Let's Go Blues

I have finally started the process of finishing my basement.
I've yet to decide on some aspects of it...which I need to do before I start constructing the interior walls.

Anyone have photos of their basement or ideas for a kick ass basement/mancave that they would like to share?
This will be where I will be watching Blues hockey for the rest of my life, so I don't want to screw it up.

My grandfather, who passed away in 1997, had a bar in his basement that he made out of an old shuffleboard bowling game (you know the kind where the "puck" slides under the pins and the pins flip up?)...and there is a heavy wooden shelf & post setup with a large mirror on the wall behind the bar. Pretty cool. I always liked that bar, and I'm planning on moving it into my basement when it's finished.

Anyway...just looking for ideas.
Thanks guys.

In-wall/in-ceiling speakers are a nice touch. TV should be wall mounted.
Bar should have a functioning sink.
Stripper pole should be stainless steel or similar material.
Shower optional, make sure you have adequate drainage if using in combination with above.
Automated bill breaker for when amateur night goes horribly wrong.

Wait, what was the question?

fargoblues wrote:In-wall/in-ceiling speakers are a nice touch.

I had thought of doing this, and having a stereo hooked up to them as well. Just need some ideas, suggestions for type/brand/setup/etc.

TV should be wall mounted.

I will be getting around a 50" flat screen, and it will be mounted...got the spot picked out already.

Bar should have a functioning sink.

Also on the list.

Stripper pole should be stainless steel or similar material.

The one I have is brass...mistake?

Shower optional, make sure you have adequate drainage if using in combination with above.
Automated bill breaker for when amateur night goes horribly wrong.

We actually decided not to rough in plumbing for a shower/tub when we built the house. We'd never use it...however, I wish we had just done it just in case we wanted to put one in in the future. Oh well. If push comes to shove and we had to have a shower down there, maybe I could rig the shower to drain to over to the floor drain...meh, probably not.

cprice12 wrote: We actually decided not to rough in plumbing for a shower/tub when we built the house. We'd never use it...however, I wish we had just done it just in case we wanted to put one in in the future. Oh well. If push comes to shove and we had to have a shower down there, maybe I could rig the shower to drain to over to the floor drain...meh, probably not.

Just put in a big enough sink and you can take hippie baths in the sink.

Lived in a basement bedroom my whole life, mostly love it, especially in the summer.

If you have the space and $$, a decent bar is A #1. Combined with seating and a decent TV you have a serious man-cave at that point.

Also- carpet if you can. Basement floors get downright freezing in the winter, carpet kind of helps. Looks more polished too.

Space heater- same reasons- too cold in the winter.

WaukeeBlues wrote:Lived in a basement bedroom my whole life, mostly love it, especially in the summer.

If you have the space and $$, a decent bar is A #1. Combined with seating and a decent TV you have a serious man-cave at that point.

Also- carpet if you can. Basement floors get downright freezing in the winter, carpet kind of helps. Looks more polished too.

Space heater- same reasons- too cold in the winter.

We are doing a bar, tv viewing area, poker/game area, area for a small office...and yes, we are doing carpet.

cprice12 wrote:

WaukeeBlues wrote:Lived in a basement bedroom my whole life, mostly love it, especially in the summer.

If you have the space and $$, a decent bar is A #1. Combined with seating and a decent TV you have a serious man-cave at that point.

Also- carpet if you can. Basement floors get downright freezing in the winter, carpet kind of helps. Looks more polished too.

Space heater- same reasons- too cold in the winter.

We are doing a bar, tv viewing area, poker/game area, area for a small office...and yes, we are doing carpet.

Will the curtains match the carpet?

Make sure you have enough wall space for all your Sanford gamers.

big d note wrote:Make sure you have enough wall space for all your Sanford gamers.

Sanford gamers? I'm not made of money.

must be nice to be so wealthy

goon attack wrote:must be nice to be so wealthy

++. My man cave is non-existent. I could dig having a few extra dollars for something along those lines.

goon attack wrote:must be nice to be so wealthy

Finishing a basement qualifies as being wealthy?

