Everything but the kitchen sink.

[f6john]

My basement is largely unfinished but I have a stove, refrigerator, freezer, microwaves, cabinets  all arranged in a useable fashion and that’s where most of our meals are prepared which means our upstairs kitchen doesn’t get dirty. The problem has been the only sink is in the garage which is in the basement but you have to navigate the maze of vehicles and tools to get to said sink.

I’ve been bargain shopping for a long time and I finally  bought a sink this week to complete the dream. It almost didn’t happen because I had to pay full price for the sink itself, but it was time. The plumbing has been roughed in for a year now, I’ve had the cheap knock down cabinet longer than that. I scored a deal on some closeout faucets some months back, then this week I got a piece of countertop that would work for $35. So the project commenced today. A few setbacks but this is how far I got today.




I should have a fully functional sink by close of business tomorrow.

[Jess from VA]

Nice work John.   

I wish I had a sink in my basement utility room, for jobs too messy or nasty for a regular house sink.

Those jobs get done right outside my utility room door, with a hose and bucket. 

[f6john]

Thanks Jess, it was a busy day on the plantation. I finally this morning finished the grouting of the walls in my 2 year bathroom remodel which is on the back side of the kitchen sink I worked on today. It was not that bad but it was at the top of the wall so I had to do it off a ladder. Still a little more ladder work to complete as I’m using caulk where the wall tile meets the ceiling.

As much as I enjoy the basement, I never believed my wife would join me in occupying the space as much as she does. I guess she must like my company???

At any rate I could have been happy with a hose and a bucket at the back door too.

[Jess from VA]

I have to be careful about my basement walkout door (split level, so it's only a half flight below grade).

I keep a dim outside light on all night for security and so I can see out there at night. 

This leads to bugs and big fuzzy spiders and even the occasional mouse that find their way to the bottom of the stairs and can't get back up them.  After a mouse escaped me walking out there by running into my utility room and then chasing him as he ran behind the washer, dryer, fridge, furnace, water heater, I have to do a security check before ever opening that door every morning. 

It's funny now, but at the time it was more excitement than I care to have with my morning coffee.      

[Hook#3287]

Looking good

I'd make sure those electrical plugs are hooked up to a Ground Fault Breaker at the panel.

Or swap the first plug in the line to a ground fault plug.

Finding out you needed one the hard way ain't fun.

Jess, those 5 gallon buckets with the top trap door work awesome for catching those little fur bearing critters.

Work all night, no noise, and are still loaded after the fist guest arrives.

I got 3 set up in the garage and outside in my bobcat and tool trailer.

Been catching 2-3 a day now that it's getting cool outside.

[f6john]

Looking good

I'd make sure those electrical plugs are hooked up to a Ground Fault Breaker at the panel.

Or swap the first plug in the line to a ground fault plug.

Finding out you needed one the hard way ain't fun.

Jess, those 5 gallon buckets with the top trap door work awesome for catching those little fur bearing critters.

Work all night, no noise, and are still loaded after the fist guest arrives.

I got 3 set up in the garage and outside in my bobcat and tool trailer.

Been catching 2-3 a day now that it's getting cool outside.

I was counting on you to point out the standard plugs! When I was doing the bathroom rough-ins on the other side of this wall, I added these plugs and since I had this cabinet I put a piece of plywood over it and had a few appliances plugged into them so they are protected on the same circuit as the bathroom plugs.

[Jersey mike]

This will sound like a silly question but is your basement below grade? I’m wondering if your using a lift pump for the sewage and if so are there any negatives to it and how well does it handle the bathroom waste.

I ask if your basement is below grade because I know some people who live in split or bi-levels call the ground floor their basement.

BTW those are some good choices on the faucet, countertop and cabinet.

[scooperhsd]

This will sound like a silly question but is your basement below grade? I’m wondering if your using a lift pump for the sewage and if so are there any negatives to it and how well does it handle the bathroom waste.

I ask if your basement is below grade because I know some people who live in split or bi-levels call the ground floor their basement.

BTW those are some good choices on the faucet, countertop and cabinet.

A friend of ours has that issue - the bathroom in the basement needs a lift pump to get to the septic system. The previous one lasted about 20 years, and was recently replaced.

[f6john]

It’s a walk out basement, front and sides are below grade. I have never had to deal with a lift system. My last house had a full basement and even though it wasn’t plumbed for a toilet , I had all the upstairs main floor drains run down and under the basement floor.  Some 20 plus years later when I wanted to have a toilet in the basement, I was able to tie into the main stack which gave me the drain and the vent. I then used a toilet that sat flush on the floor and the drain opening went out the back and through the wall into the main stack. It used a pressurize tank to insure a good horizontal flush, worked like a charm but it was about a $600.00 toilet 12 years ago. The plus was no sawing up a concrete floor.

[Jess from VA]

Jess, those 5 gallon buckets with the top trap door work awesome for catching those little fur bearing critters.

Thanks Bill, but the one I found the other day was the first one in a couple years.  I really don't have a mouse problem. 

I keep no food or anything they might eat in my two 10X12 sheds, and I've never had a mouse in them in over 30 years.

 

[Hook#3287]

Jess, those 5 gallon buckets with the top trap door work awesome for catching those little fur bearing critters.

Thanks Bill, but the one I found the other day was the first one in a couple years.  I really don't have a mouse problem. 

I keep no food or anything they might eat in my two 10X12 sheds, and I've never had a mouse in them in over 30 years.

 

Those little destroyers aren't necessarily looking for food when they occupy structures, just a dry place to pack full of insulation material and call it home.

No food in my bobcat of tool trailer but they still invade them if allowed.  Caught 2 yesterday.

My experience with residential waste water (effluent) pumps is, its all up to gravity, if your discharge location is below the grade of the lowest level floor, you're all set.

