Just going to be in the entry area. The rest is epoxy painted. Under the layout will be storage, the walking areas I am planning to get carpet tiles so you don't have to stand on bare cement.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Sorry if this has been asked before...
Randy, are you going to continue the vinyl plank flooring throughout the newly finished area, or stick with the painted(?) concrete?
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Randy, That looks like quite a great space, and it sounds like you have plans for every bit of it.
Congratulations.
I hope you keep a good build log for us to share in your achievements.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Last set of pics, then I will start a new thread on layout construction.
Here's the added room, left is for the yard, right is for the town:
Here's looking the other way. A moveable section will go in front of the furnace. To the left will be some industries:
Looking over towards the stairs. Switches to control the lights and outlets, and along that wall will be the cement plant. I'm standing about in the middle of the helix.
Door on the left goes to the garage, door to the right is the bathroom. Here you can see the nifty little door they put in over the electrical panel.
Looking at the front door. On the left there will be a branch line, narrow benchwork, just a foot wide along the left to clear the door.
Looking in from the door. The branch will be along the right from this point of view.
Looking to the other side of the basement. Branch along the right, and to the left of the short wall will be the helix, with the branch looping around outside of it.
From about the same place, you can see the little door for the storage under the stairs:
And the most important part, the thinking room:
riogrande5761My wife did a great job on the shower wall and floor tile and bathroom floor tile.
I agree! Looks great!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I would have gotten 3 sheet hung and that would have been it, I would be on my own. She also said she could tape and mud - yeah, I'll have the pros do that. It's not that she's lazy, not in the least, it's just she was raised on a farm and her idea of fixing or finishing something is farmer style - it works, but it ain't pretty. She bought a long closet rod she wants to put up to hang a curtain to block off the laundry area. Sheesh.
richhotrain rrinker Plus after having help with the primer coat on the walls, after all the "we can do this in a weekend", I got no help with the finish coat so I just had them do it. LOL. I predicted that a little while back. Rich
rrinker Plus after having help with the primer coat on the walls, after all the "we can do this in a weekend", I got no help with the finish coat so I just had them do it.
Plus after having help with the primer coat on the walls, after all the "we can do this in a weekend", I got no help with the finish coat so I just had them do it.
LOL. I predicted that a little while back.
Rich
My wife is the opposite. She grew up very poor in the north of England so she always tries to find ways to save on costs. God bless her, but sometimes she over does it. When she saw the cost for a contractor estmate to install the drywall, which we were thinking of having a contractor do, she said NOPE, we're doing it ourselves. She helped score and cut and hang all 50 sheets! She also probably did about half the painting too.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Alton Junction
riogrande is in the right range.
There already was a bathroom, so they didn't have to add any plumbing. I had a few extras, not related, like putting a cap on my chimney to keep out the squrrels, and also had two additional circuits run up to my office room, one for my computers and one for the workbench. And the main panel grounding was pretty dodgy so I had a proper ground rod installed.
So with all new lights, drop ceiling, insulated exterior walls, my new wall down the middle, special things like the switched outlets, it came right in the middle of that range. Little extras that I have some more pictures to show that were included are a nice door over the electrical panel (adding that sub panel was part of this too) and also the space under the stairs that was closed off, they put a nice door there so I can use that as storage.
Not sure how much less it would have been if I didn;t do the extra wall down the middle. But looking at how it all came out, I don;t think a future owner would necessarily want to tear it down - just add a door across the open and end it would make a nifty theater room. Would easily fit an 80+ inch TV on the far wall, front and center speakers, mid surrounds on the walls, and rear surrounds at the back. Stick in some tiered theater seats.... nope, I'm putting trains in there.
I'm guessing similar here in northern Virginia as well. So maybe we will never know the "big secret" but can guestimate, unless he wants to brag about how good a deal he got.
Up here in the Chicago area, it will cost about $10,000 just for a basement bathroom. Figure $25,000 all in for a complete finished basement including the bathroom.
Suite yourself! I don't have exact figures but I don't mind sharing - my wife estimates about $5k or less to finish our basement. Guessing between $1500 and $2000 for contractor to do wiring and plumbing. The rest in materals (50 4x8 sheets of drywall, 700 sq ft of drop ceiling, 16 2x2 flat panel LED lights ~$550), 700 sq ft of vinyl plank floor tile (~$700 from Lowes), about 9 five gal buckets of mud, drywall screws, house wire 12 and 14 awg, baseboard, paint, tile, sink, toilet and shower fixtures for the bathroom). We used lots of coupons at Lowes to save money too; my wife is a master at getting stuff for less. The basement shower is the best one in the house btw! My wife did a great job on the shower wall and floor tile and bathroom floor tile.
