i have the opportunity to set up a new shop in my basement. it measures
approximately 20x40, less the stairwell and an area which is roughed in
for a full bath. i also have an attached two-car garage with access
from the basement.

over the next few months/years, i want to develop areas for turning and
general woodworking using tools i now own and some new purchases.

now for the catch. the house was built on a peninsula which is subject
to flooding. the basement is really the area enclosed by the foundation
which is eight feet high to raise the house up above the hundred year
flood plain. in september 2003, hurricane isabel caused tidal flooding
which came 4-5 feet up the foundation. since the house was designed to
withstand this type of flood, there was minimal damage and the basement
was virtually empty at the time. this type of flood could never happen
again, or could happen again tomorrow. a lesser flood is almost
guaranteed within the next few years.

i can't stand to leave this 800 square-foot concrete block room with a
cement floor and 9 foot ceilings just used for junk. on the other hand,
i don't want to someday see the same area filled with junk which used
to be thousands of dollars worth of machinery, tool and supplies.

i am open for suggestions, ideas, inspirations and advice of any type.
a friend of mine has already suggested a raised floor supported on
floats which would then rise with the water level. i actually pondered
this idea until i had the vision of the drill press coming up through
the living room carpet. the point being that no idea is out of bounds.

thanks for taking time to read this, and thanks in advance for any
input.

Martin Caskey
Millers Island, Maryland

wrote:
i have the opportunity to set up a new shop in my basement. it measures
approximately 20x40, less the stairwell and an area which is roughed in
for a full bath. i also have an attached two-car garage with access
from the basement.

over the next few months/years, i want to develop areas for turning and
general woodworking using tools i now own and some new purchases.

now for the catch. the house was built on a peninsula which is subject
to flooding. the basement is really the area enclosed by the foundation
which is eight feet high to raise the house up above the hundred year
flood plain. in september 2003, hurricane isabel caused tidal flooding
which came 4-5 feet up the foundation. since the house was designed to
withstand this type of flood, there was minimal damage and the basement
was virtually empty at the time. this type of flood could never happen
again, or could happen again tomorrow. a lesser flood is almost
guaranteed within the next few years.

i can't stand to leave this 800 square-foot concrete block room with a
cement floor and 9 foot ceilings just used for junk. on the other hand,
i don't want to someday see the same area filled with junk which used
to be thousands of dollars worth of machinery, tool and supplies.

i am open for suggestions, ideas, inspirations and advice of any type.
a friend of mine has already suggested a raised floor supported on
floats which would then rise with the water level. i actually pondered
this idea until i had the vision of the drill press coming up through
the living room carpet. the point being that no idea is out of bounds.

thanks for taking time to read this, and thanks in advance for any
input.

Martin Caskey
Millers Island, Maryland



Check with your insurance company about how they will cover
anything damaged in such an area of the house. Then devise an
equipment evacuation plan if they won't cover it, or if you'd
rather keep what you have than fill out insurance paperwork
Joe

"Joe Gorman" wrote in message
...
: wrote:
: i have the opportunity to set up a new shop in my basement. it measures
: approximately 20x40, less the stairwell and an area which is roughed in
: for a full bath. i also have an attached two-car garage with access
: from the basement.
:

Use the garage for cutting equipment, the basement for assembly, finishing
and wood storage. Wall racking for wood storage, shelving for hand
tools/sanders/routers etc. Build a downdraft sanding station, a couple nice
big assembly benches, a couple finishing benches. Nice problem to have!

-Brian

Joe Gorman wrote:


Check with your insurance company about how they will cover
anything damaged in such an area of the house. Then devise an
equipment evacuation plan if they won't cover it, or if you'd
rather keep what you have than fill out insurance paperwork
Joe

and excellent point - which i should have considered before i even
began dreaming of a new shop.

that reminds me, i need to send the flood insurance renewal invoice to
the mortgage company!!!

Martin Caskey
Millers Island, Maryland

As a Kansas flat-lander I am not familiar with the type of flooding you get
with hurricanes, surges, etc. Regarding your "minimal damage" comment, did
water enter the basement during the flood? If so, was it sudden or
something that can be pumped (sounds doubtful)?

Even here in OZ we have basement flooding problems that can be controlled
with sump pumps. In fact, the soil around our view-out basement is so
permiable that I have installed a high capacity submergable sump pump and a
backup battery operated system. However, I am sensing this kind of
equipment would have to "pump the ocean dry" in your case.

If pumping is not an option, I would be very reluctant to put a lot of
valuable machinery and tools in this environment. I would certainly make
sure your insurance coverage is good before doing so. If you have direct
access from garage to basement, maybe there is a compromise - heavy
equipment upstairs and bench , smaller tools down. I certainly wouldn't
want to be put into a position of carrying 200-500 pound machines up a
flight of stairs in the heat of a hurricane situation.

