For the past month or so I've been working on drywall. Mud, tape, sand . . . mud, tape, sand . . . mud, mud, sand . . . sand, sand, sand. And so on. Converting a double garage that was already semi-finished (drywalled, insulated, lighted, heated, wired, etc) into a 25-foot-square layout room. Recently it occured to me that I am doing a lot of work, and some of it might not really be necessary.
The layout will run along three walls. Entirely along three walls. The nominal height of the benchwork is 52 inches. Why should I struggle so much to finish stuff that will never be seen? The walls are completely covered with sheetrock, so the consideration for fire protection is met. The sheetrock was installed and secured correctly, so some future homeowner could pick up where I left off (52" high wainscoting would be a reasonable solution). I'm looking at the bottom half and wondering if I should sand some more and paint. Or not.
Show of hands: how many have run into this delimma?
Robert
PS A similar question about carpeting.
LINK to SNSR Blog
I would finish it. Ran into the problem when son returned home and moved into what was suppose to be the home of my 22x13 layout. With him in place none of the finish work can be done easily, either in the room or the adjacent bathroom.
Remember that the next owner of the house may not be a modeler and when you remove the layout there would be a lot of work to be done to finish up. Much easier to do it while you have the tools and supplies at hand. You would more than likely have to repaint the whole place to get the color to match I think it would be a whole lot easier to get it all done at once.
Well, you can't be that OCD, as, if you were, it would read "CDO. That's OCD in alphabetical order, the way it should be."
I would get it at least to where it is paintable. If you are doing everything above the 52" height, no reason not to continue below that level. Won't add that much time to it.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
ROBERT PETRICKShow of hands: how many have run into this delimma?
Funny you should ask, Robert!
I just came to face the same dilemma, well, actually the result of NOT finishing the drywall, some 21 years ago when I first built the benchwork.
I covered my basement walls with studs, vapor barrier, insulation and drywall. Then I covered the area above the layout with gray, felt-like wall covering. The rest of the wall was paneled and the areas under the benchwork was left in bare drywall.
Just last night, I decided to cover that bare drywall with Melamine. It will be a little extra work trying to fit it up to the bottom edge of the 1 x 4 of the benchwork but I'll have a nice finish that I can wipe down when needed. I wish I had done it years ago but, as so often happens, I was anxious to get benchwork up and track down...
At a minimum, put on a trowel or stipple, textured finish and paint it with semi-gloss, washable paint. Sometimes I mix cheap latex paint with the drywall mud and stipple this on as a base finish for drywall. With this finish every joint doesn't have to be sanded perfectly.
Do it now, you'll be glad you did...
Have fun, Ed
In the drywall biz there are different grades of finish, you can do a 3 everywhere and do a 5 where you intend to just paint the backdrop.
rrebell In the drywall biz there are different grades of finish, you can do a 3 everywhere and do a 5 where you intend to just paint the backdrop.
I like that idea. But I am thinking of doing a 1 on the lower half and a 5 above. The upper portion that is to be painted sky blue (there is discussion about exactly what shade of blue to use on another thread) is finished as smooth as I can make it and is ready to be painted now. It is the lower portion that causes consternation; all that bending and stooping. But not to worry . . . those knee joints will just pop right back into place.
I've pretty much known from the beginning what the answer should be. Do all the painting and such right now, up front while the room is empty and be thankful later. I don't plan to put a pool table and a big-screen TV in there . . . but you never know.
I would never do a 1 on anything, do a 3 but skip the sanding, can always be sanded out later.
Consider using a pole sander, like you would use on a ceiling, but on the wall. No deep knee bends or twisting of the back.
Dave
davidmurray Consider using a pole sander, like you would use on a ceiling, but on the wall. No deep knee bends or twisting of the back. Dave
Hey, that's a pretty good idea. Thanks.
I found it easier (the more I finished drywall over the years) to get it as smooth as possible before sanding even if it meant more touch-up with very thin coats of mud. Then you might be able to do final finishing with a damp sponge rather than sanding.
Dante
No dilemma at all....
