Side Downdraft Paint Booths in Georgia
A side downdraft booth pulls air down from the ceiling and exhausts it through filters low on the side walls. The result is close to full downdraft airflow on a flat floor, without a pit. Georgia fleet, truck and equipment shops use it when the finish has to be good on every side of a long vehicle but the slab cannot be cut. Double D Mechanical installs, moves and services these booths around the state.
Discuss your installationHow the Air Moves
Supply air enters through a full ceiling plenum and travels down the sides of the workpiece to exhaust filters at floor level along each side wall. Overspray drops and moves outward instead of traveling the length of the part. The exhaust plenums run along the outside of the side walls and join ductwork to the exhaust fan, so the booth is wider overall than its interior suggests.
Long Vehicles and Big Enclosures
Side downdraft suits long work: trucks, buses, trailers and large equipment. In the Savannah area, new heavy manufacturing such as the Virginia Transformer plant in Rincon points to more large painted steel moving through the region, and suppliers finishing big enclosures or tanks face the same problem vehicle painters do: even airflow over a long surface. Around Atlanta, fleet and municipal shops weigh the same choice for trucks and buses.
Planning the Footprint
Most surprises on side downdraft projects come from the extra width and the duct runs. Measure the outside dimensions, not just the cabin.
- Exterior width including both side exhaust plenums
- Ductwork from each side plenum to a common exhaust fan
- Ceiling height for the full-length supply plenum and lights
- Door size for the tallest and widest vehicle or part
- Clear space in front for pulling vehicles straight in
Ongoing Service
Side exhaust filters near the floor collect overspray and dirt tracked in on tires. Keeping them clean and evenly loaded keeps airflow balanced from one side to the other. We service fans, burners, controls and lighting, and rebalance booths that have started to favor one side.
Planning a booth or oven project in Georgia
Crews mobilize from Houston; Georgia is roughly 700 miles away, so equipment, panels and tooling are staged and shipped ahead of the install crew.
Manufacturing in Georgia is concentrated around Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, and Columbus. The sectors most likely to be specifying spray booths, blast rooms, powder systems and cure ovens there include automotive assembly and EV, aerospace, transportation equipment, and heavy machinery.
Hot, humid summers and mild winters put the emphasis on make-up air cooling or tempering, filter change schedules and keeping intake away from loading doors.
Frequently asked questions
Does a side downdraft booth need a pit?
No. Exhaust goes through filters low on the side walls, so the floor stays flat.
Is side downdraft finish quality close to full downdraft?
It is closer to full downdraft than semi downdraft or crossdraft, because air moves down along the whole length of the part.
Why does the booth take up more floor space?
Exhaust plenums run along the outside of both side walls, which adds width beyond the cabin interior.
Can one side pull more air than the other?
Yes, if filters load unevenly or dampers drift. Balancing restores even airflow between the two sides.
Do you install side downdraft booths for municipal fleets?
Yes. We install and service booths for public and private fleet shops.