Finishing a Basement

[Rand{CLR}]

So, anyone want me to get some images of the current "before" mess of my basement, and the after? I'm finally to a point where I'm going to blow through a finish job as soon as I can, and I have existing stud walls in place to make that part easier. It may not be done until after tax return time, since I think that is going to fund my carpet, but I've got what I need to get walls in place shortly.

Oh, here's a tip for would-be home improvers and idiots alike: don't let 10 sheets of drywall fall on you. It's not fun. :oops:

-Rand

[Minerva]

So, anyone want me to get some images of the current "before" mess of my basement, and the after?

Si :D

[BlackArrow]

Only if YOU are in the pictures:twisted:

[Trooper110]

Only if YOU are in the pictures:twisted:

+1!

[Skud]

one sheet of drywall would be plenty! Post some photos, man!

[Zantheus]

Yea pics would be nice....trust me Rand....10 sheets is better then falling off a ladder, having the ceiling sheet fall on you, followed by the guy that was helpin u put it up LOL

[H0ly-H@nd-Gr3nade]

Only if YOU are in the pictures:twisted:

Maybe there will be a mirror (or some glass) somewhere so he accidentally takes a picture of himself.

:D

[Duke{CLR}]

I would love to see the remodel job Rand. I have a huge one coming up myself so seeing a before and after would help get ours going. :2thumbs:

[mapes]

I would love to see the picture of you with 10 sheets of drywall ontop of you....


Seriously though I hate rocking especially ceilings

[Rand{CLR}]

Ok, the "before" images follow. I've got a small townhouse, with a footprint of about 550 square feet. This work will finish a bit more than half the basement, so it's a small one-room job. It will become an entertainment/library/office room as my current home office migrates.

Here's a very ugly vent that needs to be cleaned up, or bulkheaded. Haven't decided which yet. The wall on the left is the only finished piece down here, and it needs patching around the vent. About 1/8 of this wall will be replaced:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3627.jpg

The junk in the middle was against the studs in the back, the partially finished wall, and the other walls, which until a few weeks ago were formerly paneled. I'll be moving this stuff to the portion of the basement that will remain unfinished shortly.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3628.jpg

One of the walls that was covered by ugly wood panels. About 1 in every 4 studs is crooked, but it's good enough to work with for drywall:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3629.jpg

Another:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3630.jpg

Stuff that was formerly hidden beneath the stairway. This wall will be where the gaming pc will migrate to:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3631.jpg

Detailed "before" prior to wiring. Check out the crooked and cracked stud in the middle. I won't be hooking the wire boxes to that one :) :

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3633.jpg

There's going to be a new door here soon:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3632.jpg

The patio door. The shade has NEVER reached the ground, and it's bothered me for 4 years, since I moved in. But not enough to do anything about it until this renovation:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3635.jpg

Since I took the photos, I've drilled all the studs, put that black coax you see just above into place in the cable run to the PC side, and sliced two large chunks out of the existing finished wall that separates this portion from a bathroom. I need to slice another piece or two out for patching, but the first part was for wiring. I'm ready to wire, but I need to figure out a good way to test the ethernet cords before I seal the suckers up.

More to come whenever I get around to working on this project.

-Rand

[Reconsnipe1]

Nice pics im sure it will be very nice when its all done :2thumbs:

[{CLR}geneSW]

but I need to figure out a good way to test the ethernet cords before I seal the suckers up.


You could take the cable, and hook a router and laptop up to it.....

[Rand{CLR}]

You could take the cable, and hook a router and laptop up to it.....

That's what I settled on, and took care of last night. I really wanted to test it once I ran it, but it's too much of a pain to reassemble the router network down there before it's time to move the office, and it's not worth buying a $50 network tester that will be used once. I'll just assume nothing happens to the cables while running them through the stud holes. :twisted:

-Rand

[Rand{CLR}]

Update--Wiring is done, and largely tested. The only thing I don't know about right now are the speaker cables, because I apparently don't have a single speaker in my house right now that can be jacked in. :scratch:

Here's the main computer wall area:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3637.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3638.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3639.jpg

You see the beginnings of a six-jack system, with four ethernets (1 to upstairs kitchen area, 2 to tv area in same basement room, and 1 to the left side of this area where the printer and other accessories will go), 1 coax for the cable modem, and 1 phone line.

