Slev's Mancave (UPDATED PICS on Page 3) [Archive]

Slev

08-23-2009, 11:34 AM

This has been my project for the past 2.5 years. Would have been done a long time ago but it is tough having 2 little ones. Anyway....here are the early progress pics:
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-18-07Progress01.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-18-07Progress02.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-18-07Progress04.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-18-07Progress05.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-18-07Progress06.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-18-07Progress07.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-18-07Progress08.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-24-07Progress01.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-24-07Progress02.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/03-24-07Progress03.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/5-13-07Drywall-Mud01.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/5-13-07Drywall-Mud02.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/5-13-07Drywall-Mud03.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/5-13-07Drywall-Mud04.jpg

Slev

08-23-2009, 11:43 AM

Should've posted this first, but these are of the before/after of the egress window I did and the rough-in for the shower/toilet/sink that I added:

http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/08-19-06Pre-Egress1.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/08-19-06Pre-Egress3.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/08-19-06Pre-Egress5.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/10-16-06FinishedEgress1.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/10-16-06FinishedEgress2.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/01-28-07BathroomRough-in1.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/01-28-07BathroomRough-in2.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/02-01-07BathroomRough-In3.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/02-01-07BathroomRough-In4.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/01-31-07FinishedPlumbingRough-In2.jpg

I dug the egress hole by hand to avoid damaging my lawn with a backhoe. I also cut the 10in poured concrete foundation with a rental saw from HD (Should've went to Nation's Rent). Used the same saw to cut the slab to run the drain piping. If you do it yourself, have fun hauling the 4" slab cuts up out of the basement.

Slev

08-23-2009, 11:49 AM

And these are where I stand now in the build. Still have quite a bit of touch-up painting and misc. items.

http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3032.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3033.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3034.jpg

This wall is where the flatscreen will go, I lag-bolted pressure-treated 2x4s to the foundation in order to support the flatscreen mounting-bracket which will be able to be pulled out from the wall and turned 90degrees for viewing while sitting at the bar. The bench covers the entire wall and has 3 storage units with piano hinges and 2 sections with doors; one to hold the woofer, the other for tv receiver/dvd player/etc. I ran a 2in conduit behind the wall up to the outlet/box cover you see in order to conceal all wiring
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3035.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3036.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3037.jpg
Center storage has 2 sliding drawers for DVD/game storage
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3038.jpg

Slev

08-23-2009, 11:57 AM

And now the best part...the bar. Still have not cut-out for the bar sink and will not complete the tiling until the kegerator is installed. The spill tray & tap tower will be finished into the bar top and I want to wait until I have kegerator in hand to do the cutouts. I carried the 12" & 6" slate floor tile design into the bar top with 4" & 2" slate tiles and am very happy with the look. The tiling (still needs to be grouted) will be covered with epoxy for smooth hard finish and bar rail has not been purchased yet. Plan on adding glass shelves to the bar back. Everything will be stained with a cherry (see spill tray) finish. Also inlcuded pics of the finished bathroom:

http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3029.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3030.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3031.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3039.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3040.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3041.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3042.jpg

http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3025.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3028.jpg

I've done all work myself, excluding the 2nd & 3rd coats of drywall mud, not a job you can do an hour here, an hour there and I have never been able to get more than 4-5 hours at a time to work. Dude charge me $300 to do the entire basement for the 2nd & 3rd coats!

JCinPA

08-23-2009, 12:09 PM

Great work! Must feel great.

MsprinM

08-23-2009, 01:40 PM

Very nice indeed good sir.

Joe Bass

08-23-2009, 01:48 PM

Amazing.

I'm jealous. The place looks incredible - great work.

Shadow

08-23-2009, 02:52 PM

Holy fuck! My jeans just got a bit tight. Wow. Nice work.

Quads

08-23-2009, 03:43 PM

Holy shit!
I'm envious.

BTSyndrome

08-23-2009, 06:25 PM

Very sweet !!!

If you leave the window well uncovered prepare to pull out dead bunnies
when the kids point out, "Look dad its fluffy, can we keep him?":D

Crawland

08-23-2009, 08:43 PM

That is looking good. The bar is beautiful. I like the columns too. Did you just frame around the poles?

Slev

08-23-2009, 09:26 PM

I like the columns too. Did you just frame around the poles?

