Well as you all know Samuel was born on the 11 July, this created a need for an additional bedroom. In anticipation of the coming of Samuel, I started renovating the basement. The new bedroom would become the haven for Jesse.
So it was off to find a drawing board. this bought me to a cheap program called 3D home architect. After about an hour with the tape measure and a couple of days playing with the software I had a PLAN.
The Plan:
Done in 3d Home Architect. This little program works really well and gives you a good idea of what your project will look like in the end. IF you are capable of doing the job.
Then it was off to Home Depot to get some advice and material to build the basement. After an hour or two I was off. And soon the basement was starting to take shape.
The old basement with all the junk in it.
So I began on the other side of the basement.
1st task was to build the closet on the far side. This was also going to be a test to see how hard this was going to be. If it was too hard I was going to scrap the whole idea.
And it all went well with no major hick-ups.
After that going so well I continued on to the rest of the basement. One section at a time, one weekend at a time.
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The rest of the wall went in no time at all. |
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Then along the wall and boxed under the windows.
This continued around the walls until.... |
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I reached the back wall, where I built a wall and door frame. |
This all took about 3-4 hours on 4-5 weekends. So not more than 20 hours of some hard labour. I think the toughest was drilling the holes in to the concrete floor for the anchor bolts. This is always tough with a little NON-Hammer Drill.
Then there were some finishing touches, like boxing off the air ducts, channelling the roof and building the half wall and Post. There was also cabling up of power outlets and installing a circuit breaker in to the Power DB.
I also ran telephone cable, cable TV and Internet CAT5 network cabling.
And that about brings us up to date. the last time this was updated. I have gone much further so keep reading.
All these pictures were taken on 4th Oct 2001
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This was taken from outside the doorway looking in to the bedroom, which is on the left. |
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This was taken from outside the doorway looking in to the sitting Room. |
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From the sitting room looking over the half wall in to the bedroom. |
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From the sitting room looking over the half wall and in to the closet. This is the same angle used for the newer picture at the bottom. |
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This one from the bedroom over the half wall to the sitting room and
doorway on the left. This is also the same angle used for the newer
picture at the bottom.
All these pictures were taken on 4th Oct 2001 |
Now the next step was to put up the drywall and plaster. then prime and paint.
The material arrived and then it was back to the grind. Just a little each weekend got it done in no time at all.
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The Drywall is done on the roof and all the 6" high pieces are
up.
Now to finish off the 2" pieces to the ceiling. |
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The Ceiling and cupboard are underway. |
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After a very itchy weekend of putting in Insulation and then 2
weekends of dry walling there is not much more drywall to hang.
Then the plaster and taping . |
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All the off cuts are earmarked for different gaps remaining.
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So all the drywall is up now. It has all been taped, plastered and sanded. I have even completed the 2 coats of primer. Just a note on the taping, plastering and sanding. It is as hard as everyone tells you. Sanding is a real pain in the neck, arm, legs, back and every other muscle in your body. And the Dust!!! Well this brings me to a point. If you use the excuse not to use wood studs because it creates sawdust, wait till you see how much is created by sanding down drywall compound.
This has bought us to the current state of the basement.
The weekend will be spent painting colour (A nice bright light blue) and finishing the detail, like putting Door handles, plug covers and the top of the half wall on.
Now the painting is done along with all the little extras. The blue turned out a little darker than expected but it still looks good.
The carpet is going to be delivered and installed on the 24th of May, There is no way I'm going to do that too. This has been a long hard job, one I do not wish to do again. Although I do value the experience, and the fact that I can now rub it in to all those who doubted me.
More pictures will follow... well not really as we moved out in August of 2002.
Scott