Medicine is correct that having the lights close to the plants reduces the loss of light over distance (law of inverse square). However the closer the light source the less spread of light. If you have enough light in your space the drop off of light intensity from being further from the plant will be insignificant.

I also agree that air cooled hoods do reduce the amount of A/C you have to run. One of the drawbacks of this is having extra equipment to purchase, maintain and run, especially if you still need to have an A/C to control the temp of the room. The air cooled hoods also provide more chances for odors to escape. While the seals on the glass have gotten better over the years, they are not perfect. There is also the space where the ducting hooks up to the lights, this may also have very small gaps that allow some odor to escape. By having open hoods you can eliminate these small places that will allow odor to escape.

Then there is the fact that the light quality is diminished through a glass lens. Medicine gave the parameters for that so I won't recap it.

This is just my opinion. There is no absolutely correct or wrong way to do anything, just many, many options.

Update: Outside is done except a little paint trim on top and bottom.

Inside is mudded and just needs finished and painted. Finally seeing the end of the build part.

Ordered lights for a 4X8 table for the test run.

Reminder, flower room is 18 X 21 in side and 12 foot ceilings, the space is big, but filling up fast. :) The workshop/Veg area is 10 X 11.

So far expenses of the build out for those interested in pushing $3,000. This does include a top of the line product storage safe (650 LBS, 6 foot tall, 6 Inch deep)
The 3 lights and homemade table approx $1,200 (DigiLume 1000 Ballasts, HP and Big Wings).

Depending on A/C costs for room once all lights are installed, Estimated cost is $15,000- $20,000. I will do a real line item breakdown later for newbies wondering how much it costs. I remember one Cat had a huge warehouse and budget of $25,000... now I know why all the good people on here quickly shut that budget down!!

In a few months I will convert another space for Veg/Mother room which will have a fairly low cost of just some new lighting and perhaps vents to cool the room.

My cheap little grow turned out to be expensive. However I know I am doing it right and I already notice there is no smell in the building outside of the grow room.. :)
Probably saved $4,000-$5,000 by building it myself.

Few pics below:

Looking pretty pro from here Legal... You said no smell- do you already have girls in there?

@PButter , long story but have a 4 x 8 grow room that was just in our open shop... Smell was getting bad even tho I have it vented, ona gel, and ionizer... Big reason I built out the space was to secure and control odor.. now that my 4x8 is inside the big room there is no noticeable smell in shop and I haven't added anything except walls...:)

There is a new product out from a company named Growrite. They have developed an inline odor filter for air circuits. They are made of foam that is embedded with zeolite. They work so far, 6 months and going.

Well update , the room build is done. Now concerned that I won't have enough power to run my lights and ac , even adding a new panel..

Damn bro, you need to slow ur roll. Plan your build out starting with the essentials first. Power availability is the first thing that needs to be addressed! Get a notebook and draw ur room ALL the way out. Figure out the wattage ur entire operation is going to pull. Then find a way to supply that before u start building out and bringing plants in. Do some serious planning before u step on ur other foot. Much luck, hope it turns out for the best.Z

Naw..With mending solutions is what I do best.

Theproblem is too many peoplE never get passed the pen and paper step..I tend to move once a make a decision for better or worse.. :) not always the best plan. But way better than ice boots.

I needed these rooms. I saved probably $5,000 by doing the build out...


Whos With me?

We solved electrical problem. Adding a 60 amp box and connecting above current building panel...

right on man. i wasnt trying to criticize in a negative manner. Ive just been part of many build outs ranging from small 20x25 garage build outs, to 4000+/- sq ft facilities with multiple rooms. When i was a rook at this, I would just start hammering away at building a space without having a plan. I realized its much easier and better to build around your limitations and make sure your big plan will work. the first thing i address before a single penny is spent is the power. how big is my panel and how much power do i need. to figure this out its best to draw your entire operation as a whole. Figure how many lights, what light fixtures, how big of an AC, what AC system will work best, figure every single component that will maintain your environment, all your accessories, your res and h20 system(where will you get your h20 and how will you be able to supply ur grow with the exact amount of h2o it needs at any given time), etc...
Look man, the reason i suggest these is because ive been there and fucked that (i say fucked as in "fucked up") I have learned priceless info from my own mistakes. I have jumped the gun many times and ended up fucking myself in the end. Do you know how embarrassing it is to have an AC guy come into your grow to fix a mistake that you could have avoided? Then the feeling u have that someone else that is outside your circle now knows about your spot? Its small things that could have been settled with a better planning method that can make or break your spot. Plus the fact that you are in a facility where others work and your trying to keep all this under their nose... This is why im urging you to be careful and make sure your plan is bullet proof before you bring plants in or buy a safe...
Ive seen this happen too many times, i believe the fail rate in our industry is @85%+ The only reason i may sound critical or somewhat negative is because i appreciate the farm and anybody that comes to this site that is willing to contribute their trialz and tribulationz.

Anyways, im not saying your plan isnt going to work or anything. I just dont want to see you fail by any means. I would like to be the guy that makes you re think your whole operation from start to finish. this is why i suggested the pen and pad, wasnt an insult by any means or intentions.

@LegalGrow - I wish the best for you. Hope there is no more speed bumps with your future design. and remember, have fun! cant wait to check back in and see your 20x21 filled with gals.
Z

@Theoneandonly Z thanks buddy. A big problem I have is no one knows about this in the real world.. a forum is great but only gets you so far... Thanks for the advice... I will try to get my ac figured out before I move forward as that will be a major issue down the road this summer...
I think failure in this business is the same as any other business and completely agree.. planning.. my overall plan is good.. just not every detail has been completely worked out! In time....

Hello legal, what is an average summer temp in your area? Day/ night.

Way hot.

Its cold OCT-FEB then cool March-June - then deadly hot in July/Aug (commonly over 100 and humidity is 100 sometimes.. :) so high you sometimes can hardly breath outside. :)

July 86°F - January- 10°F . The record low temperature for the state is –47°F - The record high is 118°F.

Question, are my ballasts going to get hot enough to put them outside the room:
Doing wings A/C for now.
Thanks!

Electrical Update: Bought a 50 amp sub-panel, 8 space box for the grow, 6-3 wire, and a 50 amp breaker for the main box in the shop. Cost, $300.
The box will give me extra 2 spaces, in case I need to add either 2 more breakers, or one 220 - 30 amp breaker for maybe something big (wink,wink, A/C). :)

Water Update: found I will be able to run simple blue PVC water line to my space (should be easier than the electrical run and cheaper too), but that will be later this week or next week. Will also add a big shop sink with a drain, so the grow will will be fully contained from power/water/exhaust/cooling/etc.. at least that is my hope.

I gotta say im with Z on this one,kind of putting the cart before the horse a bit,Have you calced your electrical load needs yet?For safety sake you should only use 80% of the 50a capacity of that subpanel which is 40 amps and im wondering how you have all those plugs wired up in the pic?There are alot of them and i hope they are not all on the same circuit,thats 44 plugs all in close proximity!

And why do you need so many 110v outlets? Thats a ton of small outlets in my mind....

No biggie- just questioning the thinking....

Edit- yeah put ballast outside room if ya can

Nice signature fish

hmm. I guess I was hoping my ballasts could be plugged into those.. no? (shit).
Actually there is the 50 amp, plus 2 other circuits for my grow area... Now you guys are freaking me out here.

PS, will have 12 lights and fans to plug in, so wanted plenty of extra outlets.. ;)