Christmas Man Cave Project

[garyatmaui]

Several weeks ago my wife and I were out to dinner with some friends. He and I smoke cigars. It was one of those dinners where you really wanted a nice cigar afterward, but it is also winter here in Ohio. Sitting in the garage after a nice dinner sorta kills the mood. So......I mention to no one in particular that it would be nice to have a smoking room in the basement. Much to my amazement my wife says thats not a bad idea.......Not believing my ears, I said nothing more about it. About a week later, out with same couple I said that I had been researching what would be needed to build a smoking room, with a goal of raising the flag a second time to see if I had been imagining. Lo and behold she says when do you think you will start. Nough said.
I started researching and ordering in earnest.
Some details:
Room will be 12X16
32" Plasma with Sony surround
3 extra large leather chairs/recliners
Vent fan is Fantech 741 CFM inline vent fan on timer and rheostat.
Sconce lighting with dimmer
Will have cherry laminate flooring by Armstrong called Grand Illusions. Walls are still up in the air with regards to color.

Well today the construction started in earnest with a goal of having it smokable by Christmas or soon thereafter.:ss:ss

Construction is being done by myself, my brother who owns his own remodeling company and my son in law. All of us like stogies.

Here are the before we started pictures.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0109.jpg

The window on the right is where the exhaust fan is going to vent out.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0110.jpg

This is my vent fan and the surround sound for the room.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0111.jpg


All the pieces and parts ready to be assembled.


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0112.jpg


Here is one of the 3 chairs that will be in the room.


Next we have the room at the end of Day 1 (today)

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0117.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0118.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0119.jpg

More in the coming days

Merry Christmas!

[RichardW]

----<snip>-----------------
So......I mention to no one in particular that it would be nice to have a smoking room in the basement.

----<snip>-----------------
More in the coming days

Merry Christmas!


Holy moly -- make it so!! :tu

:salute:

[spectrrr]

I think thats enough to make quite a few of us jealous! Congradulations!

whereabouts in ohio are you?

[garyatmaui]

Grove City

I think thats enough to make quite a few of us jealous! Congradulations!

whereabouts in ohio are you?

[Cigary]

I'm loving the chair,,,nothing like an oversized leather mothersmokin chair to get cozy in. Keep the pics coming. I live vicariously thru others.

[WyGuy]

Can't wait to see the finished product!

[jaycarla]

So much for taking it slow! This may be the quickest lounge ever done. NICE!

[dccraft]

Way to go Gary! I think you have a great plan, especially where you get all the furniture in the room first so you don't have to get them through a narrow doorway :r
Keep the pics coming!

[BroncoHorvath]

Looking good. Can't wait to see the final results...

[rhdad42]

Looks great. Can't wait to see the progress and the finished room!

[Dave Hobbs]

What a lady you have!!

[Lucky_Hippo]

WOW! Nothing can hold a man back once motivated by cigars. :ss


Nice job Gary.

[kaisersozei]

I am very impressed... just getting the walls up would take me a few weeks, and they sure as hell wouldn't be plumb!

Excellent job, looking forward to watching the progress. (Don't forget to snap a few yardgar--er, basementgar--pictures, too :D)

[Buckeye Jack]

Can't wait to see it in person Gary! Maybe if you get some time in the next week or two you can stop over and see mine....and have a cigar too :ss

[dunng]

Great job, can't wait to see this finished! :tu

[ucla695]

I love watching these projects progress. Thanks for sharing and keep 'em coming.

[elderboy02]

Very cool! :ss I am jealous!

[Winnie]

looks pretty sweet...

I'm in the process of doing the same thing, but just renovating an existing room. It's not nearly as big a space, but will do nicely.

I'll post before and after pics when I'm done.

[HK3-]

This will be great to watch! I'm also doing a room as well but I dont have any help with mine... :(

I believe yours will be the fastest room I've ever seen get assembled!

Great job so far!


740 cfm will definately do the trick! (Like a motorcycle, go big or go home!:) ) My B&M is bigger and they only have 450 cfm.... :hn

[Yazzie]

Very Sweet

[doctorcue]

I love the ambition to get it done asap! Very nice work and good lord those chairs are big. Please post more pics & congrats on the green light!

[blckthree]

I wish I had a basement to create a great space like that is going to be.