I built my trainroom as a trainroom, and coved all ten corners by using 3/8" drywall for at least one stud spacing on each side of all corners. 1/8" Masonite was used for the coving, and mudded-in to the abutting 1/2" drywall. All drywall was applied vertically (easier for an amateur to mud and finish), but I didn't bother mudding below the layout level, as it's unseen.When the layout comes out, all of the corners will be re-done, and the lower portion of the walls finished. I'll also likely take out most of the lights.
EDIT: When I originally posted this, the photobucket site was down, so I was unable to add these photos showing why I didn't bother finishing the walls below layout level. The layout is bolted and/or screwed to the walls, so when the layout comes out, repairs will be required anyway.
Wayne
gmpullmanJust last night, I decided to cover that bare drywall with Melamine. It will be a little extra work trying to fit it up to the bottom edge of the 1 x 4 of the benchwork but I'll have a nice finish that I can wipe down when needed. I wish I had done it years ago but, as so often happens, I was anxious to get benchwork up and track down...
Before:
After!
While at the big-box home center I saw a vinyl product that was slightly textured. This would have made a nice wall covering that's impervious to moisture. Might be worth a look.
Have Fun! Ed
gmpullman While at the big-box home center I saw a vinyl product that was slightly textured. This would have made a nice wall covering that's impervious to moisture. Might be worth a look.
Since almost nothing about model railroading generates moisture, the need for a "covering that's impervious to moisture" gets me thinking about moisture intrusion from the exterior. And the last thing you need for dealing with that is something that is impervious.
Unless, of course, it's outside your building. Thus obviating the need for this product.
Ed
ROBERT PETRICKThe nominal height of the benchwork is 52 inches. Why should I struggle so much to finish stuff that will never be seen?
If you ever sell the house, the garage won't be partially finished; it may be a minor detraction to have the walls partially finished. That the only legitimate reason I can think of fully finishing the walls. To avoid a negative at selling time.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761 ROBERT PETRICK The nominal height of the benchwork is 52 inches. Why should I struggle so much to finish stuff that will never be seen?
ROBERT PETRICK The nominal height of the benchwork is 52 inches. Why should I struggle so much to finish stuff that will never be seen?
ROBERT PETRICK riogrande5761 ROBERT PETRICK The nominal height of the benchwork is 52 inches. Why should I struggle so much to finish stuff that will never be seen? Yes, that is exactly the point. I always have to be aware of resale potential and avoid the consequences of a questionable remodel. The thing about drywall is that it gets easier as you go along and things start smoothing out.) But even if I don't finish the bottom half, they will be left in pretty decent shape... Robert
doctorwayne No dilemma at all.... I built my trainroom as a trainroom, and coved all ten corners by using 3/8" drywall for at least one stud spacing on each side of all corners. 1/8" Masonite was used for the coving, and mudded-in to the abutting 1/2" drywall. All drywall was applied vertically (easier for an amateur to mud and finish), but I didn't bother mudding below the layout level, as it's unseen.When the layout comes out, all of the corners will be re-done, and the lower portion of the walls finished. I'll also likely take out most of the lights. EDIT: When I originally posted this, the photobucket site was down, so I was unable to add these photos showing why I didn't bother finishing the walls below layout level. The layout is bolted and/or screwed to the walls, so when the layout comes out, repairs will be required anyway. Wayne
Wow talk about a super well organize layout, you must have ooddles of storage behind those sliding doors.
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
Thanks, Lynn, and yes, plenty of storage and most of it not directly on the concrete floor. There's actually a lot more than can be seen in those two photos, and all of it hidden from view, yet readily accessible. Here's a diagram of the room and the layout, with storage beneath all of the layout (that under the peninsula is on the floor - handy for larger stuff that's too tall to sit on the shelving). The layout area in grey is double-decked:
doctorwayne Thanks, Lynn, and yes, plenty of storage and most of it not directly on the concrete floor. There's actually a lot more than can be seen in those two photos, and all of it hidden from view, yet readily accessible. Here's a diagram of the room and the layout, with storage beneath all of the layout (that under the peninsula is on the floor - handy for larger stuff that's too tall to sit on the shelving). The layout area in grey is double-decked: Wayne
Personally, I like the neat clean aisles. When running a train, you usually have a throttle in one hand and a fistfull of cards in the other and a decoupling skewer in the other. Looking out for obstacles underfoot is farther down the list.