Nutty's HArdcade

Nutty 5.0

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There's so many really nice game rooms in here that gave me lots of good ideas to drool over so hopefully this will help some others. I really wish I had some pictures of the really bad original space that I tore out last fall. It is the typical 80's dark paneling that's so common. This pales in comparison to most game rooms I've seen, but with the limited space I had, this is my small little HArdcade. So here's my small submission into the game rooms.

I've been slowly redoing this finished part of my basement (Originally done in 1989) that I started almost a year ago. It's not a huge space being only 370 square feet, but it's been lots of work. It has been a really long project since have gutting the space, we started approximately last November 2011 with the rebuild of the space. I could ball park some costs, but would guess the remodel of the space was well under 4k. All the trash I was able to break up into pieces and take out with my regular trash and old metal was able to give to my uncle to take for scrap.

WHO DID THE WORK: Everything done was performed by my friend and myself except for the spackle work and the trim on the side of the steps which I farmed out to a family member's brother-in-law contractor.

RANDOM COMMENTS AND FUTURE PLANS: The room is a bit odd shaped so it makes it tricky to place games but the layout is working. Creech is all alone, but the space works perfect and was usually a wasted space. I have room for several more pins and games if need be and we all know how that goes! I intend on installing a 55" TV on the stone wall, a small bar height table, a sectional sofa.

WHAT I DID THE SPACE:
• Removed all the old 1989 dark paneling
• Removed the hanging ceiling and ceiling tile
• Moved some piping around to make room for the new ceiling system that hugs the joists, Ceilinglink
• Installed CeilingLink http://www.kensa.com/ and some 2'x2' Armstrong #271 Sahara recessed ceiling tiles http://www.lowes.com/pd_68434-61-271_0__?productId=3037713
• Added a 20 amp circuit and separated the shared lighting and outlets in the finished part of the basements 15 amp circuit
• Moved one wall back by electrical panel; was initially foot from foundation due to some gas pipe lines. Put in angled wall to accommodate the gas lines
• Changed 30" door to 36" where finished space enters laundry room
• Put Dricore subfloor down
• Built frame around forced hot air duct supply and return to prep for drywall to this frame
• Insulated exterior walls
• Hung 3/8" drywall on walls and duct frame
• Installed 16 4" recessed spot lights separated on three dimmable switches
• Painted walls olive green. (Lowe's Olympic) Trim and duct ceiling is an off white (Lowe's Olympic)
• Installed 1/4 Turn Timeless Charcoal Mohawk carpet tile (2'X2's) I got free from work. Good timing with this; I had to take all 1100 square feet that I only need 400 of since they were just going to throw it out to make room. Will be using the rest in the laundry room. [Actually the grey lines in carpet looks like green in the walls. Even my interior designer wife was impressed how well it goes despite her really hating the wall color but she bit her tongue lol!]
• At this point, I just need to install trim around windows, doors and floor and carpet for the steps

WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY: I'll update this as needed. So far I don't have any regrets but I haven't had anyone over yet to play. I'll be honest saying I don't know why I only installed one extra 20 amp circuit but I can easily add as needed. I should have put in 4 total, but with the existing 15 amp circuits and one 20 amp, I'm ok so far.
 

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Here's part 2 of pictures.
 

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More pictures of Dricore down and drywall installed less spackle work done.
 

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Drywall going up....
 

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Spackle work in process...
 

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And more spackle.... Last few are Zinnsler primed....
 

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Looking great dude! Love seeing progress pics.

I went through hell doing my room, its ground floor and involved reframing and sheathing outside walls during a heat wave. Working in a cozy basement while its cold outside actually seems like fun! ;)
 
First coat of paint. I was getting worried as it looked like I had no coverage but the second coat was all it needed.
 

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Pic of Creech alone lol. I wanted to make sure a game did in fact fit in that once useless space. Its perfect as the head just barely fits in (That's what she said!) but once that's in, I have the game slid tighter to the column so the Pinball Life Pin Gulp still fits and there's plenty of room for your hands...

Ceiling track (CeilingLink) going in with the Ikea lights. It all went in much easier than I thought it would. I had to wire as I installed the tiles because I didn't want to have huge slack in romex from light to light.
 

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Moar picturrress!!!!
They're coming lol!

Looking great dude! Love seeing progress pics.

I went through hell doing my room, its ground floor and involved reframing and sheathing outside walls during a heat wave. Working in a cozy basement while its cold outside actually seems like fun! ;)

Thanks! It means a lot coming from those that have done this stuff. This was my first major project like this. Wow, yeah that's no fun. I had it easy in conditioned space. I respect the work you did though!

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And more of the ceiling and lighting:
 

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Finally starting to come together!
 

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The free carpet tiles. I'm still fortunate how this worked out. Completely opposite of what I was originally planning all along: a blonde laminate...
 

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Don't mean to keep commenting, but I think you'll be happy you went with the carpet tiles vs. laminate. Don't have to worry about damaging it moving the games around, and carpet definitely makes the room feel warmer and more "arcadey".
 
Carpet down with all games in place FINALLY!
 

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Don't mean to keep commenting, but I think you'll be happy you went with the carpet tiles vs. laminate. Don't have to worry about damaging it moving the games around, and carpet definitely makes the room feel warmer and more "arcadey".

Comment away! I expect and welcome some criticism. I know the color is not an arcade but I like the color since its different. I appreciate hearing that. The longer it's been down, the more I'm getting that vibe. Its not the cool black light carpet that many people have, but I'm not sure I want that either. It looks great; just not for me.
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And finally installed carpet on the seat area that covered the sewer line. I even was able to score some of the heavy duty rubber carpet step threshold thingy from work. It was 8" short so I have one seam but its not noticeable. Seam is on the right side where the water supply comes in. (Area that juts out a few inches from the long wall near the right side of stone wall...)

Our Siberian girl, Karolina, finally allowed downstairs since we got her in February. She really likes it and comes down when I am to hang out and explore. Working on getting her used to the games on. She's not real sure about the pinball machines when they're being played just yet!
 

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As of today, these pics are pretty accurate short of some signs, etc. hung on the wall. I'll keep updating as I finish up. I picked up the floor trim yesterday so hope to have that up within two weeks. Ordering some carpet for the steps is the last but would like to at least order it before December.
 
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