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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Brookfield, Brisbane
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    49
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    1,127

    Default ManCave Extension - Materials Search

    Hi WWF,

    I am looking to extend my man cave under my stairs so I can fit my pending Xmas present (a Jointer) in.

    I have a basic design in my head of:
    Floor: Sleeper base lined with pavers
    Walls: Pine framed with FC or recycled pallets for the skin.
    Door: Recycle existing door
    Ceiling: Roof sheeting under the deck and stairs for waterproofing.

    I am on a very strict budget and looking to use recycled materials where I can get away with it. I am on GumTree and eBay looking for product and think I will be able to get some free pavers. Do any forum members know where I may be able to source the other stuff cheaply?

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    I am a fan of recycled materials in sheds.
    When you say sleeper base lined with pavers as a floor I am thinking that is a waste of sleepers as the pavers can go direct on the ground. Still without seeing the lay of the land I may be missing something. Any pics of the space. I ask because I used the space below the back patio slab to store the mower and garden tools. Floor is road base with pavers on top.

    Regards

    John

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Brookfield, Brisbane
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    1,127

    Default Photos

    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    I am a fan of recycled materials in sheds.
    When you say sleeper base lined with pavers as a floor I am thinking that is a waste of sleepers as the pavers can go direct on the ground. Still without seeing the lay of the land I may be missing something. Any pics of the space. I ask because I used the space below the back patio slab to store the mower and garden tools. Floor is road base with pavers on top.

    Regards

    John
    Thanks for the interest John. Attached are a few pics. Basically the sleepers are required to build a small retaining wall as the property is on a slope.

    The plan is (looking at pic 1) is to get rid of the copper log retaining wall and associated paving and put in a new paved area extending all the way out under the stairs. This will require getting rid of the plant that dominates the photo. From right to left there is a drop of about 400mm. Hence the sleepers. The Jointer will live under the stairs. I will wheel it out as required. The part under the landing (where the plant is) will store my bandsaw which will also need to be wheeled out to use. The rear wall of the new construction (running across where the plant is to the stairs stopping in line with the building) will be solid behind the bandsaw and a hinged door behind the joiner so I can feed long lengths of timber into the mancave.

    Photo 2 is a close up and Photo 4 shows this view in revere. Bandsaw store on the left where the steel shelves currently are and Jointer beside it under the stairs.

    Photo 3 is a side view. This will become the new main entrance.
    .
    Attached Images Attached Images

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Grange, Brisbane
    Age
    53
    Posts
    1,642

    Default

    My philosophy is derived from "Stig of the Dump"!

    I get a lot of free materials from my local Freecycle - you have to be patient, and you have to be able to jump on stuff when it's offered, but I've paved the driveway with freepavers, and I have enough brand new mixed Aust hardwood for a new bench top, as well as mountains of kids toys etc. My chook run is built from stuff I've picked up too.

    The point of Freecycle is to keep useful stuff out of landfills, you just post on a forum, much like this, and people reply. Then you choose who to respond to. It's kind of like a silent auction with no money involved. Generally, the friendliest, politest, most helpful posters will get the first offers.

    Find your nearest group here: The Freecycle Network

    My other favourite sources are skips and kerbside collection, and occasionally local builders - particularly second hand tin roofing.

    Good luck, be patient, and have your trailer ready to swing into action when you come across something useful.
    Cheers, Richard

    "... work to a standard rather than a deadline ..." Ticky, forum member.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    Got a bit of fiddley work ahead. I take it you intend keeping the same floor level as the work space and some kind of tin storage bay under the stairs.
    It is doable if not all that strait foreward. You must be hard up for space.
    My only suggestion is instead of sleeper retaining wall use old brick, concrete blocks or stone if you want it to last. Good luck and remember real man caves are painfully built by hand.
    Regards
    John

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Brookfield, Brisbane
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rhancock View Post
    My philosophy is derived from "Stig of the Dump"!

    Find your nearest group here: The Freecycle Network
    Thanks Rhancock. Never heard of free cycle before. Not much there at the moment however will keep an eye on it.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    Default

    Progress had been made. Plant gone and retaining wall frame in place.

    unfortunately to date I have not sourced any materials second hand
    Attached Images Attached Images

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    Default Man Cave Extension - Phase 2 Complete

    Man Cave Extension - Phase 2 Complete

    Foundations down and floor laid.

    $40 for the sleepers from Bunnings
    $40 for the sand. (Sand almost free from freecycle.org but got jipped)
    Pavers free from GumTree
    Another $50 odd for cement and bolts and bits
    $2 for bandages for my index finger I smashed with my rubber mallet
    About 30 hours effort
    $45 for a carton of Asahi to ease the saw back in the evenings

    image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg


    Next weekend onto the ceiling inc. water proofing.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Thumbs up

    Looking good keep posting.
    Regards
    John

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albury Well Just Outside
    Posts
    13,315

    Default

    I agree looking very good.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Brookfield, Brisbane
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    Default Finally

    The day before Xmas and the upgrade is ready to take my Xmas Jointer. Touch ups are still required however it is now operational. Stoked with the outcome.

    Photo 1: The new ManCave entrance.
    image.jpg

    Photo 2: Welcome
    image.jpg


    Photo 3: New routing station and clamp rack
    image.jpg


    Photo 4: Birthday Bandsaw and my new Xmas jointer
    image.jpg


    Photo 5: Behind this new door is the Jointer. Door allows me to use long lengths on the jointer. (This is where that really big plant use to be)
    image.jpg

    Photo 6/7: Tada
    image.jpgimage.jpg


    Photo 8: The old space now without the doors. Amazing how taking the doors off really opens it up
    image.jpg




    Photosssssss: Lap around the ManCave (Note the "Damos ManCave" sign)
    image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg


    Next Photo: Close up of my Xmas present. Sssssshhhh - it is a surprise

    image.jpg




    Last Photo: Clamps! Did anyone say pipe clamps?
    image.jpg

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albury Well Just Outside
    Posts
    13,315

    Default

    Very well done on the upgrade.

    Just a suggestion when I am not using mine I cover with a drop sheet after I spray G15 rust inhibitor.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    Brookfield, Brisbane
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    Default Beer Fridge

    Late (surprise) Xmas additions

    image.jpgimage.jpg

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    301

    Default

    Gotta rotate your pics before posting mate. Just put my neck out.

    Looks good.
    Craig

    Expert /Ex-Spurt/ -n. An "Ex" is something that has been or was. A "Spurt" is a drip under pressure.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,820

    Default

    Ah, North Sydney. Lived in Neutral Bay and Mosman for 20 years... $800k semi, never enough room for a shed!

    A wasted space under the stairs is now an incredible workshop. Congratulations.

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