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Room Prep Journals/Blogs
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Super User 67 posts gn-kfbranch-steve Super User 67 posts
gn-kfbranch-steve

Room prep started in August 2019, after deciding the current house was going to be the home of the layout.

Wife insists that the garage door must remain functional and household storage, including refrigeration, must remain or be improved. The electrical panel, furnace and water heater to all remain in current location.

Room mostly cleared (that took some planning). I had eight light fixtures and 6 additional outlets installed and the garage door opener moved to a side mount. Like this:

start.jpg 

opener:

opener.jpg 

I sealed the garage floor and built this scrap wood cart, out of scrap wood:

cart1.jpg 

cart2.jpg 

 

Mud room / household storage area was a diy project:

mudroom1.jpg 

mudroom2.jpg 

mudroom3.jpg 

(wife chose the color)

Hired contractors for new house siding, new back door cut in and installed out to the new deck, new back porch lighting and a new hot tub installed (including providing electrical service). DIY assembly of the metal gazebo over the patio, drywall repair and served as my own general contractor. Ended up working from home during the project(s), zoom meetings and installing new siding do not mix well.

Storage for holiday decorations and other infrequently used items was added:

storage.jpg 

Garage door was insulated and the weather stripping replaced:

door.jpg 

And finally, a DIY lumber storage rack:

ber_rack.jpg 

 

Now I can get started!

 

Thanks for reading.

 
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Rick Sutton Prolific poster 4,357 posts
Rick Sutton

Looks real good Steve

That prep work will really pay off. What is the actual space that the layout will occupy? Earlier I noticed a dimension approx. 21x18 but I assume all the prep has taken up some of that space. I've got a garage space also (quite a bit smaller) but with careful planning a lot of layout is still possible. Let 'er rip!
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Human.c.ity Junction Regular poster 170 posts
Human.c.ity Junction

I am looking forward to

I am looking forward to seeing what you are going to create in there.

Do you have a track plan?

Heath @Human[c]ity

http://www.humancity.org
http://www.RiversideTransfer.nyc

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gn-kfbranch-steve Super User 67 posts
gn-kfbranch-steve

Thanks for the comments. I

Thanks for the comments. I have a plan and I'll post information about it soon. I've been planning for awhile but that room prep work was mostly needed regardless. I started the room prep after the plan was mostly complete.

 
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kcsphil1 Prolific poster 1,233 posts
kcsphil1

how did you insulate the garage door?

I need to do mine - not for layout room prep but I do use the garage as a wood working shop (like you I suspect) and its way too hot in the summer. So insulation is a must, and while I have seen a LOT of Youtube videos etc none really said yeah, this is the best way.

 

Thanks!

Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div.

"You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife

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jimfitch Prolific poster 5,272 posts
jimfitch

I had a layout in my garage

I had a layout in my garage when living in southern Indiana.  It was dry-walled but not insulated (as far as I know).  It was freezing cold in the winter (down to 0 degree's F) and hot and humid in the summer.  The extreme changes played havoc with track expansion and contraction.  A temp/humidity controlled environment is a really good idea.

.

Jim Fitch
northern VA
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gn-kfbranch-steve Super User 67 posts
gn-kfbranch-steve

Door treatment

There are many ways to insulate a garage door and I suspect mine is not best.

This is an attached garage. The walls are insulated and the door is classified as an "insulated" polyurethane door. Prior layout in the same space, I used expansion gaps, and trains ran fine.

I spoke with a garage door tech and he suggested keeping the insulation light weight.

I got a roll of reflectix duct wrap.

It's only rated at R-3 on a garage door but at least it is actually intended for this application and is very light weight. I figure it's an improvement but have not attempted to quantify the performance.

I cut it into strips to fit the door and taped it on with 1.5 rolls of Roberts double-sided carpet tape.

I was little nervous about it falling off when the door is open but no issues thus far. Was a fun project.

 

 
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uncle joe New member 18 posts
uncle joe

Garage room

Great information.

We have cats too.
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