Ginge's basement reno thread
11-05-2006, 04:50 PM
#1
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Ginge's basement reno thread
I decided to finish the whole basement. Going to add a home theatre in the 24x14 room, which is basically half the basement. The other half will be a home office, half bathroom, and a short landing/hallway off the stairs.
This should add about 620 finished sq feet to the house. I'll also be walling of the furnance, panel box, and H2O tank area and installing a closet door for under-stair storage.
I went to home despot today and picked up some dricore floor for the subfloor. Not cheap at $7 for a 2x2 tile, around 6x more expensive than a typical OSB floor, but I have heard good things about this stuff from friends, so decided to go with it. dricore floors
Some before pics:
Home Theatre room (from the door & right) with play area left of the door:
Future site of 2pc bathroom:
Furnance, sump, H2O tank, and service panel will be walled off & acoutic batten added:
Under-stair closet:
Need to box this in. The ceiling is 8'9", so there is plenty of room to cover this without losing headroom.
This should add about 620 finished sq feet to the house. I'll also be walling of the furnance, panel box, and H2O tank area and installing a closet door for under-stair storage.
I went to home despot today and picked up some dricore floor for the subfloor. Not cheap at $7 for a 2x2 tile, around 6x more expensive than a typical OSB floor, but I have heard good things about this stuff from friends, so decided to go with it. dricore floors
Some before pics:
Home Theatre room (from the door & right) with play area left of the door:
Future site of 2pc bathroom:
Furnance, sump, H2O tank, and service panel will be walled off & acoutic batten added:
Under-stair closet:
Need to box this in. The ceiling is 8'9", so there is plenty of room to cover this without losing headroom.
11-06-2006, 12:18 PM
#5
The Creator
Originally Posted by cTLgo
whoever did the wiring, did a clean ass job
i don't think i've ever seen such tidy electrical.
surprising, i've always heard Canada's electrical codes are pretty lenient. guy must have alot of pride in his trade.
11-06-2006, 12:39 PM
#6
Senior Moderator
Those are old pics, yes? Cuz, if I'm not mistaken, Edmonton should be covered in snow right now. 
11-06-2006, 12:50 PM
#7
Bent = #1
I envy you.. I am planning on helping my Dad build a theater for their new home. We're basically finishing off a room in the unfinished part of their basement like you are. Good luck!
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11-06-2006, 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by soopa
can we get some close-ups of your breaker box? i need some :wackit: material...
i busted ass laughing after that.....good one!!!
11-06-2006, 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by soopa
can we get some close-ups of your breaker box? i need some :wackit: material...
Im sure you have a vast collection of HOME IMPROVEMENT magazines underneath your bed as wellBy the way the basement looks good!!! Cant wait to see some finished pics
11-06-2006, 02:23 PM
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Still trying to justify going with a dri-cor subfloor (or any subfloor for that matter).
Never ever had a moisture problem
My neighbors carpeted directly over the concrete (with 8lb padding) and the floor is a very comfortable temperature.
Never ever had a moisture problem
My neighbors carpeted directly over the concrete (with 8lb padding) and the floor is a very comfortable temperature.
11-06-2006, 05:29 PM
#15
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Originally Posted by soopa
can we get some close-ups of your breaker box? i need some :wackit: material...
and 
that shit looks hella clean!Good luck on the project!
11-06-2006, 05:30 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
Still trying to justify going with a dri-cor subfloor (or any subfloor for that matter).
Never ever had a moisture problem
My neighbors carpeted directly over the concrete (with 8lb padding) and the floor is a very comfortable temperature.
Never ever had a moisture problem
My neighbors carpeted directly over the concrete (with 8lb padding) and the floor is a very comfortable temperature.
11-06-2006, 05:54 PM
#17
Originally Posted by soopa
can we get some close-ups of your breaker box? i need some :wackit: material...
And I wonder if it's required by code to do a box like that in Canada?? I've been wiring panel boxes down here for 5 years now and have never ever seen a box wired like that.
Kind of freaked me out at first...I thought I'd seen it all
11-06-2006, 07:41 PM
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LOL, yeah, I thought the box was well done too. It may be partly due to this being a show home for the builder. Generally, the sub trades do not seem to take much pride in their work out here, this is particularly evident in the newer homes built during the past year's boom (house prices went up 30% here, which has resulted in some pretty shoddy work).
The panel box has lots of space for the basement circuits, I reckon I will run 4 circuits with one dedicated to the HT.
The smaller tan boxes are the old landline phones; I switched to a digital phone which is the black modem at the bottom right.