If not, then a pump is needed.  And if a toilet is in the system, then a grinder is needed.

Slop sink pumps are cheap and work well.

[Jersey mike]

Jess, those 5 gallon buckets with the top trap door work awesome for catching those little fur bearing critters.

Thanks Bill, but the one I found the other day was the first one in a couple years.  I really don't have a mouse problem. 

I keep no food or anything they might eat in my two 10X12 sheds, and I've never had a mouse in them in over 30 years.

 

Those little destroyers aren't necessarily looking for food when they occupy structures, just a dry place to pack full of insulation material and call it home.

No food in my bobcat of tool trailer but they still invade them if allowed.  Caught 2 yesterday.

My experience with residential waste water (effluent) pumps is, its all up to gravity, if your discharge location is below the grade of the lowest level floor, you're all set.

If not, then a pump is needed.  And if a toilet is in the system, then a grinder is needed.

Slop sink pumps are cheap and work well.

I have field mice in my shed, they’ve chewed a large lounge chair cushion (that’s kept elevated 4’ off the floor for the stuffing inside and they’ve chewed up the paper tags on some store bought bundles of firewood. They enjoy winter nesting in a plastic type box we keep in the shed during the winter months that is used on the deck during the summer. I’ve used Tomcat in the shed and they do nibble at it but that could be after they’ve been chewing away at the other stuff. I have never found any dead in the shed.


Yeah on the basement sewage discharge, we’d need a lift pump and grinder. We’ve gone back and forth so many times on a bathroom in our basement. I know people do put bathrooms in basements similar to ours I just don’t know anyone with one to see how they set it up and how satisfied they are with any system used. I’ve never been to the building department in town to make the inquiry on requirements and design specifications.

[cookiedough]

nice work, can you come redo my tub/shower one piece surround?  every single quote 3 different places and am NOT joking want 8-10K to replace a basic tub surround, am not joking.  i was figuring 2k for materials and is a 2 day project apparently with new plumbing fixtures for shower labor being say another 2 grand total 5K tops, not 8-10K. 

am living with what I have being 35 years old tub surround is so-so shape but doable until I can figure out how to get someone being reasonable quote...

Nothing else done, no new cabinets or floor is main bathroom in small house ONLY 5x8ft main bathroom just enough to get the jobs done inside it...

[Jess from VA]

Jess, those 5 gallon buckets with the top trap door work awesome for catching those little fur bearing critters.

Thanks Bill, but the one I found the other day was the first one in a couple years.  I really don't have a mouse problem. 

I keep no food or anything they might eat in my two 10X12 sheds, and I've never had a mouse in them in over 30 years.

 

Those little destroyers aren't necessarily looking for food when they occupy structures, just a dry place to pack full of insulation material and call it home.

No food in my bobcat of tool trailer but they still invade them if allowed.  Caught 2 yesterday.

Well if they return in any numbers I'll get after them.  The random 2 in some 5 years is not worth worrying about. 

If they invade I can use my Remington 870 on them.  (though then I'd need bail money)   

The fall leaves are kicking my old ass.  I spend a whole day blowing and raking and getting them all into my big dumpers, and then we get 40MPH gusts last night and it's three times worse than yesterday.

After something to eat, I'll be back at it shortly.  I like to work outside, but not this hard. 

[f6john]

nice work, can you come redo my tub/shower one piece surround?  every single quote 3 different places and am NOT joking want 8-10K to replace a basic tub surround, am not joking.  i was figuring 2k for materials and is a 2 day project apparently with new plumbing fixtures for shower labor being say another 2 grand total 5K tops, not 8-10K. 

am living with what I have being 35 years old tub surround is so-so shape but doable until I can figure out how to get someone being reasonable quote...

Nothing else done, no new cabinets or floor is main bathroom in small house ONLY 5x8ft main bathroom just enough to get the jobs done inside it...

One thing for sure, contractors aren’t ashamed or embarrassed to throw out a quote these days! My current bathroom remodel in the basement stretched out over two years! Of course a lot of other things were being attended to during that time, and we have 3 other bathrooms in the house which takes the pressure off some.

[Rams]

As much as I enjoy the basement, I never believed my wife would join me in occupying the space as much as she does. I guess she must like my company???

At any rate I could have been happy with a hose and a bucket at the back door too.

Nope, not gonna say anything here.   

Rams   

[Hook#3287]

Yeah on the basement sewage discharge, we’d need a lift pump and grinder. We’ve gone back and forth so many times on a bathroom in our basement. I know people do put bathrooms in basements similar to ours I just don’t know anyone with one to see how they set it up and how satisfied they are with any system used. I’ve never been to the building department in town to make the inquiry on requirements and design specifications.

In my state that would fall under the Plumbing Department.

I don't have any real knowledge of those grinder pump systems, never installed one as a contractor and don't inspect them as a Buildung Official.

I do believe they are a single grinder/pump unit and are usually installed under the basement floor.

[Jess from VA]

My plumbing skills suck.

I have a pretty new Moen basement bath sink faucet that has started a very slow (hot side) drip.  So slow, it can hardly affect my water bill.  And it randomly may slow drip, or stop entirely (I guess based on how it's feeling).

It may be the cartridge can be somehow snugged up or Oring replaced, or it may require a new faucet (I dunno).

Given the arm and a leg I've had to pay plumbers recently, I've decided to simply open the cabinet door and turn it off (on the short throw quarter-turn shutoffs I have).  It's not a lot of work.  I only use hot water at that faucet once a day to shave. 

[f6john]

Ran out of time yesterday to complete my job. I had running water but the drain was never completed as I had to take my wife to an eye doctor appointment. Rummaged around in my leftover fittings bucket and came up with everything I needed to hook up the drain this morning. On to the next challenge!