My cellar-office conversion

[makeitfit]

Been a bit bogged down with house work of late cranking up my brownie points ready for offroad season :sly
So I thought I'd show you some pics of my office job conversion. It was an old damp cellar and is now well on the way to being my funky office /spare room
These were bargain basement tesco units and got them even cheaper for some reason 2 of them for 24 quid :thumbs

Some of my CDs that have been allowed to stay (for now) . All alphabetical too :question

I'm using Alu treadplate on the underside of the joists to make extra book shelves for her indoors ( points make prizes ) :naughty

This is the steep stairs with offset treads. I had it made for me many years ago out of reclaimed pitch pine .

I'm making the desk top out of 25mm Birch ply and will eventually make the doors out of the same stuff

We've been flooded in the past a few times and this room always copped it. So I've got electric underfloor heating in there now underneath the tiles. Also put tiles up the wall a bit like skirting board and used swimming pool adhesive all round .
LED lights are a personal favorite and are dimmable too

 

[AlexD333]

Looking good my dear! :thumb2

 

[trophymick]

Love the stairs.:thumb2

 

[macabethiel]

Nice and dry

Looks a great job!
Did you find a reason for the flooding?
Sounds like you have sort of fixed it by 'Tanking' using tiles instead of usual methods.
Hope it works OK and that damp does not trip out the underfloor heating if its electric!
Was it worth putting a sump pump in to keep it dry?
Still looks a really nice bright space a subteranian Man Shed no less!

 

[Banshee]

The things I'd do for a room like that

 

[solarman216]

Looking very nice mate, as said love the stairs, have you sorted the flooding problem? other than tile tanking, Rick

 

[Sweety]

Very nice would love to do something like that but the Son hasn't moved out yet & not been able to marry him off yet:lol

 

[terrano bob]

the stairs are called paddle stairs :thumbs

 

[johnb5177]

That's a nice man cave......:thumb2

 

[lee 4x4]

I'd probably break my neck on those stairs. Looks very smart though

 

[makeitfit]

Ha ha , yes the stairs are defo right foot first on the way down or else you'll be down in one :lol
The flooding has been from external issues , namely the the water board drains don't cope in massive downpours. In some cases the water fills the sewer system and then hydraulic pressure blows the manhole covers and then oodles of nasty water escape off the road, through my old front door into the hall and then into the cellar and then out the back door :doh
At last I persuaded the water board to fit a one way valve thing in our soil pipe so no water pressure can back up my hole
Being optimistic I'm doing up the cellar again
The walls are tanked and then rendered with waterproof cement, not cheap.
Then the under floor heating laid . Tiles on top with swimming pool adhesive so in theory if water does come in again it'll do little harm. Hence my design has all the units on plastic legs lifting them neatly off the floor
I'll get the desk bit joined up tomorrow and show you some more goings on at chez makeitfit

 

[solarman216]

MMMMMMMMM do not rely to much on that check valve, the nature of what is going down that pipe = possible obstructions stopping it sealing just when you need it to, seen lots of these fail when needed, what happens is the majority of the flow is stopped but they weep with say a panty shield caught on the seal = over a period it still comes up surprisingly quickly, I would have an automatic sump pump set at a lower level than than your floor to keep the level low, Rick

 

[makeitfit]

I know what you mean Rick however the deed is done . Sump pump won't really help me any as it happens all I need do now is open the office door and play "Poo sticks " :lol
My next project (in the spring) is a new porch. I'll be making that flood proof too and so hold back upto a meter of wet. I've already run two 4" drain pipes from the gulleys at the the front of the house to the back. They cope with all but the worst.
In the mean time I'll advise the wife to consider carefully her water closet activities :augie

 

[jims-terrano]

Looking good. Im supposed to be fitting out an ensuite when money allows but being an upstairs the floor levels are going to be silly. On top of the floor boards will be 18mm marine ply screwed down at very close intervals. Then the insulation board recommended for the heating mats. Then the mat with tiles on top and the thickness of tile adhesive. So all that extra thickness its going to be a huge step trip hazzard from the bedroom. Do like the idea of the electric under floor heating tho.

 

[makeitfit]

Marine ply's a bit excessive innit ? :augie WBP will be fine. Also before you lay that, pay attention to your existing floor. Give it a service by fixing it carefully too. Fit yourself a nice sloping threshold mate to save a late nite toe stumping

 

[jims-terrano]

Whats wdp? Im assuming the sloping threshold will be under the bedroom carpet?

Cheers

 

[makeitfit]

Sorry, Weather and Boil Proof ply . Easily good enough for your needs. Marine ply has different glue and better quality ply layers and virtually waterproof. WBP will be virtually as strong and almost as water resistant but once in place where's the water issue ?
Threshold graduates between carpeted bit and raised level of wet floor bit and so yes partially covered at least by carpet :thumbs

 

[jims-terrano]

Cheers Pete, now all I need is some enthusiasm and cash:doh

 

[makeitfit]

Cheers Pete, now all I need is some enthusiasm and cash:doh

I have enthusiasm and no cash SO what you need to do is create your pl;an/desire and then a shopping list. Enter searches on fleabay and save them. Checkout local faceache sales and swap pages etc. gradually you'll be able to pick up bargains along the way. Put a wanted post up etc Eventually you'll have most of what you need and then you can hit the task
GFI

 

[makeitfit]

Desk update .

Got some time on the desk bit today and did this

It's all cut from one sheet of 25 mm ply and so all the grain goes the same way
First run round with the router

Then a quick trim off the edge , chamfer style

Started the oiling job after a good sanding but a bit difficult to take a good enough pic for you.

Got the sofa bed in , just :augie

At this rate we'll be able to eat off table in the kitchen without fending off avalanches of receipts and kitchen plans :lol

Shelf racking etc next and some PC plumbing to do before the books start to flood in , boom boom