Garbage garage total arcade DIY conversion eXtreme!!!

So I'm turning an old detached garage into an arcade. I've been working on this for two years now, so I have lots of pictures to post.

First some backstory. I got into collecting pinball in 2012, and it made me realize we were house poor. We've done a lot of tough things to remedy that, one of which was selling our home in 2015 and buying a 9-acre as-is fixer-upper mystery property with four buildings. I got it cheap. There's a 2200 sqft main house, a 500 sqft detached garage, a second small house built in the 1950's, and a 350 sqft shed. I spent the next year completely remodeling the main house so we could actually live in it (watching Fixer Upper on HGTV will get you in a lot of trouble). With that out of the way, I turned my attention in 2017 to finding a home for my pinball collection, which at the time was still living in a storage unit. I was going to use the second house for this but it needs leveled and has a bad subfloor... too much to take on right now. That leaves the garage!

I had no idea when this garage was built. It was a total neglected nightmare mess, and as you will see, contained plenty of surprises.

So here is what we are starting with... are you seeing gameroom yet?

IMG_7765 (resized).JPG

Here's a terrible diagram of the floorplan. There's this one-car garage door seen here, but that wall on the right was added by the owner after it was built to create a second room. The building has a hip roof that extends ~10-ft beyond the structure over a small car port area (dirt floor, no slab). The little bathroom is like something out of a horror movie.

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Should be a fun thread, follow along.

#2 5 years ago

KEN

radium

Pinside+ Frequent

So to start off, here's the "phase 1" plans. The goal is to delete walls and reclaim wasted space.

Untitled2.png

Time to start demolition.

#3 5 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,071 19 30 1

That looks like they're be some scary Southern Spiders in there, be carefull!

#4 5 years ago

JAH

heni1977

Pinside member

Decatur, IL

11y 89,800 2,529 4 6

This will be interesting!!!

#5 5 years ago

ROB

RCA1

Pinside+ Addict

St Joseph, MI

11y 128K 8,681 28 11

"Weird Room" is the greatest thing I have ever seen on a floorplan.

#6 5 years ago

JAQ

vdojaq

Pinside+ Frequent

Crystal Lake, IL

11y 101K 6,050 24 1

I like it! You can rename everything with one word. Overhang, arcade, & shitter!

BTW, where is the dog?

#7 5 years ago

KEN

radium

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from TheLaw:
That looks like they're be some scary Southern Spiders in there, be carefull!

Someone order spiders? Just wait, it gets worse.

IMG_7785 (resized).JPG

#8 5 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,071 19 30 1

Ahhh jesus..you better stop that bastard before he grabs that hammer.

#9 5 years ago

F W

AUKraut

WilliPinball

7y 113K 2,788

Quoted from TheLaw:
That looks like they're be some scary Southern Spiders in there, be carefull!

He's from Louisiana, spiders are the least of his concern with respect to critters!!!

#10 5 years ago

KEN

radium

Pinside+ Frequent

So first thing to go is this wall in the middle separating the garage from the weird room. The weird room is pretty gross, but it looks like someone was using it as an apartment or a spare room. Bare concrete floors, cheap 1/4" paneling on the walls, and a lovely popcorn ceiling (that I get to scrape).

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The garage side of this wall is just peg board with insulation behind it...

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#11 5 years ago

KEN

radium

Pinside+ Frequent

After all the paneling and insulation was out, I tore out all the studs that were not original. There's a header beam supported by 4x4's here that needs to stay.

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It was easy to tell which lumber was original and which was not, because the original lumber has ceiling texture overspray on it.

IMG_7789 (resized).JPG

#12 5 years ago

JAW

jawjaw

Pinside member

Humble, TX

9y 85,550 5,535 5

OP
Quoted from radium:
Someone order spiders? Just wait, it gets worse.
[quoted image]

Nuke them from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

house-on-fire (resized).jpg

#13 5 years ago

SOD

2pupPinz

Pinside+ Frequent

5y 69,800 602

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#14 5 years ago

MEW

robotron911

Pinside member

You probably would be better off just taking this to the foundation and rebuilding the structure. By the time you find all of the issue and non-code items, it might not be that much of a difference. In Louisiana, aluminum stud framing will be rust proof and rot proof.

#15 5 years ago

KEN

radium

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from robotron911:
You probably would be better off just taking this to the foundation and rebuilding the structure. By the time you find all of the issue and non-code items, it might not be that much of a difference. In Louisiana, aluminum stud framing will be rust proof and rot proof.

No way!! I'm doing this whole thing for under $3k total (including finishing interior and installing air conditioning). It's slab on grade, stick built, with a hip roof. Bones are good, just needs gutted.

Virtually all residential construction here is pine. As long as its weatherproofed and you have termite prevention, it's pretty much the same here as anywhere else.

#16 5 years ago

WTF

timab2000

Pinside member

6y 78,300 2,229

Sure don't see very many nails holding those support beams in place

#17 5 years ago

KEN

radium

Pinside+ Frequent

So this is what it looked like after I ripped out the middle wall.

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Next I had to clean out all this random junk the previous owner had in here.

