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From: toadusew
Date: 05-06-2006, 08:28 PM (1 of 25)
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Hi, All! It's been quite a while since I posted because we have been busy moving. That's a long story for another thread. Anyway, we finally moved into our house and I'm struggling with where to put my sewing space. Here, we have a buried basement; there is not walkout, but there are windows. I was just curious about whether or not the basement would be damp for the sewing machines. This is a fully finished basement with berber carpet and drywall. My sewing machine is a computerized sewing/embroidery combo and I don't want to take a chance on harming it. My other choices are a very small bedroom downstairs, where the computer is, or the guest bedroom upstairs (if we take out the bed and dresser). Lighting is a concern in both of these areas, but that problem can be solved with good lamps. Any thoughts or suggestions on this? Thanks! 
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 05-06-2006, 09:30 PM (2 of 25)
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I live in FL...nothing is dry here...(not even with the a/c on in the summer) Your machines will be fine in the basement. Actually keeping your thread in there is a plus, you don't want your thread in the sunlight. (fades and 'eats' it) I think most new machines are so well sealed, unless you throw it in the tub or swimming pool, your machines will be fine anywhere. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: paroper
Date: 05-07-2006, 08:24 AM (3 of 25)
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There are a lot of machines that didn't get flooded that are laying "dead" in the path of Katrina. There is a limit to how much they can take. However, if you don't see a lot of mold and mildew in the basement on the sheetrock walls and you can't smell it, I would think that it might be alright. It would, however, be safer to put it in a different part of the house. I don't know long-term what basement moisture (if it is there) would do to it. Is there a dehumidifier in the heating/cooling system?
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 05-07-2006, 06:37 PM (4 of 25)
| I'll bet Tom can answer that question. Where are you Tom ? As for me, I wouldn't put any of my machines in a basement, finished or not. Not an underground one anyway. I'd rather be safe than sorry. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: grandmasue
Date: 05-07-2006, 11:12 PM (5 of 25)
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I once had a sewing room in a basement. I didn't like it at all, reason being it was so isolated from the rest of the house/family I couldn't keep tabs on what was going on in the house. I missed people coming to the door. kids coming and going, and burned many meals. This might be something to consider before making a decision.
Grandma Sue
------------ At the end I am not showing up at my grave all pretty and well preserved...I am coming in sliding, yelling "What a ride!" |
User: grandmasue
Member since: 10-26-2004 Total posts: 138 
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From: toadusew
Date: 05-08-2006, 09:12 AM (6 of 25)
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Thanks, Ladies! Maybe Tom will stop by with a professional opinion later. Even though this basement is newly finished (finished out just 6 months ago), we are already finding some water there. It's not flooded or anything, but the new carpet is wet and we can't figure out where the water is coming from. This is only near the storage area where some of the drains are and near the bathroom just off of the small bedroom. There was no water, leaks or anything when we moved in and now we don't know what has happened. The man across the street finished out this basement and I plan to ask him what he thinks is going on. At any rate, for all the reasons that you ladies mentioned and already finding water in the basement, I have decided to keep my sewing machine and supplies upstairs. As Pam said, I'd rather be safe than sorry! Grandma Sue, another online friend said the same thing you did--she didn't like being so isolated in the basement while sewing, plus it got very cold down there in winter (she lived in Wisconsin). Thanks again, ladies!
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-08-2006, 09:24 AM (7 of 25)
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My machines have always been in the bsmt. Never had a problem with dampness. Carpet and drywall would have that musty smell or visual signs of mold if it were damp. I love my basement sewing room.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: toadusew
Date: 05-08-2006, 09:43 AM (8 of 25)
Mary, my basement would make a great sewing space--the large room would make a wonderful sewing studio! I am concerned about getting too cold (I'm very cold natured), but the space would be great! This plan of keeping my machines and sewing space upstairs may be temporary--until my daughter goes back to college, but we'll see. 
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 05-08-2006, 09:55 AM (9 of 25)
| I suppose it just depends on how the basement is. I have a friend in MO. that does all her sewing in her basement. She also hates being closed off from everyone.She does a lot of serger sewing for some factory. I'm sure it keeps the mess out of her home or she simply doesn't have room to work elsewhere.We don't have basements here where we live. Swamp land. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615
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From: pretnichols
Date: 05-08-2006, 05:53 PM (10 of 25)
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When I first started sewing, I had to use the machine in the basement as it was the only place available. It was a completely finished basement, and although it was damp in summer, I never had a problem with my mahcine or my Mom's Pfaff. After I moved out, I had a spare bedroom. Then I got married and had kids.....nuff said!!! Once we finish our basement (yeah, in about 10 years when my DD goes to college), then I will move to the basement. In the meantime, I use our living room/dining room combination room. I don't have any living room furniture....except 2 old sewing machine cabinets with old machines. One is a plant holder, the other holds a PC for the kids too use. Plus, when I get my embroidery machine, it (PC) is stationed next to my exising sewing area. As for those that are cold.....get one of those space heaters/ceramic heaters. Obviously, you need to keep it away from the fabric, but they do a fantastic job of warming up a room. Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-09-2006, 06:04 PM (11 of 25)
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Toadusew-- I understood you to say the man across the street finished your basement.. Do you have unfinished crawl space also ??.. If so , you need to do this the next time you have rain.. Check your crawl space to see if standing water is there after the rain has stopped.. If so, then you may have a drainage problem.. When we moved into this house, this happened to us, and the problem was the drain pipe stopped at the foundation.. The yard people did not finish the piping work for the drain system.. It was fixed in less than 2 hours and the builder absorbed the cost , of course.. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: toadusew
Date: 05-10-2006, 08:54 AM (12 of 25)
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Thanks for that suggestion, Libby! I do think we have some unfinished crawl space, but I'm not 100% certain. We've only been in this house 3 weeks and we're still learning about it. I'll definitely mention this to my husband--especially since we're supposed to get rain again tomorrow! Yes, the man across the street finished out the basement and was very upset to hear we had a problem. Hopefully, he fixed it--seems the sump pump didn't work correctly after some other work was done. We've never had a sump pump before so this is all new territory to us. For now, my machines are staying upstairs, but that is frustrating since this is such an odd room, with very little storage.  However, I'll figure it out! Not being able to sew for such a long period of time is simply making me cranky! 
