Gameroom Project - Part 1

[Zud]

Ok I am biting the bullet and starting on this. Wish me luck.

With that said we wants to help clean my basement?

Seriously I need 8 upright vids, 1 cocktail, and 5 pins moved up! Damn I forgot I had that many down there. Ugh.

I'll post pics as I move along, starting with what it looks like right now.

 

[Brogner]

Good Luck with the project. That beats the 12 I have to move out of my basement to my game room (not including a dreaded change machine!)

 

[jehuie]

If only I were closer!

 

[Zud]

Ok ComEd will be out this week to check to see if the lines to my house can handle 300 or 400 amp service. Currently at 200amps.

Edit:
Got my carpet quote: $14.29 sqyd ($1.59 sqft). Now just need to find an installer in the area.

 

[yellowstitch]

good luck! If I wasnt working this weekend I would offer to lend a hand. Keep us posted with some progress pics

 

[Silverunicorn]

Following this with interest

Good luck! I'd help if I were closer

CHris

 

[Zud]

Quick question:

Drywall ceiling or drop?

I like the clean look, but then a year from now if I need to run new cable or electric to the upstairs/outside I need to bust it up. What's your opinion?

 

[Zud]

Ok day 1: Here are the starting pics.

 

[devils1982]

Quick question:

Drywall ceiling or drop?

I like the clean look, but then a year from now if I need to run new cable or electric to the upstairs/outside I need to bust it up. What's your opinion?

drop it, and do something creative with decorating it. Otherwise you will be cutting, patching and painted countless times over the next couple years.

From the pics it looks like either way you will have to lower it and the copper and ducts are surfaced.

 

[yellowstitch]

Quick question:

Drywall ceiling or drop?

I like the clean look, but then a year from now if I need to run new cable or electric to the upstairs/outside I need to bust it up. What's your opinion?

every time we work on plumbing or whatever on my aunts houses that my grandfater built we say "why the *!!*!*!* hell did he drywall the basement ceilings" so my vote is drop..or you can go the super cheap way like me, buy a sprayer and paint the beams

 

[wmba]

Good luck with your project. I will be watching your progress with interest, as I will be starting a game room project later this year as well.

 

[mrbill08]

If you have the headroom, drop it. I dropped mine and have never regretted it. I would have needed to rip up my ceiling at least six times since I did it (kids plugged a toilet and it overflowed, thermostat wire had to be replaced for a new 2-stage furnace thermostat which needed more wires, floor refinishers accidentally spilled stain down a duct, etc.). You can come by to see some of the tricks I used to get it as close to the ceiling as possible and how I dealt with some main plumbing pipes. I snugged the framework against the main air ducts which were the lowest points. Also make sure you buy two extra packages of tiles for the future. Kids like to poke pool cues through the ceiling after they celebrate a good shot and tiles stain after getting wet. Last advantage is that you can change lighting and add or subtract fixtures as you need them. I had to change the lighting over my pins as there was too much glare. If I had dry walled the fixtures in place I would have been hosed.

But it is a matter of choice and practicality. I invite the dry walled ceiling folks to chime in.

If it was purely a game room I might consider the "industrial look" and leave the ceiling open but painted. You could do try some neat stuff and always have the option of covering the ceiling or a portion of it later.

Good Luck with your project. The people that you contract will be very happy and eager to get some work as that industry has been slow - you should get some very fair and competitive pricing for the work.

Bill

 

[Zud]

Well I am going with drop ceiling. I will lose 2 more inches, but I think it is the best in the end. He will start before Memorial Day! I am excited and nervous at the same time.

On a side note I got my Hyperball working! Just in time to put it in storage. LOL

 

[motoman9]

Zud, why do you have a change machine? Are you simply trying to have an authentic arcade?

 

[tta583]

Ceiling wise, why not paint it as it is and give it that "industrial" look. A lot of business around here are going that way. Seems like there was a KLOVr a few years ago that did it, looked great.

I am going through my basement now. It already had a finished ceiling. I have gotten VERY close to just running a razor knife around it and pulling it down several times.

 

[Zud]

Zud, why do you have a change machine? Are you simply trying to have an authentic arcade?

For those that only have dollars and need change.

 

[DLP]

Ok ComEd will be out this week to check to see if the lines to my house can handle 300 or 400 amp service. Currently at 200amps.

Damn dude... how many machines do you have?! I have 43 machines in my basement and my entire house is a 200 amp service.

 

[DLP]

Ceiling wise, why not paint it as it is and give it that "industrial" look. A lot of business around here are going that way. Seems like there was a KLOVr a few years ago that did it, looked great.

I am going through my basement now. It already had a finished ceiling. I have gotten VERY close to just running a razor knife around it and pulling it down several times.

I painted the exposed ceiling in my basement black and it came out excellent. Any yes, many bars and resturaunts do the same thing.

My basement arcade project: http://www.d-l-p.com/users/jeff/basement/current/

 

[tta583]

I painted the exposed ceiling in my basement black and it came out excellent. Any yes, many bars and resturaunts do the same thing.

My basement arcade project: http://www.d-l-p.com/users/jeff/basement/current/

....and yours was the one I was thinking of!!!

 

[tta583]

Zud, why do you have a change machine? Are you simply trying to have an authentic arcade?

I have one, actually 2, as well. When I looked at the trouble, time, and cost of going tokens, and the pain in the butt to try all free play settings, hacks, or credit switches, I just decided to stay quarters. It took no time to collect quite a few. Eventually I turned up a small change machine that I rigged to vend at will so I loaded it up and got rid of the tubs of quarters sitting around.