Last year we bought a house, really it was 2013 but right at the end of the year. So we had the task of building a new cooler last spring and someone suggested I write a blog post about. Well here it is and I am going to apologize for the fact that it is not a very riveting story.
Here is why I love my Coolbot cooler and intend to build another one… it’s way cheaper than a regular walk in. A friend of mine is a florist and she just had a new walk in cooler installed. She went with the typical rooftop unit type, the electrical work and cooling unit alone cost her somewhere in the neighborhood of $7-8000. A Coolbot and a window air conditioner cost about $700-1200 depending on your taste in air conditioners. I know there are people out there who say that these things are not the correct humidity for flowers. Perhaps that is true. I have been using this type of cooler for 5 years and haven’t had any issues. I usually keep a bucket of water in there and if I am concerned about a particular item getting a little dry I cover it loosely with a plastic bag.
Her are my instructions for how to build a Coolbot cooler:
- Go to the website http://www.storeitcold.com/coolerconstruction.html
- Read the info on their website regarding what type of AC unit to buy.
- Read through their info on how to insulate properly.
- Follow their plans and instructions to build your own cooler. Seriously they have thought of everything. If you run into problems go back to the website, I’m sure the answer is there. If not, give them a call and they will help you!
- Gather all of your supplies, find a handy person, and get to work. Someone who is familiar with a hammer and 2×4’s is necessary for this step.
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- framed up room and pre-hung door
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- my handy guy being handy
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- insulation done on the outside
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- AC unit in, still needs pink foam board to cover the inside coolbot will get mounted next to the ac unit
A couple other bits of advice: Make it the right size for your situation. Bigger is usually better, unless you want to fit your car into the garage… in which case measure your car before you start to build. Also don’t leave untreated/unpainted wood in there for shelves and what not. It will absorb moisture and get a little moldy. Also cover the floor with something you can mop. Happy building!
Project total about $1000 for 4×8 cooler box (not including the ac unit and coolbot):
- $550 for the double layer of 2in pink board
- $150 for lumber
- $200 for the door
- $100 for hardware and spray foam
becoming a flower farmer 