A darkroom in my basement

[Daniel_OB]

Soon I will build a new darkroom in a part my basement. It is underground and all around is concrete, except top (wood). The basement is very dry and no leak. However, as I know concrete make problem with corrosion, and I think about my enlarger and lenses. Should I isolate darkroom and how. Anyone with similar problem, if problem at all.

www.Leica-R.com

 

[jp80874]

Daniel,
You can buy a dehumidifier that will take moisture out of the air. Many homes in this part of the world (around the Great Lakes) have them as a matter of course. Buy a gauge that shows temperature and humidity. Be sure the readings do not glow in the dark. Then you will be able to quantify the problem and see how it changes seasonally. Search for a thread called “Darkroom Portraits”. 307 posts and 47,802 views at this writing. It will give you many design, equipment and building ideas. Enjoy many happy hours in your new darkroom.

John Powers

 

[glbeas]

Definitely seal the concrete walls and floor. Bare concrete sheds fine dust all the time and will frustrate the h*** out of you trying to keep things clean. The sealant also works as a moisture barrier so it will help keep things a bit drier too.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I used to have my darkroom in a basement, I used that garage-floor epoxy.
It worked very well, went on quite easily and was very durable.
Ditto on the dehumidifier, although you don't want it bone dry in their either.
A little humidity will take care of dust flying everywhere.

 

[Dave Starr]

Mine's in the basement. I framed the walls with 2x4's and put drywall & panelling on the framing. The floor is actually raised a bit. Treated lumber, subfloor anf commercial vinyl tile. I have no dust problems.

 

[Papa Tango]

Mine is very much the same. A wall sealant such as Dry Loc in the grey color does nicely to seal the concrete as well as provide a nice, non-reflective coloring that is not too dark. Ditto on the garage floor epoxy for the floor. I run a small 4 liter per hour GoldStar dehumidifier at about 45%. Keeps dust down, the area cooler, eliminates most static, and is not too much that things dry out and crack...