The co-ax cable is running through an amplifier - I suspect the original owner did this because with him being the only house on the street, the cable signal was probably quite weak. A year later, the cable company would have increased the juice going along the line, but this, coupled with the amp, made the signal too powerful for my PC modem. To dowgrade it, I am running it through 2 splitters; one at the bottom left, the other at the wall plate in my PC room. PC Modem works great now - I get 250Kb d/l through bittorrent
OK, on to the money shot:
The panel box has lots of space for the basement circuits, I reckon I will run 4 circuits with one dedicated to the HT.
The smaller tan boxes are the old landline phones; I switched to a digital phone which is the black modem at the bottom right.
The co-ax cable is running through an amplifier - I suspect the original owner did this because with him being the only house on the street, the cable signal was probably quite weak. A year later, the cable company would have increased the juice going along the line, but this, coupled with the amp, made the signal too powerful for my PC modem. To dowgrade it, I am running it through 2 splitters; one at the bottom left, the other at the wall plate in my PC room. PC Modem works great now - I get 250Kb d/l through bittorrent
OK, on to the money shot:
11-06-2006, 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Yumchah
Those are old pics, yes? Cuz, if I'm not mistaken, Edmonton should be covered in snow right now.
11-06-2006, 07:47 PM
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Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
Still trying to justify going with a dri-cor subfloor (or any subfloor for that matter).
Never ever had a moisture problem
My neighbors carpeted directly over the concrete (with 8lb padding) and the floor is a very comfortable temperature.
Never ever had a moisture problem
My neighbors carpeted directly over the concrete (with 8lb padding) and the floor is a very comfortable temperature.
I've done laminate over concrete too without any moisture problems. In this case, the rationale for a sub floor was for warmth and the flexibility to install a carpet. Though right now I am leaning towards laminate tiles for the office and bathroom, and cork for the HT.
11-06-2006, 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Scrib
WTF is that? ROMEX?
btw... Nice box.
btw... Nice box.
11-06-2006, 08:39 PM
#27
The Creator
Originally Posted by GINge!
I think that is code for here - for between-wall wiring, you have to have a non-metallic sheath. What kind of wiring is used in the USA?
although scribs local codes could be different.
11-06-2006, 09:46 PM
#29
The Creator
god, what i would do to simply have my phone/cable/electrical/security all in one spot 
I've got my phone/cable crap in one corner of my basement, my electrical in another, and my alarm units dead center of the fucking room... arghhh.
I've got my phone/cable crap in one corner of my basement, my electrical in another, and my alarm units dead center of the fucking room... arghhh.
11-07-2006, 12:52 AM
#30
Originally Posted by GINge!
LOL, yeah, I thought the box was well done too. It may be partly due to this being a show home for the builder. Generally, the sub trades do not seem to take much pride in their work out here, this is particularly evident in the newer homes built during the past year's boom (house prices went up 30% here, which has resulted in some pretty shoddy work).
The panel box has lots of space for the basement circuits, I reckon I will run 4 circuits with one dedicated to the HT.
The smaller tan boxes are the old landline phones; I switched to a digital phone which is the black modem at the bottom right.
The co-ax cable is running through an amplifier - I suspect the original owner did this because with him being the only house on the street, the cable signal was probably quite weak. A year later, the cable company would have increased the juice going along the line, but this, coupled with the amp, made the signal too powerful for my PC modem. To dowgrade it, I am running it through 2 splitters; one at the bottom left, the other at the wall plate in my PC room. PC Modem works great now - I get 250Kb d/l through bittorrent
OK, on to the money shot:
The panel box has lots of space for the basement circuits, I reckon I will run 4 circuits with one dedicated to the HT.
The smaller tan boxes are the old landline phones; I switched to a digital phone which is the black modem at the bottom right.
The co-ax cable is running through an amplifier - I suspect the original owner did this because with him being the only house on the street, the cable signal was probably quite weak. A year later, the cable company would have increased the juice going along the line, but this, coupled with the amp, made the signal too powerful for my PC modem. To dowgrade it, I am running it through 2 splitters; one at the bottom left, the other at the wall plate in my PC room. PC Modem works great now - I get 250Kb d/l through bittorrent
OK, on to the money shot:
Definitely the weirdest way I've ever seen a box wired -- Not saying it's wrong or anything, I've just never seen it done like that so I'm not used to it. Are they all wired like that in Canada?
And I'm surprised more of your wire's aren't color-coded. As you can see in the pic below, all of our 14 gauge wire is white, 12 is yellow, 10 is orange, 8 and 6 (6 not pictured) are black, etc. But, different places different rules I guess.
This is what every box I wire looks like:
The two wires hanging down by the panel in the first pick are cable and they get moved later on. And sorry, I know the pic quality is horrible but it's from an old camera phone that I had last year, but you can still get the idea.
