Walk-in Humidor

[stinggray]

Hi all. My name is Craig, I'm a newbie here taking on a big project of building a walk-in humidor. After doing a lot of reading about walk-ins including Cocky's thread. (very nice) I have have come up with a few questions. First let me tell you about my visions and show some plans. The humidor will be built along side my bar. It will be about 6.5'w X 5.5'd X 8'h. I will be using the Trion 707U Humidifier System to control the humidity. http://bcspecialties.com/cigarasp/500U.asp I know it's over kill but bigger is better right? I'm going to have to split my HVAC into to zones so I can keep the humidor cooler then the rest of the upstairs. It look like I going to use this system to accomplish that. http://www.smarthome.com/3038A.HTML If some has a better idea for the HVAC please post it. All the shelving will be made out of unfinished Spanish cider. The shelves will be supported with pilasters trimmed off with fluted molding and crown all made out of mahogany. The mahogany will be finished a clear water poly. Here's were my first question comes in. Is it O.K. to use poly in the humidor without affecting the cigars? The walls and ceiling will all be lined with unfinished 1/4 solid Spanish cider. Should I line walls and ceiling with plastic before installing the Spanish cider? If I don't whats the down side? Next the flooring will probably be marble. The floor it will be laid on is plywood. Should I install wonder board first? That's about as far as I've gotten so far. Any input god or bad would be welcomed. Here's a few pictures of my plans. As things progress I will keep you posted with updates and pictures. I hope to be completed before the Super Bowl..

Thanks

[ashauler]

Hi all. My name is Craig, I'm a newbie here taking on a big project of building a walk-in humidor. After doing a lot of reading about walk-ins including Cocky's thread. (very nice) I have have come up with a few questions. First let me tell you about my visions and show some plans. The humidor will be built along side my bar. It will be about 6.5'w X 5.5'd X 8'h. I will be using the Trion 707U Humidifier System to control the humidity. http://bcspecialties.com/cigarasp/500U.asp I know it's over kill but bigger is better right? I'm going to have to split my HVAC into to zones so I can keep the humidor cooler then the rest of the upstairs. It look like I going to use this system to accomplish that. http://www.smarthome.com/3038A.HTML If some has a better idea for the HVAC please post it. All the shelving will be made out of unfinished Spanish cider. The shelves will be supported with pilasters trimmed off with fluted molding and crown all made out of mahogany. The mahogany will be finished a clear water poly. Here's were my first question comes in. Is it O.K. to use poly in the humidor without affecting the cigars? The walls and ceiling will all be lined with unfinished 1/4 solid Spanish cider. Should I line walls and ceiling with plastic before installing the Spanish cider? If I don't whats the down side? Next the flooring will probably be marble. The floor it will be laid on is plywood. Should I install wonder board first? That's about as far as I've gotten so far. Any input god or bad would be welcomed. Here's a few pictures of my plans. As things progress I will keep you posted with updates and pictures. I hope to be completed before the Super Bowl..

Thanks

Good luck on the walk-in......don't have any advice for ya since I'm not a construction guy.

BTW, are those your cigars in the link you put in your sig line......or are you advertising for someone else? $40/box for vintage 25 yr old cigars....hmmmm, I'll have to research them a bit.

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.

[Maduro Man]

Looks like a big job! Good luck. Post some photos of how the job is going...

Welcome to the family from Cali...

[spiffykyle]

Is it O.K. to use poly in the humidor without affecting the cigars?

Yes. Once the poly is completely dried it will not affect your cigars at all.

Should I line walls and ceiling with plastic before installing the Spanish cider? If I don't whats the down side?

You might have a problem with the "cider" but as far as cedar is concerned, the humidity alone isn't going to hurt since its like living in a humid city to begin with (like me).

Honestly its a lot like refurbishing a bathroom. A good primer and paint would work fine. You could also use green board, which is a water resistant drywall, it tends to sag on ceilings however so the joists need to be closer together.

If it were me, I'd just use plain old drywall, a good primer, and a couple of coats of a mildew resistant paint, then your cedar. Be sure to allow for some expansion in the cedar as well when you install it since the humidity will cause it to grow a little.

Should I install wonder board first?

I would install wonderboard, just like installing ceramic tile in a bathroom. You can also get a better bond with the cement board.

My $0.02

spiffy

ps Welcome to the forum!

[stinggray]

Good luck on the walk-in......don't have any advice for ya since I'm not a construction guy.

BTW, are those your cigars in the link you put in your sig line......or are you advertising for someone else? $40/box for vintage 25 yr old cigars....hmmmm, I'll have to research them a bit.

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.

As for the Cerdans yes there mine. I have to get a few things in order first. But I will be opening some boxes at the first of the year for my fellow forum smokers. Keeping your eye out for a thread as there will be a limited number of sticks going out. Most of the stuff online about them are very out of date. They have only been for sale in a local store for the last 9 years. Around 98-99 there were some for sale online else were but they went quick. If you have any questions just ask.

Yes. Once the poly is completely dried it will not affect your cigars at all.



You might have a problem with the "cider" but as far as cedar is concerned, the humidity alone isn't going to hurt since its like living in a humid city to begin with (like me).

Honestly its a lot like refurbishing a bathroom. A good primer and paint would work fine. You could also use green board, which is a water resistant drywall, it tends to sag on ceilings however so the joists need to be closer together.

If it were me, I'd just use plain old drywall, a good primer, and a couple of coats of a mildew resistant paint, then your cedar. Be sure to allow for some expansion in the cedar as well when you install it since the humidity will cause it to grow a little.



I would install wonderboard, just like installing ceramic tile in a bathroom. You can also get a better bond with the cement board.

My $0.02

spiffy

ps Welcome to the forum!

Thanks Spiffy the paint sounds like it might work just fine. I think the wonderboard is the way to go. My only hesitation is the transition between the carpet and marble on top of wonderboard. But I've seen worse.

Thanks Guys

[discdog]

Yes line the room with plastic after you install the drywall. I'd use greenboard just so I didn't have to paint, but that's a personal choice. The poly is ok after it has dried, but totally unnecessary for this application. The humidifier is way overkill, but again it is a personal choice as is the A/C. How will you heat? Sorry, I didn't notice where you were from before starting this, or if is even an issue.
You can use marble, but remember when damp, it does become slippery. I chose to use Sattlilla tile, which also enables me to use it as part of the humidification system.
Hope this helps.

[FunkyCold5]

Wow, that sounds awesome. Keep us updated with your progress.

Andrew

[nhcigarfan]

Everyone’s suggestions seem to clear this up.

Good luck with the humi.

If you have any concerns about the poly, just email a cigar manufacturer and ask what kind of poly/varnish type stuff they put on their cigar boxes. What ever they are using will also be fine for your application.

[COMB2]

If some has a better idea for the HVAC please post it

What will the sides be aginst? I know yo said it's by your bar but what about all the other sides? If it is not aginst any outside exposed walls I would not worry about piping in any air. The surrounding room will temper the room well. When we are installing systems at work we never install supply runs in interior rooms b/c it is surrounded by tempered rooms. Also when the A/C kicks on it will be pumping in dehumidified air. Your A/C systems tries to pull all the humidity out of the air to keep it cool. It can only get it to 45%-50% on a good system. So in the middle of summer the humidifier would be running non stop. Also you will need motorized dampers to use with that zone controler and an additional stat ran into the humidor.

Are you making the humidor a zone all by it's self? If so your furnace will most likely not work to well if at all when only the humidor needs heated. You would save alot of money and headaches by not zoning that room.