The next one is that side area: 1 future coax/cable connection that is good to go (I'm plugging a small tv into it while I work, which is why you see it outside the box), and the ethernet:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3640.jpg

This one shows some wiring around the patio door, and the left rear speaker wire connection:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3641.jpg

Another view of that vent I have to bulkhead or fix up:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3643.jpg

The future TV area (you can see the larger holes in the wall I cut since the image in a previous post):

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3642.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3644.jpg

The in-wall connections here are cable coax, telephone, 2 ethernets back to the computer area, and the left/right rear channel speakers.

I'm using RG6 for all new coax, and Cat6 for all new ether wire. Banana jacks for the speaker wire. The ethernet and phone connections at the tv area are all geared to speed/future proofing. Between a PS 3, Wii, and any future DVR (which often need phone connections), that area should be ready for what comes.

Tomorrow I will be insulating the outer wall and the two concrete side walls, and drywall goes up soon. :2thumbs:

-Rand

[SScamaro68]

Looking good man :2thumbs:

Still waiting to see the pics of the drywall on top of ya :twisted:

Edit: if you don't mind me asking, how much did the ethernet cable run you?

[Rand{CLR}]

Not much really. Instead of buying bulk and ending up with a few hundred feet extra (bulk at less than 250' is not easy to find), I bought 2 75' cables, a 14', and a 10' at Newegg. I then cut the ends off and finished them with the keystone jacks.

The brand name is Rosewill, and a 75' length is 11 bucks, so I spent less than $50 on the ethernet. The tools for working with that and the coax capping cost more.

-Rand

P.S. A bit more than 1 wall now has insulation (got tired of dealing with it when I realized I needed to make a Lowes run for some nailer plates to protect the wiring holes), and my Dad is coming tomorrow to help me frame the door, bulkhead, and begin putting up the rock. It starts to look like an actual project when you staple up the insulation. :D

[mapes]

The only thing I would ask is are you only running three systems at that spot? Even if you were only running one system I would pull extra runs and keep em tucked away in the back. It always seems like I say "Oh I'm only gonna need two runs over" and then I end up needing four.

[Rand{CLR}]

I'll be running 1 pc system down there. The other ethernets are essentially connections to other parts of the house, with the two that run to the other part of the basement intended for internet-enabled consoles or A/V equipment.

I ran out of room for anything extra with the size hole I drilled and got too lazy to do more (and wanted to keep costs sane), but the whole system is essentially adaptable, especially with my wi-fi network at play.

-Rand

P.S. My speaker system showed up today:

http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Acoustics-MCS100MDNT-5-1-Channel-System/dp/B000W9DO7U/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1232231835&sr=8-2

The only problem is, the product description and photo clearly show 5-way binding posts, but what I have in the box only has spring clips :(. I've sent an email to Amazon, maybe I can get a credit out of this.

I also bought a factory refurbished Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver, which is probably the best low-mid range receiver out there, and it's got TrueHD and DTS-HD decoders built in. Here's the Amazon page for that one:

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR606-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0015S8PGW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1232232304&sr=8-1

SRT list price combined=$1,090.00. I paid $515.44. Woo!

[{CLR}geneSW]

Gotta ask Rand.... Did you clean up the wires after you took the pictures? Because some of those wires next to the studs look like you just took it through the stud and down to the box's without any wire staples.

[Rand{CLR}]

I cleaned up a good many in appropriate locations, but I'm also balancing any future need to pull some ethernet from the wall for any given purpose (replacing a bad keystone jack, for example), and the propensity for most cable staples to pinch the wires. I'm not locking myself down on the ethernet wires in the voids where the plates are located (and I'm not willing to open the drywall if I need to access those cables in the future), but the coax is pinned.