Eh...who knew?

I don't have money to do that.

I don't have the money for a house with a basement. Hell, I don't really even have the money for a house... period.

Can it still count as a Mancave if it's in your mom's basement?

goon attack wrote:I don't have money to do that.

Finishing a basement doesn't have to be expensive...especially if you do the work yourself.
We're not spending a ton of money on it...and I'm doing all of the work myself.

Rigid insulation, 2x4's, run some wire for some outlets, lights and switches, drywall, trim, carpet, paint. Done.
The internet tells you all you need to know.
Not rocket science...just takes time.

I get 10% off all of the materials at Lowe's...you can get 10% off coupons from ebay for about a buck each. I've got 7 at the house right now that don't expire until May.

To finish the entire basement, including a drop ceiling (the only expensive thing we're doing), may end up costing us around $5k..and that includes a half bath. And considering the value it adds to your home, it's a great investment.
If we were paying someone to do it, it would probably cost three times that.

You act like 5k is chump change.

Again, I don't have money to do that.

Plus, we'd need a sump pump so tack on a few extra grand.

goon attack wrote:You act like 5k is chump change.

Again, I don't have money to do that.

Plus, we'd need a sump pump so tack on a few extra grand.

Nope...5k isn't chump change. I wasn't implying that at all..but nonetheless it's cheap for finishing a basement...but that price is doing it yourself. And $5k may actually be a little low...it might end up being around $6k.
If you pay someone to do it, it would cost hella more, like at least $10k more...which is why I am doing it myself. We couldn't afford to have someone finish it for us.

In our case, finishing our basement also comes out of necessity. We need the space. We are expecting our 2nd child in August...so moving the office downstairs to free up a bedroom upstairs is something we have to do. Also downstairs will be a play area for the kids, tv area & poker/bar area.

Does a sump pump cost that much? I think they only cost a few hundred bucks. Installing it yourself would probably save you a lot of money. Plus, it would be fun...you'd get to use a jackhammer.

cprice12 wrote:

goon attack wrote:You act like 5k is chump change.

Again, I don't have money to do that.

Plus, we'd need a sump pump so tack on a few extra grand.

Nope...5k isn't chump change. I wasn't implying that at all..but nonetheless it's cheap for finishing a basement...but that price is doing it yourself. And $5k may actually be a little low...it might end up being around $6k.
If you pay someone to do it, it would cost hella more, like at least $10k more...which is why I am doing it myself. We couldn't afford to have someone finish it for us.

In our case, finishing our basement also comes out of necessity. We need the space. We are expecting our 2nd child in August...so moving the office downstairs to free up a bedroom upstairs is something we have to do. Also downstairs will be a play area for the kids, tv area & poker/bar area.

Does a sump pump cost that much? I think they only cost a few hundred bucks. Installing it yourself would probably save you a lot of money. Plus, it would be fun...you'd get to use a jackhammer.

Congrats!

stlbluz wrote:

cprice12 wrote:

goon attack wrote:You act like 5k is chump change.

Again, I don't have money to do that.

Plus, we'd need a sump pump so tack on a few extra grand.

Nope...5k isn't chump change. I wasn't implying that at all..but nonetheless it's cheap for finishing a basement...but that price is doing it yourself. And $5k may actually be a little low...it might end up being around $6k.
If you pay someone to do it, it would cost hella more, like at least $10k more...which is why I am doing it myself. We couldn't afford to have someone finish it for us.

In our case, finishing our basement also comes out of necessity. We need the space. We are expecting our 2nd child in August...so moving the office downstairs to free up a bedroom upstairs is something we have to do. Also downstairs will be a play area for the kids, tv area & poker/bar area.

Does a sump pump cost that much? I think they only cost a few hundred bucks. Installing it yourself would probably save you a lot of money. Plus, it would be fun...you'd get to use a jackhammer.

Congrats!

Thank you sir...we're pretty pumped about it.