The making of a man cave

When to enlist friends and when to call in the pros

If you have friends willing and able to help with a home-renovation project, it can be a life (and budget) saver. Just be sure you treat them well and don’t expect too much from your slave labour.

Don’t ask them to do something you know they can’t do

If your buddy isn’t very experienced, have him or her wield a drill to drive those extra screws to secure a piece of drywall fully. Don’t ask for a plumbing or tile job.

Be a foreman but don’t 
go too far

Someone needs to be in charge and able to say what needs to be done, but don’t be a tyrant. You aren’t paying them and you want them still to be your friends later.

Feed them

A glass of water or cup of coffee can go a long way. For the long haul, the carb jolt of a pizza after (or during) a long day of renovating is just the thing.

Be ready to return the favour

Friendship shouldn’t be one-sided. If your helpers get inspired to take on their own reno (or need movers, babysitters, anything reasonable), say yes.

Celebrate

A newly renovated basement is the perfect place to host a little thank-you party for your jobsite crew. Food, drinks and sports on the big screen are all you need to make them feel appreciated.

When to call the pros

While we had a lot of help from our handy friends and family, we also knew there were some jobs that just needed a pro touch. We found many of our pros using homestars.ca, but we still took the time to get quotes and call references before signing any contracts.

Electrical

In some areas of the country, DIY electrical work is prohibited. When it comes to this kind of job (a lot more than just putting a dimmer switch on a light), who wouldn’t want a pro to make sure everything is done right? In the end, we had a neat (and safe) highway of wires and power throughout our space.

Drywall

With the gypsum boards up, we needed to find someone to make it all look pretty. A proper taping and mudding job can mean the difference between a pro look and a sloppy one. The drywallers covered those extra seams that came from having to cut the boards in half, and the sometimes not so neat edges and corners made by our DIY crew.

Bulky trim is the best way to finish a DIY renovation. Make sure to brush up on your mitre cuts beforehand or be ready to call in a pro.

Baseboards and paint

By the end of the job, we had run out of favours and we were getting close to the timeline we had set. So, we passed the two major finishing jobs to the pros. We wanted a neat baseboard job to finish all the hard work that had gone into the rest of the basement. When you’re tired and out of steam, good, clean mitres can be tough. When it came to painting, Brad and I knew our skills and limits. We both hated the idea of painting the walls and ceiling, so we turned to the pros for that final finishing touch. 

Brad and his crew finished 
the job on budget and, more important to them, on time. 
Just in time, in fact, to watch the Stanley Cup finals: the perfect way to christen a man cave. 
(But don’t worry, the womenfolk were invited too).