I'm not quite done with the tv area yet, and the red ethernet is JUST barely long enough to link the two wall plates. I'll be lucky if I can get both ends in a keystone plate right now, so that one doesn't get any staples. :D

-Rand

[mapes]

I cleaned up a good many in appropriate locations, but I'm also balancing any future need to pull some ethernet from the wall for any given purpose (replacing a bad keystone jack, for example), and the propensity for most cable staples to pinch the wires. I'm not locking myself down on the ethernet wires in the voids where the plates are located (and I'm not willing to open the drywall if I need to access those cables in the future), but the coax is pinned.

I'm not quite done with the tv area yet, and the red ethernet is JUST barely long enough to link the two wall plates. I'll be lucky if I can get both ends in a keystone plate right now, so that one doesn't get any staples. :D

-Rand


I prefer my data cables non stapled. You can always use em as a cable pull if they go bad.

[Rand{CLR}]

Been awhile since I updated, so here's a few shots from this weekend. I also brought in Empire Carpet to get a quote for the room. I've got 30 days to finish the mudding, sand it, prime it, and get the walls painted so I keep that price on the carpet.

The ceiling was repainted a semi-gloss white to even out the tone, and the "door nook" has the first coat of white (the rest of the room is going to be a nice blue, with deep red curtains, and a darkish gray carpet).

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3711.jpg

Check out the bulkhead over the vent:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3712.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3713.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3714.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3715.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3716.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3717.jpg

Let me tell you, it pays to have a dad who a) knows how to do this stuff, and b) keeps volunteering to come down and do it. :D

-Rand

P.S. The bookcase is lying on its back because I had to re-glue a piece of laminate to the bottom front.

[Zantheus]

Looks great Rand :2thumbs:

[Duke{CLR}]

It's looking good Rand.

[Apache Warrior]

:2thumbs:
Apache

[juneau]

Can't wait to see this when it's finished. :2thumbs:

[Pumpkin_Jack]

Keep it going my dad started fixing my house 15 years ago and stopped when i was born... he's finialy starting up again, so dont stop, b/c 15 years is a long time.

[Rand{CLR}]

Lessons learned this weekend:

1. Drywall dust absolutely sucks. Nothing can get rid of all of it.
2. Heat guns are totally awesome. I felt like I was using a laser gun while superheating some mud patches.
3. Don't plan on vacuuming the majority of the dust and think you're going to apply the primer on the same day. Won't happen.

-Rand

[Zantheus]

one thing that I do when finishing basements in the winter for work is just use a brook on the walls where u mudded and u can prime same day

[Rand{CLR}]

Walls be painted (as is the ceiling). The carpeters are supposed to come tomorrow, and the trim goes up next weekend. Curtains and the door to the stairway storage area can go up any time after the carpet. There's also about 3 places where the blue bled through the tape onto existing trim or the ceiling in the stairs (where the trim will not go) that will need touching up.

Then it's time to move in.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3754.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3753.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3752.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3751.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3750.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3749.jpg

It's going to look and feel SO tiny when all the furniture and such are in place. :cry:

-Rand

[Zantheus]

Looks really good Rand :2thumbs: so are you planning on doing any Crown Moulding or anything?

[juneau]

Looks good Rand. If it's going to feel tiny why not go minimalist with it?

[Apache Warrior]

Crown molding and chair rails ftw. Also how about changing out the sliding glass door for French Doors? :D
Apache

[Rand{CLR}]

Looks good Rand. If it's going to feel tiny why not go minimalist with it?

Too much stuff, not enough space. That expanse of wall next to the patio doors is reserved for 4 tall bookcases, with another, different type of bookcase back behind where my (massive) desk will be. Printer cart, storage cabinet (stand in for a closet), display case (keeps dust off various knick-knacks), PC game shelf unit, small shelf unit for some paperbacks, and a lateral file all go in the "office" section or on the other side of the patio door from the books.

