It’s Update Time! Update Time! That’s right you patient and understanding, lovely and good looking readers – I’ve finally got my ish together enough to show you the next phase in our basement studio renovation. (Did you see the last update? We pulled down the walls and made big plans. You can read all about it here.) Today, we’re going to talk a bit about how to install a plywood floor in the basement.
Here’s a reminder of what this space once looked like:
WHEN WE MOVED IN:
BEFORE PHASE ONE:
AFTER PHASE ONE:
DURING PHASE TWO:
I don’t really know why it took me so long to get going on this post. I guess I wasn’t really sure where this phase should end and the next begin. Then, a few other projects cropped up and I found myself not really knowing when it made sense to post this update. But here we are, and here we go.
Safe to say this phase is all about Floors and Cabinets! The room is still very much unfinished, but the bones are starting to form and even in its current state, it’s already proven quite functional.
It took Dan and I about two and a half days (working approximately 8-10 hours per day) to lay these new floors. I am working on a full blown ‘how we did it’, technical tutorial post – but here are the basics and answers to the questions we have been getting most often from friends and family who have already seen it:
Yes, this is technically a subfloor. We do not have plans to put any other type of flooring on top of this. Why? Because we determined that would mean elevating ALL of the doorways and cutting into brick and it just would not be worth it for this space.
Yes. It is, in fact, 3/4″ pine plywood that we ripped into 8″ planks. Not going to lie. It sound like an inexpensive option, but it’s not really that much cheaper than regular flooring. We still dropped about $500 on this floor.
Yes, we did install it over a concrete foundation (and a vapor barrier.) And in so doing, we broke about 4 drill bits and a DRIVER bit. I didn’t even realize that was possible.
No, we haven’t decided how to finish it yet! Paint? Stain? Paint and stain? Whitewash? Just some clear Poly? It will probably be a decision we make once everything else in the room is pulled together.
Yes, this was the most labor-intensive DIY we have EVER tackled. The back aches, the broken finger nails, the tears, the sweat, the saw dust. It was primal.
Yes, it is SO much warmer than the old concrete. I walk down here in bare feet now!
Yes, it is much more pleasant to do laundry in this space. Dropping a wet sock from the washer as I’m transferring clothes to the dryer doesn’t make me feel like I need to re-wash it anymore.
Yes, I am IN LOVE with the new 8-feet of floor to ceiling storage cabinets we installed. I mean, who wouldn’t be?
So, what’s left for this space and what will we tackle for phase four?
- Finish the drywall and baseboards
- Install open shelving in the studio half of the room
- Increase the storage EVEN MORE with the addition of an off-season coat closet
- Organize, organize, organize
- Replace the lighting
- Refinish the tool locker unit
- Paint the cabinets
Feels like a much shorter list now! To be honest, we spent so many back breaking hours on this project that we might need a bit of a breather before going at it again. We are going to turn our focus to a few other rooms in the house and regain the stamina and courage before going whole hog on phase four.
Stay tuned. I am most definitely working on that tutorial post (with buckets of input and help from Dan) and it will be up soon-ish.
UPDATE! Here’s the full tutorial – how-we-did it post!
Here are some other buildy posts for you!
- Living Room Storage with The Home Depot
- Buying a Small House
- Build a West Elm Bed
Emily @ Table & Hearth
Thursday 19th of May 2016
It's going to be such an awesome and useful space!! Can't wait to see that floor tutorial!
Beth
Thursday 19th of May 2016
Love those floor to ceiling cabinets. Are they off the shelf cabinets that you put together? We're planning an overhaul in the next year or so of the laundry/craft room and those would be awesome!! I have a little cabinet envy going on right now... :)
DIY Passion
Friday 20th of May 2016
Hi Beth! The cabinets are pretty stellar :) They actually come assembled and are from The Home Depot. They are called utility cabinets if you want to search for similar ones on the net. We lucked out and got them on sale just at our local store! I'm definitely going to include more details in my next basement post... Hoping to have some organizers and what not in them by then :)
Marj R.C.
Thursday 19th of May 2016
Sounds like rough work, but that floor and huge cupboard already look so good. Great job! I can't wait to see where this project takes you.
Giselle
Wednesday 18th of May 2016
I hear you on dropping a wet sock! Unfortunately, I am still in that situation! It looks great! I I am also jealous of all your storage! I can't wait to see the finished product! I know it is ging to look amazing!
Sarah @ Little Red Brick House
Wednesday 18th of May 2016
Dude! You guys are rocking this space! The floors look absolutely gorgeous and the rest of the space is shaping up so nicely. l am stoked to see the finished reveal!