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How difficult would it be to build a louvered wall?

17 years ago

Hello. I want a louvered wall that encloses my garage, yet allows for ventilation. (not the part that you drive through)

Anyhow, there would be 8.5' of louvered wall then a beam then 8.5' more of louvered wall then a four foot area that I'd like to have operate, like a gate. That area leads to the back patio. I'm considering a gate area in the first 8ft as well. this way, when we have crawfish boils, people on the patio and in the garage can still communicate as well as those in the back yard.

My dad is a pediatrician, but he does woodworking for a hobby. He has very expensive advanced tools and a fancy shop with this wood dust ventilator thing. He built my daughter a beatiful toy box last year. Would it be too much to ask him to build this louvered wall system? If it is too much, who makes this sort of thing? A shutter company?

I don't know how much work it would involve. I thought that y'all may be able to fill me in.

thanks,

bmh4796

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Comments (4)

User
17 years ago
It could be fairly easy or very difficult---depending on the design. The design you mentioned is more of an outside wood project rather than a shop project. His shop tools could be overkill or the necessary stuff---depending on the design.

Materials for consideration would be pressure treated/painted wood, teak(expensive but can be left unfinished), cypress(less expensive but can be left untreated), pine---painted, white oak(finished in spar varnish or untreated), certain mahoganies(finished in spar varnish), PVC lumber, or even composite decking for the louvers.

Ask your dad and you both might come up with a workable design. Otherwise, a fencing contractor, handyman with carpentry skills, remodeling contractor, or even a landscaping/design company.
bridget helm
Original Author
17 years ago
thanks. I appreciate your response!
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Pooh Bear
17 years ago
The work itself wouldn't be particularly hard.
But it would be extremely time consuming.
The design itself would probably be the hardest part.
Then laying out the louvers and/or making jigs to cut them.

Things to consider for the design would be width of each louver,
and the spacing between louvers taking into account the desired
amount of overlap, and the unsupported length of the louvers.

Best thing to do is propose the idea to your Dad
and see what he says about it.

Pooh Bear
sombreuil_mongrel
17 years ago
If you want a wall of louvers, you are probably looking at 1x4's for the slats, angled dadoes in some 6/4 stock for the sides, and an ongoing maintenance nightmare. Painting and cleaning something like that, especially in a garage with the continuous dust. A lot of work to keep it looking good.
I don't think that movable-slat shutters would hold up in that environment. If somebody leans against them they will break, which is why if you had to do it, use at least 1x4's The greater the angle of the louvers, the less light will come through. In any case, it will be almost as dark as a solid wall, but much draftier.
Casey

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