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Reptile Room Build
Well I did a progression thread for my rodent room and got some good tips in it, so I figure I'd do the same for my reptile room. I bought this house last year and the ground floor had 2 small bedrooms next to each other that really didn't make good bedrooms with the flow of the rest of the house imo. So one of them became the reptile room and the other was just storage. Well I think I would be much happier if both of them were the reptile room, so I am making that happen.
So far I have done a few things to prep for this project. I moved the wall of the utility room to actually get some room in that room, which became the doorway to the future reptile room. Figure it could be hidden in the utility room and not attract attention elsewhere for any guests I might have over. Got a new water heater and moved its location, so while I was running pex I ran some for the future reptile room. Have valves for a sink and a hose bib connected to a mixing valve, which will allow me to have any temp water in a hose. We got new windows for the entire house, I had the ones in the future reptile room be privacy glass. When i was doing other work I had a dumpster here, so I took out the closets in the bedrooms just because I had a easy place to throw them away.
Now that my pressing projects are done, time to start actually making this happen. Step 1 move out the reptiles. I give you my front room now:
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...pshv9fflxh.jpg
After moving out all the stored boxes and reptile supply, this is what I am working with, the old reptile room:
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...pshsts5oze.jpg
you can see through the old closet door:
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...pskpa0dlcm.jpg
storage room, standing where the closet used to be, can see the doorway, sink location, and hose:
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1a5gdrrt.jpg
other side of storage room:
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psd1hwqkzj.jpg
Approximately 15 minutes after taking those pictures:
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psswwuuc2m.jpg
So my master plan is to set this room up for ambient only heating, but also have the ability to switch to heat tape if I deem it necessary. So that means a ton of insulation and electrical plugs all around. Currently the exterior walls don't even have insulation (I know seriously?) so I will insulate the exterior and interior walls. I think I want to build false walls all around the room to hold another layer of insulation. Then the ceiling already has some insulation, but I want to either frame out another ceiling to hold more insulation or just put foam board up. There is no insulation under the floor currently, which I will be able to do from the crawlspace. I wish i would've thought of this when I built the utility room wall, could've easily used wider boards then, but hindsight is always 20/20.
Heating will be done by an oil filled of some sort with a fan blowing near it to heat the room. I also fear some of the hot summer days overheating the room, so I might have a fan to suck in air either from the main house or the crawlspace to cool it down in emergency. I still have no idea what I want to do for flooring. I also need to see if I have a way to add a floor drain, which I think would be really nice to have. so yea that's about where I am at now, I'll try to post pictures as it happens.
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Re: Reptile Room Build
After seeing the rodent room build, I'm sure this will turn out just as great! Looking forward to seeing the progress.
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Following this thread. The rodent room was awesome-im sure this one will be too!
I can't wait to see how it ends up!
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I'm getting ready to tackle the insulating end of what you are doing. I'm interested to see how you go with this. I am not sure even how far I need to go with the insulation since I am in South Florida but I don't have any insulation in the walls either.
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Electrical reworked to separate these rooms from the front room, closets completely removed, flooring removed, hvac going to the rooms capped off. I swear plaster is terrible to deal with on multiple accounts. Hard to demo, breaks into tiny pieces, and it's so heavy that it will take me forever to send it out on garbage days, even if I do 100 pounds or so a week. I might just have to load it in the truck and find a dumpster at work. I'm still not done tearing plaster down either.
With the insulation, I talked to a few carpenters at work to learn about insulation theory. After talking to them and doing my research, ill just be going with fiberglass rolls, vapor barrier on the reptile room side. The more consistent your temps are to your target room temp, the less insulation becomes nessisary, more you add, the easier it is to control. I live in Michigan so I see temps from below 0 to 100 through the year, insulation is a must lol.
Heres where I'm at now
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psbimn8gys.jpg
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Wow Michigan and no insulation in the walls. My bones hurt just thinking about it. You are looking good and making far more progress than me. I'm still trying to figure out how to "cheat" on the insulation. I'm really not wanting to tear down wallboard. Maybe blow the insulation into the walls? I'm pretty handy but insulation I have never done.
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If you got holes in the top of each cavity, you could probably use loose fill insulation that they normally use in attics, it was a thought of mine. I figure cut a 2 foot or w/e need peice off the top, should be minimal mud/tape work. The expanding stuff that fills each cavity is pretty expensive and I'm not aware of any DIY kits, it would be the only close to not destroying the existing finish method. there is DIY spray foam kits but they are still expensive and you need access to the whole cavity pretty much. My method is just 3 holes in the wall and sliding the insulation roll down the cavity, easy to justify when you are building another wall in front of it.
I did make another thread for it, but i did have some interesting finds in the ceiling tearing it down, you can check it out here. http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...99#post2465599
I didn't even realize how big of a mess this was going to make, the old loose fill insulation is terrible lol. Might take a few cycles of garbage days to get it all out and a bon fire for the wood. but I have access to all my wall cavities and tons of space for insulation up in the existing ceiling now.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psoqhkjyrv.jpghttp://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psguv2grox.jpg
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Really appreciate the input and i can feel your pain. Anything involving drywall is a pain and a huge mess.
