“Man cave” might conjure up a vision of Pirelli calendars and poker nights, and you’re partly right. But today’s man cave can be a music room, TV room, party room, or workshop. The important thing is that it’s a private space where you can get away from the routines of domestic life.
One person that knows the benefits of some quality ‘me time’ is The Block’s equipment specialist, Benny. Besides working all hours keeping contestants supplied with quality equipment, he’s also a busy dad to a 3-year-old. Building a private space in your home where you can get away and relax is the perfect DIY project, and Benny’s happy to share his tips to help get your man cave up and running.
Budget friendly
“Building a man cave from scratch is a big task but converting a garage to a man cave is a way to make the job budget-friendly, and well within the skillset of the average DIYer,” said Benny.
Back to basics
First you need to work out how big of a space you’re working with. Measure up, get some graph paper and work out how you might use it.
Then decide all the fittings. How many power points and lights are needed? Will you need heating or cooling? Will your man cave have a sound system, bar fridge or computer? These are all important questions to ask yourself when getting started.
“After deciding on your budget and how you will use the space, it’s time to de-clutter and give the garage a good vacuum to create a blank canvas. An industrial vacuum cleaner from Kennards Hire makes this easy,” said Benny.
Fixing the floor
A concrete slab is a ready-made and durable floor, which saves you money on putting down a new one. Benny suggests a concrete renovator to remove paint, epoxies, resins, grout and adhesives, then take a high speed concrete burnisher to buff the surface to a fine, smooth finish.
The final step is to apply a high gloss epoxy floor coating such as Epimax Pro, a water-based concrete sealant that’s easy for any DIYer to apply and clean up.
Insulating for year-round use (and soundproofing!)
Next is temperature control. Is your garage insulated? Good insulation will make your man cave more comfortable, all year round, and helps reduce heating and cooling costs. Insulation will also reduce noise transfer to give you some peace and quiet.
Interior lining
If your garage is brick, you might want to line the interior walls to lighten up the space. Plasterboard is reasonably easy to install with two people, and it’s forgiving if you make mistakes. But it can also be a slow and messy job if you’re doing it by hand and hiring a plasterboard sander with vacuum from Kennards Hire can reduce the time and mess.
Finishing touches
“Paint is a cheap and easy way to achieve the look you want for your man cave – whether you’re going for a bright and airy studio or a bar after dark vibe. If you have a large area to cover or you just want to speed up the job, an airless sprayer can speed things up,” said Benny.
“Finish off by furnishing the space. A pool table, a bar, surround sound TV, bookshelves, a piano, a potter’s wheel … the only limit is your imagination and your budget.”