They had these commercial shelving units in here, like you see in a grocery store. Behind those were a few gigantic rat nests.

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Just like the ones you find in pinball machines but bigger. I put on a suit and a respirator and pressure washed all that away, then scrubbed with bleach.

I find worse stuff later though.

-7

#18 5 years ago

MEW

robotron911

Pinside member

OP
Quoted from radium:
No way!! I'm doing this whole thing for under $3k total (including finishing interior and installing air conditioning). It's slab on grade, stick built, with a hip roof. Bones are good, just needs gutted.
Virtually all residential construction here is pine. As long as its weatherproofed and you have termite prevention, it's pretty much the same here as anywhere else.

I don't know about that. The pics of the structure don't look like it was built well. I'd rather spend the extra cash to make sure I had a safe, stable structure that protected my pins and wasn't a risk to the occupants. But the pics could be deceiving and it's solid but finished like crap. I find that unlikely because I've found that if one aspect of a building is lacking its usually lacking in other areas, particularly the ones you can't see. I mean the last pic shows wiring without nail shields over where the wiring is run through the studs. Nail shields are cheap and also required. If they passed on installing those, it's a good sign they did a lot of other things that were shortcuts/wrong/dangerous. Just my opinion.

#19 5 years ago

JAH

heni1977

Pinside member

Decatur, IL

11y 89,800 2,529 4 6

#20 5 years ago

Darcy

Pinside member

Leduc, AB

11y 124K 6,360 17

With the interior walls stripped, will you need to update the framing? Sill plate to cement pad anchors? Brackets for the post and beam connections?

That's a lot of cob webs.

#21 5 years ago

KEN

radium

Pinside+ Frequent

So I see I made a mistake starting this thread and will stop posting. Was just looking to share a fun project.

I’ll skip to the conclusion... it came out great and we enjoy it.

Cheers.

#22 5 years ago

KRH

thirdedition

What The Flip

9y 62,300 950 25

OP
Quoted from radium:
So I see I made a mistake starting this thread and will stop posting. Was just looking to share a fun project.
I’ll skip to the conclusion... it came out great and we enjoy it.
Cheers.

I'd love to see how it comes out. Don't let people rain on your parade.

#23 5 years ago

BJA

lowbeau67

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Mount Washington, KY

6y 105K 1,211 5 6 1

I want to see more. This is a good thread. Interesting and entertaining.

#24 5 years ago

???

phil-lee

Pinside member

8y 91,550 4,216

Please continue the original spirit of the Thread, I do stuff like this and really wanted to see where it is going (went).

#25 5 years ago

ACE

Dallas_Pin

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 105K 1,122

... I wanted to follow along! You need to finish the story. I need to know what else was found!

#26 5 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,071 19 30 1

OP
Quoted from radium:
So I see I made a mistake starting this thread and will stop posting. Was just looking to share a fun project.
I’ll skip to the conclusion... it came out great and we enjoy it.

Don't be a damn baby. You had to know Pinsiders know everything and were going to chime in...you HAD to!!!

#27 5 years ago

ZAP

Pinzap

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 119K 2,013 39 34

... and this is why we can’t have nice things!

And also why I refused to start a thread when I lifted an out building last year that was too low and had water issues, poured new floor with radiant heat and am currently finishing the inside. Taking longer than expected because... life. But should be a great work area for restoring plus overflow from my basement gameroom when it’s finished.

You’ve got our attention. Would love to see the rest of the story.

#28 5 years ago

TKM

Daditude

Pinside Moderator

Rockwall, TX

5y 266K 10,123 23 271

OP
Quoted from radium:
So I see I made a mistake starting this thread and will stop posting. Was just looking to share a fun project.
I’ll skip to the conclusion... it came out great and we enjoy it.
Cheers.

Please continue. I am interested.

#29 5 years ago

MEW

robotron911

Pinside member

You are overly sensitive. Don’t post if you don’t want commentary. It’s a reasonable observation that the garage is probably far from code in the condition you’ve shown it prior to renovation.

#30 5 years ago

JAS

Sinistarrett

Pinside member

Freeport, FL

8y 81,850 1,623 3 12

Dammit, I was reading that.

#31 5 years ago

???

tacshose

Pinside member

St Louis, MO

9y 79,650 1,366

Quoted from TheLaw:
Don't be a damn baby. You had to know Pinsiders know everything and were going to chime in...you HAD to!!!

Agreed, what did you expect the comments to be?!? Just grow up and finish the posts, would like to see the finished product, but it better be NICELY DONE or pinside construction code enforcement will be called

#32 5 years ago

SAW

swillie

Pinside member

9y 68,300 1,374 6

Quoted from Sinistarrett:
Dammit, I was reading that.

^this.

First sentence he said he started this two years ago and took lots of pictures. Obviously it was mostly done already. Hope the OP reconsiders and shares the rest of the project, but I think he dropped the mic.

#33 5 years ago

RUS

russdx

Pinside member

8y 60,800 2,087 5

definitely don't stop posting i love reading these style threads and watching the progression. very interesting

#34 5 years ago

CYN

cynric

Pinside member

11y 39,300 211 25

Do go on. I like watching other people work!