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Well spent the whole weekend in the hospital to have our first kids (twins), so nothing got done this weekend and work progress has no doubt slowed down lol. I did manage to get a door in. I give myself props for remembering to shim it up to match the flooring. :)
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...pszdpwghgv.jpg
Then i realized the electrical placement would actually be pretty critical since most of my racks will be near the ceiling. I didn't want to have lights being blocked and fans being ran into. So I found a free cad program and drew up the room to do a little planning. Bonus, it was something I could do with a little one sleeping in my lap. I tried to have what seemed like a good ratio of 41/28/6qt tubs, maintain 3ish foot walkways (which didn't happen near the incubator but it is only waist high) and tried to keep the windows functional. Nothing is set in stone, but the electrical will be once it's put in. Hopefully I can make something work from this.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9xmgi1jy.png
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well this is what I came up with, receptacle for every rack stack, room for 30 inch fans, dedicated circuit for the room heater above the sink, hopefully this works out.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psrmlcxrxv.png
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HOLY COW! There's no way I'd take on a project like that, I'd have to hire someone like you LOL.
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by cchardwick
HOLY COW! There's no way I'd take on a project like that, I'd have to hire someone like you LOL.
Not that I would want anyone to get in over their heads, but most people are far more capable than they think, you might surprise yourself.
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Bout time I got something else done. Lights, fan box, and ceiling insulation are up. Still needs a vapor barrier.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psxta8qrln.jpg
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Wow, what a project! Who is helping you? It seems very advanced and a job for a jack of all trades? Congrats though it looks professional. :gj:
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That is one epic project, and it's going to look SO GOOD when you're done. OMG
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by Albert Clark
Wow, what a project! Who is helping you? It seems very advanced and a job for a jack of all trades? Congrats though it looks professional. :gj:
Right now it's just been me working on it. It is more time consuming than advanced and it's only time consuming because I am DIY everything. If I hired it out, it would probably be done already lol. However I do like the idea of walking through my house and being able to appreciate my own work. Also saves money which never hurts. I will have to recruit someone to help me get drywall on the ceiling, not exactly a one person job.
I'll share my secret, Just take it one step at a time
demo out the old room, which is just messy grunt work
Plumbing, which is so easy now a days with pex. Worst part will be running the drain and that's more the crawlspace below fault.
Electrical, I do it for a living so I can knock it out quick, but plugs and lights are pretty basic and I think anybody can learn to do them. If you have to run a new circuit into the panel, I would suggest leaving that to someone who knows what they are doing, it can after all kill you.
Carpentry, building walls and putting in a door, you can youtube how to do this.
Insulation, messy but super easy
Drywall, easy to put up with another person, but the mud and tape part is no doubt a skill. I'm not going to pretend I'm good at it, but I'm getting better. Don't get better without practice and I'll have plenty of practice in this room.
Flooring, I'm not even 100% sure what I want to do, epoxy is easy but smells for a couple weeks, laminate is pretty easy but in my experience not very durable, tile is a little more work and more know how. I hate how the grout lines attract dirt tho. So I'm still up in the air about what to do lol.
Trim, measure twice cut once, just tedious work.
Paint, I think most people aren't afraid to tackle this
So it's nothing really overwhelming, just the project as a whole might be. Something I learned a long time ago, if a project is overwhelming, just break it into parts. Soon it becomes a bunch of easy projects. :)
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That is awesome !!! I am currently about to undertake the same type of project accept I have the insulation and dry wall up already.
I was curious what program you used for the design and outlets?
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by trevor88
That is awesome !!! I am currently about to undertake the same type of project accept I have the insulation and dry wall up already.
I was curious what program you used for the design and outlets?
Way ahead of me then lol. It's called qcad
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Got the floor under the room insulated.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...pso0tv2ojp.jpg
Got my emergency fan put in, if the room overheats it will start blowing in air from the house. I never actually needed the cooling feature on a Herpstat before, until now. It appears the intro does not come with this feature. However it is the herpstat that makes the most sense to be on the wall imo. 1 2 and 4 don't exactly mount to the wall very cleanly. I contacted herpstat and they are allowing me to send one of my intros in to be reprogramed for cooling. Just another example of their above and beyond customer service.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7a7mluop.jpg
Im nearly finished with insulation, I forgot the box for the switches so then I can fill that cavity and I need it to rain to see if my roof leak is actually fixed lol. Then I can put the ceiling insulation back up and be done.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psw1uyq6ev.jpg
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...pskpa4awrv.jpg
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Awesome, making lots of progress! Looks good so far
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Re: Reptile Room Build
That's awesome! It's looking really good and I love the idea of the fan for cooling only if the room gets too hot :)
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Been a while since I updated, but I really havn't had much time to do stuff. Got the sink poured today. Little experiment with concrete. Mixed in some water based white paint to try and lighten the color. Also tried to sink in some fine glitter, going for a fake granite effect. Most of it will more than likely sand off when I Polish it. Might be able to mix it in the sealer tho. Fun tinkering with it though. If I can make something interesting perhaps I could do the same for a computer desk or something.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...pssekx34o7.jpg
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psbcwpzau1.jpg
Besides that just been getting mud on the walls and ceiling. Still need to sand and fix what was missed.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7btgo3d0.jpg
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psblf6mdwq.jpg
I really need to find more time to get this done and animals moved in lol.
