Help me build the ideal gun/reloading room.

[geronimojoe85]

So check this out.
I have my own space to do whatever I want with.
I’ve chosen to make a dedicated gun/reloading/hang out space.
So, I’m going to be looking for ideas on making this space the best darn man cave that can be made by humans.

A little about the room:
No children in house, but room has a steel exterior style door with a locking knob, just in case nieces and nephews do visit.

Sits over the garage, so I assume hot in summer and cold in winter. (These last few weeks, in the bitter cold, the room is definitely colder than the rest of the house, but not so cold that it is uncomfortable. Today the temp was a balmy 34° and the difference between the room and the rest of the house was barely noticeable.)

Floor is carpet... ick.
Room was used as a kennel for Fi-fi the Pomeranian... double ick.
Didn’t notice the smell before, but the more time I spend up there the more I can smell the dog urine. Yeah, eff that.

Has a ton of outlets.

Has a pretty sweet closet going down over half the length on the East side.
Measures:
25’8” N to S
10’4” E to W



So, moving forward, I’m going to be replacing the flooring, building a reloading/work bench, adding in a display/organizing rack for guns and ammo, and putting in a couch or something for a “hang out” area.

My question to youse guys, what would you ideally put in to this?
Flooring?
Bench design?
Rack system?
Anything else I missed?
I’ve got a few ideas but I really want to get this as right as I can.


The room:

The closet:

 

[red_zr24x4]

Linoleum for the flooring, I would kilz it before putting the flooring in
The biggest bench you can when it looks big enough double it
A separate bench for a dedicated gun cleaning area
No display racks for firearms, a nice big safe All though, with the steel door, a rack might be ok. But I'd add a deadbolt to it
TV and radio are a must

 

[Cameramonkey]

So check this out.
I have my own space to do whatever I want with.
I’ve chosen to make a dedicated gun/reloading/hang out space.
So, I’m going to be looking for ideas on making this space the best darn man cave that can be made by humans.

A little about the room:
No children in house, but room has a steel exterior style door with a locking knob, just in case nieces and nephews do visit.

Sits over the garage, so I assume hot in summer and cold in winter. (These last few weeks, in the bitter cold, the room is definitely colder than the rest of the house, but not so cold that it is uncomfortable. Today the temp was a balmy 34° and the difference between the room and the rest of the house was barely noticeable.)

Floor is carpet... ick.
Room was used as a kennel for Fi-fi the Pomeranian... double ick.
Didn’t notice the smell before, but the more time I spend up there the more I can smell the dog urine. Yeah, eff that.

Has a ton of outlets.

Has a pretty sweet closet going down over half the length on the East side.
Measures:
25’8” N to S
10’4” E to W



So, moving forward, I’m going to be replacing the flooring, building a reloading/work bench, adding in a display/organizing rack for guns and ammo, and putting in a couch or something for a “hang out” area.

My question to youse guys, what would you ideally put in to this?
Flooring?
Bench design?
Rack system?
Anything else I missed?
I’ve got a few ideas but I really want to get this as right as I can.


The room:



The closet:

Why did they carpet the wall? And why lay your rifles on the floor? Why not prop them against that nice carpeted wall?

Rip out the carpet yourself. Use an enzyme cleaner on the subfloor for the urine or it will linger. Cheap berber and extra thick premium pad to help provide extra insulation from the garage below.

 

[bwframe]

Somebody gotta fix them pics. That's hard on the neck.

 

[geronimojoe85]

Somebody gotta fix them pics. That's hard on the neck.

They look right to me, lol
But I’m also on mobile.

 

[geronimojoe85]

Linoleum for the flooring, I would kilz it before putting the flooring in
The biggest bench you can when it looks big enough double it
A separate bench for a dedicated gun cleaning area
No display racks for firearms, a nice big safe All though, with the steel door, a rack might be ok. But I'd add a deadbolt to it
TV and radio are a must

I’ve got the safes from the old house in the garage, I get kind of nervous on account of the weight. Maybe I’m just overthinking it.
I definitely will be adding a deadbolt. I was going to reinforce the strike plate, but the door opens out, so there’s no way to kick it in.

