America's #1 Online Cigar Auction
first, best, biggest!

Last post 8 years ago by cigarlover22. 16 replies replies.
Working on a winter smoke shack
zody Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 05-03-2005
Posts: 1,149
Winter and cigar smoking are NOT great bedfellows. Not even grudging room mates.

Cold months are upon us, and I don't have an outdoor sanctuary to shelter me from the elements to enjoy a cigar so I came up with an idea to build a "smoke shack" in the basement to enjoy my cigars in warmth and comfort.
PC's are great for short cold weather cigars, but waiting until spring to enjoy all the goodies I've accumulated frankly depresses the hell out of me.

A little trip...ok trips to Lowes and I've now got a 8' long, 5.5' wide, 6'9" tall frame constructed.
Going to cover it with 6 mil polyethylene sheeting to completely close it in, and set up an exhaust fan to vent everything directly to the outside. It will be fully enclosed and vented to keep any cigar smoke from being able to escape into the house. It's going to be my cigar sanctuary for winter months so I'm pretty psyched about getting it finished as I sit coldly enjoying my LFD Coronado on the porch tonight.

Why all the trouble?
My Dad doesn't smoke, and I certainly don't want to expose my daughter to it. I passionately savor my cigar smoking time but I'm not wanting to inflict it on them, so everybody wins.
A little quick carpentry driven by the cold and the prospect of yet again several months without being able to enjoy all the cigars that require a time investment the cold won't allow is the mother of invention.Herfing

Anybody has any thoughts I'd be glad to hear them, once I've finished her up I'll have some pictures to post.
danmdevries Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,124
For a few years I've been seriously contemplating building my permanent brewery installation indoors.

It will require a high rate of air turnover to maintain the required exhaust rate to avoid saturating the house with steam as an average brew drives off about 2 gallons of water as steam.

Was thinking win for me, can smoke while brewing, yes?

But, without drawing air from the house as warm intake for the room which would then be pumped directly outside, the room would rather quickly freeze in our winters. From my numbers, I'd need about 70k btu/hr to keep the room tolerable in the winter at the required exhaust rate.

I can run a ventless forced air fuel oil burner in the garage and maintain 40F while brewing, but it would be impossible in the basement.

Long story short, I abandoned the idea, though I would love to be able to smoke and brew indoors, the air exchange requirements are beyond the cost/benefit argument.
danmdevries Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,124
Even if just a smoking room, in order to keep any leeching to the rest of the home, you'd need to turn over the full volume of the room many times during your smoke. Could do this by venting an intake from outdoors, but would quickly end up with a room with an outdoor climate.
cacman Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 07-03-2010
Posts: 12,216
A firm believer a man should be able to smoke in his own home. But also understand family circumstances. Have in-laws moving in within a few months, and both are on O2 and CPAP machines.

Be careful with the exhaust fan and making sure you have adequate fresh-air intake for the sq ft. Consider a smoke-eater too. The Rabbit should work very well within that size area.

Are you going to sheetrock over the polyethylene sheeting? If so consider using blue or marine board as it's not as porous as regular gypsum board.

Good luck with your build!. Post some pics of the progress for us to see.
zody Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 05-03-2005
Posts: 1,149
danmdevries wrote:
Even if just a smoking room, in order to keep any leeching to the rest of the home, you'd need to turn over the full volume of the room many times during your smoke. Could do this by venting an intake from outdoors, but would quickly end up with a room with an outdoor climate.

Going to be pulling air from inside the basement for my fresh air intake to maintain positive air pressure so I've got that covered. Airflow is going from inside to outside and the basement is large enough that's no problem. Using one of those exhaust units with a hose that attaches to one end like used in construction sites. More than enough CFM to handle the size of the enclosure. Gotta love Harbor Freight.


cacman wrote:
A firm believer a man should be able to smoke in his own home. But also understand family circumstances. Have in-laws moving in within a few months, and both are on O2 and CPAP machines.

Be careful with the exhaust fan and making sure you have adequate fresh-air intake for the sq ft. Consider a smoke-eater too. The Rabbit should work very well within that size area.

Are you going to sheetrock over the polyethylene sheeting? If so consider using blue or marine board as it's not as porous as regular gypsum board.

