and a thick durable tarp on top to help keep the barrier intact maybe thinking plywood floor on you the tarp but not positive yet
I plan to insulated the ceiling and again use 6 mil plastic ceiling
As for walls i plan to run 2x2 to outline on ceiling of the room and stakes for the bottom. Id screw plywood to 2x2 at top and stakes at bottom and seal with foam
Not sure the stakes are the best idea but it would create a solid wall im thinking
venting straight from outside and exhaust straight into the rest of basement using charcol filter
the room would be about 10×10 after built would be lined with white plastic
I have 20 led lights i plan on using for grow i don't have all he specifs on them yet but they are quality lights thats have grown good flower full spectrum will post soon
  • Any ideas or tips any one can give is appreciated any idea of possible yeild out of a 10x10 basement does hold moisture which is why I'm using vapor barrier and my air for the room is vented from outside
 

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DustyDuke

Well-Known Member
Looks like an awesome spot. I would kill to have that much room. Depends on budget but I would go crazy on ventalation but sounds like you are on to that, divide it into 3 rooms. 1 for veg the other 2 for flowering so you can get your perpetual grow on. But if you just grow and flower the whole space and you do a good job should get 4 to 6ish pounds. I know a few growers achieving this or claiming too. Yields on experience, environmet, luck, genetics and good lights (mostly luck)
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Be careful about using plywood in your grow space. With all the moisture you'll have, the plywood can end up with mold. I would paint any plywood walls with exterior, low vapor, white paint.

For your floor, you might think about using a pond liner instead of poly. The pond liner's going to be much more durable.
 

ImeenImeen

Member
Ooh yea pond liner makes sense. The whole room cycling you recommend would that be potentially 2# each pull every 45 days
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Ooh yea pond liner makes sense. The whole room cycling you recommend would that be potentially 2# each pull every 45 days
"Perpetual growing" can produce quite a lot, but it's also quite a bit of work. First, figure out how much you want to have, for whatever purpose. If you don't need as much as a perpetual grow can turn out, trust me, you don't want the extra work. It'll consume all your time.

Basically, the more you put into your growing, the more you're going to get out.

I'm assuming you're going to be doing a soil grow. If you really want a high output, turbo grow, look into RDWC or an Undercurrent hydroponics system. You can also do perpetual grows with hydro as well, which will probably get you the most yield, at the expense of a good amount of setup, equipment, learning, and time each day maintaining it. You'll also finish your grows in less time, as one of the many benefits of growing via hydro.

Experience will always get you more, no matter what system.
 
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DustyDuke

Well-Known Member
Use marine ply best for the job and no painting needed perpetual growing isn’t complicated just means you get a small harvest every 4 week instead of every 3 months. 3 rooms that’s it no harder than that plus smaller areas typicaly yeild more.
I’d rather pull a pound or two a month instead of 4-6 every 3 months and if your trimming that much at once its fucked. But that’s me I tend to my garden daily so it benefits me to do a perpetual grow.
 

ImeenImeen

Member
Perpetual growing is better for my plans but the site is good size like a 2bd 1bt with 6 ft ceilings i was thinking can't i build seperate room no digging necessary for seedlings and veg
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
I'd still think about painting the plywood white. It'll give you a decent reflective surface, and it's generally recommended, from what I''ve read in the past. To me, it makes sense. A high rh level, and a very porous surface doesn't make for a good combination. It's why you use semi-gloss paint in the bathroom. It protects the drywall from all the moisture.

It's up to you. But, if you don't, and you find mold in the middle of a grow, you're gonna kick yourself in the ass LOL!
 
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DustyDuke

Well-Known Member
So you are saying use semi gloss for the inside and out make a good seal
You can buy waterproofing paint that rolls on feels like rubber when it drys (just ask at someone at the hardware store) because the timber is constantly in contact with the ground it need something heavy duty. Then use gloss like @JSB99 metioned on the inside to reflect light. I got the waterproofing advice off my mate who does waterproofing for a living he said to lay the ply on plastic for a further moisture barrier. Good luck bro keep posting pics of your build love to watch it take shape :bigjoint:
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
So you are saying use semi gloss for the inside and out make a good seal
Im thinking that flat is recommended, to avoid hotspots, but I believe that was when painting drywall, not necessarily plywood. It's been a while since I've read up on it.

So, if it was me, what I would do is primer the first layer, which will seal it, then paint it flat white. I'd probably do that anyways because plywood doesn't paint well by itself.
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Just looked this up to make sure...

"Flat white paint:

Self explanatory; a great option for large grow rooms or for people who are interested in a low maintenance wall. Flat white paint has the ability to reflect between 75-85% of the light, and does not create hotspots. Adding a fungicide is recommended when painting.

Glossy and eggshell whites not reflect light as efficiently as flat white. Semi-gloss paint for example, only has the ability to reflect between 55-60% of the light. Also important to remember when using paint is that any smears or blemishes on the surface take away from how reflective the wall is so care should be taken to avoid marking or staining the walls. Titanium white paint is very reflective; however it is usually only used on reflectors due to its high cost."

Read article here
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Flat white paint has the ability to reflect between 75-85% of the light, and does not create hotspots. Adding a fungicide is recommended when painting.
Exactly this ^

and don't go cheap on the paint, buy quality paint that is intended for the surface you are putting it on. Concrete vs. Drywall vs. Wood vs. Metal. And yes as previously mentioned, the proper primer.

Something I wish I could have afforded to do when I first built my basement rooms was an epoxy floor coating in white. Easy to clean as it's no longer porous.
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Exactly this ^

and don't go cheap on the paint, buy quality paint that is intended for the surface you are putting it on. Concrete vs. Drywall vs. Wood vs. Metal. And yes as previously mentioned, the proper primer.

Something I wish I could have afforded to do when I first built my basement rooms was an epoxy floor coating in white. Easy to clean as it's no longer porous.
Something I mentioned earlier was to use exterior paint. I realized this is a mistake. Exterior paint is going to have more vapors than interior (generally), and exterior paint dries slower. Better off using a high quality interior, water-based latex paint. And just like @Renfro said, get the right paint for the right surface. Just a few minutes of research can save you hours of heartache :)
 
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