Converting a closet to a walk-in

[AcridSaint]

Greenboard and vapor barrier are very inexpensive in the grand scheme of things, I would not skip those parts.

[MrRogers]

Its not an overly complicated endeavor but you guys are simplifying the process to much. Just like you can't make any wooden box a humidor, you can't just humidify a room and call it a walk-in. I've made desktop and cabinet humidors for years and they can be quite complex assuming you want a top notch result. Its not easy to build a box, cabinet or room that can withstand 70% rh on the inside and 20 on the outside. Try humidifying a closet and you'll have to break down the door to get in as it will be swelled shut. I would lay a vapor barrier prior to laying greenboard just for good measure. You don't have to do it, but lining the walls with spanish cedar plywood is a nice touch. For the rest of the interior, its all about the details. SC wainscoating adds elegance as does elaborate millwork. I have a sort of signature way in which I build shelves which involves steam bending SC strips and weaving them into shelf bottoms that allow air to circulate but also look really cool. The possibilities are endless. You also need a good humidification system, temp control, and fans to circulate air.

One day when I am in a house I know I'll keep for a few years I'll make a nice walk-in, one that resembles an old world cigar shop that is spacious enough to sit in and smoke. O to dream.

MrR

[tx_tuff]

Making a humidor box and a walk in or two different things. All you have to do is walk in any random walk in and see how the set up is. I assume if you are building a walk in that most of the cigars you buy will be boxes, so leaving them in the boxes will be enough cedar. And using greenboard isn't a bad idea but I will still stand by what I said before. As far as the door, unless you have a softwood with no primer or paint on it I don't think that will be a problem either, although a nice glass door would be nice.

You may not be able to turn any wood box into a humidor, but you can turn any cooler into one, its as hard as you make it. If you want the end all be all of walk in humidors then yeah it would cost a lot of money and be a b*tch.

[thebayratt]

Here is an idea... Try using an exterior steel or fiberglass door unit with a little glass (if wanted). They are made for the weather changes and wetness etc...minimal swelling. You still have to paint them but may stand up better to the humidity over time. Steel doors are inexpensive depending on hwo fancy you go but more than an interior door. Most exterior units have a built in threashold so you should get a tighter seal than an interior unit. You have to make sure you have the right jam width to fit the closet opening. Fiberglass doors can be high priced but some companies have units with woodgrain textures that when coated correctly, you can't tell its not wood!
Just my food for thought. (It helps working for Lowe's sometimes)

[Sigarz]

this might be a stupid idea but if re-humidifying the space is an issue you could get or make one of those doors that can be opened on just the top half so you can grab something without all the moisture spilling out

[MrRogers]

Originally Posted by thebayratt

Here is an idea... Try using an exterior steel or fiberglass door unit with a little glass (if wanted). They are made for the weather changes and wetness etc...minimal swelling. You still have to paint them but may stand up better to the humidity over time. Steel doors are inexpensive depending on hwo fancy you go but more than an interior door. Most exterior units have a built in threashold so you should get a tighter seal than an interior unit. You have to make sure you have the right jam width to fit the closet opening. Fiberglass doors can be high priced but some companies have units with woodgrain textures that when coated correctly, you can't tell its not wood!
Just my food for thought. (It helps working for Lowe's sometimes)

Yeah, a steel or FG framed door is a good idea unless the OP is skilled enough to make his own which can be quite challenging. A regular door is simply going to move to much.

You can paint a room with kilnz, stain the floor and use a regular door but why even bother if its going to look like crap? If humidors were all about functionality, we'd all be using floral foam in tupperware boxes.

MrR

[Dgar]

here is a link you might find interesting, this is an old post about a closet conversion.


Taking down my Walkin Humidor

[thebayratt]

Did you ever pull the trigger and make your closet humi??

[mrsmitty]

I have been thinking about converting a walk in closet that's in my cigar lounge into a walk in. Concrete floors, line the walls with spanish cedar veneer, add shelf's a humidifier and 5 lbs or so of heartfelt beads to keep the humidity stabilized.

[Pugsley]

Haven't done it yet but the closet is still there, empty, and my cigar collection continues to grow. Stay tuned.

Originally Posted by thebayratt

Did you ever pull the trigger and make your closet humi??

[slyder]

as far as heat goes.....there are several easy inexpensive options. One would be a simple electric baseboard. Another one that would be cool and completely hidden would be to heat strips/mats under your floorboards or tile. Just like you would do for a bathroom. They are relatively cheap and easy to do. You would have no problem holding 70 degrees this way. As far as a seal like a humidor......you dont need it that tight. Go into any walkin in a shop or a display cabinet. Most have sliding glass doors on them with no seals at all. The humidifier runs constantly. Id say use a good steel exterior door and call it good.

[bimmian]

Originally Posted by ToJo

Also, not every cigar smoker's significant other would tolerate such a room. A walk in closet, definitely a value add. I've never heard a lady complain about too much extra closet space. Walk in humidor, I'm guessing 99.99% of the time, NOT a value add for resale.

True dat, but how COOL would it be!