Current Pics

Current Progress Pictures

Wow!

Hey sorry I've been travelling for work and haven't updated the blog for a long while now.



Completed
Carpet is installed (yesterday) it's so awesome it's like walking on pillows (8lb pad and a 72oz carpet). I may spend most of my movie watching sprawled out on the floor with the boys.

Electrical is complete.

Bathroom (tile is done, toilet and vanity are in place).

Painting is done (just one last touch up needed).

A/C is operational.

Trim is complete

Left to do

Mount projector

Finish hanging speakers

Install electronics

Clean

Tile gameroom (this weekend to lay tile and seal, next weekend to grout it all)

Shower (Mud pan, tile, and shower doors)

Fix the gap between the stone and the screen. I had to leave a gap at the top and bottom of the screen so I could mount the screen in the space.

Window coverings

I'll try and get some pictures tonight and post them tomorrow.

Week 6 Day 5

Well day 30 closed up with the painting being complete. I don't think there is a great deal ongoing this week. We've slowed the process for a week to let the funds catch up to the budget. I think this week the cleaning crew is coming in, the A/C will be hooked up, and probably some more trim work.

So far it's been amazingly smooth, and I can't say how thrilled we are with the end product (well almost end product). Bill is awesome, and I can't recommend him enough if your considering doing a project.




Current Progress Pics

Week 6 Day 2

The STONE IS IN!!! Whoo Hoo! You can now make out the screen size, it's the big hole in the middle of the stone. Also a couple people have asked for some detailed shots of the columns so I've included them as well. The painters have also primed the ceilings and walls ans hould be back later today to prime the trim and doors.

Final paint starts tomorrow and should finish up on Friday. We're getting so close....

Progress Pictures

Week 6 Day 1 (Day 35 overall)

Week 6 Day 1 (Day 35 Overall)
Painters were out today and primed the walls and ceilings. They also did all the prep work, caulking, putty, etc.Tomorrow is the big day, the stack stone is getting installed, and the drywall guys will be back out to do touchup work as well.The painters will be back Wed to prep and prime the trim. Thursday the real color starts going on the walls. So by this weekend, we'll know how it's going to look and if we should have hired a decorator or not.

Week 5 Day 4 (2/5/09)

Trim is still being installed, the whole project is really starting to look amazing! Just a few more weeks and we should be enjoying the new addition!

Progress Pictures

Week 5 Day 2

Trim was delivered, and the doors were hung. It's really coming together and looking awesome!!

Pictures here

Week 5 Day 1 (2/2/09)

Sanding day has arrived.. man I'm glad I'm paying someone to do this. Walked down to check on the progress and there was a solid cloud of drywall dust. I don't think I could see more than 5 or 6 feet into the basement....

Week 4 Day 5

Taping and mudding the joints has been going on all week. Since it's been so cold it has taken the joint compound two days to dry. Two coats later and we should be sanding Monday.

Week 4 Day 1

Dry wall is here, and scheduled to be hung today. Over the weekend I ran 4 x 3" recessed can lights. 3 are to illuminate the screen when not in use. The other light is to illuminate the equipment so I can change movies or make adjustments to the electronics.

Drywall is up, see the pics here!!

Week 3 Day 5

Drywall is here!!!

Week 3 Day 4

Insulation guys are here!!! It's been very cold here the last week or so with temps in the mornings in the low teens. So anything to help keep the heat in and the cold out is exciting, not to mention helping lower the heating costs

WE passed the Framing inspection.


Day 19 Photos

Week 3 Day 3

Framing crew is scheduled to be out to correct inspection issues. Not sure on when Insulation is scheduled or if we'll even be able to start drywall this week. I'll update later today if I get more scheduling information.

Framing crew is here working currently. Re-inspection is slated for tomorrow. Insulation is also scheduled for tomorrow. Unfortunatley Drywall delivery has to be moved to Friday with hanging scheduled for Monday at this point.

So the framing issues cost us a day, but it works out ok since there's a few things I wanted to do this weekend before drywall get's hung. I want to hang some lights above the screen to illuminate it when not in use. I also need to finish hanging a pipe to fish cables to the projector.

Week 3 Day 2

Well we had some issues with the framing inspection. So the framing crew will be out again tomorrow and hopefully it'll be right this time. The good news is that insulation can go forward and we aren't being totally held back. I'm still hoping we can start drywalling on Friday. The first week was a dramatic change and all kinds of work occurred to make measuring progress easy. I'll be glad to get to another stage where there is measurable progress.

Week 3 Day 1

MLK Day.. no framing inspection today since it's a holiday. Bill was out and finished the stage, I'll post some pictures tonight.

Tomorrow Bill is meeting the insulation estimator and if all is well they will be out Wednesday maybe Thursday. Drywall should be delivered on Thursday and hanging started on Friday. Depending on weather (cold) it may take 10 days or longer to complete drywall...