Mike :ss

[garyatmaui]

Just an update tonight, no pics. All the electric wiring is done, speaker wiring is done, built a sofit to cover couple of pipes. Hung the exhaust fan. Going to the HVAC store tomorrow for 12" piping to finish.

tomorrow we start the drywall....pics then.
Had hoped to get it smokable by Christmas day but looks like we will be in the garage at least one more time. Most likely Christmas day afternoon we will be mudding.

Merry Christmas to all

[garyatmaui]

Maybe next week Jack. I am off next week.
Congrats of the little one. We are babysitter the granddaughter tonight.


Can't wait to see it in person Gary! Maybe if you get some time in the next week or two you can stop over and see mine....and have a cigar too :ss

[Squid]

Great project you have going! With a virtually empty basement, as it appears from the photos, AND a brother in law in construction, AND apparently a wife that is VERY supportive....I gotta ask....WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?

By the way....when you get this room done, you need to have someone snap a photo of you smoking a great stick on that Pilates equipment that is in the photo....now THAT would be a first!!!

This, without doubt, is one great Christmas present that you're building! Congrats and enjoy.

[garyatmaui]

Believe me, it has been brought up before, just never got the positive answer. Not sure why this time....and dont care to ask;)

Great project you have going! With a virtually empty basement, as it appears from the photos, AND a brother in law in construction, AND apparently a wife that is VERY supportive....I gotta ask....WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?

By the way....when you get this room done, you need to have someone snap a photo of you smoking a great stick on that Pilates equipment that is in the photo....now THAT would be a first!!!

This, without doubt, is one great Christmas present that you're building! Congrats and enjoy.

[Don Fernando]

This looks awesome already.

[garyatmaui]

Dec 26 update:

We put another coat of mud on today. Started to put the exhaust system in. Finished the closet that my wife insisted upon:(


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0153.jpg

My brother putting a coat of mud on.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0154.jpg

Some views

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0155.jpg

Looking in from door

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0156.jpg
Back Wall

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0157.jpg
First step in putting in the exhaust system. I used sheet metal to cover between two studs, floor to ceiling. The exhaust piping will enter the back of this sheet. The entire space between studs will be used as a exhaust pipe. It will make more sense tomorrow.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0158.jpg

Another view of metal covered stud and exhaust fan.


More tomorrow.

[groogs]

Looking very good. It seems like a lot of guys are getting the okay to build a man cave lately. I hope I do some day.

[Bruzee]

Looks good bro! :tu Very jealous.... Coming along at a great pace too! :dr

[HK3-]

Looking good bro! Keep up the great work!

[bvilchez]

I can't wait to see how that turns out. I only WISH we had basements in California.

[ahc4353]

Why a closet?

Looking good!

[garyatmaui]

It was a compromise with my wife. She insists that if we ever sold the place she could call it a 4th bedroom:rolleyes:

I told her I would only sell it to someone who understood the value of a man cave! :ss

Why a closet?

Looking good!

[AD720]

This is looking great Gary!

[garyatmaui]

December 27th update:

All the mudding is done, sanding and priming tomorrow. Also got the exhaust system in. Hopefully we will get the electric fired up tomorrow as well. Ended up the night with son and brother in the garage having a Taboo SFO. It was 70 here today. Gotta love those Ohio winters;)

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0165.jpg


This window is where I am going to let fresh air in.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0164.jpg

Holes for the vents. I enclosed the space between 2 studs with sheet metal and will have a vent high and low. You can see the vent screen leaning against the wall.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0162.jpg

Long shot of the exhaust fan. Used aluminum tape to seal all joints in the piping.


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0159.jpg

Filled the window with 5/8 plywood and ran the exhaust through it. Glued the plywood in with construction glue and sealed the cracks with caulk.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0160.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0161.jpg


Good night......getting closer.

[kaisersozei]

Looking more & more awesome

[MikeyC]

Looking good! Mabye you could setup the closet as a humidor. :ss

I can't imagine you'd want to store clothes in a smoking room. :D

[garyatmaui]

Dec 30 update:
The slope is getting steeper, almost there.......a cigar in the house:ss

The walls have been painted. While the picture does not look like it they are a green/grey called Mocha Accent.....

The floor is in. It is a Bronze Cherry laminate from Armstrong Grand Illusions collection. It is beautiful. Looks like real wood and goes down very easy. It is a floating floor. My brother and I put it down in 2 hours.

