Misadventures in a Hobbit Hole

[Neb]

I have been slowly turning a room in our basement into a Hobbit Hole to satisfy a dream for @ThePrincess .

It is utilizing cove ceilings to achieve the curved ceiling look and feel.

I recently opened up a wall behind the steps leading upstairs to install a floor jack to support a major support beam. With most of paneling gone I can now size up what will be required to build book cases into the wall. Rather than drone on I will offer some images showing the challenge.

Looking at the steps with a light under the steps, the modesty panels suggest the steps are twisted down on the left side.

A level confirms the left stringer has dropped.

The wall on the left was literally smoke and mirrors.

Not a penny was wasted on proper studs and was cobbled together scraps of wood.

Yikes!

Then there is the section of wall on one side of the door. We don't need no stinking support beams. That wall makes about a 120 degree angle in the corner. All of this was done many years ago. Possibly during the depresion. Notice the rough sawn beam.

I will attempt to update this thread as I proceed.


Ben

 

[Neb]

Conceptual sketch of what the stairs and built in bookcases.

Ben

 

[DrHenley]

Circular door? It has to have a circular door!

I thought about building a hobbit hole at BOL2, there is an almost perfect place for one. My daughter insisted that is have a circular door.

 

[LadyLocust]

I have been slowly turning a room in our basement into a Hobbit Hole to satisfy a dream for @ThePrincess .

View attachment 168978

It is utilizing cove ceilings to achieve the curved ceiling look and feel.

View attachment 168979

I recently opened up a wall behind the steps leading upstairs to install a floor jack to support a major support beam. With most of paneling gone I can now size up what will be required to build book cases into the wall. Rather than drone on I will offer some images showing the challenge.

Looking at the steps with a light under the steps, the modesty panels suggest the steps are twisted down on the left side.

View attachment 168980

A level confirms the left stringer has dropped.

View attachment 168981

The wall on the left was literally smoke and mirrors.

View attachment 168982

Not a penny was wasted on proper studs and was cobbled together scraps of wood.

View attachment 168983

Yikes!

Then there is the section of wall on one side of the door. We don't need no stinking support beams. That wall makes about a 120 degree angle in the corner. All of this was done many years ago. Possibly during the depresion. Notice the rough sawn beam.

View attachment 168985

View attachment 168984


I will attempt to update this thread as I proceed.


Ben

That looks. . . Well, . . Um . . . Exciting . Alls I can say is it’s a good thing you’re an engineer . Like the princess though, can’t wait to see the bookcase.

 

[Haertig]

A Hobbit Hole with a nice large gun safe in it. A National Security no less. Now that's my idea of the ideal Hobbit Hole!

 

[Tirediron]

probably a good thing you started taking stuff apart to find the cut corners. Indulging in dreams is good.

 

[Haertig]

I would LOVE to go visit this Hobbiton place!

 

[d_marsh]

Once finished you need to put these slippers on your Christmas list.

 

[Neb]

Once finished you need to put these slippers on your Christmas list.


View attachment 169004

I have worn out 3 pairs of slippers like those.

They are a trip hazzard. How does it go?

Don't drink and stride ( in monster feet).

I am now sporting MySlippers.

Ben

 

[Neb]

Circular door? It has to have a circular door!

I thought about building a hobbit hole at BOL2, there is an almost perfect place for one. My daughter insisted that is have a circular door.

The geometry doesn't work for me. A 6 ft high door would be 6 ft wide. That would be almost half of a wall.

The doors will have curved top features in curved frames.

The window seat at the base of the stairs will be round. Does that count?

Ben

 

[Neb]

A Hobbit Hole with a nice large gun safe in it. A National Security no less. Now that's my idea of the ideal Hobbit Hole!

2.5 hour fire rating. My brother who is with the VFD says our style of house is often out in about 30 minutes.

I designed the room to fit the safe and not vise versa.

Ben

 

[Neb]

Circular door? It has to have a circular door!

I thought about building a hobbit hole at BOL2, there is an almost perfect place for one. My daughter insisted that is have a circular door.

We started the Hobbit An Unexpected Journey last night and I studied the features of Bag end. A lot of creativity in and around Bilbo's pantry. While doorway was round the doors were not. On both side of the doorway there are bi-fold doors curved at the top and square at the bottom.

So circle not required.

Ben

 

[Caribou]

If you can add a couple layers of sheetrock to the sides of the safe you will increase the fire rating.

 

[Neb]

Back in the hole today and remove the paneling for the back storage room.

Ideally I hope to avoid emptying the storage shelves in the back room. That would be a lot of work.

The determining factor would be any changes to the floor to head off flooding that happen every few years. The details of that work is yet to be determined.

So with the paneling out the stairs...

Ben

 

[LadyLocust]

That’s a good shot- you can get your bearings with the sheeting out. Easier to make a plan.

 

[Neb]

After hemming and hawing I finally decided I need to support the stairs before I remove any of the funky studs. The stairs are just hanging by a thread.

Next step is trimming the ends of a few steps and fit a 4x4 next to the jack I installed.

Ben

 

[Neb]

I trimmed the 2 steps that will interfere with the 4x4 support beam.

Next task will be fitting the 4x4 and installing same. A measure 3 times cut once operation.

Ben

 

[LadyLocust]

I trimmed the 2 steps that will interfere with the 4x4 support beam.

View attachment 170135

View attachment 170136

Next task will be fitting the 4x4 and installing same. A measure 3 times cut once operation.

Ben

Inquiring minds want to know: are you hobbit sized so you can get in those awkward places to work on it?

 

[Neb]

Inquiring minds want to know: are you hobbit sized so you can get in those awkward places to work on it?

The Princess has decided we are more dwarvish than hobbit

Ben

 

[Weedygarden]

The Princess has decided we are more dwarvish than hobbit

Ben

As in smaller stature? Kind of cool to have some fun with that if this is true.

 

[Peanut]

As in smaller stature? Kind of cool to have some fun with that if this is true.

shhh "It's the beards!"

 

[Magus]

Neato! good job!

 

[Neb]

Getting the 4x4 support beam inplace.

No amount of hammering would move the beam past the diagonal to plumb. I used a 15" pipe wrench to raise the house and the beam fell into place. Lowered the house and the beam wedged in place. Yeah!

Ran an 1/2 bolt through stair stringer and new beam.

So the load bearing wall is supported and the stair are now solid. No more creaking as I climb the stairs!

So I can now remove the cobbled together studs and door to the back room.

I still have to finalize plans to control water in the back room. I am not going to put effort into fancy carpentry only to see it spoiled by water. A sump pump is a last resort if I can't use a nearby floor drain. I see hammer and chisels and concrete in my future.

The new fireplace insert was delivered so I suspect The Princess would like to see that installed. The insert is electric. I had a contractor in to quote me a wood fireplace but he balked saying there was no way it could be done. There is an old flue there from the old convection furnace but still a no-go. If an emergency comes I will be using a propane fired heater.

Ben