Thanks for the detailed response, and sorry that I didn't clearly explain my question: I understand the mold issue and what causes it, but I thought you were suggesting the mold growth would be a problem with the central air idea only and not with the semi-split (because the garage would be cooled all the time with central air, but I wanted to double check.) Either way, it is quite clear now. I actually hadn't thought about the problem caused when interior walls are ventilated through the attic, this makes a lot of sense!

Update to follow after I make more progress with this project.

You are welcome, and best luck.

OK folks, we are all moved in and mostly unpacked and settled in, so I am starting to think about the garage (aka workshop) again. I epoxied both garage floors (there is also a two-car garage that will serve as a, well, garage) and it looks awesome. A lot of work, especially when doing it in 95+ degree weather and high humidity, but definitely worth it.

I am still going to put a semi-split in, but first I need to address the lighting and I need some input in terms of number and size of lights. The garage is 12' x 24' and the ceilings are 11' high. The walls are painted in a light color and the ceiling is painted white. I am planning on hanging a fixture over the build table for extra lighting.

I would appreciate any suggestions on the number and size of fixtures to install on the ceiling.

Go T8 lighting, add as required. These give out far better and brighter light in a 4' light than a normal 8' fixture.

PPKK, Welcome to NC! I too moved from Pottstown Pa. roughly 10 years ago, to Wilson NC, & was faced with the same issues with the garage. I ended up putting in a window unit for the A/C & a small electric space heater to keep the shop above 50 deg in the winter. My shop is seperated from my garage door area by a seperate room with a door on it . I still miss building in the basement during the winter months though. Hope everything works out for you.......Gene

Gene,

Thanks. There were advantages in building in the basement, namely tons of available room to move around... but it'll be great to be able just open the garage door and move a few feet to do sanding and messy work so I am looking forward to it.

The mini-split I am looking at also has a heat pump so winter heating shouldn't be a problem. Another option is a portable A/C unit with heat pump built in, still deciding on that...

Any suggestions as to how many T8 fixtures I would need?

Add as required untill you have to wear sunglasses then unplug one.

Seriously though you'll have to add as many as you need. One directly over the work benches is great and you can fill the outter edges as needed. They throw out a good bit of light. One of these has more usefull light than a normal 8' twin bulb fixture. These are not a "dull" light like the 8' . It's really crisp.

We have 10 8' twin tube lights in our transmission building room (20x40 10' ceilings) and we still had to use flash lights at times to see our work well. I added a single T8 fixture over each build bench and now we have plenty of usefull light.

A recent article in MA magazine by Bob Hunt suggested tons of illumination.

This old thread has some ideas:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_29.../tm.htm#298687

Illumination is good, but don't count out good old fashioned sunlight - it will show balsa 'dips' much better than artificial light!

Good thing I have two large windows in there .