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: MJAY
Date: 05-11-2006, 09:18 AM (13 of 25)
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Hi, little late here, but I too have an "underground" basement. We never get water, but in the summer it gets damp. We built one small room 10X14 where I have my quilting fabrics, a 36 by 72 old dining room table with a full rotary mat with a cardboard cutting mat on top of it. I have an old mechanical sewing machine set up in there with duplicates of all my favorite sewing notions. All of my good scissors are also in there... I have a dehumidifier in there year round. It is important that it be a "below grade" dehumidifier so it runs in lower temperatures. I have never had a problem with moisture, mold or bugs. It does get cold in there, I have a small ceramic heater that I use in the summer to take the chill off. In the winter there is a heat vent. Our home has A.C. but is minimal in basement, too cold. I have a small (floor space is 6 by 12) room off the kitchen with built in closet, cupboards and counter top with my computerized sewing machine set in. My serger lives on a small rolling table. I have a small, padded board for pressing. I was BLESSED with this wonderful space when we remodeled 25 years ago. It is a little inconvenient to have to go between two floors, but the excerise is great!! Hope this gives you a couple of ideas..Can you tell that these tweo little room are my pride and joy??? MJAY |
User: MJAY
Member since: 11-18-2005 Total posts: 4 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-11-2006, 09:29 AM (14 of 25)
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MJAY, hi and welcome. Sounds like your rooms are your pride and joy. So is mine but it is really messy and cluttered most of the time.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Sancin
Date: 05-11-2006, 05:57 PM (15 of 25)
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However, if you don't see a lot of mold and mildew in the basement on the sheetrock walls In Canada we call this gyprock. What do you call it in the UK and down under.... plaster between two sheets of heavy paper that is used where plaster used to be used on walls? *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: paroper
Date: 05-11-2006, 07:10 PM (16 of 25)
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It's made of gypsum but we usually call it sheet rock (at least in Okla).
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 05-11-2006, 07:29 PM (17 of 25)
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We call it sheet rock in New York too. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 05-11-2006, 10:06 PM (18 of 25)
| We do call it sheetrock but some still call it gypsonboard. That might not be spelled right but you get the jest. That's here in the USA. It's odd at times how the same thing is called so many different things. Even here in the states the north, south, east & west have different names for the same thing. Boy, this could start a whole new thread. LOL. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-12-2006, 07:14 PM (19 of 25)
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Down Here it is either, sheetrock or wallboard....
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: pretnichols
Date: 05-12-2006, 11:24 PM (20 of 25)
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Or drywall. Gypsum board, different than drywall, is typically used in bathrooms due to moisture. Hmmm...looks like we're all getting an education on construction materials. I do know that taping and "mudding" are messy, never mind the sanding! Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 05-12-2006, 11:43 PM (21 of 25)
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most of the US calls it drywall...(I think it used to be a brand name like kleenex... )
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: ClareSS
Date: 05-13-2006, 06:44 AM (22 of 25)
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MJAY, hi and welcome. Sounds like your rooms are your pride and joy. So is mine but it is really messy and cluttered most of the time. Don't feel alone, MaryW. My sewing is confined to a 9'x10' room, and it's always a bit messy. I thought they were supposed to be that way! It wouldn't be so bad, but I scrapbook and do other crafts, too.
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User: ClareSS
Member since: 04-05-2006 Total posts: 17 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 05-13-2006, 08:06 AM (23 of 25)
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My sewing room is an upstairs bedroom. The machines aren't safe there either It has been raing here & my roof leaked lucky for me it missed both machines that were on the desk. & I didn't have any prjects out at the time. It only messed up some greeting cards(used) & a few reciepts that I was sorting. Oh I share my sewing room with our office ( at least until I can get a kid moved out.)
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: Tom Land
Date: 06-08-2006, 11:44 PM (24 of 25)
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Moisture is not good for machines. Esp. machines with electronic components but a little dampness shouldn't hurt. As others have said, if there is excessive moisture you should notice mold or a musty odor on other items in the room. Be sure to have the machine professionally serviced regularly and the lubricants will help to protect it. This said I should point out that salt air like that on the Gulf can cause problems. Machines in these areas need more frequent servicing unless they are kept in a "climate controlled" area. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: toadusew
Date: 06-09-2006, 08:40 AM (25 of 25)
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Thanks, Tom! I appreciate everybody's replies about this issue. I'm still unsure of where my permanent sewing space will be, but for now it is an upstairs bedroom. Our basement doesn't seem damp, but I've been told that we have a lot of groundwater in this area and that it does tend to rain a lot, so I'm still debating. Our college aged daughter is staying down in the basement bedroom for the summer so as I said, for now, my sewing area is elsehwhere. And that is good news ladies--I have my sewing area set up!  It's not great, but at least I can get to my machines, cutting table, and ironing board. I have quite a few garments that need buttonholes and buttons (clothes for the grandkids that I hope they haven't outgrown while I've been in the midst of a move! ) and I'm working on some other things with fabric I already had.I think I hear my sewing room calling me so I'd better go....
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
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