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If my wife ever says anything about my snake habit....errr problem....Im gonna bring her straight to this thread.
Looks great!!!!
I cant wait to see the finished product.
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Just a quick pic before I call it a night. Just needed proof that Progress is still slowly happening.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...pswjrlwkjq.jpg
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Re: Reptile Room Build
That's amazing! Watching the room transform on this thread is great. I'm not so sure I'd be up for a build of this caliber. You're doing a phenomenal job!
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Re: Reptile Room Build
It's lookin' great!
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan
I'm getting ready to tackle the insulating end of what you are doing. I'm interested to see how you go with this. I am not sure even how far I need to go with the insulation since I am in South Florida but I don't have any insulation in the walls either.
I would look into spray foam insulation it's much better than conventional insulation.
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkerezsi
I would look into spray foam insulation it's much better than conventional insulation.
Better by far, where I got r-49 insulation, I could spray open cell and get r-58 or closed cell and get nearly r-100. It also by nature seals the cavity, where fiberglass can have air moving all around it if cut improperly or the cavity is too big. Which means the spray foam will save more for you beyond the R value.
However it comes at a cost. I spent 300 dollars total Insulating. R-19 on the floor, r-26 on the walls, r-30 on half the ceiling, and r-49 on the other half. To fill the same cavities with foam diy kits, I would be looking at over 2k possibly more. Now to get the same r value I wouldn't need to fill the whole cavity technically. But to me the cost savings of the cheaper install and not having to expose the orginal wall far out weighed what I would save in heat retention.
If you are paying to have someone else install and doing new construction the cost difference won't be nearly as great and might be worth spending the extra.
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Wow, great thread and fantastic job so far
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser
Better by far, where I got r-49 insulation, I could spray open cell and get r-58 or closed cell and get nearly r-100. It also by nature seals the cavity, where fiberglass can have air moving all around it if cut improperly or the cavity is too big. Which means the spray foam will save more for you beyond the R value.
However it comes at a cost. I spent 300 dollars total Insulating. R-19 on the floor, r-26 on the walls, r-30 on half the ceiling, and r-49 on the other half. To fill the same cavities with foam diy kits, I would be looking at over 2k possibly more. Now to get the same r value I wouldn't need to fill the whole cavity technically. But to me the cost savings of the cheaper install and not having to expose the orginal wall far out weighed what I would save in heat retention.
If you are paying to have someone else install and doing new construction the cost difference won't be nearly as great and might be worth spending the extra.
You are right on the cost. I fortunately have a friend that does it for a living. I buy materials he brings the spray rig. I'm just not ready for that only renting at this time . But next year I will start the build.
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Re: Reptile Room Build
The room is looking amazing
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkerezsi
You are right on the cost. I fortunately have a friend that does it for a living. I buy materials he brings the spray rig. I'm just not ready for that only renting at this time . But next year I will start the build.
You guys don't happen to live in the metro Detroit area do you? It would be great to have a hook up for spray foam lol.
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Re: Reptile Room Build
No we are 50 miles east of Cleveland Ohio
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Awesome! Looks like it's going to be pretty sweet!
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Electrical done, plugged in the thermostats and giving the room a test run. Currently preping floors for epoxy.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psgz6nqbqh.jpg
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First coat. Turns out 2 gallons barely got me through the first coat. I'll have to pick up 2 more gallons to finish tomorrow. Then find out how many days it takes for the smell to disappear.
http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psuhoqodks.jpg
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Looks amazing
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Re: Reptile Room Build
It's really coming along! It looks great, and I love that green ceiling. Congratulations, all of your hard work is paying off.
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eavlynn
It's really coming along! It looks great, and I love that green ceiling. Congratulations, all of your hard work is paying off.
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Yeah, we figured what's the point of painting the walls a color when we cover them up with racks anyway
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I knew it would get to this point, and yet I still let myself go there. The further along you get, the more envious I become. :D Seeing you turn these rooms from a blank canvas into a functioning working space, complete with all of the finishings, is awesome. You can really see it all taking shape now. Great job!
When you're done up where it's cold, do you want to come hang out down here in AZ for a couple weeks once we decide to move? I may or may not have a small project planned that may or may not require a transferable set of skills that you may or may not possess. :P
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Re: Reptile Room Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Alan
I knew it would get to this point, and yet I still let myself go there. The further along you get, the more envious I become. :D Seeing you turn these rooms from a blank canvas into a functioning working space, complete with all of the finishings, is awesome. You can really see it all taking shape now. Great job!
When you're done up where it's cold, do you want to come hang out down here in AZ for a couple weeks once we decide to move? I may or may not have a small project planned that may or may not require a transferable set of skills that you may or may not possess. :P
I have zero issue helping you out..... Behind a keyboard. :) too much snow to be shoveled for me to leave
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