TV stand, HDTV, new receiver and 5.1 sound system, PS 3, Wii, DVD, Cable box, etc. etc. and a storage unit for Blu-Rays and console games on that wall next to the "door nook." Big, giant recliner I haven't bought yet in the middle, facing that stuff. My DVD and CD collections stay in the living room upstairs.

Poof, no more room. :D I'll post pictures when it's all in. Maybe after the carpet and trim are in too, a before and after furnishing comparison.

Apache...French doors were an early consideration. I have a patio door insert in the back room that has a built-in dog door for when I get dog(s). I also thought about custom framing a single door around that thing, but french doors would cost me more than the entire rest of the basement (non furniture/electronics division) combined--and almost certainly won't bring me resale value comparable to its cost, even in a better market. I'll just install the insert when the time comes, and deal with it. The next thing I have to do, probably next year, is replace my fence. Then maybe I can think about a new door there.

Zan, some crown-style moulding along the top, but it's narrow to better fit the size of the room (7 foot ceiling). Base moulding is simple, but effective, and about 4 inches tall. No chair rail in this one--too much covered wall space in the end to be truly worthwhile.

-Rand

[Apache Warrior]

With everything on the walls, chair moulding would be a waste of money.
Apache

[BlackArrow]

Great job Rand (and Dad):2thumbs:

[juneau]

Too much stuff, not enough space. That expanse of wall next to the patio doors is reserved for 4 tall bookcases, with another, different type of bookcase back behind where my (massive) desk will be. Printer cart, storage cabinet (stand in for a closet), display case (keeps dust off various knick-knacks), PC game shelf unit, small shelf unit for some paperbacks, and a lateral file all go in the "office" section or on the other side of the patio door from the books.

TV stand, HDTV, new receiver and 5.1 sound system, PS 3, Wii, DVD, Cable box, etc. etc. and a storage unit for Blu-Rays and console games on that wall next to the "door nook." Big, giant recliner I haven't bought yet in the middle, facing that stuff. My DVD and CD collections stay in the living room upstairs.

Poof, no more room. :D I'll post pictures when it's all in. Maybe after the carpet and trim are in too, a before and after furnishing comparison.

Apache...French doors were an early consideration. I have a patio door insert in the back room that has a built-in dog door for when I get dog(s). I also thought about custom framing a single door around that thing, but french doors would cost me more than the entire rest of the basement (non furniture/electronics division) combined--and almost certainly won't bring me resale value comparable to its cost, even in a better market. I'll just install the insert when the time comes, and deal with it. The next thing I have to do, probably next year, is replace my fence. Then maybe I can think about a new door there.

Zan, some crown-style moulding along the top, but it's narrow to better fit the size of the room (7 foot ceiling). Base moulding is simple, but effective, and about 4 inches tall. No chair rail in this one--too much covered wall space in the end to be truly worthwhile.

-Rand

Sounds like you need to clear a lot of stuff out. I personally hate clutter. :D

[Rand{CLR}]

It's really expensive clutter, so it stays. :D

-Rand

[MR_MADHATTER]

Looks great!!:2thumbs: I'm hot on your heels Rand. I'm gonna buy a house out here and when I do I'll convert a bedroom into a computer game room/cave.:D

[juneau]

It's really expensive clutter, so it stays. :D

-Rand

Ebay? :D

[Reconsnipe1]

Ever new set of pics looks better and better rand. Im sure u will have many fun hours down in ur (cave). Get some pics when its all done with the furniture and everything so i can see. LOOKS REALLY good.:2thumbs:

[Minerva]

Nice job Rand! :2thumbs:

[paceman]

Great job Rand (and Dad):2thumbs:
+1

:2thumbs:

[Rand{CLR}]

I'm largely moved in. Just a few more things to bring down and touch up. The recliner shows up Thursday, and I'm working late tonight, so I may just wait until that's in place for the final pictures. I'll show you the final trimmed room empty, and full. I've got like no space now compared to Saturday afternoon down there.

