Wheelhouse finishing questions

[Iambjm]

Lots of questions for you experienced wheelhouse builders.

1.When installing your lights along the ceiling, do you run a separate wire for each or gang them all by connecting them to each other?

2. Do I need to do a vapor barrier on the walls and ceiling?

3. If I am going to do a split bench in the back should I carpet the floor first, then build the bench? Do you typically glue the carpet down.

4. Typically where does the gas line run from the tanks to the propane heater. I have already purchased a direct vent heater that will be mounted on the wall. The reason I ask is I am trying to figure how much of the walls I can get done before I take it down to the guy who is going to put the heater in.

5. When you do a hinged upper bunk do you use a piano hinge or just several regular hinges?

6. How important do you think a vent hood above the cooktop is?

7. Are hole lights really worth the expense and trouble to put them in?

I have tried to glean as much info from doing searches on here as I can, but it seems questions keep popping into my head. I really appreciate all the help everyone has given me so far and plan to take plenty of pictures when I get started.

[chad austin]

1. I ganged them all together and ran them to a switch on the wall

2. I did in mine, but for anyone running a none vented heater it's not a good idea.

3. Yes, carpet the floor and then build on top of it. If you need to redo the carpet in the future, just cut along what you built and carpet up to it. You will not need to replace the carpet under the bench.

4. DO NOT run any gas line in the wall, run it under the house and up through the floor. Or along the wall on the floor inside the house.

5. Piano hinge will be the strongest choice.

6. Last year we didn't have one in the house but I will be putting one in just because it should keep the condensation down on the windows when cooking.

7. I've had a few houses with them and one without, personally I won't put them back in.

Good luck with your project.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

1) I connected all my overhead lights to one switch. You could separate them, but I don't like having uneven light, or just part of the house lit up.

2) I think a vapor barrier is a good idea if you are using fiberglass or foam sheets. If you are using spray foam you won't need it.

3) I would personally carpet the floor first. Hold it down with staples beneath the base trip (around the outsides), and catch covers. You shouldn't need glue.

4) Run as little gas line in the house as possible, and none in the walls.

5) I've used regular hinges. A piano hinge would be better.

6) Didn't install a vent, but it would be a good idea. I'll have one in the next house.

7) I like hole lights a lot. They work great to keep on at night when you're sleeping. As far as expense, there really isn't much to speak of. I think they are under $10/each.

[MJ1657]

I don't want to highjack Lambjm's thread but hopefully a couple of my Questions will help him out as well.

Did you carpet it before cutting the holes in the floor?

Kind of sounds like a dumb question but I'm debating if I should have Perf. Eng. carpet the house before I get it but I want to do the holes myself. I hate installing carpeting.

Is anyone familiar with the Chrome triangle shaped 3 led bulb hole lights?

How do you like them?

How high should they be placed?

Do they need to be directly above the hole to be effective?

[chad austin]

I would say that it doesn't matter either way, just cut the carpet with a razor and pulling the cut piece off the floor before cutting with a saw to keep it from fraying/unraveling. I've cut holes in existing houses before, it just requires a little more care while doing it.

[Iambjm]

Hijack away guys, that's what is so great about this HSOforum. For every question asked and answered I learn something new. I think I would just put the hole cover on top of the carpet, draw around it with a pen or pencil and then use a razor knife to cut the carpet, then cut the hole in the floor.

[iffwalleyes]

I would get it carpented and just cut a hole with a razor blade. If you are using catchn covers they have a flange on them that gives you quite a bit of forgiveness for mistakes.