 

[wabashman]

My first question would be what is the weight rating of the floor trusses? Before adding a metric ton of bench, ammo stacked up, safes, etc, id be sure it wasnt going to collapse down on the garage floor.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Flooring?

Pull up the carpet. You don't want to end up like that reloader in Kansas City that ran the vaccuum over carpet full of powder.

Leave the floor concrete for easy clean up.

Bench design?

Nice big L along the wall with shelving up and down and magnet strips to hold tools.

Maybe an 8 foot rectangle table as an island to work on or set up extra press(es).

Rack system?

Yes, with room that size, at least two 6-8 slot vertical gun racks. PM me your cell number and I can text you my design. (Yeah, I know, I'm a lawyer, not a carpenter, but I really got into my gun room).

Racks are cool for temporary storage and you have a place to organize range day fun or have a space for guests that bring long guns.

Anything else I missed?

Beer fridge? But I know that is touchy subject here. I bought a floor model from an appliance store here in Lafayette. I keep water and ginger ale in it when in the armory and barley pop for later.

If concrete floors and at that temp, I would build a podium from 2x4s and scrap carpet for the safe(s). Again, send me a PM, I'll show you what I did.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Almost forgot, get some of those surgical pads that docs stand on during surgery. Great for long sessions at the press.

You can get them from doctor catalogues or industrial hygenie catalogues.

 

[geronimojoe85]

Almost forgot, get some of those surgical pads that docs stand on during surgery. Great for long sessions at the press.

You can get them from doctor catalogues or industrial hygenie catalogues.

They have big sized anti fatigue mats at tractor supply I guess they use them in horse stalls.

 

[geronimojoe85]

My first question would be what is the weight rating of the floor trusses? Before adding a metric ton of bench, ammo stacked up, safes, etc, id be sure it wasnt going to collapse down on the garage floor.

I was concerned about that too, but there’s a big steel beam with supports running across the garage to support the room above. So while I’m reasonably certain it would take the weight of the safes I don’t want to push it either.

 

[Tactically Fat]

I wouldn't put big heavy safes in that room - but that's me. Unless you can reinforce the floor without being destructive to what's underneath. MAY be able to do it since you said it's over the garage. If you really want the safes up there - consult with a residential structural engineer first. And then a contractor. And then a safe-mover.

If you'll never be up there barefoot - you can think about leaving it plywood that's under the carpet. Agree on the Killz, too. Do the whole flipping thing. Then, in the "sittin' area", put down a nice rug or two.

 

[red_zr24x4]

If Its going to be a reloading area / gun cleaning I would avoid carpet. Primers in carpet You'd have to vacuum, spilled powder you really don't want to vacuum

 

[geronimojoe85]

I’ll be pulling the carpet when I finish up work this week.
Depending what is underneath it I’m thinking some cheap laminate would do fine.

 

[geronimojoe85]

Things are coming along.
I’m going to be putting el-cheapo laminate down.
The pulled carpet smells like death.
I thought that the former owners Fifi had a few isolated accidents, but let me tell you, it’s the whole damn room. Ick.


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[snapping turtle]

LEt it air a day or two then seal that wood. If the “smell” soaked into the wood a sealer will help tremendously.

Don’t forget the lighting. Good lighting is very helpful.

 

[indyartisan]

Bin shellac based primer sealer.

 

[geronimojoe85]

LEt it air a day or two then seal that wood. If the “smell” soaked into the wood a sealer will help tremendously.

Don’t forget the lighting. Good lighting is very helpful.

I’ve got 8 can lights (LED now) on a dimmer in the room and when I put the bench up I’ll have a 6 foot LED over the bench.

I’m going to hit the decking with an anti-microbial that I have left over from my mold remediation days.

 

[snapping turtle]

https://www.google.com/amp/www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/02/09/gray-room/amp/

with that space you could do a copy of the grey room.

 

[geronimojoe85]

https://www.google.com/amp/www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/02/09/gray-room/amp/

with that space you could do a copy of the grey room.

I’m not going to lie, HKs grey room is a big inspiration for this.


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