darkroom in a garden shed

carmenloofah · May 3, 2008

please can you message me if you can install a dardkroom for black and white 35mm photography in a standard wooden garden small shed and the cost involved. thank you

dancqu · May 3, 2008

carmenloofah said:
please can you message me if you can install a dardkroom
for black and white 35mm photography in a standard wooden
garden small shed and the cost involved. thank you

Sure. I shared 50-50 a 7x14 foot combination backyard
darkroom and greenhouse. A strung high electric line
and garden hose took care of those matters. How
much room have you? Dan

Anscojohn · May 3, 2008

Dust could be a concern. You might have to line the innards of the shed with black plastic to keep stuff away from your processing.

Dave Miller · May 4, 2008

The minimum size required is demonstrated by NOVAs darkroom tent: http://www.novadarkroom.com/cat/71/Setting_Up_A_Darkroom.html

Any increase in area over that is a bonus. Ive never found a darkroom that was too large, but I suppose they must exist. My own is in a 10 x 12 shed and details are at: Dead Link Removed

As for cost? I dread to think, do you mean just converting a space, or buying everything, including the shed?

Dave Miller · May 4, 2008

It's worth going through the darkroom thread: (there was a url link here which no longer exists) if you haven't already done that.

Nick Zentena · May 4, 2008

Sounds like he wants to hire somebody to do it.

Dave Miller · May 4, 2008

Nick Zentena said:
Sounds like he wants to hire somebody to do it.

That's true; travel costs could be high, I wonder where on this planet he lives?

Nick Zentena · May 4, 2008

Well he said thank you so he might be Canadian -)

Dave Miller · May 4, 2008

Nick Zentena said:
Well he said thank you so he might be Canadian -)

No chance; it was in lower case. Anyway his shed is too small for a Canadian.

Nick Zentena · May 4, 2008

I know one guy who was whining about the cost of his "garden shed" He is the handy farmer type so I knew he had done almost all the work himself. I finally asked him how big the shed was.

40'x40' with 20' ceilings! Just right to squeeze in his big truck and work shop.

Ian Grant · May 4, 2008

Somewhere there are images of Les McLeans garden shed darkroom, he takes it with him when he moves house. Perhaps it was B&W Magazine that had a picture of a crane lifting it into place.

Ian

carmenloofah · May 4, 2008

thanks all, I live in London, yes, I am looking for someone to install it from scratch so I don't have measurements, just the standard small wooden garden shed, fully lined as advised and with all equipment needed to print resin coated and fibre based prints.

carmenloofah · May 4, 2008

Dave Miller said:
The minimum size required is demonstrated by NOVAs darkroom tent: http://www.novadarkroom.com/cat/71/Setting_Up_A_Darkroom.html

Any increase in area over that is a bonus. Ive never found a darkroom that was too large, but I suppose they must exist. My own is in a 10 x 12 shed and details are at: Dead Link Removed

As for cost? I dread to think, do you mean just converting a space, or buying everything, including the shed?

What was the total cost of your dark room. Thanks for the link, it's just what I need.

Dave Miller · May 4, 2008

carmenloofah said:
What was the total cost of your dark room. Thanks for the link, it's just what I need.

Can't say, my wife reads these pages.

lyonheart · May 4, 2008

Dave Miller said:
My own is in a 10 x 12 shed and details are at: Dead Link Removed

Dave,

I am strongly considering doing the same thing next year. Can I ask:
I assume it is plumbed for water and waste water?
Do you have a heater for the winter, if so, what type?
Is 10x12 plenty big or do you wish you had more space?

Colin

Síle · May 4, 2008

Not quite as snazzy looking as Dave's.. but I just put up photos of mine on the (there was a url link here which no longer exists).
It's ideal for what I need right now and I feel so possessive of it already I fear I'll do a Mr Mc Lean on it if I ever move!

As for cost.. my husband is a carpenter and had most of the materials lying around and we did all the work ourselves.
So it is possible to do it on a shoestring.

Good luck with it!

Síle

Dave Miller · May 4, 2008

Colin, these are questions that I can answer.
Yes, to the water, in and out is automatic, and I have a permanent electrical supply. I use a small oil-filled electric radiator of around 600 watts which is controlled by a wall type thermostat. This keeps the temperature at 20C so the room is always ready for use. I took a lot of trouble with the insulation, so this is not too wasteful. For the summer I have a small a/c unit to keep it comfortable when Im working in it.
I dont think I would want to work in a smaller room, especially if I used trays for processing. Would I like more room? Certainly, perhaps a first floor loft extension as a print mounting area, with a balcony for the sundowners.

grahamp · May 4, 2008

Mine is about 8'x9' internal (details at http://www.gapatterson.org/photos/darkroom.html). The shed was there when we bought the house, and already had power. I don't have water. I don't recall the cost, but you can work out the materials easily enough.

pentaxuser · May 4, 2008

Dave Miller said:
Can't say, my wife reads these pages.

As long as it is cheaper than the you know what alternative, you should be home and dry( or is that home and wet?)

pentaxuser

adematto · Jul 11, 2010

Hi everyone - I'm a writer for Popular Mechanics working on a story for the magazine about sheds. I'd like to display an array of sheds and was hoping to find someone who has converted a shed structure (standalone in the backyard) into a darkroom. This would be fabulous to include in the mix. Please contact me as soon as possible if you have a shed darkroom.

darkroom in a garden shed

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