Gaydos, Frank on tue 24 sep 02
A friend is building a studio (Barn Conversion) in the Pennsylvania
boondocks and asked for feedback on heating suggestions and water
supply.
She has access to propane but would like suggestions on what kind of
heating ideas are out there. Or actual Propane Heaters.
I suggested solar panels.
Also, there is no water source in the old barn. Any ideas there.
I suggested catching rain water? Having gravity feed it to a wash area.
Any other ideas?
TIA,
Frank Gaydos
Hank Murrow on tue 24 sep 02
>A friend is building a studio (Barn Conversion) in the Pennsylvania
>boondocks and asked for feedback on heating suggestions and water
>supply.
**** Having listened to John Glick's advice 15 years ago, I hasten to
suggest infra-red panels or cove heaters on the periphery of the
space, with a strong committment to vapor & radiant barriers at the
walls and ceilings. Reflect the heat around the room rather than
letting it leak out of same.
This approach works a treat in my studio, with pots drying VERY
evenly, just laid out on 4' x 10' tables. Another advantage is that
the units may be turned on like lights.....it heats in minutes, and
when you are gone, switch off. Could be run on solar panels directly,
or through batteries. Mine rely on our cost-effective NW
rain-generated electric power.
>
>She has access to propane but would like suggestions on what kind of
>heating ideas are out there. Or actual Propane Heaters.
>I suggested solar panels.
**** There are radiant tube-type heaters that emit infrared energy by
burning gas down the tubes. Cheap and effective if gas is the option.
Spend most of the weatherisation $$ on vapor and radiant barriers to
maximize this approach.
>
>Also, there is no water source in the old barn. Any ideas there.
>I suggested catching rain water? Having gravity feed it to a wash area.
>Any other ideas?
**** Run the gutter water into a cistern through a coarse filter to
screen out leaves and mold. This potter has a good friend in Frank
Gaydos.
Cheers, Hank in Eugene
Brian O'Neill on wed 25 sep 02
Frank,
I'm in the middle of converting a 30 x 60 hay barn into my studio. Here
are a few
considerations:
Water
I'm planning on using a catchment system as you are suggesting as I live
in the
Pacific Northwest and rain is plentiful. Farm supply stores carry a
variety of
holding tanks up to 100's of gallons. Drainage, as always, is important.
If she's
got a drain field off her septic system she should have a pretty good
way to
capture any clay/glaze residue so it doesn't contaminate or clog the system.
Heat
I chose to close off the portion of the barn that would comfortably work
for my
studio. This way I'm only heating the area I need and not the whole
barn. I'm
insulating the outside walls and plugging all cracks and holes. I have a 500
gallon propane tank for my kiln, but I'm opting for wood heat as again
in the NW
it's a cheap fuel source and dryer than fossil fuels, and I was given a great
stove. Since she has it, propane would be easier to manage for sure, and
this may
be the most important point regarding old barns as clay studios,
insurance may be
easier to come by.
Insurance
Insurance companies tend to FREAK OUT when they see old dry barn wood
and kilns
heating things up to 1000's of degrees coming in close proximity to one another.
Throw in a wood stove and well...go figure. I had to search long and
hard for a
company that would even consider insuring the barn. My previous
insurance company
(USAA) canceled my homeowners policy when we bought our current property
(5 acres
with home and outbuildings) as it was outside their "risk comfort zone"!
If it's a
hobby (minimal or no income generated) then it may be easier to insure,
but if
she's a working potter then it gets a bit sticker. It appears that
whether she's
just making pots out there by herself (manufacturing) or plans on
converting a
portion of the barn into a gallery (retail) she will need a general liabilities
policy for the barn. I'm considering Safeco and a company recommended by the
American Crafts Council (HRH phone: 800-843-5404).
Good luck to your friend. Would be interested in hearing how it progresses.
Brian
"Gaydos, Frank" wrote:
> A friend is building a studio (Barn Conversion) in the Pennsylvania
> boondocks and asked for feedback on heating suggestions and water
> supply.
>
> She has access to propane but would like suggestions on what kind of
> heating ideas are out there. Or actual Propane Heaters.
> I suggested solar panels.
>
> Also, there is no water source in the old barn. Any ideas there.
> I suggested catching rain water? Having gravity feed it to a wash area.
> Any other ideas?
>
> TIA,
> Frank Gaydos
>
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