If it's not to big of a deal, can we get a shot of the panel without the front cover? I'd like to see what it looks like on the inside
11-07-2006, 12:59 AM
#31
Originally Posted by soopa
same shit, romex.
although scribs local codes could be different.
although scribs local codes could be different.
Scrib, is all your wiring running to the box in conduit?? I know you have to use a lot of conduit...just curious what the rules are around the panel.
How 'bout everybody post a pic of their panel so we can all critique.
11-07-2006, 01:07 AM
#33
The Creator
That's a clean install as well... but not nearly as obsessive compulsive cool
Yeah, I'm surprised all Ginges wires are white. Although, I'd definately prefer it that way in the case of an unfinished basement.
Fuck yellow romex is fugly.
Yeah, I'm surprised all Ginges wires are white. Although, I'd definately prefer it that way in the case of an unfinished basement.
Fuck yellow romex is fugly.
11-07-2006, 01:07 AM
#34
Originally Posted by soopa
god, what i would do to simply have my phone/cable/electrical/security all in one spot
I've got my phone/cable crap in one corner of my basement, my electrical in another, and my alarm units dead center of the fucking room... arghhh.
I've got my phone/cable crap in one corner of my basement, my electrical in another, and my alarm units dead center of the fucking room... arghhh.
I'm guessing these wires were all pulled before you owned the house? And is there any reason they weren't pulled to the same area...or are they just where whoever installed it wanted them?
11-07-2006, 01:17 AM
#35
Originally Posted by soopa
That's a clean install as well... but not nearly as obsessive compulsive cool
Yeah, I'm surprised all Ginges wires are white. Although, I'd definately prefer it that way in the case of an unfinished basement.
Fuck yellow romex is fugly.
Yeah, I'm surprised all Ginges wires are white. Although, I'd definately prefer it that way in the case of an unfinished basement.
Fuck yellow romex is fugly.
And you'd be surprised how many homeowners ask us if they can have all white wiring
Originally Posted by soopa
You would puke if you saw my box. 
I've never been impressed with anyone's wiring back then. Of course rules were different then, but I just see a lot hack marks in wires, wires all tangled, etc.
But then again, I guess I can't expect too much out of 40-50 year old wiring
11-07-2006, 01:44 AM
#36
The Creator
My house is nearly 90 years old.
Lots of old BX. It's a mess.
Couple that with the 2-3 minor renovations/additions the house has seen and received... ugh... scary scary site.
I could try to clean it up, but I think I'd rather just build a new house in the Spring
Lots of old BX. It's a mess.
Couple that with the 2-3 minor renovations/additions the house has seen and received... ugh... scary scary site.
I could try to clean it up, but I think I'd rather just build a new house in the Spring
11-07-2006, 05:22 AM
#38
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Originally Posted by Scottman111
Scrib, is all your wiring running to the box in conduit?? I know you have to use a lot of conduit...just curious what the rules are around the panel.
How 'bout everybody post a pic of their panel so we can all critique.
How 'bout everybody post a pic of their panel so we can all critique.
Everything is the house is in conduit. Once in the box, it obviously goes down to 12 & 14 AWG copper straight to the breaker.
11-07-2006, 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by GINge!
The dri-core was a matter of expedience over cost - it should only take 1-2 nights to install, tops.
I've done laminate over concrete too without any moisture problems. In this case, the rationale for a sub floor was for warmth and the flexibility to install a carpet. Though right now I am leaning towards laminate tiles for the office and bathroom, and cork for the HT.
I've done laminate over concrete too without any moisture problems. In this case, the rationale for a sub floor was for warmth and the flexibility to install a carpet. Though right now I am leaning towards laminate tiles for the office and bathroom, and cork for the HT.
Decided to skip the underlayment altogether. Both of my neighbors used the 8lb felt under the carpet and the floor is not cold.
Can't justify an extra $750 for a basement. (120 tiles @ $6 a piece)
11-07-2006, 08:50 AM
#40
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Originally Posted by Scottman111
Definitely the weirdest way I've ever seen a box wired -- Not saying it's wrong or anything, I've just never seen it done like that so I'm not used to it. Are they all wired like that in Canada?
And I'm surprised more of your wire's aren't color-coded. As you can see in the pic below, all of our 14 gauge wire is white, 12 is yellow, 10 is orange, 8 and 6 (6 not pictured) are black, etc. But, different places different rules I guess.
And I'm surprised more of your wire's aren't color-coded. As you can see in the pic below, all of our 14 gauge wire is white, 12 is yellow, 10 is orange, 8 and 6 (6 not pictured) are black, etc. But, different places different rules I guess.
Nice box Ginge...