I have decided I want to grow an indoor garden. I have previously helped a friend set up and maintain a small grow room, although he keeps it pretty primitive as far as grow rooms go... So while I'm not completely green (no pun intended) I am by no means an experienced grower. I have, however, done a great deal of research and feel I know my way around a grow operation well enough to produce a decent yield my first time around. I'm going to get my medical card this Saturday, so as far as I'm concerned.... It's on. My first major decision of this grow room is deciding on a location. I own a home in a residential area of a mid size city. My home is on the street and we have a decent amount of foot traffic, so discretion is key. Here are my two options: - OPTION I: Build a 4x4 grow room within my garage. I would literally build a room from scratch inside one corner of my garage. Framing, sheet rock, door, etc.... The Cons: The one problem I have with this option is that I don't feel my garage is the safest location. It's close to the street/sidewalk, and if someone knew there was a grow in there, it would be super easy to break into during the 8hrs a day I'm at work. The Pros: the grow room would be completely new, clean and custom. - OPTION II: Convert my currently demolished master bath into a grow room. When we moved into the house two years ago the master bath was out of order. It was dirty, moldy, leaky and just all around "not usable"... So, I promptly gutted it... I tore out everything. The vanity, toilet, shower, walls, floors... EVERYTHING. Currently it is in this state. It is literally studs and sub-floor and that's it. The cons: It's dirty... It had a bad mold problem (which is why we gutted it) and I would be afraid that mold could come back to give me major problems. I would have to do a little amount of temporary work to cover up the window, as well as another hole where I might have some light leak. Converting my bathroom space into a temporary grow space, then back into a bathroom again will make added work when it comes to finishing my bathroom. I would have to eventually find a new location anyways, as my wife does not want our master bath to become a permanent grow room. The Pros: It's more secure than the garage. The only door way access to the room is through my bedroom. It sits off the street, toward the back side of the house. There is one window that can easily be locked tight and boarded up. It's more space (apprx 9'x6' total) So what do you guys think? Do I go with what I feel is the more secure location within my home, and deal with potential problems like mold and ventilation as they come up? Or do I build a new grow room within my garage and take extra steps of precaution to avoid detection and possible break in?
Well, maybe I am just being naive (I am a NOOB), but why would you think someone would break in to rob your grow room? Loose Lips Sink Ships. I wouldn't tell people you have the room. I also think of secure as more than just a break-in. What if something went horribly wrong and you ended up with a fire. Do you want the chemicals of your suppression device going off in your house? Do you want the fire away from where you sleep? I am not sure, just asking what comes to mind for me. Also, and maybe a better question, how do you plan to control the ambient temperature of the garage? I am not sure where you live, but where I live, it gets up to 75 during the day can drop to and 40 in the evenings (during winter). My garage is not on my house air/heat. From what I have read, you can add equipment to solve this challenge but it adds to your build cost. To reiterate, I am just learning myself, so I am curious to other responses as well.
Oh I am not worried about people I know breaking in and stealing my crop. I'm worried about a passersby smelling that shit! Like I said, if someone knew there was a crop in there, it would be as easy as jumping a fence and breaking a window in the back door to get in. As far as the ambient garage temp... I don't think I have to worry about them getting too low or high. The garage has good ventilation and even though it gets cold at night, I think the inside of the grow room would stay within acceptable levels.
i am a giant fan of tents.. they solve alot of problems and cause a few as well.. but i think the pro's outweigh the cons there.. spend the cash and get a tent... i would not suggest making a makeshift grow area... its just more work to tear it out.. restore your bathroom to its earlier luster... but there would be alot of advantages to you using a tent in your bathroom, especially since its gutted... if your going to be using hydro, you already have a sink hookup and a drain... super nice, everything will be in one room something to think about and to cover up your mold wash the infected area with a 10 percent bleach to water solution sprayed from spray bottle, then use white paint from home depot or lowes... its called kilz... its cheap and it will work... then just simply remodel good luck, take pictures
Hey man, thanks! I really am considering a tent and had already thought about putting it in the gutted bathroom. At least with a tent if after one grow I decide it needs to be moved, it can be. A tent would even work just as easy in the garage as I have hose and drain access from there as well. I am wondering if I am being too paranoid about people smelling or hearing running water from my grow if I do end up placing it in the garage.
Well, there are many ways to control the smell. You should seriously consider a carbon scrubber whether it is a tent or a room.
Yeah, I saw a DIY post on here on how to make one and it seems really simple and inexpensive. Will a carbon scrubber COMPLETLY eliminate the odor?
Well, I am still new and still working on my 2x2 tent. EVERYTHING I have read is yes, they will. If you choose the right one with the right fan. There are plenty of threads on how to make sure you choose the right combination. Another good tip I picked up here at GC, if you don't run your scrubber 24hrs/day, always make sure you run it before you open your tent. That will prevent the smell build up from escaping when you do open the tent.
Cool, I have a lot of planning to do and decisions to make. I hope to be up and operational in 3 mos.
screw a tent and build it. also a 4x4 foot room shouldnt put out that much smell. should be able to get it locked down pretty easy. also dragging grow shit through your living areas sucks.
I could see how dragging grow equipment through my house could suck... I need to seriously consider this location issue. I like the idea of the garage MUCH better... I wonder if I am just being too paranoid? But buying a tent seems SO MUCH easier than building a room from nothing... Decisions, decisions...
Diy rooms are nicer. And cheaper. But tents solve alot of problems. Especially if your not a diy kinda guy. Having modified three cabinets and built a grow room in a closet and installed a giant tent In a closet. I prefer tents. Personal opinion
I'm leaning toward a TENT just because setup is SOOOOOO easy... I'm just thinking about all the work involved in building a room... Framing, sheet rock, paint, door, rough in for electric/intake/exhaust. etc..... or Buy tent, put it together.
tents have thier uses but it sounds like you bought your place, correct? if u own it then you can slap every single bell and whistle u want up and make it perfect. or a crappy tent. imo i dont like tents.. they serve thire perpose perfect for temp grow rooms but any thing more then a few rounds and they are shredded.
I am in the same boat 409 (new to growing, own my home, not sure if I will be good at growing or have the patience, etc). I look at it this way....If I was learning to play golf, I would not go out and buy a $1000 set of clubs. I would find a cheap or used set to see if I can learn and love golf before I invest too much money. I am leaning towards a tent as a 1st step, but making sure the equipment I purchase could be used in a grow room if I enjoy the hobby and decide to invest my time for the build out. Good luck with your decision.
IMO, smell is your biggest problem with indoor grows. Without filtration you have two options, vent it outside so your property smells. Or keep it locked up inside the residence, and i mean the whole residence. and hope no one comes to your door. only have limited experience with carbon filteration so can't speak to it's completeness of oder removal. I'm venting outside with filtration and it seems ok in backyard.