MTcummins
In the Trades
I wouldn't worry too much about the thermal expansion/contraction here, but might consider doing 1" or 1.5" xps under your floor, and putting a 1/2" xps panel loosely between your duct and the wood panel if you're worried about it. As long as the panel isn't attached directly to the duct and it has a little room to expand and contract, this wouldn't really be necessary, especially if you condition this space year round, the changes in temperature on the wood panel wouldn't be that drastic. If you let it get down to 40 degrees and then heat it up to 80 degrees (which would be a good bit warmer than 80 in the duct) back and forth on a regular basis, that would be more concerning.
try to keep your door locations at least 80" height... you don't need a lot of extra room (door can go right to finished ceiling), but try to make 80" the lowest point in the room. even for shorter people, it starts to get very claustrophobic lower than that.
try to keep your door locations at least 80" height... you don't need a lot of extra room (door can go right to finished ceiling), but try to make 80" the lowest point in the room. even for shorter people, it starts to get very claustrophobic lower than that.