I framed one column because I wanted an outlet and a switch for a future hanging light over where the poker table will go. I used a product (http://www.grabberman.com/ItemDetails.aspx?itemid=EZCOL4&dTab=info)
to cover the other columns and they are great! An easy way to drywall over columns while losing the minimal amount of space. I would recommend them to anyone looking to conceal their columns. I did not like the look of the column wraps you can buy at HD or Lowes. Hope this helps.

Slev

08-23-2009, 09:29 PM

If you leave the window well uncovered prepare to pull out dead bunnies
when the kids point out, "Look dad its fluffy, can we keep him?"

Haha, thanks for the info. I do have a cover over it and still get a handful of frogs every year. I am going to re-paint (dry-lock) the block to a darker color (probably gray) because the water that does drain in stains the white.

Slev

08-23-2009, 09:38 PM

Also, HUGE TIP for future builders: NEVER TELL YOUR WIFE THAT YOU ARE INSTALLING A URINAL IN THE BATHROOM!!!! Big mistake! I should have just done it and dealt with the consequences later...I would've been king of the neighborhood had I not opened my big mouth. I mean, how cool would it be to tell people you have a urinal in your mancave (actually told my wife that it is the "family cave" but she's no dummy).

MsprinM

08-24-2009, 07:59 AM

Shadow

08-24-2009, 08:05 AM

It's easier to get forgiveness than permission...

j p frog

08-25-2009, 06:39 AM

outstanding work! what does the wifey think of it?

Slev

08-25-2009, 07:25 AM

outstanding work! what does the wifey think of it?

Thanks! The wifey loves it, and now that she can see how everything is going to look she is wanting to get the carpet installed asap which is great! I want the bar complete before carpet though, no desire to have the table & compound saw down there with carpet.

Slick

08-25-2009, 12:31 PM

nice.. how big is the area?

Slev

08-25-2009, 12:58 PM

nice.. how big is the area?

The total finished area is 725sq.ft. I still have a good size storage area behind the stairs as well.

MsprinM

08-25-2009, 01:28 PM

You should get a 3" PVC pipe. Paint it gold and mount it like its a stripper pole for no other reason that to fuck with the wife.

wyatt880

08-26-2009, 08:26 AM

You should get a 3" PVC pipe. Paint it gold and mount it like its a stripper pole for no other reason that to fuck with the wife.

This has win written all over it.

Slev

08-26-2009, 06:11 PM

yeah...win me a spot on the couch. I can see it now..."daddy, thank you soooo much for the fireman's poll you put in the basement"

MsprinM

08-27-2009, 07:47 AM

yeah...win me a spot on the couch. I can see it now..."daddy, thank you soooo much for the fireman's poll you put in the basement"

chicken.

timsta007

08-28-2009, 04:05 PM

That is some remarkable work you've done on this. Amazing job. Can't wait to see the finished product.

WildHeart

10-26-2009, 06:55 PM

WOW! That is some damn impressive work.

Cato

11-15-2009, 09:00 PM

That tile is a good call - classy and you don't have to worry about drunk people or kids ruining the carpet

well done

GazTheHat

12-14-2009, 10:14 AM

Best one i've seen so far. Great work & classy. Anymore updates?

Slev

12-14-2009, 03:19 PM

Thanks for all the compliments fellas. Looks like I'll be breaking the mancave in with a Superbowl party, would be perfect if the Patriots were playing in it (highly doubt it)

Carpet will be installed just after the new year. Bar is stained with 3 coats of poly, bar sink installed & functioning, glass shelves will be ordered after X-mas. Kegerator installed & functioning. Baseboard shoe molding will be installed once carpet is complete. The only thing I have left is to tile the bathroom shower, touch-up the paint/trim in bathroom, and apply the epoxy coating to the bar top. Will post final pics once done in January.

Slev

01-27-2010, 10:17 PM

So the my mancave is essentially complete, although I still have a few projects left:
1.) Tile the shower
2.) Build cabinet doors for behind the bar
3.) Build bar stools
4.) Build new poker table
5.) Find a cover for my lazy-boy. Wife wants to get a new one but I will not get rid of THE CHAIR

Here's the finished product:
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3368.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3373.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3378.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3374.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3371.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3385.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3379.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3377.jpg

view from the shitter
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3375.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3387.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3380.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3383.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3382.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3381.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3384.jpg
http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3386.jpg

I am soooooo happy with how everything turned out...especially the epoxy coating over the tile on the bar top. Looks like someone melted glass on the bar and I recommend it to anyone finishing a table-top. The 50" plasma has been in for 2 weeks now and the keg was tapped about the same time...almost empty too.

