New Shop #4: Insulation and drywall

Well, it’s been a while since I added to this blog and lots has been done.

I spent a day and a few evenings insulating the ceilings and walls. I used Roxul’s Safe ‘n Sound, double layer on the ceiling and double layer on any 6” walls. Even though it’s not fiberglass, it’s still disgusting. I wore a good dust mask, eye protection, gloves and a disposable full painters suit. My ceiling joists in half the room were 12” on center so I had to cut the insulation in half. The air was thick with little bits of insulation for hours at a time and because it’s summer and because of all the gear I was wearing, it was hot, sweaty work. I didn’t like this job, can you tell? Just kept focusing on the shop. Short term annoyance, long term reward.

Ceiling and one of the walls

All the equipment and tools crammed into one half of the shop, so that I can hang the ceiling gyproc.

At some point, someone ran hot and cold water into this corner of the basement, but there’s no drain…strange

More South side walls that needed insulating, ready for drywall.

Bathroom wall needed it too, I took this opportunity to remove the disgusting carpet from the bathroom

Once the insulation was up, it was time to hang the drywall. I just used 1/2 standard stuff, ten footers. Without anyone helping me, renting the lift was a no-brainer decision. $34 from HD for 24 hours…worth every single penny.

Some of the strategically located 10 footers…I’m still giddy that my shop is big enough to load 10 foot anything into it

The back saver, even if I’d had help, hanging drywall on a ceiling is no fun…this little device let me do it solo and it cost a tiny $34 for 24 hours

I mean really, how cool is that…I just measure, cut, crank the wheel and then screw it to the joists

Half the ceiling done, had to move all the shop stuff over to this side so that I can work on the other. I think that took as much time as hanging the drywall.

The lift, ready to be loaded for the second half of the room.

All done…I hope one layer is enough of a sound barrier

That “should” be the worst of the ugly work. From here on out it’s benches, shelves, lighting, cabinets, electrical…relatively clean stuff, and certainly more enjoyable for me. I’ve been checking the used goods websites for a prehung solid core door 32”...nothing quite right in the last few weeks…I may end up making one, give me an excuse to make a solid fir frame and panel door right?

Thanks for reading…

-- If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over? - John Wooden