#35 5 years ago

JMR

Only_Pinball

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 141K 3,637 6

Another vote to keep posting.

#36 5 years ago

OFF

dannylite

Pinside member

Baltimore, MD

10y 52,550 335 56

I'll pick up where he left off. This is my goats stable that I'll be converting to a pinball room when the kids are all grown up.
202? Stay tuned.
I'll need a loit of JB weld for those cracks if anyone knows where I can buy some in bulk?

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#37 5 years ago

DOG

Whysnow

Pinside member

12y 187K 35,339 30 1

Pls come back and keep the story going! I love these threads. Just gotta ignore the asshats that can’t read and want to critique

#38 5 years ago

PPD

Boat

CPRepair

Calgary, AB

7y 107K 1,474 4 92 1

Yes,come back I’m a lurker that doesn’t comment but still enjoys.

#39 5 years ago

FEC

Syco54645

Pinside member

Pittsburgh, PA

11y 78,300 3,101 12 15

Quoted from dannylite:
I'll pick up where he left off. This is my goats stable that I'll be converting to a pinball room when the kids are all grown up.
202? Stay tuned.
I'll need a loit of JB weld for those cracks if anyone knows where I can buy some in bulk? [quoted image][quoted image]

There is a crack in the mortar. Tear it down and start over. I know what I am talking about. My uncle's college roommate's second cousin's mom's grandfather is a building inspector. That means I am as well.

#40 5 years ago

JAH

heni1977

Pinside member

Decatur, IL

11y 89,800 2,529 4 6

OP
Quoted from radium:
So I see I made a mistake

No mistake! Keep posting we like to see progress. Opinions are like..... well you know what I mean!

#41 5 years ago

OFF

dannylite

Pinside member

Baltimore, MD

10y 52,550 335 56

Quoted from Syco54645:
There is a crack in the mortar. Tear it down and start over. I know what I am talking about. My uncle's college roommate's second cousin's mom's grandfather is a building inspector. That means I am as well.

Your ucrscmg is an idiot! I called JB himself and aside from widening the gap with a chisel to add cardboard shims, it'll pass inspection.

#42 5 years ago

JAW

jawjaw

Pinside member

Humble, TX

9y 85,550 5,535 5

Yeah - more please! Turning a weird garage full of rats nests and spiders into an arcade is great reading material. Moar!

#43 5 years ago

FEC

Syco54645

Pinside member

Pittsburgh, PA

11y 78,300 3,101 12 15

Quoted from dannylite:
Your ucrscmg is an idiot! I called JB himself and aside from widening the gap with a chisel to add cardboard shims, it'll pass inspection.

Well yeah you could JB weld it. That shit can fix engine blocks! My ucrscmg says that you can just cover an entire building with JB and be fine.

-3

#44 5 years ago

MEW

robotron911

Pinside member

Quoted from Whysnow:
Pls come back and keep the story going! I love these threads. Just gotta ignore the asshats that can’t read and want to critique

I find this comment from you to be an amazing example of your lack of self awareness. You are one of the most critical posters on this board. Smh.

#45 5 years ago

GPD

KoolFingers

Pinside member

Youngstown, OH

11y 68,800 1,146 7 7

OP
Quoted from radium:
So I see I made a mistake starting this thread and will stop posting. Was just looking to share a fun project.
I’ll skip to the conclusion... it came out great and we enjoy it.
Cheers.

I can't believe you've been on this site for 5 years and still don't know how some of the members here act. SMH. At least post the finished pics so those interested see how it came out. Just my 2 credits.

#46 5 years ago

DOG

Whysnow

Pinside member

12y 187K 35,339 30 1

Quoted from robotron911:
I find this comment from you to be an amazing example of your lack of self awareness. You are one of the most critical posters on this board. Smh.

I am not the donkey coming in to a game room build out thread which clearly points out it has been many years in the making and now being documented for our enjoyment... only to tell them everything they did is wrong. >>>

OP
Quoted from radium:
I've been working on this for two years now, so I have lots of pictures to post.

Wake up and apologize to the OP for being such a DB.

Guy is 2 years into a build out and you tell him he is a dummy and did it all wrong... WTF?

#47 5 years ago

TJB

TommyNYC

Inactive member

New York, NY

5y 28,650 122 3

Looking forward to more pictures ! Good Luck !

#48 5 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Arvada, CO

10y 93,050 4,526 12

Well now you guys went and pissed him off! I wanted to see the rest of story. That being said you have to have thick skin on here. Although you shouldn't have to....

-4

#49 5 years ago

JES

ArcadiusMaximus

Pinside member

Pittsburgh, PA

11y 61,550 1,212 4

Thick skin when dealing with others who are bringing attention to potential code and construction issues? What a take my ball and go home attitude...You're posting in a public forum what are you expecting, just pats on the back? Nothing that was said was particularly out of line so take the comments into consideration and move on.

While this topic is apparently is dead, I look forward to the "Help my garage collapsed and crushed my pin collection" follow up thread.

#50 5 years ago

MEW

robotron911

Pinside member