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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2017 19:48:53 GMT
My wife and I live in the city. Our children are grown and now we have an extra small bedroom that we want to convert to a pantry. Should I remove the window? Do I leave the duct work to allow heating and cooling? The room is approximately 10x10. There is a perimeter foundation, so if the is excessive weight I would likely need to reinforce the floor. we live in earthquake country and want to be prepared. Any design ideas would be appreciated.
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Post by feather on Sept 3, 2017 20:16:32 GMT
We have an 8 x 10 foot basement pantry. There were ducts on the ceiling, we insulated around/over them, the pantry doesn't need heat. We left a small window, to cool the room by opening the window a crack in winter, with the screen left on, on the outside. You could insulate over the window and close off all the heating and cold air returns and not have to do any renovating. The shelves, if you are in earthquake prone areas, I've seen people put boards across the front of the shelves in case the jars rattle or move.
Welcome to HF!
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Post by Skandi on Sept 3, 2017 20:34:05 GMT
Every house I've lived in with a larder has always had a SMALL window in it, but if the window is south facing (assuming you are in the northern hemisphere) I would make it smaller or cover it with a blind. We use what was almost certainly the larder in this house as a guest room, it has the smallest window in the house a half size door, (hubs and I hit our heads all too often on it!) and comes off the kitchen. I wouldn't have any heating in there, but if you live somewhere warm then maybe the cooling would be usefull, anyway to turn the heating off in the summer? block the vent or something? I know nothing about air heating, I don't think it exists over here in europe.
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Post by paquebot on Sept 3, 2017 22:11:30 GMT
Our pantry was originally a small bedroom with 2 windows. Blinds are down plus thick curtains to block out any sunlight in the east and south windows. Heat vent is closed and blocked to keep it as cool as possible. And, door is always closed when nobody is in there.
Martin
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Post by here to stay on Sept 3, 2017 22:51:21 GMT
Mine is a 12x12 walk in closet with two doors and no window. It's on the northeast side of the house . I live in an area that gets down to a low of 20 degrees. It is normally a very damp climate. It too is in earthquake country. The room remains cooler than the house all year.
My dream has always been to design shelving that has access to both sides so that I can put new stuff in on one side and take it out on the other. This would mean less rooting around to move older things to the front and pulling out containers to what I need. But I never quite get around to it.
I have water in plastic jugs set inside plastic containers so if there is a leak, it is contained. I also have a lot of things in canning jars and those are also in containers with plastic easy liner to cushion the bottom and in between jars. This is to keep them from knocking against each other in quake. But shifting containers is a pain so mostly it is long term stuff in those.
Dark, even cool temps and low humidity are the best preserver.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2017 23:11:01 GMT
I was thinking of taking the window out. This would give us more wall space. We have central A/C and Forced air heat, but they run through the same duct work. I guess it would probably be better to block off the vent. The room faces easterly and it gets warm in the afternoon. I'm hoping that by removing the window, the room will stay cooler. Appreciate everyone's input.
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Post by Weed on Sept 4, 2017 0:03:07 GMT
Unless the window is in major disrepair or leaking, removing it seems a bit drastic considering the time, effort and costs involved to frame, insulate, sheath and re-side the exterior wall. Simplest solution would be to cover the window glass with a white static cling film to deflect light, backed up by snug fitting closed cell foam panels to fit within the window opening...preferably 2-3 layers thick (or whatever it would take to build it out flush to the interior wall)
If you have access to the ductwork from the basement, installing an inline damper would allow you to kill the heat but take advantage of the a/c during very hot conditions
If you have another option such as a basement or deep crawlspace, that would be more ideal. Here, our smaller pantry is upstairs but our main storage area is in the crawlspace. It's a dry 12'x23' area with shelves on 3-1/2 walls and a few freezers. Yeah, its a PIA sometimes going up/down & because it's only 8-1/2 block deep (68") but since it's big & directly at the bottom of the stairs it's worth the trouble. The ground keep the temps fairly steady year round, 58* in winter and 63* during the hottest weather of summer. A few operating crawlspace block vents gives a little bit more of a chill during the colder months if needed.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2017 2:38:35 GMT
We are going to float a coat of stucco over this side of the house, so this would probably be the time to close up the window. Unfortunately we are in the city and a basement would be quite expensive. We do have a crawl space, but no basement and I have actually thought about digging out a portion under the room the pantry is located. I have spoken with an engineer and he said if done properly, would not be a problem. It would just have to be done by hand and without permits, which doesn't really concern me.
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Post by here to stay on Sept 4, 2017 2:49:27 GMT
@citilivin , I don't know where you live but have you ever heard the term California Cooler? It was a fridge shaped box that allowed cool air from the crawl space and/or out side to keep thing like milk cool before there were electric fridges. If you live in a temperate zone, it might be a way access cool for your pantry. I had one in an old California bungalow and loved it. I often though about combining it with an earth cooled pipe.
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Post by paquebot on Sept 4, 2017 13:22:27 GMT
Also don't skimp on the shelving. I've heard of too many instances of boards breaking or sagging. Mine were originally boards but replaced them with metal shelving from Home Depot.
Martin
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Post by Weed on Sept 4, 2017 16:59:04 GMT
Biggest concern with removing the window would be the permanent lack of egress in that room should anyone in the future would want to convert it back into a bedroom. Being a retired builder - married to a realtor, I can't help but think about resale value. Of course I have no idea what size house you live in (maybe it's 4-5 bedrooms already and you can spare the space for renovating) or if you have intentions of never selling, but listing prices are set by looking at what comparable homes are selling for in the same market. The number of bedrooms is an important characteristic used to compare two properties. When you start eliminating bedroom space, you’ve completely changed the comparable value of your home in the neighborhood...and not in a good way
Sorry for sliding off the pantry topic
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2017 17:32:49 GMT
Weedkicker, thanks for your input. Gave the loss of a room some thought. We have three remaining bedrooms. Also, we have been in this home for 36-years. Even if we moved, we would not sell. This was a small room to begin with and our market comprises mostly 3 and 4 bedrooms. You did not slide of topic. I believe everything must be considered when making a decision such as this.
paquebot, I have researched shelving ideas and greatly appreciate your input. I have read many articles that state how people underestimate the weight. I really want to do this right and have something that will last well into the next generation that takes over this house.
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Post by Maura on Sept 5, 2017 13:32:47 GMT
I would put a light blocking shade on the window. They are more expensive than regular shades, but much cheaper than removing the window. When the electricity goes out you can pull up the shade for a light source. Add a pretty curtain and put a book shelf above the window. Under the window put in narrow shelves for jellies and small items that need little headroom.
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