Spot Killers - basement arcade build

Bit more progress on the walls for the utility room, almost done! Should be able to finish those up this week, which means I can get the painting scheduled for the ceiling and carpet measurements done. Also got all the lighting hooked up for the ceiling. Three new switches added: 2 for front/back can lights and 1 for all the fluorescents.
 

Attachments

  • 2017-05-02 19.18.15.jpg
    2017-05-02 19.18.15.jpg
    372.6 KB · Views: 87
  • 2017-05-02 19.20.56.jpg
    2017-05-02 19.20.56.jpg
    327.6 KB · Views: 83
  • 2017-04-27 19.50.17.jpg
    2017-04-27 19.50.17.jpg
    364.8 KB · Views: 91
Last chunk of wall finally built! Now time to clean up a bit, get everything moved out and prep for painting. The painter I had lined up to do the ceiling hasn't been getting back, guessing because it's spring and that's their busy season. I understand it, just kinda sucks I'm not even getting a call back from them after leaving a message. Not a huge deal, got a paint sprayer lined up, so will be doing the ceiling painting myself. Should make it a bit cheaper as well, which I'm always a fan of.
 

Attachments

  • IMAG2153.jpg
    IMAG2153.jpg
    351.1 KB · Views: 59
Got a bit more painting done tonight. Used up the initial gallon of drylok, so need to stop and get a 5 gallon bucket tomorrow. Joy. Will be glad when the walls are done.
 

Attachments

  • IMAG2157.jpg
    IMAG2157.jpg
    286.5 KB · Views: 76
Catching up on updates after a little downtime and change in job.

Finally finished up the first coat of drylok on the walls. This was a pain, but it's finally done and the 2nd coat should [hopefully] be a lot easier.
 

Attachments

  • 2017-05-10 23.45.39.jpg
    2017-05-10 23.45.39.jpg
    268.9 KB · Views: 53
  • 2017-05-12 22.44.46.jpg
    2017-05-12 22.44.46.jpg
    256.9 KB · Views: 42
  • 2017-06-23 23.34.29.jpg
    2017-06-23 23.34.29.jpg
    321.7 KB · Views: 46
  • 2017-06-23 23.34.42.jpg
    2017-06-23 23.34.42.jpg
    276.2 KB · Views: 42
  • 2017-06-29 21.54.32.jpg
    2017-06-29 21.54.32.jpg
    259 KB · Views: 46
Back from vacation and time to prep for painting the ceiling. Masked off the whole room with plastic around the walls. Picked up a large roll and smaller roll of paper for the floor, lights, and anything else needing covering. Spent about 3 days after work getting this all up. Lots of prep but I'd rather have it all set than getting paint everywhere.
 

Attachments

  • 2017-08-01 22.14.32.jpg
    2017-08-01 22.14.32.jpg
    512.7 KB · Views: 51
  • 2017-08-02 21.17.25.jpg
    2017-08-02 21.17.25.jpg
    507.6 KB · Views: 53
  • 2017-08-04 20.00.01.jpg
    2017-08-04 20.00.01.jpg
    524.1 KB · Views: 57
  • 2017-08-04 20.00.10.jpg
    2017-08-04 20.00.10.jpg
    509.4 KB · Views: 66
Had a friend come and spray the ceiling. Ended up going through 18 gallons of black through two coats, a bit more than I expected, lol. Overall, very happy with how it turned out. It actually feels like the room is coming together now.

Now with the ceiling done, I was able to order some lights. Went with leds flood lights, 18W (120 equivalent). Very bright in the room now, lol. They're dimmable , so I'll eventually get some dimmers. The can lights are for "general" lighting when the games aren't on, so I won't blind people when playing games. Hopefully when I can dim them that'd make nice mood lighting if I don't want the blacklights on.

Final picture is the ceiling all dried and the new lights installed. WAY better working in the room now with the new lights.

Next step is another coat of drylok on the walls, pickup drywall and start getting the walls finished up. Carpet is also ordered and on it's way. Shooting for early September to get that installed, should have something scheduled soon with the carpet people.
 

Attachments

  • 2017-08-11 17.28.36.jpg
    2017-08-11 17.28.36.jpg
    538.6 KB · Views: 85
  • 2017-08-11 17.28.51.jpg
    2017-08-11 17.28.51.jpg
    506.5 KB · Views: 93
  • 2017-08-05 11.50.59.jpg
    2017-08-05 11.50.59.jpg
    510.4 KB · Views: 75
  • 2017-08-05 11.50.50.jpg
    2017-08-05 11.50.50.jpg
    435.6 KB · Views: 82
Super busy week this past week, stuff going on everyday. Didn't get as far as I wanted during the week, but was able to finish off a few to dos before drywall. Got to the top drywall pieces today with the help from a friend. Bottoms should be easier, at least from not needing to lift them up. Goal for this next week is all drywall done and starting into taping and mudding.
 

Attachments

  • 2017-08-20 14.09.34.jpg
    2017-08-20 14.09.34.jpg
    506.3 KB · Views: 56
  • 2017-08-20 14.09.44.jpg
    2017-08-20 14.09.44.jpg
    508.2 KB · Views: 59
  • 2017-08-20 14.10.07.jpg
    2017-08-20 14.10.07.jpg
    523.3 KB · Views: 59
Too late now, but did you use pressure treated lumber for the pieces attached to the floor?
Yup, the floor and anything next to cinder block are all pressure treated. I painted with drylok as well, fairly heavy, before putting the pressure treated pieces next to the block as well; just as an added layer of protection.

