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Decal Printer Room
The Back Room had been used for printing decals (image transfers) until the fire in January 2023
The Printer Room
This photo that looks into the printer room from the main entrance provided a taste of the challenge that lay ahead. The blackness on the left is the broken glass wall and entrance to what used to be the kiln room.
Minimal Damage
No one entered the studio which remained unheated the entire winter. So it was rather surprising to discover that damage to the printer room was minimal.
Even the smoke damage was limited.
Even the smoke damage was limited.
Decal Printers Damaged
The most serious damage was to the colour laser decal printers. Two were made inoperable by the soot.
Months of Waiting
It wasn't until May until the Insurance company decided it could only fund $5000 of the loss because selling pots at the Guild sales and firing for others during COVID meant I should have had "commercial" insurance.
Invisible Damage
It was also a surprise to learn that because the fire did not penetrate the walls all the electrical circuits were working.
However, like printers, the supply of waterslide and lamination paper was vulnernable to even small amounts of soot and water..
However, like printers, the supply of waterslide and lamination paper was vulnernable to even small amounts of soot and water..
Fighting Fires Causes Damage
Most of the damage to the printer room and its contents resulted from fire fighting efforts. In the printer room there was very little damage done until the door to the room was torn off and a large section of the plywood floor was removed in the efforts to extinguish burning insulation required by the raised floor construction of the studio..
Clear out
It was not until July that consultation concerning restoration and demolition options make it clear that there was no other possible option but to repair the fire damage myself.
In mid August the first step taken to initiate repair work was to purchase a scaffold to reach above the 8 foot mark.
In mid August the first step taken to initiate repair work was to purchase a scaffold to reach above the 8 foot mark.
Plastering Repair
After removal of everything possible cleaning of the soot and the plastering of the gypsum board joints and small sections of wall damage began in August.
Testing out the Undercoat Paint
After I painted undercoat on the walls and ceiling, I moved the electric heater in anticipation of heating the room during the next cold season.
From August until December the back room was left alone until the flooring and the damaged ceiling of the main studio area could be repaired.
From August until December the back room was left alone until the flooring and the damaged ceiling of the main studio area could be repaired.
A Christmas Respite
Five days after the Christmas Guild Sale the work on the main part of the studio interior was complete and the printer room was ready to be painted.
Refinished Flooring
As documented elsewhere on the site the flooring was replaced with 10 R of insulation and 1.5 inches of plywood.
My son Bob was as pleased as I was at the dramatic changes.
My son Bob was as pleased as I was at the dramatic changes.
New Back Room Door
On January18, 2024 - 5 days before the anniversary of the fire- a replacement door was successfully hung to fully separate the room from the studio proper.
My Daughter Kate came all the way from Toronto to help me move the door from the house and hang it in the opening to the back room.
My Daughter Kate came all the way from Toronto to help me move the door from the house and hang it in the opening to the back room.
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