Damp old stone outbuilding workshop - how to cure it ?

flynnboy · Post by **flynnboy** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:04 pm

Hi everyone

I have an old stone-built outbuilding which I have recently renovated to make a workshop for myself. It has turned out grand - weather proof + lecky. However....

It seems to be very damp in that I am getting a lot of condensation on my metal equipment and some of it is starting to show rust

If I leave paper in there it goes like damp rag and you can see/feel wet on the walls.

I don't know if this is just the old place starting to dry out or if it is going to stay like that ?

It may be because I have been using a Super-Ser gas heater which as I am sure you know will cause condensation. I am just waiting delivery of an electric convector fan heater. Do you think this will cure the problem ?

If not do you think I should dry line it - dry line it anyway regardless ?

As for that - bearing in mind it is only my outside workshop - I thought of lining the walls with 1" thick polystyrene sheet rather than plasterboard/battening and DPM. Would that work ?

I'd really appreciate any advice and ideas.

Thanks in advance of any help/suggestions

FB

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:23 pm

Some ventilation would help, is there any?

flynnboy · Post by **flynnboy** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:39 pm

Not other than old building leakage...... I think the problem is more that just ventilation ... One of my questions was is this just the old building drying out perhgaps ?

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:37 pm

100% definatly try ventilation

you can get a fan heater with frost protection that kicks in a 3 degrees

you would be better off without the gas heater as its agrivating the problem

what size is the area width hieght and depth!!

flynnboy · Post by **flynnboy** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:45 am

It's basically 5 mtrs x 5 mtrs x 3 mtrs high (once I put my insulated ceiling in)

As for ventilation - what if I just had my two windows slightly open when I'm in there ?

Thanks

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 11:39 am

trouble is you are burning gas and throwing a litre or so off water around every so often so ventilation must be enough to remove it

when you expecting your electrical heating and what sort is it including wattage!!

you realy need the ventilatation to happen whilst the fuel is burning and after you turn the heat off as cold wet air is bad cold dry air is much better

get yourself a wood burner and you will need ventilation to replace the dry air that dries your throat and makes your eyes smart

flynnboy · Post by **flynnboy** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 12:14 pm

Well I've been trying for months to find a second hand woodburner and failed. I decided to get electric instead because
a) I can't find a woodburner
b) I would have to keep on lighting it and cleaning it.
c) Fueling it would be more hassle than electric.

On balance I decided to get a wall mounted 3kw fan convector which should arrive within the week. This is fully controllable with an anti-frost setting and 24hr + 7 day cycle programming which I will find very useful. I am reckoning that the fan will help circulate warm air and dry it out. I have also bought a 3kw garage fan which I plan to put above the door for back-up.

I have two windows on adjacent walls and a couple of small windows - one of them close to ceiling level. I am going to put a self-rotating extractor in that one. I have basically decided to dry line the walls also - it's just a question of what to do it with.

I think these measures will help both dry the place out and keep it warm. If I insulate it properly and use programming sensibly I should also be able to keep the electricity costs down.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 12:27 pm

if you insulate and are happy to work in around 12 degrees your probably talking 1 unit an hour with the outside at or just above freezing

i would personaly give the building several weeks to dry out before insulating to make shure you havent got a river running down the wall when it rains

got my stove from hot spot way more than enough for my 10x12ftx8ft to apex roof leave it roaring your talking in the 30degrees within the hour at 5 degrees outside
http://bit.ly/xl3wZK

flynnboy · Post by **flynnboy** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:11 pm

I've had the workshop up & running a couple of months now and there are no 'rivers' just damp to touch. And that's with an immense amount of rain and wind we've had blasting at it so I'm not overly concerned about that - I am also in the process of re-pointing outside just to be sure about things.

I probably would have put a stove in if I had found one but here In Ireland there just aren't any 'workshop'/pot-bellied type stoves to be had at a reasonable price only 'posh' living room ones. I've bought my electric heaters now anyway.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:33 pm

i still have an electric fan heater that i will use whenever i need to raise the temperature for a short while incidently the heater is on minimum temp 3 degrees whenever a frost is expected and this was long before the wood burner was installed

i get no condensation or rust on the tools at all even on the odd occasion when the shed has gone sub zero by mistake

flynnboy · Post by **flynnboy** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:49 pm

What would you line the walls with ? I've been thinking of using 1" styrene insulation sheets which don't seem too expensive - less I think than plasterboard which seems a little over the top for my workshop anyway. Even thought of ply ?