Contruction Started (updated Mar 15, 2005)

Finally the first of Feb. I started my building. here are the first pics:

The outer walls are builded with 2 walls of 200 mm hollow block. My inner top wall is hollow block too. the second wall is filled with sand. First problem: the sand is not very dry. :cry:

If you can, spread the sand out some so it will dry more - also, it will compact more as it dries. If you MUST fill the blocks before the sand is dry, try tamping as you go and do NOT paint or cover the blocks on at least one side until you MUST - then, only paint with latex paint and NOT oil-based paint, so the moisture can escape. When the sand finishes drying, it will settle some more; this won't hurt your isolation too much, as it will only affect the top foot or so of wall... Steve

"Tamping" the sand is to press it? Like a item to press the coffe?? But is good to harden the wet sand?

more pics:

only paint with latex paint and NOT oil-based paint, so the moisture can escape.

this must be before plastering the walls, isn't it??

Yes, tamping means to pack down - best done every few courses of block - dry sand takes up less space, you are just "helping it along" a bit. I'm wondering if by "plastering" you mean "rendering" - this is where you mix mortar solution and spread about 1/2" thick on the block after the wall is built - this increases mass, seals the pores of the block, and improves STC a bit. If by "plaster", you mean adding gypsum wallboard to the block after it's built, then NO - don't paint it first. If you're going to continue to use wet sand, at least wait to put ANY finish on at least the outside of all the walls - this will help some of the moisture find its way out of your walls. Otherwise you will probably have mold growing in your rooms within a few months... Steve

I found this: - "render" coat with plastic or cement; "render the brick walls in the den" - Here, usually masons use gypsium paste instead of "pastic or cement". yesterday I ask to a paints shop assintant and he tell me to use a sealant ( 3 layers ) he don't know about latex paints- If I render one side of walls and the other not, should the moisture grow up by this side until it dries?? What about using carpet until the block and sand were dry??

Yeah, that's "rendering" - I'm not surprised, very few people even in the construction trades fully understand about moisture, how it travels, etc - (including me, sometimes :=) You could leave one side un-rendered, not sure I understand about the carpet; do you mean to cover the wall with carpet until the moisture can eventually dry? This will take quite a few months to happen, BTW - that's why it's so much better to START with DRY sand, and so much easier to get the sand dry when it's all spread out... Steve

I don't know if there are diferences between "wet" and "damp". In spanish the translation of "wet" is upper grade than "damp". Wet takes longer time to dry than damp. Is that correct? I that case, my sand is "damped" but not fully dry. My mason tell me the sand is so dry to render the walls, no problem with it. My idea about "carpet" is to use it on walls during 6 - 8 months and then change it for render gypsium. What do you think?

Yeah, it sounds like you're OK on the sand if the mason likes it - might be a good idea to do the temporary carpet on one side though, it's easier to fix things the less you have to tear out. That way, you'd be more sure the sand really WAS dry enough... Steve

So is the carpet an attempt to "wick" the moisture out?

Hopefully not; I got the impression it was just for looks, til things dried a bit. It's starting to sound like it might not be necessary to wait, but I'm not there to squeeze a handful of that sand... Steve

New pics of rendering and doors:

Nice doors! Any more info on them?

New pics at 26-2-05 general view of rehearsal, and two pics of the studio in oposite angles.

hi! i'm just wondering, what is the "outisde building"... are you using it just for weather protection during the building process, or will it stay there? does it provide any isolation by itself? i'm thinking of building a garage-sized studio, just with the right wall thickness and materials. and the inner walls on most studios i've been looking at are wood based, not brick... is it better to use the materials you use, if one is starting from scratch? thx!

hi SoulFood, The outer walls are a warehouse. as you can see there are so many rooms, seven of them will be rehearsal rooms and the bigger one will be the studio. This inner walls are the structure walls, then I put steel frame isolation in the studio. (steel frame+rock wool+sheetrock).

Hi, Soul Food, and welcome; your question would depend on which materials are available in your area, and their cost; generally, you want high mass and low cost without giving up durability or ease of building - not always possible. Also, the outer mass of your mass-air-mass envelope will (in the case of a free-standing building) need to be weather resistant, or there's no sense in building it :cry: You can help us help you by checking around your local area for price and availability on any masonry block products, gypsum wallboard, particle board, OSB (Oriented Strand Board, similar to plywood) MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), chip-board, cement board, and of course framing lumber; 2x4 for framing (35mm x 90mm roughly) and larger for ceiling framing, typically 2x6 or 2x8 (35mm x 140mm, 35mm x 190mm approx.) Also, it will be better if you start your own thread; that way, it's easier to keep track and the threads don't wander around so much. Again, welcome; I think you're our first Slovenian member, or at least the first who's posted 8) Steve

i just might do that in the future... but i'm still far away from really building it. so i'm just learning and looking for info thx for the warm welcome knightfly!

here are the joists in the rehearsal rooms and the structural ceiling of the studio.

Hi hugo_inside! that's a great idea, to rent rehearsal rooms! but that's gotta be a hell of a isolation, if you'll have some hard rock bands rehearsing! in the biulding, where my band rents a room, there are two more bands and there is no way we could rehears at the same time. isolation is pretty good, but bass comes through anyway. so everybody pumps up their bass, to hear the right one, and you imagine the result... i couldn't imagine recording so close to 6 angry screaming metal bands! so good luck with that! anyway, i love that idea, and bands renting the rooms are more likely to come to you first for some recordings! sweet!

Blocks are filled with dry sand and two sides are rendered with gypsium. The floors were floated soon and ceiling is now my problem... :lol: Where my band and I rehears there are 120 mm thick block without fill and carpet on one side... I think my way is better but I still don't know if my rooms works. :?

Mar 15, 2005... the first ceiling and outer walls render...

ceiling finish...