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Anyone out there with a "man cave" above their garage?

A

ajbenson18

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Joined
Jan 21, 2012
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4
I have a 14' x 40' long space above my garage that I will be turning into a "rec area" (public declaration) or "man cave" (what it really is). I plan to have a home theater setup, mini bar, arcade machine, poker table, etc. I am looking for two things:

1. Pictures of your space or ideas/advice regarding things to add.

2. Advice for finishing the ceilings. I am going to be turning the side walls of the loft into cabinet doors (every 2 feet) for access to the storage behind them (any other bright ideas let me know). Looking at making plywood cabinet doors and painting them. I am not sure how i should go about finishing the ceiling at that point? I thought about doing car siding but money will be getting tight (I built the whole rest of the garage this summer). It is roughly 1000 sq ft of ceiling to cover. I am curious if anyone has any bright ideas for covering the ceiling of the loft? I have no interest in sheetrock. I have thought about using old cedar siding from an old barn around here (good old rural america). I have also thought of just using osb sheets and leaving them that way? Give me a "crazy" but this might work idea.

3. I decided I should add a third and ask about the floor too. I have 3/4" Tongue and Groove plywood for a sub floor and I had plans to do something like carpet squares over the top (commercial style). Then I thought the checkered tile look would be cool. Lately I was thinking maybe i should just leave it plywood?

So basically I have this 14' x 40' space and want to know what you would do to finish it off. I don't want the "apartment above the garage" feel. Any help would be appreciated. I will be updating with all the pictures in the near future. Shingles are almost done. Garage doors go in tomorrow.
 
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motorcycle79

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Jun 26, 2011
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471
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wisconsin
I have the same storage space above my garage thought about mancave myself untill I thought about a drunken neighbor falling down the stairs, hot in the summer, cold In the winter, insulated ceiling will cause poor air flow and cause Ice dams depending where u live.. After that I now just put my junk up there to keep downstairs clean
 
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mellamoesrico

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Aug 13, 2011
Messages
54
I don't know how serious you are about getting good response out of the stereo/surround sound speakers. But if you do want good sound, then that will make a difference in what materials you should use. The carpet tiles on the floor would help the sound more than hard ceramic tiles. Wood or sheetrock walls would be better for sound than something more reflective like tin or vinyl sheets. Basically, you want softer surfaces to prevent the sound from bouncing around everywhere, causing all kinds of reflected echos.

PS I really envy your space there. Nice place that's gonna be really cool once you get your "lounge" done upstairs.
 
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H

Harley94

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Jun 18, 2012
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150
Location
Northern Wisconsin
If this works, this is mine, I hate the term man cave and instead prefer
"clubhouse"
http:
 
K

KCarGuy

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Feb 5, 2009
Messages
2,075
Location
50 miles outside Chicago, illinois
Mine is still under construction.
Kinda the last chore on my list, but usable still the same.
I did alot of the items that you want also,
My Knee Walls are 4 foot high (with double swing out doors to access totes of items stored behind the walls (only 1 set per side)
I havent done the floor yet, but also have a 5/8" tongue and groove. (Planning on adding a VCT tile and some carpet area rugs).
I have a Poker Table, A Mini Portable Bar, Cable TV, a Window Air Unit, a Ceiling Fan, a "in the ceiling" Exhaust Fan, a Stereo System, an Old Pepsi Machine and Plenty of Seating for the area.
Its all Insulated and the Knee Walls will be drywall'd, while the Ceiling will be Tongue and Groove Knotty Pine.
Its stays warm in the winter, because my Garage is heated (heat Rises) and the room has a door, so in the summer...turn on the air and the fan and within 30 minutes its all Good.
 

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J

John in OH

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Jun 2, 2007
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Location
SE Ohio & Eastern Virginia
Garage fires are very common and very dangerous due to fuels, lubricants and misc. chemicals typically present in a garage. Two MAJOR safety issues to include (you need to check with local building jusidiction to see what other specific local codes may apply) .... 1) Minimum of 5/8" drywall on ceiling of garage for fire retardation; 2) Exterior egress from second floor that does NOT require passing through any portion of lower garage to escape building. This second feature is often not provided or is ignored due to cost, but it is super important for fire safety.

Also, you should provide a system of smoke detectors or rate-of-rise sensors in garage area that can alert those on the second floor should a fire breakout below.
 
B

BWS

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Sep 3, 2006
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Location
Mnts of Va
Probably shouldn't respond.......oh well.


Uhhh,If I had that much unused space above a garage it wouldn't be used for lounging.It would be used as "support" or in some fashion as part of the shop below.For instance,a nice drafting table.Reference material.Maybe some measuring/metrolgy.Airbrush and sm paint booth.Chit,could go on and on.It would NOT be used as some place to chill or F**k off.Thats why I have a house?
 
F

fireant911

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Joined
Dec 22, 2012
Messages
51
Location
Alabama
KCarGuy said:
Mine is still under construction...
...Its all Insulated and the Knee Walls will be drywall'd, while the Ceiling will be Tongue and Groove Knotty Pine...
Click to expand...

KCarGuy,
I am referencing your first picture in your post above. I am looking at doing something very close to what you have done. Do you have any finished pictures of this area? It looks as if the T&G Pine is nailed at 24" intervals - is that correct? Did you add any other vertical supports between the trusses? Have you experienced any noticeable warping/bowing of the T&G Pine? I really like what you have done!
 
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mrpizza

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Nov 1, 2011
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Location
IL
I would kill to have a separate "rec room." I plan on buying a home with a basement so I can permanently install my home brewery down there. A dedicated brew space and the bar all in one area!
 
F

f150skidoo

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Dec 29, 2012
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1,206
Location
Ontario, Canada
Mines still a work in progress, the loft is 13' 6" by 55' but i divided it up at 28' so we still have storage up there. I actually finished dry walling it today, heres a pic that i took a hour ago.
 

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L

larry4406

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Jan 27, 2006
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Northern Virginia
With care, you can insulate it properly and firestop it from the garage below. Think about adding windows in the end gable (i.e., pick an egress window size so in the end your efforts might net a usable bedroom if/when sold). Put in a bathroom and kitchenette if possible. Divorce the heating and cooling system from the garage space below.
 
D

darkk

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Dec 24, 2009
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3,361
Location
Willimantic, Ct.
Well, I'm not sure it qualifies as a man cave but we built a 30x30 loft living area above our garage that will be my sons living area when finished.. It's about 97% finished, check it out in my signature...
 
S

Silver6.0

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Sep 16, 2011
Messages
87
Location
N.E. Michigan
Kevin54 said:
Carpeted walls?
Click to expand...

no, its paint on bottom and knock down on top. A friend of mine is a painter and said the bottom was done by first painting it then putting plastic on the wall and pulling the plastic off, to give it the "texture" that kind of shows. Personally to me it looks purple. Which I don't like. Everyone says just leave it, eventually it'll get changed.
 
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