Today I put the main door in and the closet door. Also put all the molding and caulked it, as well as put the outlets in. Tomorrow we will put the crown molding in, paint it and fire up the electric. I have a 12 hour timer for the exhaust fan in our to leave it on for an hour of so after we are done smoking. I also have a rheostat on the fan to control the speed. The vent fans are in. I will also have the sconces in.

We are just a bit of electric, some caulk and a bit of furniture installation from a cigar. New years eve is the goal.

So without further ado here are a series of pictures.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0176.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0177.jpg


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0179.jpg


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0182.jpg


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0183.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0184.jpg


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0186.jpg


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0187.jpg


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0188.jpg


Good Night!

[dunng]

Look great, nice job! :tu

[WyGuy]

Really coming along nicely!

[SmoknTaz]

Gonna be an awesome man cave. :tu

[kaisersozei]

Very very nice :tu

I have a question: is the floor mounted straight onto the slab? Did you put down any kind of underlayment? I'm going to have a similar issue when I renovate part of my garage later this spring. Just wondering how you handled that.

Gerard

[Cigarcop]

Looking good, now wipe your camera lens off, I'm tired of seeing those spots in every picture!!! :D

[awsmith4]

Almost there and looking great!

[BroncoHorvath]

Looking great:ss

[rizzle]

That's just nice bro!

[garyatmaui]

There is a water barrier with thin layer of foam under it. Got it from the same vendor. Gives it an excellent feel. There are no nails or glue, it snaps together, very neatly I might add and floats.



Very very nice :tu

I have a question: is the floor mounted straight onto the slab? Did you put down any kind of underlayment? I'm going to have a similar issue when I renovate part of my garage later this spring. Just wondering how you handled that.

Gerard

[garyatmaui]

The spots on the pictures are dust in the air being picked up by the flash. Sorry, hazard of construction;)

Looking good, now wipe your camera lens off, I'm tired of seeing those spots in every picture!!! :D

[karmaz00]

nice job...keep it up

[Stig]

I'm a tad jealous

[Mr B]

Very Awesome! Very jealous.

[bvilchez]

Can I rent a room in your house......particularly that room?

[garyatmaui]

January 1, 2009
There is smoke in the house:ss:ss:ss

It works..............yahooo!:chr:chr

Got all the crown up today. Fired up the electricity. Wow, does the exhaust fan work. My son and law and I caulked the crown and finished just about the time the Orange Bowl was starting. Still need to paint the trim and a couple of other things, but we couldnt resist putting the TV up and dragging a couple of chairs in to give the cave the dynamic test.

The results are great exhaust no smoke smell anywhere, the chairs are very comfortable and a Taboo Sumatra was very tasty. As I type I am having a JFR and watching the game. This is nice, very nice. The pics will be in the next post.

[HK3-]

Awesome!

[MikeyC]

Looks good! I can't wait to see what the finished product looks like. What kind of storage are you planning for cigars? I know you mentioned a closet in the room, but I think you said it wouldn't be a humidor.

[garyatmaui]

And now the pics of the dynamic test of the man cave.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0189.jpg

The end of an ugly Rose Bowl. The TV is a 32" Sharp.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0190.jpg

Two of the three chairs.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0191.jpg

The first cigar!

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0192.jpg

Not exactly sure what type of look it on my face but I was definitely feeling good.


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0193.jpg

Not the most flattering of poses.....but it feels good.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0194.jpg


My son in law. Nice end table eh?

Tomorrow I paint and hook up surround sound.

[jaycarla]

Looks great. Nice job!

[Darrell]

Nice work!

[Bruzee]

Very nice man... :ss

[Biglizard1]

Looking great Gary!

[Coz77]

Looking great bro...How the exhaust system working for you? Do you notice any smoke smells throughout the rest of your house?

[rizzle]

Yes!!!
:ss

[ahc4353]

Great Job!

Enjoy!

As a Penn State fan I like the shot of Joe. :D

[WyGuy]

Looks awesome!

Those chairs look comfy as hell.

[SmokinApe]

sweet!

[cort]

Came out awesome man. Congrats on the new Man Room:ss

Enjoy

[SmokinApe]

Looks like you and The Crew are gonna have a great time down there... :ss

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5891/mccrewmt0.jpg

[darb85]

looks awesome!

How loud is the fan? Love the look!

[Squid]

Impressive! You put that room up in a hurry and it looks great. Can't wait to see the final outcome with everything set up as you want it. Will be curious to see your storage of sticks, as well. The idea that someone mentioned earlier of using the closet sounded pretty good to me.

