Small Town Nebraska Basement Bar and Sports Watching Remodel

Hello all! I bought my house about 6 months ago. The people that lived there for the last twelve years didn't do anything to it the whole time because they were 1. Old 2. Tight Asses. My first project was going to remodel the kitchen, but since I'm getting married in 9 months, it was put on hold. Shortly after moving in I decided that I was going to remodel my office in the basement. I figured no one ever went down there (even me) so I could remodel the room as I have time at night/weekends. Well this project turned into making it one large room for a basement hangout with a bar and projection screen for football!!! (that's life in Nebraska) I love this site and wanted to start a forum so I could get advice from people and track what I'm doing. My house was build wide (about 35 feet) so there's a lot of room. I'm only remodeling one half of the basement. The other half will be a bathroom and another bedroom. I've basically been just buying items for the construction every time I get paid. I didn't want to take out a loan or use any credit cards because I just simply hate having debt. Seems to be working so far since these projects span so long with the little amount of time I have each night.



Where the red carpet ends is where the office was at.
Edited by Leffy - 2/8/13 at 1:22pm

I know I'm crazy to get rid of that sexy red carpet!!!
Edited by Leffy - 2/10/13 at 6:48pm

Do you mean equipment to put in the basement? If so, none. I'm not really sure what I want to do. I'm suppose to get a new computer at work this week so I'm waiting for that so I can design a layout. Also, why I haven't posted that many pictures. My computer right now is sooooooooooooooooo sllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooowwwww. My plan is to put a bar down there and a projection screen. My only goal was to be able to watch NFL/College games down there next season. After I stumbled upon this site I'm really re-evaluating what I want to do with the room. Also, I'm a huge DeWalt nut.so building will be pretty easy to do.

Supervisor is down checking up on me!
Edited by Leffy - 2/10/13 at 6:19pm

Found these tonight. All from 1966. The last ceiling tile I pulled down they were all up there.

Just patching some cracks. Went extra wide since I had plenty of surewall to get rid of.

Started with the rigid foam insulation.

Got underneath the floor joists insulated.

When I took the carpet out to the dump last weekend the guys out there just said "wow." haha When I found the magazines I'll admit there was an imediate break taken. Pretty funny to look at the old ads in those things....and photos. My "supervisor" amazes me sometimes with how calm he is. Whether I'm using my 12" miter saw or sitting on the ground working on my Harley, he'll stand next to me unaffected by the loudness. He does sleep on the job a lot though!!! Started putting up some framing tonight. Too dark for a picture. I need to buy another shop light bad. I tried starting framing last night and ran into my first mistake; use a 5/32" drill bit for 3/16" screws, not a 3/16" bit. Learn by mistakes!

Started with the framing. Pressure treated 2x4s for the bottom plates.

I'm waiting until Friday to continue with any framing, other than the bottom plates. I'm going to Lincoln, so I'm going to buy a Dewalt air compressor and nail gun. Also, why I haven't taped any insulation yet. Ace in my town doesn't sell it, but they sell house wrap. Doesn't make sense to me.


Started removing the last bit of tile, which is only on the stair case.


The green arrow is showing where the wall will be roughly to enclose the room. Although, I think I'm going to rebuild that wall so the staircase is enclosed, not sure yet.

Found an old school fold up ruler. If you look up this company it has been bought out so many times since the 70's it''s crazy. Ended up giving it to a friend who collects old stuff. I'm going to cut out and frame the old playboy for a piece in the bar I'm going to build, but I'm really not one to collect antiques.

This was a bar that was left by the previous owner. Works well as a make-shift tool bench for me.


The house center line is basically the stair case. The other half of the basement will end up being a bathroom and another bedroom.

The best work gloves I've ever owned.



For those of you who have never used/seen a Track Saw, here it is:
There are two tracks. I'm using the short one for the rigid foam because it's quicker for me.
Obviously I'm posing for this pic. Otherwise I would cut my thumb off.....



You basically just take 2 measurements to set your rotation and then line up the track.
The track has a friction tape on the bottom which is what keeps it from moving while you cut.
The lip on the edge of the track is to help eliminate splintering.




The saw is a plunge cut style. This will allow you to drop-in wherever you want.





More views of the saw on it's track.
This was DeWalt's solution to not having to drag a table saw around a work site in tight spaces or simple cuts.




Edited by Leffy - 2/14/13 at 6:27am

hahaha I wish I worked for them. I'm not sure why, but I've always been a DeWalt guy and my dad is a Craftsman guy.

Started framing up some walls. Had to do the stick method.







Getting the plates ready to go.
I just bought a box of tapcon screws for the bottom plates.
The box came with the correct bit to use, which was nice.
Borrowed my dad's hammer drill because I don't have one yet!!!! (damn).





Edited by Leffy - 2/14/13 at 10:10am

I appreciate it. You're right. I can already tell that the free bit is about done and I'm barley 10 in! As far as the tapcons you're right there as well. I live in a town of about 3000 people so our Ace is limited haha

haha That's Bean. My fiance would kill me if I did that....even though it's been a thought...