RonB wrote:
As a Kansas flat-lander I am not familiar with the type of flooding
you get
with hurricanes, surges, etc. Regarding your "minimal damage"
comment, did
water enter the basement during the flood?

oh yeah!!! you have to imagine a foundation built eight feet up from
ground level with a three story house built on top of that. the
basement is all above ground level. it is actually designed to flood
without being damaged. there are "flood vents" the size of one concrete
block located in all of the walls about 1 foot above ground level. once
the water reaches that level, the vents are supposed to release and let
the water flow freely through the foundation. this keeps pressure from
building up on the foundation. i'm originally from the hills of
southeastern ohio, so this concept was a little foreign to me, too.
Martin Caskey
Millers Island, Maryland

wrote in message
oups.com...

i am open for suggestions, ideas, inspirations and advice of any type.
a friend of mine has already suggested a raised floor supported on
floats which would then rise with the water level. i actually pondered

Novel... I suppose you could rig a pulley system and lift tools a few feet
into the air. Or rather than float the floor - float the tools. Wonder what
kind of outrigger and sponsons you need to float a drill press.

What about just having a few buckets of cosmoline standing by? If a flood
seemed imminent, you'd "waterproof" what ever you could. And then embark on
a vigorous drying activity , using the cases of WD-40 you stockpiled, when
the waters recede?

" wrote in message
oups.com...

i am open for suggestions, ideas, inspirations and advice of any type.
a friend of mine has already suggested a raised floor supported on
floats which would then rise with the water level. i actually pondered

How about a biblical suggestion?

Build an Ark.

When the floods come, load up the ark and float until it is over. Secure
well.

When flood is over, put the tools back.

You might want to factor in some room for the wife and family pets as well.

Here is a maybe wacko idea.

Build a floor in the space that is thick enough to contain enough
styrofoam/kapok/ping-pong balls to be able to float all your tools should
there be a flood. A truely floating floor ;-)

Might have to invest in light weight tools, though.


--
Frank Stutzman

In article yWeid.352162$3l3.308424@attbi_s03,
Lee Michaels wrote:

" wrote in message
oups.com...

i am open for suggestions, ideas, inspirations and advice of any type.
a friend of mine has already suggested a raised floor supported on
floats which would then rise with the water level. i actually pondered

How about a biblical suggestion?

Build an Ark.

When the floods come, load up the ark and float until it is over. Secure
well.

In a recent issue of Playboy, there is a cartoon --

He and she, on the rear deck of an Ark. Two-by-two's of Wooly mammoth,
saber-tooth tiger, pteradon, several varieties of dragons, etc., in view,
aboard.

Caption, underneath: "Honey, I think we may have taken the _wrong_boat_"

Depending on how much water you could get in the basement and how tall
you are, you could build a platform, say 3' off the floor and put the
tools on that. If you're under 6' tall, you could put the heavy
equipment on that, use the area under it for wood storage. That would
protect the equipment from some flooding. I would be sure that the
flood insurance would cover a complete loss though.

brian


wrote in message roups.com...
i have the opportunity to set up a new shop in my basement.

Not sure of the arrangement or geology, etc but build a concrete wall
surround with an impermiable door system and just let the floods come
on. Not sure if cinder block is waterproof, maybe with some coating.
You could start with a two foot wall to care for the small floods
first if cost is an issue and add a foot every few months as
time/money allow. Heck, the door could even be a section that you just
close up if you hear a flood is coming and just build a damn across
the openiing until it subsides.

You did say any wild idea.


wrote in message roups.com...
i have the opportunity to set up a new shop in my basement. it measures
approximately 20x40, less the stairwell and an area which is roughed in
for a full bath. i also have an attached two-car garage with access
from the basement.

over the next few months/years, i want to develop areas for turning and
general woodworking using tools i now own and some new purchases.

now for the catch. the house was built on a peninsula which is subject
to flooding. the basement is really the area enclosed by the foundation
which is eight feet high to raise the house up above the hundred year
flood plain. in september 2003, hurricane isabel caused tidal flooding
which came 4-5 feet up the foundation. since the house was designed to
withstand this type of flood, there was minimal damage and the basement
was virtually empty at the time. this type of flood could never happen
again, or could happen again tomorrow. a lesser flood is almost
guaranteed within the next few years.

i can't stand to leave this 800 square-foot concrete block room with a
cement floor and 9 foot ceilings just used for junk. on the other hand,
i don't want to someday see the same area filled with junk which used
to be thousands of dollars worth of machinery, tool and supplies.

i am open for suggestions, ideas, inspirations and advice of any type.
a friend of mine has already suggested a raised floor supported on
floats which would then rise with the water level. i actually pondered
this idea until i had the vision of the drill press coming up through
the living room carpet. the point being that no idea is out of bounds.

thanks for taking time to read this, and thanks in advance for any
input.

Martin Caskey
Millers Island, Maryland