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Author Topic: Moved to my first Studio  (Read 2521 times)

roskav

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« on: June 01, 2008, 04:49:10 pm »

Sorry about the posting in this sub-forum.. but I figured it would be the best one to ask for advice.

I've just moved to a new studio which previously had been an architectural model-maker's workshop.  I've had a linoluem floor put in and had the walls filled and painted .. .. all looks great... and I did my first job there a day after moving in last week... natural light .. lovely.  The studio is in a basement with a large window on to a courtyard which gives lovely soft natural light for most of the day.  Here's the problem .. there is one small room which had been used for spray painting which I now have my server in... I had also intended to store my gear there on open shelves.  After one day I noticed that the walls sprouted a fine white fungus from a damp spot.. so I cleared out all of the gear and put it in the sun for a bit .. all was bagged so I think I'm ok.  

With all of the sawdust in the workshop I had never noticed that it was damp before ... it had acted as a dessicant .. and was swept out each day.  Now with none of this going on the place feels a little damp.  I've put in a de-humidifier and the server actually heats the room up a bit which also helps.

My question is .. has anyone had this type of studio .. and have they found things like dry-walling improve things?  I had really wanted to use that room as a store .. so I'm willing to try any good suggestions!

Thanks!

Ros

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Craig Lamson

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« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2008, 10:30:58 pm »

Quote
Sorry about the posting in this sub-forum.. but I figured it would be the best one to ask for advice.

I've just moved to a new studio which previously had been an architectural model-maker's workshop.  I've had a linoluem floor put in and had the walls filled and painted .. .. all looks great... and I did my first job there a day after moving in last week... natural light .. lovely.  The studio is in a basement with a large window on to a courtyard which gives lovely soft natural light for most of the day.  Here's the problem .. there is one small room which had been used for spray painting which I now have my server in... I had also intended to store my gear there on open shelves.  After one day I noticed that the walls sprouted a fine white fungus from a damp spot.. so I cleared out all of the gear and put it in the sun for a bit .. all was bagged so I think I'm ok. 

With all of the sawdust in the workshop I had never noticed that it was damp before ... it had acted as a dessicant .. and was swept out each day.  Now with none of this going on the place feels a little damp.  I've put in a de-humidifier and the server actually heats the room up a bit which also helps.

My question is .. has anyone had this type of studio .. and have they found things like dry-walling improve things?  I had really wanted to use that room as a store .. so I'm willing to try any good suggestions!

Thanks!

Ros

www.roskavanagh.com
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=199286\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

What is the construction of your building?  Is it concrete block?  I moved from my last leased building ( a concrete block structure) because the blocks were weeping moisture.  This caused effloressence, a build up of minerals from inside the concrete blocks.  No amount of block sealer, filler nor paint would stop the "snow" from growing on the walls.  I know, I tried it all.   The only solution is to sale the block from the outside..and at least in my situation that was a failure as well.

Good luck with this, I fought it for a few years and then moved to a steel building.
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BobDavid

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« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2008, 09:20:42 am »

I live in a very humid climate (Florida) and have my studio in a converted garage. I have an AC/Dehumidifier unit in there that is on 365 days a year. This has allayed my worries about mold. Still, I do not store cameras and digital backs in there.
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Steve_Townsend

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« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2008, 03:44:14 pm »

I would go very careful. Impermeable materials like lino on the floors may just force the dampness that is in the floor to come out elsewhere i.e. up the walls.  The paint on the walls may not help either if there is dampness within the structure. I certainly wouldn't store valuable or important items there.  Mould can be caused by condensation, warm air condensing on a cold structure, that's one thing and ventilation/ dehumidifier will help. But if you have dampness within structure more specialist help should be found. Furthermore if the fungus is indicative of some spread of rot then you really do need help.

Steve
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Dansk

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« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2008, 06:30:52 am »

We had that happen at an older home we renovated. We had to dig around the entire foundation ( had a back hoe guy do it ) and then paid some local young dudes to seal it with that tar spread and then refilled the soil. Inside we parged (sp?) the block to clean up the block and remove the musty smell and that cured it. A lot of work but it could be done on the cheap if you do the work yourself. Materials were only 500 bucks total.
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roskav

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« Reply #5 on: June 03, 2008, 01:48:01 pm »

Hello thanks for the informative replies!

I had a look at the dehumidifier this morning after the Bank holiday weekend ... 3 days on the trot has seemed to make some difference.  (It had stopped collecting water and was just ticking over)  I'm going to get a damp specialist out to have a look ... but in relation to storing gear, I'm going to look at other options I think.  I just can't take the risk.  I'll post some pictures when I get the chance!

Ros
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