JonyMac's Basement Construction Thread

[JonyMac]

I am going through my photos and am in the process of documenting our basement buildout this year. We started the year with an unfinished space full of junk and my woodworking shop. We built a workshop outside the house for my woodworking and for my wife who is a painter and makes stained glass. In its place, we put in a home brewery, bar, bathroom, guest room, home theater, desk area, rec room, exercise room and lots of storage. We designed the space ourselves and assisted the contractor with the buildout. In this thread, I will post pictures of the construction process. All the finished pics are in the thread in my signature. Sorry for all the pics - but when I was researching my build - the pics made ALL the difference to me!



JonyMac



1 by jonymac, on Flickr

Overall view of the layout - I used Google Sketchup for this. The space is roughly 1800 square feet.



2 by jonymac, on Flickr

Brewery and bar layout - circles at top are conicals - circles to the right are kettles.



3 by jonymac, on Flickr

View of the bar, brewery and theater builtins.



4 by jonymac, on Flickr

Closeup of the bar with 3 screens - 1 for raspberry pints tap board, 1 for sports, the last for brewing recipes



5 by jonymac, on Flickr

Brewery view of shelves, hood, cooler, keezer and freezer



IMG_9053 by jonymac, on Flickr

Bar and brewery getting prepped.



IMG_8855 by jonymac, on Flickr

My keezer build where the bar will be.



IMG_8951 by jonymac, on Flickr

Studs go up.



IMG_8903 by jonymac, on Flickr

Guest bedroom.



IMG_8963 by jonymac, on Flickr

Brewery studs going up.



IMG_8952 by jonymac, on Flickr

Facing bedroom and bath.



IMG_9116 by jonymac, on Flickr

Theater room wall being drywalled.



IMG_9111 by jonymac, on Flickr

Bathroom greenboard.



IMG_8968 by jonymac, on Flickr

Had to jack hammer the floor for the bath and the brewery to install floor drains and move some plumbing.



IMG_9095 by jonymac, on Flickr

Looking from bar area towards rec room.



IMG_9108 by jonymac, on Flickr

Looking towards bar and brewery from rec room.

 

[applescrap]

Killing it!

 

[RocketBrewer]

Dibs on the guest bedroom!

 

[JonyMac]

Thanks guys!

 

[Elkobrewer]

If I lived anywhere close to you I know where I would hangout

 

[bethebrew]

How tall are those ceilings? What did you use under the drain, a crushed rock and what size? What type of concrete mix will you pour on top of that? Is that a water softener? Aren't you concerned about adding sodium, if so?

OK that's enough questions. Very cool I am living in my remodeled basement with the exception of a large storage area. Part of it backs up to the drains and water filter is right there so that would be the spot for the brewery. Would have to go electric however but have a 4 burner counter top mount sitting in garage, and wasn't used as planned, so that's a plan. Making a music/theater room and separate workout room would also work well for me, so thanks for your thread!

 

[JonyMac]

Elkobrewer - if you are ever on the East coast...

bethebrew - great handle! The ceilings are 9 1/4'. The drain goes to my septic system. The drain for the brewing chiller goes to a downspout, under the ground and out to the woods - no crushed rock, concrete.

I sent a sample of my water off to be analyzed and I adjust my chemistry based on that sample - I am on well water. I also can bypass the treatment system altogether. I may go to a reverse osmosis system to remove variables related to different concentrations of minerals showing up since my last water test from the well.

 

[bethebrew]

Elkobrewer - if you are ever on the East coast...

bethebrew - great handle! The ceilings are 9 1/4'. The drain goes to my septic system. The drain for the brewing chiller goes to a downspout, under the ground and out to the woods - no crushed rock, concrete.

I sent a sample of my water off to be analyzed and I adjust my chemistry based on that sample - I am on well water. I also can bypass the treatment system altogether. I may go to a reverse osmosis system to remove variables related to different concentrations of minerals showing up since my last water test from the well.

Nice high ceilings! RO systems are not that hard, although the company I bought mine from had their connections reversed for the auto shutoff valve, probably still show it that way, and it makes for a horrid chatter when done wrong. But I digressed, they do make a nice product, decent price, AquaFX in case you want to check them out. The quality is there even if their engineering is a little lacking. I'd recommend a permeate pump anyway to minimize brine release into your woods along with less water usage from your well. If you get the expansion tank be sure to pump it up to about 10 psi with a bike pump. You get about 2 gallons of water in a hurry that way. Otherwise RO takes forever, but you could always just fill a tank and shut it off with a valve. Be advised that oddly enough high purity water is actually quite corrosive especially if hot. It will eat even 316 SS for hot water for injection we had to go 316L for our fancy pumps to Upjohn Pharms etc..

