Shed conversion to Darkroom and Studio

G'day All,

Recently introduced myself in the other section, but I have a few questions about this conversion which is now part way through...

I have a brick shed 6m x 3m which at some stage in the past was built as a workshop.

Construction is as follows:

Single skin brick walls with tied-in piers
Infill slab (I think... as no concreter I know does such a shoddy job of finishing the surface....:oo:)

This is what it looked like some months ago....

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...p/MDE_2645.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...p/MDE_2646.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...p/MDE_2648.jpg



I have since removed the flat roof, laid a couple of courses of bricks to raise the walls slightly for more head height, installed trusses and am about to install the roofing sheets, flashings, gutterings etc to get it to near lockup stage.

My plan for this shed is to build a stud wall somewhere down the end with no window, to create a darkroom and do the fit-out myself, using the bits and pieces I've been accumulating for some time now. I already have a door for the front.

Things are going well and so far so good....

Problems I may encounter and suggestions welcome:

1. FLOORING/SLAB ISSUES: I'm not sure how the slab was laid in this shed. I think it is a handyman done infill slab as the surface finish is very poor. (Looks like someone did the final trowelling with a boot!) I am a little concerned that there may be no vapour barrier underneath and wondering what options I have. For the darkroom end, I would like to have a lino floor and haven't decided yet about the 'studio' end. What ever I do, it will need levelling. Im not too keen on raising the level up if I don't need to as there is not a huge amount of 'head-height', even with my extra courses of bricks. I do know I could lay a vapour barrier and then batten it out for a timber floor, but that prospect isn't appealing. I was hoping to grind it back a little, pour on a levelling compound and hope for the best... thoughts???

2. WALLS: These are of course single skin bricks with tied-in piers. I would like to install plaster. Do I have to install a vapour barrier (plastic sheeting) then batten out for the installation of gyprock or is there a better way, so as to not lose too much floor space? I am aware of this product... : Kooltherm K17, high performance wall insulation solution
and was wondering whether this would be suitable and cost effective???

This is where I'm at currently, though i do have the battens and insulation support mesh installed today:

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps74e0ff06.jpg

So any thoughts on my flooring and wall issues, please....

Cheers,

Mark


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