Good luck with your build!. Post some pics of the progress for us to see.


I'm it was just me I'd not worry about it, I believe the same thing. But my daughter comes first in all things and I'm not going to do something inside shared living space that's going to affect her.
Not going to dry wall it. This is going to be a moveable enclosure that I can disassemble during the warmer months and put back together for winter, just an enclosure that the air can be totally evacuated from directly to the outside and not a permanent built in structure. I made it large but the whole thing is very light weight.
rrumba Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 12-28-2013
Posts: 1,093


i was on my to doing the same thing in my office which is in my basement. I build out most of my office but not the ceiling yet. My intentions are to also be able to enjoy it while i am working. My thoughts were building a kinda vaulted ceiling right above my desk area and then use exhaust hoods like above the stove, or the guts anyway for the fan etc and then vent it out using an insulated hose to a dryer vent right out the side of the wall. Only problem is then the paint will hold the smell.. So now i am on the hunt for a stainless steel exhaust hood like they use for the stove tops for an island so it is right above me and goes right out. Probably find something i can use at the scrap metal places to do the same thing as the hoods are pricey.
danmdevries Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,124
You do realize this will be an expensive endeavor when you get to pumping the volume of your home's warm air directly to the outdoors....

Dunno where you live, but around here, can't afford the slightest prolonged leak to the outside air. Gas bills routinely in the $300's and when I replaced a few windows in February, $800's...
danmdevries Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,124
For outdoor comfort, if you can swing the cost, an infrared heater is wonderful.

I had one of these when I was a mechanic that would run all day on almost no fuel, and required such little electric that an inverter an 12v battery lasted all day in the field. Didn't need to be next to the heater to feel the warmth, and it's very quiet. I've got a smaller model in the garage now. Don't use it as much since I've already got thermostat controlled furnace out there, but use it for winter projects and brew days.

http://www.val6.com/products/view/kbe5l
tamapatom Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
Do you really want to feel like bubble boy? Why not build a shed outside and use a heater or pot belly stove. Fresh air can be controlled and not affect house. Dont worry about surfaces....let it be a true smoke shack. And if you can open it up in summer you can use it year round.
delta1 Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,754
+1 on the heater for outdoor smoking. I use an electric Presto Heat Dish on my back patio when the temps dip below 50... when a long sleeve shirt doesn't do the trick...
zerohourhero Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 06-22-2015
Posts: 1,308
My wife and I are currently shopping for a house. We're actually going to be planning for my habit by looking for a detached garage I can turn into my office/smoke den. With the website being built, and me streaming gameplay I need an office/studio anyway.

My big concern will be separating the space in half so my electronics aren't in the same area as the cigar smoking regularly (Cameras/PC/Green Screen Etc.... Tobacco smoke takes its toll on em.)
zody Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 05-03-2005
Posts: 1,149
tamapatom wrote:
Do you really want to feel like bubble boy? Why not build a shed outside and use a heater or pot belly stove. Fresh air can be controlled and not affect house. Dont worry about surfaces....let it be a true smoke shack. And if you can open it up in summer you can use it year round.


$$ for one thing, don't think I haven't thought that one through over and over again. Pot belly stove to sit in front of? I'd never want to go in the house!
Covfireman Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 09-03-2015
Posts: 809
I don't know about your area but around here we can buy a nice prebuilt she'd from the mennonites. I was just looking at one that was 9' X 12' it was $1495.00 delivered. .
twink Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 02-03-2015
Posts: 350

I want ta smoke a cigar in the winter....I just put on the parka & a cap an take a walk in GODs wonder....
danmdevries Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,124
Covfireman wrote:
I don't know about your area but around here we can buy a nice prebuilt she'd from the mennonites. I was just looking at one that was 9' X 12' it was $1495.00 delivered. .


Yup. Brother in law had an Amish crew erect a shed a year or two back, big enough for a boat, ATV, tractor, mower, attachments, as well as a full walkable attic above, for about 3k.

Haven't decided if I'm staying on my land. If I do, I'll likely have the Amish erect a 100'x50' barn. My contact said it could 've done under 20k minus concrete.
cigarlover22 Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 06-29-2015
Posts: 490
The Amish are amazing at building. Cheap and great quality!
Users browsing this topic
Guest