<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Bob,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It doesn't take a whole lot to get = humidity under control. My shop is a 1,000 square-foot stand-alone concrete block = building with a concrete floor. The only thing I did was to paint the outside with a = paint that is advertised to have moisture-inhibiting properties (not likely to = do much good on your metal walls) and use a Sears-type basement dehumidifier. My = shop easily stays down below 50% RH year 'round.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What type of insulation did you use in = your walls? If you used a foil-backed fiberglass roll stuff, you should be just fine = - the foil will do a pretty good job of stopping moisture migration (not to = mention your metal walls!).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I would check the function of your = dehumidifier. I had to replace my original one recently because it started icing over, = was running all the time and barely produced water. With the new one it = barely runs and produces a bucket of water every couple days. One thing I have found = is to make sure you get a dehumidifier with an <EM><U>electronic humidistat.</U></EM> The dial type seem to wander all over = regulating operation of the unit. The electronic ones seem to keep RH pretty darn consistent. The other thing I do is to keep a small fan running in the = area of the dehumidifier - I keep an air flow over the dehumidifier and pointing = out into the shop. That way the humidistat on the unit has exposure to representative shop RH and it spreads the dried air out into the shop = real well when the unit goes on.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Bob Hull" <</FONT><A href="mailto:hullfam5@yahoo.com"><FONT face=Arial size=2>hullfam5@yahoo.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial = size=2>></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To: "Pianotech" <</FONT><A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><FONT face=Arial size=2>pianotech@ptg.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial = size=2>></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 1:28 AM</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: Moistureproofing shop - now = stage box</FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT = face=Arial size=2>> I appreciate the reply, Gordon.<BR>> <BR>> My = concrete floor does have a layer of plastic<BR>> sheeting under it, if I remember right.  What type- I<BR>> don't know.  <BR>> <BR>> I = have seen moisture still come up through some small<BR>> cracks and the = concrete will look damp around that<BR>> crack.   But, overall I = don't think I have a big<BR>> problem.  I'm still getting the inside walls sheathed<BR>> with plywood when time allows.  The building is = a<BR>> metal building that began as a horse barn.  I added a<BR>> = ceiling, interior framing and insulation.  I've just<BR>> used the = localized approach of multiple dehumidifier<BR>> bars and blankets draped for = drying out soundboards<BR>> and this seems to do okay.  <BR>> = <BR>> I think next spring an additional or new dehumidifier<BR>> unit will be = in order.  <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> I'm outa here for the day. = <BR>> <BR>> Bob H.  <BR></FONT></BODY></HTML>