Thread: Man cave digout

I’ve started work on rebuilding the stairs. I had originally planned to build a nice set of wooden stairs, but after looking into pricing for solid hardwood stairs, I decided it was too much, and I’ll be making concrete stairs with hardwood noses on the treads. I’ve set up the formwork, and hopefully get time later today to do the pour. I spent a while climbing in and out over the formwork, but eventually pulled a trusty plank out. Ah, that brings back memories. Attaching the formwork was fun. I spent a while trying to come up with systems to hold the sides of the formwork in place, and was planning on bracing it all with weights on the floor, but eventually just decided to shoot some nails into the concrete, so this is how it's all held together. Works really well. I did have a moment of panic at the end, when I realised that I'd been working with the wrong tread length, but in the end it's only a few mm different, so I think it's fine, and I'll just 'run' with it. (Har har.)

IMAG1468.jpg

The steps have been poured. When pouring the concrete, I had some studs prepared, and pushed them into the nose of each step to make a rebate for the wooden ‘noses’ on each step. Once the formwork was off and the concrete had dried for a few days, I varnished up some pieces of Tassie Oak, using some floor varnish left over from another project, and glued the hardwood pieces into the rebates.

IMAG1474.jpg

I’m pretty happy with the result. The concrete needs to set for about a month before I can seal them fully. I did use a ramp for a few days, but that kept getting in the way, so I’ve put down some towels on the stairs so that I can walk up and down without scuffing the concrete surface too much.

Meanwhile, I built a wood rack on the outside wall of the cave. I’m a little unsure about whether it might get damp enough out there to get mouldy, so I’m keeping all my nice wood inside for now, but there’s enough pieces that I don’t really care about to store out there. It’s off the ground, so hopefully it will be OK.

IMAG1475.jpg

The Tas Oak inserts look good on the stair case

Are you planing on sealing the concrete floor with sealer or non slip concrete paint?

I'll be using sealer first, the same as on the rest of the floor. If I have any slipperiness problems, I may have to look into non-slip treatments, but the existing floor with sealer seems pretty good, so I'm planning to do the same to steps.

Brilliant job, congratulations once again.

Ross

But now you need a decent light where your wood rack is.