Help! - Moisture in Studio Problem!

[yiotta]

We live in a 75-year old wood house, and my studio is the dining room, which has beautiful built-in cabinets where I store all my supplies, including paper, etc.

I discovered a few weeks ago that the inside of these cabinets is very moist, and my paper's all damp and wrinkling!!! (Ever since last summer's nasty drought, we've had tons o' rain! Sigh!). I've left the cabinet doors open for several days now, and everything still seems pretty damp. Does anyone know if there's something one can insert into a cabinet that will absorb all the moisture, so as to leave my paper in OK shape? Boxes of baking soda perhaps? Any other ideas? Or maybe there's something wrong with the house? Any helpful suggestions will be appreciated...

TIA,

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Marilyn

www.inforapenny.com (http://www.inforapenny.com)

"The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable."
- Robert Henri

[pixelscapes]

If worst comes to worst and you HAVE to use these cabinets, you could always put a small box fan in the wall of the cabinet... get some of the drier room air circulating inside there.

Of course, the main point of cabinets is usually to keep things protected from dust, so this might not work too well unless you put a filter on the fan...

Alternatively you could get something more powerful than baking soda, like a silica gel dessicant to put in the cabinets.

Here's links to some dessicant products:
http://www.polylam.com/desiccant.htm
http://www.rutland.com/care2/care2.htm

Good luck!

-=- Jen "Dry sense of humor" de la Cruz
http://www.Pixelscapes.com and http://www.BewareOfArt.com

[Neal Glover]

I think the Damp Gone from Jen's second url is the stuff you'll find at Lowes.

[4vincent]

Since my studio was built with three foot retaining walls on two sides, it tends to get humid, especially during rainy seasons.
I usually use dehumidifiers and/or fan circulation to correct this. I also have a gauge which monitors studio humidity. Ken

[paintfool]

Marilyn, the product that Neal and others have spoken of is called Damp Rid and available at any hardware store & probably grocery stores as well. It works VERY well http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif I have one of those old ice boxes that were used before elecrtic refridgerators and it had been left outside for months in the rain. after i cleaned it up & brought it in i used the Damp Rid and it's perfect! no more musty smell either!
Cheryl

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paintfool

[sandge]

Hi Marylin,

Sorry to read about your problem. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/frown.gif

I would suggest that you need to find where this damp is coming from - is it a leak somewhere or is the wet in the structure of the house. If the cabinets are very moist and everything in them damp that does sound fairly dramatic. It doesn't sound as though a box or two of baking soda would be of much help.

I know nothing of wood houses. Shouldn't the rain (even a lot of it) stay on the outside, though? If you have any doubts, you should call in the professionals - if only to set your mind at rest.

Good luck with it - I hope you find the answer.
sandra


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http://www.fletcherfineart.com

[This message has been edited by sandrafletcher (edited January 19, 2001).]

[yiotta]

Thanks. Actually, it's not very moist -- just slightly more than enough to be noticeable -- I mean, there's no mildew or anything, and the papers aren't ruined and they do dry quickly enough (within a few hours, depending on paper type) -- yeah, I guess I'd better dig around and figure out why this is happening...it's the clearing stuff out and digging around part I dread -- yuk! (and the rain does stay on the outside of the house, as far as I can tell http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif I think it's just residual moisture -- I mean, this is Texas, after all - we're not used to having stuff like moss growing on the ground, but we've had that this fall and winter!)

Anyway, thanks again,

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Marilyn

www.inforapenny.com (http://www.inforapenny.com)

"The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable."
- Robert Henri

[Beau]

Yiotta,

Does the house have gutters?..do they run out on the ground next to your foundation?...Since you said nothing about leaks in the roof I'm thinking water is coming off the roof and under the foundation...You said nothing about a basement?...If you have a crawl space under your home the problem can be taken care of by simply putting a large sheet of plastic on the ground under your house...You can get rolls at a local hardware store and the fix isnt very expensive. If its not wide enough just overlap it a couple of feet...Ive seen a lot of damp homes with no basements that way and thats the best fix....If you get a hot AND wet summer I'll bet the midew will appear! We have built a lot of homes around here and thats one of the first things we do...Check the ground under your house..if its damp and not almost "Baby powder" dry give the plastic a try.

Hope this helps

Beau

[Neal Glover]

Lowes, probably Home Depot, and other similar places make small buckets of moisture absorber that sell for a few dollars. You set it in your cabinet or under your sink and as it absorbs the moisture it turns to a jellylike liquid. When it's completely turned you replace it.

You'll usually find it near the cleaning supplies.

[yiotta]

Great tips! Thanks, guys...yeah, you know we don't have basements here, because of the caliche (sp?) -- you know -- old ocean bed limestone stuff just below the dirt level -- we'd have to dynamite to put basements in! And now that you mention it, there's a water faucet just outside, PLUS a rain gutter! Doh!

Looks like I have a little work cut out for me to fix this! In the meantime, I'll race over to Home Depot!

Thanks again, everyone!

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Marilyn

www.inforapenny.com (http://www.inforapenny.com)

"The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable."
- Robert Henri

[carly]

And in addition to all of the above mentioned items that will help....you can line the cabinets with brown paper bags...they are great for absorbing moisture, spills, etc....really cheap (ask at the grocery for them instead of plastic).

The plastic under your house will really help a lot all over the house and a dehumidifier.

carly

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"Everything is not art and Art is not everything, but it comes close."....carly

[carly]

Oh...you can purchase brown paper in rolls, too. Check out the mail packaging area of Office Depot or other store.
carly

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"Everything is not art and Art is not everything, but it comes close."....carly

[yiotta]

Thanks, everyone, I think I'm loaded for bear now!

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Marilyn

www.inforapenny.com (http://www.inforapenny.com)

"The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable."
- Robert Henri

[Margi]

Marilyn, I've heard that charcoal also absorbs moisture.

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MargiB

[Yorky]

Hi Yiotta,
As a retired building surveyor, I have seen this problem many times. It is probably caused by the general humidity caued by the wet weather. When you store things in closed cupboards, they are more prone to damp and mould. I suggest you find a way of storing your paper on an open shelf or rack so that they are kept dry by the geenral air circulation.
Good luck, Doug

[tammy]

Don't forget to make sure that there is enough ventalation from the roof or attic spaces. If these vents are closed though that is what usually causes mold on the walls. I think I just read this but don't take it as gospel.

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Don't worry, its gonna be all right....
Tammy's Home for Artists (http://tammy.artistnation.com)

[berkking]

Solving the problem depends on a number of issues.

Are the cupboards on an outside or an inside wall? Vapour barriers are all well and good but often can trap moisture IN as well as keeping it out.

Are the cupboards wood? (I think you mentioned they were) If so, are they sealed or unsealed. (Moisture barrier)

Ventilation and air circulation is critical. However if the air is humid it will carry moisture along with it. Air movement and displacement in a humid (texas) environment is more appropriate than circulation per see (Circulation CAN mean the same temperature and moisture content circulating in a closed environment for example)

Limestone bedrock carries a high degree of moisture and may be rising through the soil into the wall structures (which I will assume are stud wall construction) Make sure your footings are not absorbing moisture. Plastic covering for these is just as important as for a basement. (On the OUTSIDE not the inside. Inside may trap moisture INSIDE and ventilation may not remove it)

Just some issues to consider http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

Nik

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"Well, God give them wisdom that have it. And those that are fools, let them use their talents!" Feste, 12th Night