 

[JonyMac]

Nice high ceilings! RO systems are not that hard, although the company I bought mine from had their connections reversed for the auto shutoff valve, probably still show it that way, and it makes for a horrid chatter when done wrong. But I digressed, they do make a nice product, decent price, AquaFX in case you want to check them out. The quality is there even if their engineering is a little lacking. I'd recommend a permeate pump anyway to minimize brine release into your woods along with less water usage from your well. If you get the expansion tank be sure to pump it up to about 10 psi with a bike pump. You get about 2 gallons of water in a hurry that way. Otherwise RO takes forever, but you could always just fill a tank and shut it off with a valve. Be advised that oddly enough high purity water is actually quite corrosive especially if hot. It will eat even 316 SS for hot water for injection we had to go 316L for our fancy pumps to Upjohn Pharms etc..

Thanks - I will check them out. As far as brine release goes, we live on a lake and if some of trees don't make it, I have a better view of the lake... I found a good high capacity RO system, but am still reeling from my basement buildout sticker shock - maybe this summer?

 

[JonyMac]

Pics were missing from thread - re-adding them:

IMG_8801 by jonymac, on Flickr
My old water tank had a ruptured bladder and pinhole leak, so we had to replace it.

IMG_8818 by jonymac, on Flickr
Shiny new one!

IMG_8812 by jonymac, on Flickr
Slop sink came in!

IMG_9120 by jonymac, on Flickr
My wife picking finishes.

IMG_8786 by jonymac, on Flickr
Me picking appliances.

IMG_9219 by jonymac, on Flickr
Stone going up.

IMG_9027 by jonymac, on Flickr
Wiring going in.

IMG_8819 by jonymac, on Flickr
Wine cooler I picked up on Craigslist - will be repurposed to condition and lager 4 kegs, store harvested yeast, keep my bar glasses cool and to age cheese.

IMG_8813 by jonymac, on Flickr
Found some tile that I love at Lowes that will work with the stone and dark woods in the basement. You seriously cannot tell it is not wood.

IMG_8827 by jonymac, on Flickr
Tile color and finish.

IMG_8828 by jonymac, on Flickr
Hauling tile home!

IMG_0533 by jonymac, on Flickr
Micromatic 8 tap system came in!! I swapped out the stock faucets with Perlick faucets and 1 stout tap.

IMG_9112 by jonymac, on Flickr
Drywall and wall mounts going up in bar.

IMG_9114 by jonymac, on Flickr
More bar install.

IMG_9281 by jonymac, on Flickr
Wife picked bar top - leathered granite.

IMG_9282 by jonymac, on Flickr
Top view of granite.

IMG_9155 by jonymac, on Flickr
Theater cabinet being built.

IMG_8836 by jonymac, on Flickr
Placing brew equipment to see how everything fits.

IMG_8893 by jonymac, on Flickr
Placing brew equipment to see how everything fits.

IMG_8892 by jonymac, on Flickr
Placing brew equipment to see how everything fits.

IMG_8814 by jonymac, on Flickr
Placing brew equipment to see how everything fits.

IMG_8824 by jonymac, on Flickr
Placing brew equipment to see how everything fits.

IMG_9599 by jonymac, on Flickr
Tile going in!

IMG_9637 by jonymac, on Flickr
More test fitting and some work being done on brew equipment.

 

[JonyMac]

IMG_8863 by jonymac, on Flickr
Brewery hood came in!

IMG_9380 by jonymac, on Flickr
Tile going in in rec room.

IMG_9243 by jonymac, on Flickr
Tile and stone going in the bathroom - same floor drain is used here and in the brewery.

IMG_9156 by jonymac, on Flickr
Doors have arrived.

IMG_9184 by jonymac, on Flickr
Bathroom cabinet being built out of quarter sawn red oak I found at a local lumber yard - we ended up building the bar and parts of the theater cabinet out of the same wood.

IMG_9223 by jonymac, on Flickr
Theater cabinet before painting.

IMG_9370 by jonymac, on Flickr
Theater cabinet and storage doors being sprayed with an ebony laquer.

IMG_9384 by jonymac, on Flickr
Loading in the theater equipment and testing. I set up the equipment and speaker locations for the new Dolby Atmos standard - and. it. sounds. awesome!

IMG_9410 by jonymac, on Flickr
Bedroom coming together.

IMG_9203 by jonymac, on Flickr
Sink and faucet for bathroom came in.

IMG_9451 by jonymac, on Flickr
Glass and lighting going in the bathroom.

IMG_9740 by jonymac, on Flickr
Rubber flooring going in the workout room.

IMG_9610 by jonymac, on Flickr
I built the cabinets for the desk and found the walnut at the same local lumber shop.

IMG_0245 by jonymac, on Flickr
Close up of the bar top - I used walnut tung oil and orange beeswax to finish the quarter sawn red oak.

IMG_8895 by jonymac, on Flickr
I built a platform and cover for my pumps.

 

[JonyMac]

IMG_8826 by jonymac, on Flickr
Brewing old style in my garage with my brew buddies during the buildout.

IMG_8794 by jonymac, on Flickr
More old style brewing in the garage.

IMG_9232 by jonymac, on Flickr
Last stone piece goes into bar wall!

IMG_9283 by jonymac, on Flickr
Testing taps and drain and rinse tray.

IMG_8856 by jonymac, on Flickr
Micromatic CO2 regulators for keezer came in.

