Kiln Room Floors: Fireproof kiln room floors are commonly made of smoothly finished concrete. For appearance sake, I sometimes toss concrete colorant on wet concrete floors before final troweling. A penetrating sealer makes cleaning easier so long as it is thin enough and does not compromise the fireproof quality of concrete. If pottery glaze comes through the kiln floor during an accidental overfiring, it could drip at about 2,400 degrees F. If this happens, or if something combustible is accidentally placed too close to the kiln, kicked under the kiln, etc., a building fire may be avoided if the floor of the room is fireproof.
DOORS
A door that goes directly outdoors from the artroom allows opportunities for pit firing, raku firing, etc. These processes cannot be done indoors. Students love to do their drawing and painting outdoors when the weather permits. Double doors allow easier installation of large pieces of equipment such as a gas kiln. It also makes it easier to bring in pallets of clay for a high school ceramics room.
COLORS AND SURFACES
Art teachers establish the atmosphere of the environment with the displays of art exemplars, learning aides, and their unique collections of objects, mannequins, and taxidermy observed while making artwork. Art needs to be created and viewed in an atmosphere that does not overly influence the work. Therefore, I stick to neutrals. In most cases, some light grey or off-white is most appropriate. An art room is much like a museum. It allows for the art itself to serve as the decor. TOP
FLOORING
FLOORING
Use a sealed surface. Never use carpeting. Paint destroys carpet. Clay dust can never be totally removed from carpet. Because vaucuum filters are porous, ordinary vacuums redistribute the most harmful finest silica dust into the air and we unknowingly inhale it. Even with a special vacuum, when you vacuum carpet you always leave some at the surface where it still is scuffed into the air. The best art rooms have floor drains to facilitate daily floor washing if needed. A vacuum can be used for hard surface floors and counters if the vacuum unit is located outdoors with only the negative preasure (vacuum) piping and hoses located indoors.