Scuba_Dave

01-27-2010, 10:48 PM

Very nice, I like the beer tap :)

Karpro

01-27-2010, 11:02 PM

incredible work. I am in the final stages of my planning for mine. Where did you get the plans for your bar and what wood and stain did you use?

Slev

01-27-2010, 11:15 PM

thanks.

I don't remember the exact site, I believe it was barplans.com. I used their plans to start and adapted them to fit my needs/desires.

Built the bar out of red oak (in some places I used plywood & skinned it with 1/4" oak to save on cost). I used a minwax red oak stain #215.

Quads

01-28-2010, 12:47 AM

Outfriggin standing!
Is that a support pole in disguise or are you running plumbing in there and hiding it?

I really like the tile in the bar.
The recessed speakers in the bench along the wall / under the TV is pretty slick too.

Nice job Slev.

Slev

01-28-2010, 08:57 AM

No plumbing in any of the columns.

As far as the recessed speakers...they are actually 2 cabinets with a metal screen. The one on the right is for the TV components (I ran a 2" conduit behind the wall for all cable/HDMI cables. The one on the left is for the surround sound woofer once I get it. I already have speaker wire run to all locations, just have to pop the holes once I buy the speakers. I used the metal screen so that I didn't have to buy the expensive remote.

Thanks again!

j p frog

01-28-2010, 02:24 PM

stellar work sir! First pix with tv on shows my fav show*(FNL)

remainder of pix with TV on I could do without!*(BHO is not my fav)

what does the wifey think of all your efforts?

ACE'S FULL

01-28-2010, 02:35 PM

Man your place is kick ass... Very well done. I have a basement that I need to start planning and I think your finished product is what I need to get started.

Damn! That wall with the plasma is beggin for a bigger unit (ie projector & 100"+ screen)

Jack Napier

01-29-2010, 08:35 AM

Hell yeah Slev. Where you located

Crawland

01-29-2010, 10:09 AM

Damn! That wall with the plasma is beggin for a bigger unit (ie projector & 100"+ screen)

I agree. Look's damn good though.

CedarBar

09-06-2010, 02:29 AM

For the kegerator, did you seperate the tower from the fridge, or just drill a hole in the bar and raise the kegerator to the height?

Slev

09-06-2010, 05:33 PM

I separated the tower from the fridge and placed the tower on top of the bar. There was about 5" from the top of the fridge to the bottom of the bar. What I did was take a piece of 4" pvc (5" long) and 1.5" pvc (5" long), placed the 1.5" inside the 4" and filled the outer void with spray foam. I used this to connect the fridge to the tower and ran my hoses up through the 1.5" to keep everything cold. Worked out pretty well.

JBK I

04-14-2011, 02:55 PM

Crawland

04-14-2011, 03:24 PM

Stellar work Slev! Not only are you handy with a saw, but you're a Beer Engineer too!

JBK

Just don't hire him to cut a hole in your basment wall. He'll kill your family!

Quads

04-14-2011, 04:05 PM

That was a good story.

Slev

04-14-2011, 05:19 PM

Just don't hire him to cut a hole in your basment wall. He'll kill your family!

I see what you did there...well played. But I always make sure the family is out of the house whenever I do "improvements"

Wedge Rock

04-14-2011, 06:46 PM

The sink is bigger than the crapper...

http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3377.jpg

So I dry-docked one in the sink...

Tizzel

12-08-2011, 12:34 PM

http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv328/Slev09/CIMG3374.jpg

Did you tile first and then install the tap?
I'm at this point and not sure what to do

Slev

12-08-2011, 01:41 PM

Did you tile first and then install the tap?
I'm at this point and not sure what to do

This is where you need to have the kegerorator in-hand or at least know the model you plan on using. You need to know where the hole needs to be cut for the beer line. Drill hole first, then tile/grout. What I did was cut a wood ring to place around the hole...this gave me a place to tile up to and also a place to screw into for attachment of the tower.

If you're going to epoxy over the tile (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) then the ring around the hole {insert Q or flounder joke} also gives a stop point for the epoxy.