Expert: James Yee - 4/16/2010

Question
I am in the process of designing a humidor for a tobacco retailer that will measure 25'x55'. Can you give me any info on best practices and common problems to avoid.

Answer
Hi Rick,

Here are some tips for building a walk-in humidor:

Walls: The walls should be covered with 100% natural, genuine cedar panels.  Be sure to lay a vapor barrier over the wall before you install the cedar panels.  Only use kiln-dried Spanish cedar and not any other type of cedar as the other types of cedar may be too aromatic and can ruin your cigars.  If covering all the walls with Spanish cedar is too expensive for your client, you can forego that and just install 100% Spanish cedar shelving instead.

Flooring: Use non-slip ceramic floor tiles.  Do not use vinyl tiling as the humidity can cause them to lift.  If you use vinyl tiles, try to use 1 or a few very large pieces.  The more small tiles there are, the more likely they are able to lift up or trap dirt and mildew in the seams.

Shelving:  Shelves to display open cigar boxes should be at a 40 degree angle and should be made from 100% Spanish cedar.  Be sure that the shelves have slats so that air and humidity can pass through each level.  Extra cigar boxes (stock) can be stored flat so build storage cabinets that the retailer can lock (to prevent theft).  Storage cabinets should also have slats or decorative grilles for air and humidity to flow through.

Placement of door(s) and window(s):  The door(s) and window(s) should have large windows so that customers can easily see inside the walk-in humidor (it’s also good for store security).  Because the walk-in humidor will have see-through doors and windows, build the room so that it’s away from the store’s outdoor windows and away from direct sunlight.  Direct sunlight can ruin the cigars.

Lighting: Use recessed “can” (or troffer) lighting and only use LED or Compact Fluorescent lightbulbs.  Lights should also point away from the cigars.  Aim the lights at the walls or ceiling.  Do not use incandescent lightbulbs as they can heat up your humidor even more.

Temperature & Humidification:  Your client will need to invest in a commercial-grade, humidifier capable of humidifying the entire walk-in humidor.  The humidifier should be automated and allow you to set the desired level.  The ideal humidity level is 70%.  The ideal temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lockers: Your client may want to build some humidor lockers for their customers.  Be sure that the lockers are made entirely out of Spanish cedar and that they have enough slats for air and humidity flow.  If your client prefers not to have customers constantly inside their walk-in humidor, you can build the lockers so that they connect the walk-in humidor to the rest of your store.  The locker interiors can be connected to the walk-in humidor but the locker doors are accessed from outside the walk-in humidor.

Metal fixtures:  Any metal fixtures inside the walk-in humidor (ie: door hinges, locker hinges, doorknobs, etc.) should be made from brass so that they do not rust or tarnish from the humidity.

Hopes this helps.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James