Week 2 Day 5

Not much to update today... The electrical inspection and A/C inspections both passed. Plumbing inspections should be today.... Framing crew had to come back out and fix a couple of fire blocks that they missed. Bill found the issues prior to the inspection.

Bill was out to start on the stage, he'll be out Monday to finish up.

Week 2 Day 4 (Day 10 overall)

Let's summarize what's occured so far in the process:

Framing is complete
Plumbing rough-in is complete
A/C is complete (can't turn it on until the inspection)
Electrical rough-in is complete

Inspection Schedule (Set for tomorrow 1/16):
Plumbing underground inspection (since we moved the toilet and drain) *Complete*
Plumbing rough-in
Electrical rough-in
Framing
A/C (I think this is the same inspector as electrical but may be a seperate inspection report)

Work scheduled for today:
Bill will be out to do required caulking and foam for fire blocking.
Plumber will be out to set the pan for the shower so he can pass rough-in, although the bathroom tile guy will replace it later in the process. This is to ensure there's no leaks created by people working.

Current Photos

Week 2 Day 3 (Day 9 overall)

Electricians are here finishing up today, they really cranked it out yesterday very impressive. The AC work is all finished as well. The plumbing inspector was just out he was in and out in a couple of minutes so hopefully that's good.

Week 2 Day 1 (Day 8 overall)

A/C guys are here working today. I think the plumbing inspector is coming out today as well. I ran all the cable TV lines and speaker wire over the weekend. Total was 7 runs for speaker cable, and 11 runs for cable.

Photo's for Day 8

Day 5

Well the framers were here at 8am again, and finished up by 11. The plumbers are here and should be complete today as well. The AC guy is delayed until Monday and should take two days. Bill held him off a day so there wouldn't be people getting in each others way, and he had another job to finish up. The electrician will be out Tuesday and may take two to three days. That should complete the rough-ins and the first round of inspections should start the week after. Bill said he'd be out later next week to finish the stage and has to do some "fire caulking" and other things to prep for inspections. He's out everyday to check on progress, but he'll be out to do some of the work himself. In the meantime over the weekend I have a lot of theater cable to run (speaker wire, RG-6 for gameroom/office/etc, HDMI cables).

Day 5 Photos

Day 4

I spoke to Bill this morning and got a status update. I can't say how thrilled I am with Bill, he's here when he says he'll be here, I know every step of the way who will be here and what they will be working on. He is awesome I can't recommend him enough.

The framing crew will be back out tomorrow to finish up a couple things. There's a couple issues in the bathroom the shower wall should have been a knee wall and it went all the way to the ceiling, plus it was very narrow. So shorter and wider...

The plumber is here and about to bust out with the Jack Hammer to move the shower drain and the toilet drains. He'll also be doing the rough in for the shower, toilet, vanity in the bathroom as well as the rough in for the bar (dedicated ice maker, dishwasher, and sink).

DAY 4 PHOTOs

Today's List:
Plumber

Tomorrow Expected List:
Plumber
Framers
A/C guys

Day 3

Framers were here at 8am again this morning. The theater is looking awesome!! I have to go to the plumbing supply house at lunch to pick out some shower valves. So no update pictures until this evening....

Framers had another busy day. Not sure if they will be back tomorrow or not. The plumber is schedule to come out tomorrow though. I know Bill will be out soon to finish the stage as well. So pictures may not be as dramatic as they have been for the last couple of days.

My A/V cables I ordered from Monoprice.com are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, in time for a Saturday installation. Let's see how much of the 1000' of RG6 I have left. It was way too much cable but for the same price it's twice what I could have gotten from Homedepot or Lowes.

Day 3 Photos

Day 2

They're here!! The framers and Bill showed up at 8am to start moving the lumber into the basement in the rain. Bill walked through and made sure we were all on the same sheet of music. The noise isn't as bad as I expected, but it is loud.

The framers ran out of lumber and have called it a day. They'll be back tomorrow morning to finish the framing. All in all it was a pretty dramatic change all ready. I can't wait until the end of day 3 when the basement will really take shape.

Only one small problem today was a nail that missed wood and targeted a copper water pipe. The plumber will out later today so we should have water again in a few hours. Plumber came out and I think it was a good thing we had the leak. I was able to discuss with him options for the shower and placement of things in the bath room. So off to the plumbing supply house tomorrow to locate the shower equipment.

As a side note, we've had over 3" of rain in the last 24 hours. The creek behind the house is now a small river....

Day Two Photos

Day 1 of my basement makeover

Day 1 - Framers delayed on another job so we're starting a day late. Bill dropped off the wood for the framers so it'll be here waiting on them for tomorrow morning. I'll get some pictures tonight, I still have some cleanup left since we were using the space as a theater and my home office.

Here's a link to the before pictures.

The next few days should be pretty exciting. The framers will be here for two days, then the plumber for one day, the A/C people will need two days and the electrician should require two days as well. So by the end of next week we should be well on our way. The current estimate to completion is 6 - 8 weeks. We’re too late for the 2009 Superbowl, but in plenty of time for the 201o game.