Again...excellent job.

[Cyclone]

I showed this thread to my wife last night... Even she was highly impressed...

[groogs]

Man, that looks great. You did a nice job, Enjoy.

[Lee]

Very nice job! Thanks for keeping us updated on the progress. Now you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. :ss

[ChasDen]

I see an Ohio HERF in your future :hn

Chas

[Sailchaser]

Thanks for sharing your project with us, Great Job :tu:tu

[garyatmaui]

Not totally done but close. Still need pictures. Looking for good cigar art. If anyone knows where to get some or if a brother can offer some it would be appreciated. Still need to work the closet and put some shelves in.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0005.jpg

The outside is walled and will be painted etc.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0006.jpg


http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0007.jpg
Rug to deaden some of the echo.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0008.jpg

Timer for the exhaust fan and dimmer for the lights. I have a rheostat on the fan as well.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0009.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0010.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0011.jpg

Fridge in the closet, donated by my son.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh276/garyatmaui/DSCI0012.jpg

Using an antique trunk for receiver. Hope to add cable box soon.

[Skywalker]

Very very nice!!!:tu

I'm green with envy!!!:D

[HK3-]

Wow it looks awesome! :)

[Agent11br]

Amazing work!!

[smitdavi]

Looks very nice. Congrats :tu

[Lorglath]

I am jealous!

[GKitty]

Looks amazing!! I love good lighting and those sconces and lamps are fabulous!

Enjoy your new cave.

[MikeyC]

Yup! Just some nice cigar art and you'll be all set. :tu

[O-Danger]

Wow looks great. Really turned out well.

[Mr B]

Looking very very nice.

[MTB996]

Looks awesome! :tu

Makes me want to hit the crawlspace with a shovel and a dream.:ss

[Bubba - NJ]

Very nice cave . Enjoy it and use it often . :ss

[neoflex]

Wow! I am impressed. Very nicely done and I will be forever jealous. Until we build a new home I am stuck with a garage and being we just bought this house just about two years ago, looks like I will be waiting awhile to have a home with a basement. You may have just motivated me to get my side of the garage cleaned up and get the floors painted.

[bigliver]

Very nice set up. BTW, I like "The Unit" too.

[Silound]

Allposters.com has an excellent selection of metal signs and posters and art with cigars, cigar related themes, etc etc. They will even frame stuff (for a cost of course).


I've ordered several Audubon reprints framed from there that were of top notch quality and looked excellent in my living room.


Just go to the site and search for cigars at the top, you'll get pages of stuff.


Edit: I forgot to mention, if you add a moderate height bookshelf or two, the ones that are about 6' high, 3-4' across, and around 8-12 inches deep, and actually fill them with books and magazines, that will soak up an amazing amount of sound in the room, and add a nice comfortable at-home touch.

[yourchoice]

Fantastic finished product. You should be proud and enjoy.... something tells me enjoying will not be a problem! :ss

[Lorglath]

any recent pics available?

[whodeeni]

Awesome Room Gary!

[mojo65]

I beg to differ with you Sir, it's not a closet, its an opportunity for a walk in humidor!:hy

Ausom man cave.

[swh127]

wow, very nice

[guado]

I have two of those recliners...they are called "cuddlers" LOL

[guado]

The more and more I see you guys' damn basements the more I hate FL....I am soo jealous!

[WildBlueSooner]

The more and more I see you guys' damn basements the more I hate FL....I am soo jealous!

:tpd: You guys suck!

[JoeCool87TC]

Nice job; like previously stated, I sure wish they put basements in California houses. Also I agree about the closet. To me, a closet in a smoking room *must* be meant as a walk-in humidor, eh? :D

Last, don't forget about a fresh air inlet; otherwise when that exhaust fan is running you'll be drawing the room down below atmospheric pressure and air will find it's own way in, and not necessarily where you want it to!

Really Cool!! Congrats!!! :banger

[garyatmaui]

Thanks guys. Been a long time since I have posted. The room is still wonderful, a bit more used. Upgraded tv to 42 inch, added DVR, stocked with bourbon.

That closet would make a nice humidor, but wife would draw the line. I had a cabinet upstairs converted to a humidor and she grates every time another box arrives for me. Trying to fill that closet would most likely end my married life.
-(P-(P