From others in northern Virginia we have a rough idea what the cost would be to finish a basement. Probably in the $20 - 25 K range these days. My sister in South Riding had her basement finished - open room, bedroom and full bathroom - I recall it was $19k and that was about 15 years ago and her basment was smaller. Costs have probably gone up too. Some depends on where you live, some on are and size of basement etc.
riogrande5761 rrinker It is officially DONE and paid for. What was the damage($)?
rrinker It is officially DONE and paid for.
What was the damage($)?
rrinkerYes, the whole house has hot water baseboard heat.
Thanks Randy.
Yeah, the phone camera isn't wide angle enough to actually see much unless I stand way back. So it is what it is. Next one will have vertical supports screwed to the wall.
Yes, the whole house has hot water baseboard heat. 3 zones, if you look at pics that show the furnace you can see the three pumps. The basement one actually runs through the garage as well.
We've had a very mild winter so far, but even so, the heat has been shut off in the basement since early Novemeber and it's never been cold down there. On the one wall there was a wire sticking out - that's where the thermostat has to go back on the wall when I get around to it.
Randy,
Nicest video of drywall that I have ever seen!!
Sorry, couldn't resist. I look forward to seeing your progress.
I have a minor question: What are the small square things that run along the bottom of some of the walls? Are they hot water heat exchangers? I'm sure you have explained them already but please save me from having to read through the whole thread again.
It is officially DONE and paid for. Time to get started!
I did a little video walking around the room mention what will go where. And I have some more pictures of the finished product.
Edit: Well the embedd a video didn;t seem to work, here's a link
https://youtu.be/9WOTclEA3-M
Not that the video tells you much, since it all looks mostly the same. But you can compare with the individual shots and see where it is.
ATLANTIC CENTRALIf I did not have so much going on here, I would come to Florida and finish that remodel for you.....
No need, I have all the time in the world now.
The window contractor came in today. Three sound reduction insulated windows are going to be $4,000.00, so that is moving along.
The 20 yard dumpster is being delivered in four weeks, so I have one month to finish my layout segment project before it goes to the dumpster.
The plumber moving the closet flange 10 inches and fitting the tub will be right after. So once the windows and plumbing are done, it is pretty much just framing, flooring, and drywall to finish the two bedrooms.
Then I need to make my wife's closet a reality.
Then... Trainroom!
SeeYou190 mbinsewi Ya know, I'm kind' waitin' for Sheldon to get started, too. Nobody is waiting for me. -Kevin
mbinsewi Ya know, I'm kind' waitin' for Sheldon to get started, too.
Nobody is waiting for me.
If I did not have so much going on here, I would come to Florida and finish that remodel for you.....
Sheldon
mbinsewiYa know, I'm kind' waitin' for Sheldon to get started, too.
mbinsewi GO! Ya know, I'm kind' waitin' for Sheldon to get started, too.... Mike.
GO!
Ya know, I'm kind' waitin' for Sheldon to get started, too....
Mike.
Sheldon is very anxious to get started, the detailed track plan is coming along.
I do have a few personal and business matters to conclude that will free up a lot of time, and other resources. Hopefully that all comes together soon.
My wife just had shoulder replacement surgery today, that is one personal thing taking a turn for the better.
I am very pleased with the details of the track plan so far. Only a few small compromises have been necessary to this point. And amazingly, some stuff is working out better than the preliminary planning.
Looks like I may also have room for a totally separate waterfront ISL about 10' long and 2' deep - glad I did not sell off all the Walthers waterfront structures and car float.......
Oh, that's right, I have only sold off about 6 things in 50 years, once it is bought.....
The basement really looks great Randy, your contractor seems to be a really good guy.
I have a 6 year head start - what that means is that in a few months, Sheldon will have more layout operational than I will.
My You Tube
FInal touch ups and finishing happening today and tomorrow, and cleanup. Then they will be back next week to check for any issues, and it's officially DONE. I still have a few things to do - install shelves in the laundry area, paint the stairs, etc. But at long last, a totally finished and ready to go basement, time to get a truckload of wood and start building benchwork!
The new bathroom is just too nice to actually use.
That's why I said I'd put up a blue curtain Since you seem to target his curtain and my white walls - 2 birds, one stone.
In 6 Summers I've done very little to the pool, really. The work level has not yet exceeded what I get out of it. Last year was bad, I was traveling for work almost constantly so I got very little pool time. Normally, I head home, change, and am in the pool the rest of the evening after work, and as much time as possible every weekend. Only a thunderstorm stops me. I get some of my best ideas just lazily floating around in the pool.
The minute the ratio flips - it's getting filled in, although filling it in is NOT a cheap job.
