It's almost finished. This is what I've been working on for at least two months as money and time permits.

My cousin helped. He will be doing the tile flooring soon, over the concrete slab.

This was a room approx 8x16 that was a screened in covered porch off the carport, and since the house was built many years ago, this pourch has not served any purpose. Since I retired, I figured it was about time to put it to good use.

So, I walled it in, put in windows and a door. It's been a great transformation and a lot of work, especially the sanding and finishing.

I won't be able to use it right away, since I'm spending my summer in Alaska, but in the fall, I'll build the work bench and probably buy a steel cabinet with shelves and lockable doors.

Anyway, finally after all these years I have a room dedicated to reloading and guns and hunting stuff.

Not too big or too small. The finish is so fresh that I haven't yet pulled the blue masking tape off the sheetrock, or put the outlet covers or AC vent covers back on.

KB

That will be really nice when you get it done.
What is with the block bottom then what above as a wall?

That concrete floor will get you -- put down a loading pad of some sort or a nice carpet partial. My garage floor is concrete and a foam pad for workout and weights makes it nice. Enjoy!

quote:

Originally posted by Rapidrob:
That will be really nice when you get it done.
What is with the block bottom then what above as a wall?

I used the prior construction to the extent I could. The blocks are part of the foundation to the house. The wall with the double window was the outside wall with my bedroom on the other side. The floor of the bedroom is at the level of the top of the blocks. Instead of removing the double window, and renovating the entire wall inside, to avoid the expense, I just used it the way it was, with the new paneling on the side toward the new room. I can look out my bedroom window into the new reloading room. That's partially why the rectangle picture windows are high, to clear the work benches, but also to provide a view outside from my bedroom.

Anyway, the concrete blocks were already there, and the slab too, and the roof, so I saved a lot by using previous construction. The roof, trusses are all supported by steel posts (now hidden in the walls) embedded in the concrete blocks and slab, so my addition of 2x6 studs is to provide support for the windows and nailers for the paneling, not structural support. In the fourth picture down, looking out the open door, you can see one of the steel posts, supporting the roof over the carport.

It was a screened in covered porch or patio, with an entrance off the car port.

We were able to tie into the existing duct work for heating and air to the reloading room.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by BNagel:
That concrete floor will get you -- put down a loading pad of some sort or a nice carpet partial. My garage floor is concrete and a foam pad for workout and weights makes it nice. Enjoy!

My cousin has me talked into using ceramic tile. We already bought it, and he's supposed to install it next week. Lowe's had a nice pattern on sale. I lived in Alaska many years, and I am still shocked at the good prices on building materials, now that I'm down South. I got the tiles at .57 cents each, 13" squares.

KB

When are you planning to put on the extension? roger

de-humidifier 24x7. lift the steel cabinets off the floor with 2x4 and plywood with plastic under it.

Ceramic tile belongs in a bathroom or maybe a kitchen, not in a man cave or reloading room. In a room that size wood or laminate flooring would be a relatively simple/inexpensive job. But hey, it's your room, not mine.

Tile will be just fine!

Thanks for the ideas and feedback.

I like achieving or building something, but it has an annoying side too. It never turns out like I had in mind to start with. Along the way my cousin, who is in the business of carpentry and renovations, made some suggestions, which led me to change my mind several times. In some ways I wish I had stuck to my initial ideas. It seems that there are always compromises, choices and decisions to be made along the way, and subject to second guessing later.

Initially I planned to use cypress 1x6 tongue and groove lumber, and run the planks vertical. My second choice was pine planks. My cousins suggested T1-11 as a less expensive option and still achieve the rustic look. He said it would save some money in several ways, materials and labor. (now that’s questionable) So I went with it and it worked out but I think the color is too yellow, although I used a clear finish on the T1-11. It’s done now. The stuff was a lot rougher than I expected and had a lot of loose saw dust on the surface, so I sanded the heck out of it before applying the finish. (sanding alone took most of a day) Sanding produced a lot of saw dust as it knocked the loose material off the surface.

I expect the floor to take some abuse. Over time I’ve noticed that a reloading area produces spills, and spent primers to grind into the floor or carpet, plus rocks or mud from boots. So, the idea is the ceramic tile will take the abuse, and sweep easily, and not be subject to stains from spills. I was going to just clean the slab and paint or stain it, but my cousin says the tile is the solution.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
When are you planning to put on the extension? roger

It's the largest space that I have ever had available and dedicated specially for a reloading and gun stuff room. IMO, if it doesn't fit into this space, then I've got too much stuff.

I have literally thousands of dollars worth of such stuff still in Alaska. My plan is to get rid of it all this summer except what I really want to keep and what's worth shipping to Georgia. My plan is to leave one rifle with factory ammo in the cabin in Alaska, (probably a SS Ruger in 300 WM.) and do all my reloading etc. in Georgia.

When I left Alaska, I did so for medical reasons, and needed to get somewhere I could find a specialist - quickly. I grew up in South Georgia, so I returned home to the family farm, and found the doctor needed in Augusta. I had been in Alaska so long that I had forgotten how nice it can be in the South, fall/winter/spring, so it looks like the dream of spending summers in AK is gonna happen after all.

Anyway, I needed to get out last December/January, so I put stuff inside one of the 40' shipping containers. A friend has been watching it, and he reported that the condensation has been aweful. Fortunately I shipped most of my guns to Georgia, but those inside the container have suffered damage, according to him. Supposedly he has taken them all home with him and cleaned them up. I'm going there in a few weeks to fetch my pickup and the rifles and drive through Canada to Haines, then take the ferry to Juneau, then on over to the island. The first week in May, I had the container on its trailer shipped, and it's now sitting on my lot on the island in SE Alaska.

Anyway, I expect some damage, but fortunately most of those left are stainless and or teflon coated. I only hope for the best when I start going through stuff. You may see some ads in classified during the summer.

KB

Is that an HVAC vent in the block wall in the first couple pictures? I was just hoping so. That would go a long way to eliminate the need for a dehumidifier in the spring or space heater in the winter.

Looks nice. All my reloading stuff would not fit in there. I need to de-cluter.

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
Is that an HVAC vent in the block wall in the first couple pictures?

Yes.

Kabluey, so glad you found a specialist that can deal with your problem. Will he be able to control things with medication or will he have to do a lobotomy?

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
Kabluey, so glad you found a specialist that can deal with your problem. Will he be able to control things with medication or will he have to do a lobotomy?

roger

Nice den!

I converted my triple garage basement into a workshop for my electronics business.

The concrete floor would not do & needed modification. So I got the builder to just do a 2"X1"frame on the concrete and fill the gap with polystyrene sheets and put wood particle board on top. That gave me the option of tile, lino or carpet on the floor. The great thing is that the floor is now fully insulated.

I'd go with a rubber mat before carpeting. Carpeting causes static electricity build up and makes it hard to find primers when you drop them.

Kabluey, You and carpetman have exchanged a few jibes over the years,glad his last one went over your head.
How are you getting on with your new space.jc

I tiled my Reloading room / man cave, I highly recommend going with a very light or white colored tile. It sure makes it nice when you drop those little things like screws, detent balls or primers. They sort of 'pop' out at you on the white floor.

Deer season is approaching and Kabluey hasn't posted since May. I was worried that when all the deer are being shot with .222 and .223, Kabluey wouldn't be around to argue with me that it can't be done. So I have been in touch with him by PM and he is back in Alaska for the time being and does not have internet at his cabin.