Given the work that was in the basement previously before we bought the house and the large amounts of rain we've gotten this year; the basement has shown no issues with water or moisture, really. We basically had a lake form across the street in the open sub-division field, and no issues. I'm fairly confident (but still cautious) that there shouldn't be problems down here. Even still, I made sure to use pressure treated where needed.
 
Couple shots of more drywall from earlier this week.
 

Attachments

  • 2017-08-21 22.50.07.jpg
    2017-08-21 22.50.07.jpg
    511.6 KB · Views: 58
  • 2017-08-21 22.50.24.jpg
    2017-08-21 22.50.24.jpg
    505.9 KB · Views: 50
  • 2017-08-22 19.02.53.jpg
    2017-08-22 19.02.53.jpg
    485.6 KB · Views: 48
  • 2017-08-22 19.03.01.jpg
    2017-08-22 19.03.01.jpg
    509.6 KB · Views: 46
  • 2017-08-22 19.03.27.jpg
    2017-08-22 19.03.27.jpg
    516.8 KB · Views: 44
Finished up the drywall last night, went a lot quicker than I thought! Feel like a big step has been done in the room and it's starting to come together.

I also got the carpet install scheduled, which is very exciting. We're looking at September 11th/12th for the install date. Which means I need to work fairly hard over the next couple weeks to get the room done for the carpet to come in. Order of items to finished before the 11th are:

- Tape, mud and sand drywall
- Prime and paint drywall walls (leaving block white)
- Install doors (4 of them)
- Install trim

Looking at about 2 and a half weeks to get those things all wrapped up. Not impossible, but just going to be a lot of work. Still, once it's done; it's done! And it's exciting to think that the arcade will pretty much be done in just over 3 weeks. At least the majority of construction. I still need to have the electrical brought in for all the games. Looking at 6 - 7 20 amp circuits around the room.

Also looking at bringing back all the games September 17th. Haven't seen them in about a year, hoping they all still work! I'm planning on ordering all new levelers for the games and carpet sliders; so will have to install those before games make it downstairs. I'm also going to be a LOT more picky about the games that go down; to make sure they're cleaned up, cabs in good shape and have goods legs/sliders on them.

I'm feeling pretty excited towards the end of this week now. Lots of work finished, lots of things scheduled; and the first time an end goal is planned. Pretty much on the home stretch!
 

Attachments

  • 2017-08-23 21.45.08.jpg
    2017-08-23 21.45.08.jpg
    504.1 KB · Views: 37
  • 2017-08-23 21.45.20.jpg
    2017-08-23 21.45.20.jpg
    417.2 KB · Views: 37
  • 2017-08-23 21.45.25.jpg
    2017-08-23 21.45.25.jpg
    509 KB · Views: 39
Some shots of when my games were loaded into storage; just about a year ago! Time-stamp is 9/11 of 2016; which exactly 1 year later my carpet will be installed in the arcade; and what I sorta consider to be the "finishing" touch on the room. Hopefully you can see why I named the arcade "Spot Killers", lol.
 

Attachments

  • 2016-09-11 12.12.45.jpg
    2016-09-11 12.12.45.jpg
    388 KB · Views: 96
  • 2016-09-11 12.41.21.jpg
    2016-09-11 12.41.21.jpg
    462.3 KB · Views: 92
  • 2016-09-11 12.41.28.jpg
    2016-09-11 12.41.28.jpg
    444 KB · Views: 93
Yup, the floor and anything next to cinder block are all pressure treated. I painted with drylok as well, fairly heavy, before putting the pressure treated pieces next to the block as well; just as an added layer of protection.

Given the work that was in the basement previously before we bought the house and the large amounts of rain we've gotten this year; the basement has shown no issues with water or moisture, really. We basically had a lake form across the street in the open sub-division field, and no issues. I'm fairly confident (but still cautious) that there shouldn't be problems down here. Even still, I made sure to use pressure treated where needed.

or the water boiler system failing and leaking.
 
Some shots of when my games were loaded into storage; just about a year ago! Time-stamp is 9/11 of 2016; which exactly 1 year later my carpet will be installed in the arcade; and what I sorta consider to be the "finishing" touch on the room. Hopefully you can see why I named the arcade "Spot Killers", lol.

this line up of games is pretty fresh.
 
or the water boiler system failing and leaking.
Water heater was replaced before we bought the house, so we should have a while on that one. We had one near failure when my wife and I were renting our townhouse years back, and was fairly easy to spot that it was failing. Hopefully I'd see something like that before it happens, lol.
 
Star Castle needs new side art. :D

Don't forget to remind us of what the "old" arcade space looked like vs this new one. Quite the difference/upgrade for the games, me thinks ...
 
Star Castle needs new side art. :D

Don't forget to remind us of what the "old" arcade space looked like vs this new one. Quite the difference/upgrade for the games, me thinks ...

Yeah yeah, but at least Star Castle is all working!

I miss the old place in some ways, but don't miss: unlevel floor, field stone foundation, bad humidity. It's amazing what buying a new house that's 100 years newer will do for construction/building advancements. Old house was built in 1890, this one is 1990. Plus, I'll have all the games in one room! I'm most excited about that. Only ones that probably won't be in the main room will be Skee-ball and Hockey Champ.

Once this is all done I'll post some old-house | new house pre-construction and post construction pics.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom