Beedster Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Hi folks, We've just moved back to rented accommodation in Canterbury, one of the key selling points of the property we rented being a large brickbuilt workshop that would make an ideal studio/boy's room (did I say 'boy's room', I meant 'office'). I was described as watertight - which I'm guessing it is as there appear to be no leaks - but having stored some boxes in there for a month or so there's no doubt that it is damp (the cardboard has started to crinkle, a have pages of books). So I now have everything out of there and in the house, and Mrs Beedster has a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp whilst having it's arse slapped. Of course the last month has been a testing for the most rugged of outhouses, so I'm not surprised, but given that the long term plan is to keep all my instruments (from mandolin to double bass) and at least some if not most of my recording gear in there, I'm potentially faced with a problem. I know nothing about building repair and maintenance I should add! Obvious solutions to me are: 1. Wait til the weather settles down and make a call before dealing with problem 2. Ventilate it more (it's not ventilated often at present) 3. Heat it (it's not heated at all at present) 4. Get in a specialist builder to spec the problem Any thoughts would be gratefully received, especially if you know your stuff about buildings. C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushers Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Heat and ventilation will sort it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldG Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) What kind of brick structure - old or more recent,single course or double? concrete floor or other, how's the integrity of the roof,etc Edited March 1, 2014 by OldG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Chris, assuming that there is no actual water ingress through roof/walls/floor, then it just a case of controlling the humidity level. Slightly easier said than done mind. If you are willing to through some cash at it, then you need to look at insulation, ventilation, back ground heat. In the first instance and as a cost effective starting point I would look at putting a decent de-humidifier in there. Once this has had a chance to dry things out and lower the humidity then you can tackle the problem. Damp Proofing, Condensation control and water proofing was what I did prior to encountering my current health problems. Let me know if you want any advice, always happy to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 I could do with some advice please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 De-humidifier will help short term. You can hire big f**k-off jobs from places like HSS or you can buy one. I think Argos stock some and - don't forget - Argos has a 16 day money back guarantee if you're not happy with the product. Some people of a low ethical , tight arsed , Northern nature might be tempted to use such a device for a fortnight and then return it but far be it from me to suggest that !! Longer term you'll need to get a professional in to give advice and a price to sort it. Get several and only pick ones with a landline number ! I look forward to hearing that Mrs B's face has returned to a placid , contended smile but in the meantime so long as you leave her some space in the house to do the dishes and push the vac about I'm sure she'll cheer up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) Condensation forms on cold surfaces. You need to insulate and heat the space. If it's not insulted you'll be wasting your time heating it. Then you need to make sure it's ventilated but not so much that you lose the heat. Dry lining with foil backed plasterboard and a 2" air gap should do it. You'll lose about 3" off each side of the room though. Edited March 1, 2014 by TimR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 [quote name='TimR' timestamp='1393708342' post='2383676'] If it's not insulted you'll be wasting your time heating it. [/quote] As we've seen in Basschat topics on numerous occasions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1393708647' post='2383682'] As we've seen in Basschat topics on numerous occasions... [/quote] Good spot. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Combination of Dr.Dave and TimR. Some warmth to stabilise the temperature plaus a dehumidifier to get shot of excess moisture. What you have at the moment is oscillation between warmth (at least to a degree) causing evaporation and higher humidity, which then condenses out when the temperature drops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the boy Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I had a basement like this once. Some guy came around and put an extraction fan linked to a humidity sensor. Apparently the problem wAs no air exchange so the damp stagnant air became mouldy. This was ok for storing bikes and stuff in there but if you are storing recording equipment and instruments I would suggest you need to go the whole hog and insulate, heat and extraction. Word to the wise, never store stringed instruments in a damp environment. Archers at the ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Check out the specs of any dehumidifier you may think of getting, some types don't work very well at low temperatures. Also, if it's not being used in a normal living area, consider getting one with a drain pipe unless you want to be regularly emptying the reservoir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 From personal experience of very similar issues, if the room using the dehumidifier isn't pretty much airtight, not as in a sealed room but pretty much draught free I mean, you're wasting your time/electricity. In effect you'll be trying to dehumidify the atmosphere The building in question for me is built of breeze blocks, which are now filled with insulation. Inside the roof I built a dropped ceiling with loft insulation above it, but you still have to leave space for air to circulate between that & the roof. Biggest issue that I haven't overcome yet is the concrete floor, which will always be cold, which will cause condensation whenever the room is heated - even to a slight extent by people being in the room. The answer to that is to build a raised wooden floor on top of it, which tbh I can't be arsed with right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 If this is rented accommodation, shouldn't you be having this conversation with the landlord and/or the letting agents? Possibly along the lines of damages to your valuable books caused by the damp, and the cost of hiring dehumidifiers to return the property to the state that you contracted to rent it in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the boy Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 [quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1393798644' post='2384530'] If this is rented accommodation, shouldn't you be having this conversation with the landlord and/or the letting agents? Possibly along the lines of damages to your valuable books caused by the damp, and the cost of hiring dehumidifiers to return the property to the state that you contracted to rent it in? [/quote] Excellent point. I overlooked that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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