Darkroom Construction

[Troy Hamon]

Thanks for the responses. I have another question...will this stuff hold by itself since the foam is just attached across the bottom of the floor joists, or do I need supplemental attachments? Actually, I have two questions...will it hold through -40 temps? A lot of stuff turns sort of brittle and doesn't do so well when it gets that cold.

Thanks, everyone.

[glbeas]

Hmm, that may be a question to send to the manufacturer of that product, though construction people in your area may well know the answer. Try your local supplier and ask a few questions there.

[gordrob]

Troy - if you are going to use construction adhesive to attach the the foam board to the underside of the floor be careful about using it in an enclosed area. I just finished putting down 3/4 inch plywood on top of my subfloor kitchen and living room for tile and hardwood and there was a strong glue smell (a couple of days) in the basement from using it. You should be able to find the tubes of glue that you will need in your local hardware store under the PL brand. I would think that either PL200 or PL400 would be more than what you need. You will need a caulking gun - a couple of bucks - and do not get the glue on your hands because it is a problem getting it off. All you need to do is to put a couple of wavy lines of glue on the foam board and it should hold in place with a couple of screws with the large washers on them.

Hope this helps

Regards
Gord

[Troy Hamon]

Well...I went and looked at the construction adhesive and the applicators...couldn't conceive of a way I could work with it in the minimal space beneath the building...so I didn't get any. I asked for the plastic washers that are used, and they were out. They assured me that there were some coming, 'in the next few days,' but I didn't appear to have the same definition of 'few days' as they did. So I gave up on them. I drilled holes in a strip of remnant flooring plywood (1/4"), cut the whole thing into little squares around each hole, and then put a screw into each. These I carted around under the building with me as I crawled with the cordless drill. I put up all the foam, first putting fiberglass or foam pieces in all the ends to seal off all the potential cold intrusion points. I fit the foam together tightly enough that I'm probably going to try to live through the winter with it. I used a can of spray foam on some of the foam pieces in between the joist ends, but the other three cans were duds (welcome to bush Alaska...and be careful about buying ice cream at the store...). It's now turned cold and I can't apply the stuff unless it is above 45F, so even if I wanted to try my luck again I have to wait for warmer weather. We might get some this winter at some point... I'm hesitant to do that though, because I may find that the floor is not nearly warm enough, in which case a little bit of sealant around the edges is probably not sufficient. By not having the foam glued in, I can have blow-in insulation added next year if I want...we'll see. In the meantime, our annual art show is one weekend away (Nov. 4) and I've got to get ready for that. Simultaneously, I have two kids drawing pumpkin carving designs for me to practice my cutlery arts tomorrow night on orange orbs...

[Troy Hamon]

Cold has descended and I am trying to prepare to work in the darkroom again, now that the art show is over. I installed a drawer under the counter next to the enlarger Friday night. I had to cut a 2x2 to provide a support for the rail on one side, and used one of the 2x4 supports of the counter for the other side. I didn't want to put the 2x2 all the way down to the shelf because it would constrain access, so I cut a piece just long enough and screwed it to the top support for the counter and have it hanging down just drawer level. That way I can still slide tubs in and out beneath it.

We have had some pretty cold weather, in the 4-18 degree range, and right now an electric ceramic space heater on low is sufficient to keep the place comfortable...wow. Last year it couldn't even sort of keep up. The floor insulation is a huge improvement.

I never did get the skirting built, so I took scraps of flooring and plywood and put up a Bristol Bay skirting by leaning it all around the building. It at least will reduce the wind penetration under the building, and so far seems to be doing so. Next year, first project.

I'd like to put up a nice long low shelf, very narrow, just above the counter top. Maybe six inches deep or even four inches. That's probably the next project, but not sure it will happen this year, maybe next year.

[Troy Hamon]

Well, decided that I will have to put in the additional shelves now whether I want to or not, because I really need to help myself get organized...too many projects, too much to do, never enough counter space.

I also realized that the plumbing needed to be thought through again. I didn't want to deal with the 200 foot trench to get the water to the darkroom, nor heating the lines to keep it from freezing. So I put in a water tank that can be filled and then just gravity feed to the sink. This seems good as we often in winter get warm spells above zero when the 200 gallon tank could be filled. However, here we are going on many days since we hit subfreezing weather, and the only brief window near freezing was while I was trapped at work, and no obvious warming on the horizon. What to do?

I'm ready to start working again, so I've come up with another solution. I bought an aquarium pump capable of pumping with sufficient lift. I intend to carry the water in 5 gallon buckets and use the lift pump to fill the tank. I thought it sounded like a hassle, but honestly now I have got the details worked out it sounds totally okay, and should work just swimmingly. The pump is on the way and I'm buying shelving Saturday.

The project continues...don't they all?

[MurrayMinchin]

Hi Troy.

I think you should get some sort of 'Apug gold star of commitment' for building your darkroom considering where you live. Is there anybody else here more isolated (farther away from large centres with photography stores) than you?

Keep trucking Troy, spring is only 6 months away

I love winter myself, how about you?

Murray

[Troy Hamon]

Hi Murray...There's always somebody more isolated. I'm pretty out there compared to most, though...I wonder who it would be? Perhaps anybody in China or India?

I do love winter. I don't like the heating fuel, but we have a well-built and insulated house, so it is pretty reasonable. I love running and photographing in winter both, and hopefully this winter I will enjoy printing as well.

[jolefler]

OMG - You Go, Troy! Man, do I have it fat & slick.

[grahamp]

Where Troy lives they go swimming in winter - OK, 20 feet or so of open lake via a cut through the ice for a brave/foolhardy few - but it made me feel cold watching the video. Breaking the ice in the developer tray seems child's play by comparison. 8-)