Hi All,
I don't often post - I am however a very frequent forum reader.
At the end of July 2009 my girlfriend and I moved into our new house together. One of the key items on the list for the new house was a seperate area for my tropical fish. Back at my old house I had a 30" x 60" floor area cupboard that was my fishroom. Managed to squeeze a few tanks in there with little space left over to actually stand.
Anyway, since moving in at the end of July, I have been out in the garage converting it into a fully purpose built tropical fish breeding paradise (or at least I like to think so ;-p).
I am utilising _just_ over half of the total garage floor space, approx 9' x 7'. 63 sqft.
For those also interested in converting a garage or would like to know how I went about it; I will attempt to breakdown what I have done so far.
*Applied brick/concrete sealer to the entire garage, covering both the walls and floor. This helps seal the concrete and brick work from water/moisture entering the garage from outside. It allows the brickwork to breathe but prevents moisture from entering. Ive read the breathing is important to prevent damp and mold.
*Installed 1"x2" timber battens on to the wall in a horizontal position, spaced 24" apart from each other. Battern almost touching the floor against the wall, then every 24" until I reached the ceiling (or garage loft timbers).
*Staple / Glue & screwed Thermawrap General Purpose double foil insulation to the battens. Rolled out and affixed following the same horizontal position. This was applied to both the walls & ceiling.
*Installed further 1"x2" timber battens, this time every 24" in a Vertical position. Making sure to install timber on each side of every internal or external corner. This timber batten is for the plasterboard to affix to. Hopefully if I am explaining myself as I mean to. You will have spotted the two seperate 1" cavities that have been created. The 1st between the brickwork and the back of the Thermawrap foil. The 2nd between the front of the Thermawrap foil and what will be the plasterboard.
*Guess whats next... Yep, the Plasterboard. I used standard Gyproc Drywall plasterboard. I only have a small car (Fiat Punto) so getting standard sized 8' x 4' sheets of plasterboard into the car to take home was not possible. I therefore adopted to purchase 'mini' boards. They come in 2' x 3' size and fit in the back of a small car with the back seats down. (If your in the UK B&Q stock them).
*Joint Filler - you need more joint filler than you think. I purchased a 10kg bag. Thats way too much.. used about 1/4. but its much better than buying those small tubs that fit in your hand..
*Lick of paint - Cheap Brilliant White Matt Paint. 2 coats have been applied so far.. will need another coat..and 'touching up' where I have filled in here and there.
Well, thats where I am up to at the moment. I really sorry I dont have any photos of the room. My camera is somewhere in the garage...hmm somewhere...??
Ive drawn a quick (thats certainly a lie it took my most of last night) drawing in Google Sketchup of the room. Ill upload these shortly. (unable to upload from current location)
any comments or questions, ill be happy to try and answer. I havent even mentioned stocking of water volumes yet.. (the brown timber looking items in the photos are going to be DIY timber tank ranks. including a very small 6" deep DIY rack for tiny tiny fishies! (fry)
I don't often post - I am however a very frequent forum reader.
At the end of July 2009 my girlfriend and I moved into our new house together. One of the key items on the list for the new house was a seperate area for my tropical fish. Back at my old house I had a 30" x 60" floor area cupboard that was my fishroom. Managed to squeeze a few tanks in there with little space left over to actually stand.
Anyway, since moving in at the end of July, I have been out in the garage converting it into a fully purpose built tropical fish breeding paradise (or at least I like to think so ;-p).
I am utilising _just_ over half of the total garage floor space, approx 9' x 7'. 63 sqft.
For those also interested in converting a garage or would like to know how I went about it; I will attempt to breakdown what I have done so far.
*Applied brick/concrete sealer to the entire garage, covering both the walls and floor. This helps seal the concrete and brick work from water/moisture entering the garage from outside. It allows the brickwork to breathe but prevents moisture from entering. Ive read the breathing is important to prevent damp and mold.
*Installed 1"x2" timber battens on to the wall in a horizontal position, spaced 24" apart from each other. Battern almost touching the floor against the wall, then every 24" until I reached the ceiling (or garage loft timbers).
*Staple / Glue & screwed Thermawrap General Purpose double foil insulation to the battens. Rolled out and affixed following the same horizontal position. This was applied to both the walls & ceiling.
*Installed further 1"x2" timber battens, this time every 24" in a Vertical position. Making sure to install timber on each side of every internal or external corner. This timber batten is for the plasterboard to affix to. Hopefully if I am explaining myself as I mean to. You will have spotted the two seperate 1" cavities that have been created. The 1st between the brickwork and the back of the Thermawrap foil. The 2nd between the front of the Thermawrap foil and what will be the plasterboard.
*Guess whats next... Yep, the Plasterboard. I used standard Gyproc Drywall plasterboard. I only have a small car (Fiat Punto) so getting standard sized 8' x 4' sheets of plasterboard into the car to take home was not possible. I therefore adopted to purchase 'mini' boards. They come in 2' x 3' size and fit in the back of a small car with the back seats down. (If your in the UK B&Q stock them).
*Joint Filler - you need more joint filler than you think. I purchased a 10kg bag. Thats way too much.. used about 1/4. but its much better than buying those small tubs that fit in your hand..
*Lick of paint - Cheap Brilliant White Matt Paint. 2 coats have been applied so far.. will need another coat..and 'touching up' where I have filled in here and there.
Well, thats where I am up to at the moment. I really sorry I dont have any photos of the room. My camera is somewhere in the garage...hmm somewhere...??
Ive drawn a quick (thats certainly a lie it took my most of last night) drawing in Google Sketchup of the room. Ill upload these shortly. (unable to upload from current location)
any comments or questions, ill be happy to try and answer. I havent even mentioned stocking of water volumes yet.. (the brown timber looking items in the photos are going to be DIY timber tank ranks. including a very small 6" deep DIY rack for tiny tiny fishies! (fry)
