Operation Tool Temple - Part 4: Interior

After completing construction of the Tool Temple, I wanted the interior to look as good as the exterior!

However my first challenge was just cleaning up the MESS that I had made during the construction process. (You can also see the R-14 insulation in the stud bays).

Holy cow. What a mess.

Speaking of mess, I had to dig a trench for the underground electrical service to the garage. 100 amps, 240 volts via 2-2-2-4 aluminum wire.

I started hanging some drywall and I couldn't wait to try out the red color of paint.

But I was getting a little ahead of myself because I should have done the ceiling first. Oh well.

I decided to smash apart the old workbench, use the salvaged lumber for shelf, and build an all new workbench.

I also decided I didn't want the red paint anymore and I covered it with dark green paint. Much better!

Time for ceiling drywall! I did it ALL BY MYSELF! You see the horizontal 2x4 on the wall that held up one end of 4' x 8' drywall sheet while I held up the other with one hand and screwed it it with the other hand.

I left myself an access hole to get insulation into the attic.

Window trim:

The little white thing on the wall is a spacer heater, its hooked up to its own 20amp outlet.

I didn't bother with mudding the drywall joints, so I put some vinyl-wrapped trim in/on all the corners.

Onto the workbench!

I've been waiting for this moment for a very long time, and been working very hard, and spent a lot of money to get to this point. It was extremely rewarding to finally begin building the workbench.

The was a reason why I built the workbench before sealing the concrete floor: so that I could put everything that was on the floor onto the workbench instead! Now the floor was finally clear and free for the first time since the concrete was poured. I washed it with muriatic acid and then let it dry overnight.

The next day I applied water-based masonry sealer. The same stuff that is used on patios.

I admit that it looks terribly blotchy in these photos, however the dark spotas slowly cleared up and it looks almost perfect now.

Time to move in!

I bought a new tool box from HD and brought in this perfect couch I got from a friend for free. Yeah thats right baby, this workshop has a couch!

Then I started hanging the shelves, a power tool holder I built a few years ago, and this french cleat system from Rubbermaid (pricy but I'm very happy with it).

WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU...

GLAMOUR SHOTS!!

Thanks for looking :)

Operation Tool Temple - Part 3: Exterior

After framing the addition to my garage, I had to install the doors, windows, siding, trim, and hardware. Sounds easy but it was a ton of work.

Operation Tool Temple - Part 2: Framing

Now that the foundation is done, the hard part is behind me and the walls are going up quickly!

Operation Tool Temple - Part 1: The Foundation

I'm doing everything from the footers to the roof shingles, from designing the plans to raising the walls.

This Old Fixer Upper, Part 8: The Kitchen!

How to overhaul a kitchen, from floor to ceiling. Or, "how to polish a turd." Everything we did in 6 months: All new plumbing. All new electrical wiring and outlets. All new ceiling lights. All new appliances. New flooring. New cabinets and countertops. New garbage disposal and added a switch to control it. The interior doors where all renovated. Backsplash tile and paint. Removed the ugly AC unit that was in the wall (not the window, the wall) and patched up the drywall. Added a heater duct from the furnace to the kitchen (it used to be heated with baseboard heaters). Knocked down a closet that was taking up space for the kitchen table. Range hood vented through the roof. Custom cubby in the wall for the fridge. New baseboard trim. And more....