Being away is the worst part - no one seems to be able to follow instructions. Clean the skimmer baskets. Make sure there are chlorine sticks in them. Make sure the timer has started the filter at night. Start the robot in the morning. Once a week, put in 2 pounds of shock. When I'm home, this is all I go, takes 5 minutes before I jump in, and 10 minutes once a week. Even if I'm gone for a week, it stays clean. But I was gone for a month at a time, and after one trip I came home to a green pool. "But I did what you wrote down" no, you didn't, because I wrote down exactly what I do and the pool NEVER gets green. Cleared up quick enough, but I was only home for a week before heading back out and didn't get to go in at all because I was clearing it up.
Yeah, pools seem like a lot of upkeep for relatively low use. When my dad was 2 years from retiring from his 22 year tour with the Air Force, he bought a house in Davis CA, and commuted to Travis AFB for the last 2 years. The home had an inground Adobe pool - sort of an above ground type pool but installed mostly inground. We were mostly elementary school age and did use it alot in the hot California summers, but by the time we hit teen years, my dad removed the pool liner and filled in the hole and extended the deck totally covering it. He had probably had enough of pool upkeep!
My wife and I looked at a home here in Virginia and the basement would have been great for a layout; big, rectangular with stairs coming down in the center. But two things were deal breakers. One was a pool! No thanks. The other was the framing in the basement was bowed in the middle which appeared to be buckling under the weight of the two floors above. Major red flag. The upstairs was meh, also.
rrinker I'll put up a blue curtain topper, just for you! You'll see, where the layout is going, up to over my head (6') you won't be able to see the wall at all. Unless you crouch down and look under the bottom deck with a flashlight, or stand on something, or stand all the way back to see over the top valance. And in the meantime, while I am trying to work in there - it's super bright. They should have the last couple of lights in today so I can see what it really looks like, I might need sunglasses. --Randy
I'll put up a blue curtain topper, just for you!
You'll see, where the layout is going, up to over my head (6') you won't be able to see the wall at all. Unless you crouch down and look under the bottom deck with a flashlight, or stand on something, or stand all the way back to see over the top valance. And in the meantime, while I am trying to work in there - it's super bright. They should have the last couple of lights in today so I can see what it really looks like, I might need sunglasses.
No worries. I just prefer all light blue walls, easier on the eyes. Of course it's your ball game!
Speaking of "curtain topper", batman has that curtain that is in every photo of his layout - it's a major feature! To show you how much I love curtains and window valences, there were two in my town home basement train room. Those came out Mui Pronto!
I guess! Ours left the ground when the kids vacated. We now have a nice small hot tub on the patio.
riogrande5761 rrinker Yeah - I still have a bunch to do when the contractors are done. Sand and paint the stairs, That is one thing my wife and I still need to finish too. We did get the stair ceiling and walls mudded, sanded and painted, but the stair steps wood needs stained, the sides painted, runners added and baseboard put down. Once we got the basement proper inspected and passed, we still had to finished the vinyl plank floor and baseboard. After that was in we kinda had had enough after 11 months of solid work on weekends and holidays! Plus I wanted to get moving on the layout construction. Aside from the stairs, we still need to put a door on the utility room too, so a few loose ends. We put out construction debri bit by bit through out the 11 months of construction so didn't need to get a truck to remove it. And since we have yet to really have a Winter, it's getting towards Spring and it will be time to work on the pool and patio. --Randy Global warming I guess, been a mild winter here in northern Virginia too. Not that I'm complaining. But are you going to let the pool and patio distract you from layout construction? Priorities man! I try not to let warm weather take too much time away from the trains. And the basement is nice and cool in the summer too, just sayin! I have to say, the sky blue sure is easy on my eyes when I'm down in the basement.
rrinker Yeah - I still have a bunch to do when the contractors are done. Sand and paint the stairs,
That is one thing my wife and I still need to finish too. We did get the stair ceiling and walls mudded, sanded and painted, but the stair steps wood needs stained, the sides painted, runners added and baseboard put down. Once we got the basement proper inspected and passed, we still had to finished the vinyl plank floor and baseboard. After that was in we kinda had had enough after 11 months of solid work on weekends and holidays! Plus I wanted to get moving on the layout construction. Aside from the stairs, we still need to put a door on the utility room too, so a few loose ends.
We put out construction debri bit by bit through out the 11 months of construction so didn't need to get a truck to remove it.
And since we have yet to really have a Winter, it's getting towards Spring and it will be time to work on the pool and patio. --Randy
Global warming I guess, been a mild winter here in northern Virginia too. Not that I'm complaining. But are you going to let the pool and patio distract you from layout construction? Priorities man! I try not to let warm weather take too much time away from the trains. And the basement is nice and cool in the summer too, just sayin!
I have to say, the sky blue sure is easy on my eyes when I'm down in the basement.
I'm so happy I don't have a pool anymore.......