On a related note, I've been invaded! Right as I'm arranging some stuff on Sunday, the wife goes "so, where will I sit?" DOH! The plan didn't include a chair for her next to the recliner--it assumed she would sit in the computer chair and move it over if needed.

She guilt-trip bombed my man cave! Now I have to squeeze in a chair that doesn't really fit, and lose precious "hiding from the wife" space. :cry::D

-Rand

[Apache Warrior]

At least she did not wait until you were done remodeling and then move her stuff in. :mutley:
Apache

[MR_MADHATTER]

At least she did not wait until you were done remodeling and then move her stuff in. :mutley:
Apache

LOL!
http://images.paraorkut.com/img/funnypics/images/h/homer_simpson_doh-12666.jpg

[Reconsnipe1]

LOL thats funny Rand:D:D
Hopefully she will get bored quickly watching u play cod4.:D

[mapes]

Yeah a couple of months ago I set up a work station for my wife. I guess it's ok that it's no longer my fortress of solitude.

[Rand{CLR}]

Final Images

Trim, plates, and curtain in place. The tape marking the studs is mostly gone now, just a couple left in case I want to hang up something else heavy:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3768.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3767.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3772.jpg

Final Office Area:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3778.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3779.jpg

Before Recliner:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3774.jpg

After Recliner (Final Entertainment Area):

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/RandCLR/DSCF3783.jpg


The images magnify the glare of the lights. It is much more muted in reality.

See what I mean about no space? Bah, humbug :)

-Rand

[Minerva]

Rand, chapeau! Te felicito! :2thumbs:

[Duke{CLR}]

She guilt-trip bombed my man cave! Now I have to squeeze in a chair that doesn't really fit, and lose precious "hiding from the wife" space. :cry::D

-Rand

LOL. At least she didn't take over your gaming rig.

The room looks nice.

[RuThLeSsKiLLa]

wow the final look on your basement looks great. :2thumbs:

[juneau]

All the cuddly toys your Rand? :twisted:

Looking good. :2thumbs:

[Rand{CLR}]

All the cuddly toys your Rand? :twisted:

Only the cool ones, dude. The monkey and the prairie dog on the shelves are mine, and maybe 1-2 of the massive row on the top level.

Don't you be dissing my prairie dog. :twisted:

-Rand

[Apache Warrior]

Rand keeps stuffed animals???????? :shock::shock::shock: :mutley:
Apache

[juneau]

Only the cool ones, dude. The monkey and the prairie dog on the shelves are mine, and maybe 1-2 of the massive row on the top level.

Don't you be dissing my prairie dog. :twisted:

-Rand

What's he gonna do about it!?!?! :twisted:

[Trooper110]

Need to add some freeze dried animals that you've shot to make that collection more manly there Rand ;)

Lookin' great though!

[MR_MADHATTER]

How'd the sound system work out. I see the bookshelf speakers and subwoofer. It should be pretty good in a smaller space like that. You can put the center channel behind the TV. You will still hear it and the voices will sound like they are coming from the screen. :2thumbs:

[Rand{CLR}]

Got the center in front so I wouldn't bounce half the signal off the tv stand and then the wall. Sounds pretty good now, but I haven't had time to put it through the ringer with a Blu-Ray like Iron Man or Dark Knight yet. I think the subwoofer would shake my house; I just turned it up a tad when starting, and the wife complained. :twisted:

-Rand

[juneau]

Always make sure your sub it not louder than any of the other speakers. I always use a RadioShack SPL meter to test my speakers when buying new equipment to make sure it's just right. :2thumbs:

This is a great useful site that i can't thank enough for helping me over the years.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/subwoofers/143350-subwoofer-faqs-guides.html
http://www.avforums.com/forums/index.php

They also have a great Gallery section that can be quite inspiring to say the least. My favourite is by a guy from Sussex, England. You can view his flickr slideshow here.

Our AV Home (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32960050@N03/sets/72157610576106283/show/)