I’m filling in my downstairs semi-basement (3 retaining walls built into the side of a hill). I’ll air condition it and try to make it fairly liveable. For a number of reasons I want to leave the cinder block walls as they are which means all of the plumbing and electrical conduits are going to be exposed. If anyone has any suggestions or can recommend web sites I can go to for ideas about how you can disguise or make conduits pleasing to the eye it would be most appreciated. Thank you.
Tried to post pics but learning how to use a mac and don’t know if the below links will work or not. Attach Files didn’t work. Very frustrating.
/Users/eltonhartzler/Desktop/get-attachment.aspx.jpeg
/Users/eltonhartzler/Desktop/get-attachment-1.aspx.jpeg
Edited 6/12/2009 12:55 pm ET by bayouelton
Replies
Looks like you tried to use a link to your own computer?
That won't work.
For the rest of us to see pics, there must be an internet address (aka URL) that resolves to someplace exposed to the internet. Namely a website. Need something with "http://www. yadda yadda yadda".
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Edited 6/12/2009 1:05 pm ET by PatchogPhil
Lemmie' see how this works.
View Image
View Image
If you edit w/ browse, attach then open, then edit again and copy what you opened you can paste your pics. But I did all of this with my PC laptop in Atlanta. Trying to do it with my MAC in Mississippi was totally overwhelming. At least for me. But any way. this is what I have to work with. Thanks everybody who wrote in.
Edited 6/12/2009 11:01 pm ET by bayouelton
Edited 6/12/2009 11:02 pm ET by bayouelton
Edited 6/12/2009 11:10 pm ET by bayouelton
Open I-Photo
Highlight your Photo by clicking on it once
Go to tool bar-file-export-click on export
In the diolog box change the default from current to JPEG
Choose the size and quality you want
Click export then in the new box either change the name or leave it say change it to "Blockwall" if you want to make it easier.
I usually save it to desktop.
Write your post on break time.
Click attach files below post box
Make sure your new box is on desktop find "Blockwall" high light it click "choose"
Click up load repeat for each photo then click done.
Hope this helps I have not mastered getting the photos straight to the text body of the post, or an email sometimes open the photo- highlight it- choose copy then pasting it to the text body works sometimes it doesn'tfor me.
Wallyo
Thanks Wallyo. I assume those are MAC instructions. I'll print and save them for future use I have to go through this maze again. On second thought, I think I'll just fire up my old PC.
MAC is correct. Love mine a but there are a few little weird things with them, that are not too straight forward like this but once you figure it is smooth sailing. Super fast though,
did you just get yours, what type?I only wish there was a good inexpensive CAD program for them.Wallyo
Edited 6/12/2009 11:53 pm by wallyo
MAC is correct. Love mine a but there are a few little weird things with them, that are not too straight forward like this but once you figure it is smooth sailing. Super fast though,did you just get yours, what type?
I wouldn't say I got it. When I was out of town my 16yr old decided it was time for me to upgrade to a MAC so when I came home there it was. I think I like it so far but the jury is still out. I've had it for about 2 weeks.
When you say that you are "filling in" your semi-basement......
I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
What is a semi-basement? Is this a taller-than-usual crawlspace?
And by filling it in... you mean with dirt?
When you say that you are "filling in" your semi-basement......
I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
Sorry for the poor choice of words. I mean making it nice enough for teenagers to hang out in and get rowdy in so they don't tear up and trash the upstairs where I live. Air conditioning, big screen TV, pool table, and a couple of bean bags and that should do it. I'd still like to make the walls look nice though so that maybe later on I can make it nice enough for adults.
What is a semi-basement? Is this a taller-than-usual crawlspace?
A normal basement does not have windows because the entire area is below ground. Since the lower level of my house is built into a hill it is not a true basement like a lot of the northern homes have. Three sides are underground, like a basement, and the fourth is not.
And by filling it in... you mean with dirt?
Again, really careless, stupid choice of words. I meant filling it in with enough "toys" and goodies as a party room and hang out pad for my 19 yr old.
Edited 6/13/2009 12:02 am ET by bayouelton
A normal basement does not have windows because the entire area is below ground. Since the lower level of my house is built into a hill it is not a true basement like a lot of the northern homes have. Three sides are underground, like a basement, and the fourth is not.
This is commonly called a walk-out basement. There may be other words/phrases that mean the same thing.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
This is commonly called a walk-out basement.
Hey thanks, Patchdog. I'll have to remember that one. Sure sounds a lot better than a semi-basemant.
sounds like you meant to say, you are enclosing a walkout foundation
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
OK -- so you will be finishing a walkout basement.My suggestion is to frame new walls, and cover them with drywall. All of the wiring and plumbing (and such) is then hidden behind the wall surface, as it should be.Having said that, I'll also say that I live and work in a region that has no basements (water table is too high). I therefore, have almost no experience.........Politics is the antithesis of problem solving.
How about Owens Corning's "Basement Finishing System"
http://franchising.owenscorning.com/bfs/I've never used it or seen it used so I can't vouch for it, I just know it's an available option and sounds like it would be something that could work well for your situation. It claims to be quick to install and uninstall to access pipes and electrical.When I was a kid all we got was a TV, a video game system, maybe carpet remnant, and an old ratty couch and we were happy. Teenagers don't care so much what's on the walls. Maybe get them a gift card to a poster website and let them do their own decorating.DC
Thanks for that link. I looked it over and it sounds pretty slick.
Remant rug, cable spool table and a stereo and tv. We thought we were in heaven!! sort of reminds me of "That Seventies" show.
You have three options;
1) cover it up, which you don't seem to want to do
2) de-emphasize it, which means painting it the same color as the wall/ceiling
3) emphasize it, which means painting it a contrasting color and turning it into a groovy decoration of sorts.
If you have a bunch of utility junk in the ceiling you could do what theaters do and paint everything from the sill plates up dead flat black, then the effect is that the ceiling and everything in it disappears. Take it a step further by puttng something "open" like a faux drop ceiling without the panels up there (or lattice, or 1x strips or whatever) and paint those a contrasting color with everything above it black, and all the mind sees is the color, not what's black above it.
If you don't want to cover anything up, that's all I can think of.
You have three options;
1) cover it up, which you don't seem to want to do
For what it's worth, the main reason I don't want to cover it up is I had a horrible experience with the downstairs basement (a mother-in-law apartment we called it) leaking in my pre-Katrina house. If it happens again I just want to see where the water is coming in.