IMG_9073 by jonymac, on Flickr
Wiring up low voltage transformer to Broan return air motorized duct and return air grill with LED to show when duct is open.

IMG_9726 by jonymac, on Flickr
Painted breaker panels and septic pump box. Mounted brew controller.

IMG_9266 by jonymac, on Flickr
Bar structure going in place - beer fridge being installed.

IMG_9354 by jonymac, on Flickr
Bar top in place - did a test brew - heating up wort for yeast growing.

IMG_9418 by jonymac, on Flickr
Installing monitors and low voltage lighting.

IMG_9438 by jonymac, on Flickr
Installing monitors and low voltage lighting.

IMG_9612 by jonymac, on Flickr
Window in - getting ready to load up brewery equipment.

IMG_9825 by jonymac, on Flickr
Until... MASSIVE leak found in plumbing behind wall! Had to rip out some tile, fix it, dry it out and replace...

IMG_9828 by jonymac, on Flickr
Wall repair.

IMG_8869 by jonymac, on Flickr
Building CO2 distribution board to mount in Brewery.

IMG_8821 by jonymac, on Flickr
Found these beauties and ordered three of the 14 gallon version.

IMG_8947 by jonymac, on Flickr
I added 2 seat heaters under the neoprene sleeve that came with the temp control system for the SS Brewtech conicals so I could do saisons and control high side temps during the winter. My wife stitched them together for me.

IMG_8948 by jonymac, on Flickr
I added stainless cups for the blowoff tube tested everything out.

IMG_9639 by jonymac, on Flickr
Ready for the ferm fridge controller!

IMG_9725 by jonymac, on Flickr
Mounted my fermentation refrigeration controller - wiring it up!

IMG_9728 by jonymac, on Flickr
More wiring of ferm/fridge controller.

IMG_9731 by jonymac, on Flickr
Power on baby!

IMG_9804 by jonymac, on Flickr
Up and running - wires hidden in wall - beer mug lights operational!

IMG_9442 by jonymac, on Flickr
Helping a buddy out at Badwolf Brewing - Mash tun needed cleaning and apparently I was the guy to get in there.

IMG_0149 by jonymac, on Flickr
Drawers installed in bar, research fridge!

IMG_9743 by jonymac, on Flickr
Riley finds the only sun spot in the basement.

IMG_9422 by jonymac, on Flickr
Riley beat after first electric brewery brew day.

 

[Roadie]

I see that it was a real incongruent, ghetto system you put together there! Very, very nice! I miss my basement as the water table here in Charleston won’t allow for them. This is on the order of Kal’s basement something everyone wants but few have... kind of like a ‘65 427 Cobra! Congrats on doing it right!

 

[JonyMac]

Thanks man!

 

[Nmnbrewer]

Wow.

 

[augiedoggy]

excellent build!

 

[JonyMac]

NmNBrewer and augiedoggy - thanks! Gonna brew Pliny the Elder this weekend - looking forward to it.

 

[Vandulus]

All I have to say is duy-amn does that look beautiful!

 

[itsnotrequired]

how do you transfer from the conicals to the kegs? co2 pressure?

 

[Sheldon]

Hope some of that Pliny makes it to the next Prince William Brewers Guild meeting

 

[JonyMac]

Yes CO2 from my CO2 board - I have a domed lid for the conicals with a TC port on top. I clear the kegs with CO2 and push it at 2 PSI through the beer out connector to keep everything O2 free.

 

[JonyMac]

Sheldon - I hope so - it’s fermenting away right now!

 

[SleepyCreekBrews]

I might be able to take a drive up from Raleigh for your next party

Seriously, the basement looks awesome , Congrats!

 

[rustbucket]

where did you get your hood?

Awesome build, BTW, Brew on!

 

[Wizard_of_Frobozz]

Did you install the floor tiles directly onto the concrete? Any concerns with tiles cracking?

I agree with everyone else: epic build!

 

[JonyMac]

Rust bucket - I had the hood custom made in Canada from fastkitchenhood.com - it is 72"Lx24"Dx12"H - it has an 8" collar centered on the top and a drain in the back left to drain condensation into my sink.

Wizard - we did some minor leveling of the concrete, but the floor was pretty level and flat to being with. Not a single crack or issue so far. The tile is from Lowes - called Natural Timber Ash - they are 4'x1' - more info is in this thread: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28619

 

[Wizard_of_Frobozz]

Wizard - we did some minor leveling of the concrete, but the floor was pretty level and flat to being with. Not a single crack or issue so far. The tile is from Lowes - called Natural Timber Ash - they are 4'x1' - more info is in this thread: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28619

Thanks! I’m finishing the framing on my new brew room; it is in my pole barn with a concrete floor. I’ve been debating tile vs. coating for the floor. I’ve seen lots of opinions on tile over concrete and the use of membranes like Schlutter Ditra to prevent cracking the tile.

https://www.schluter.com/schluter-...ng-(DITRA)/Schluter®-DITRA-&-DITRA-XL/p/DITRA

Seems like good stuff but it adds a lot to the cost. I do have one control joint that runs across the room to consider.

Good to know you didn’t need anything like this.