Reptile & Amphibian Forums

You can see the start of the door. I will be using an wide 36inch door. Please excuse the mess. I'm usually obsessive compulsive about cleanliness and order. Its alot more organized now. You can also see the pre-cut holes in the metal studs for running wires. The yellow bag on my table saw is full of plastic grommets. I actually have finished more since this pic. These pics were taken over the holidays. Since then I've added more screws to make the studs more secure and I've corrected a few uneven spots. You can also see the mess I made on the walls trying to 'paint on' thoroseal cement sealant, which I really didn't need anyway. I have about 3.5 inches between the back of the walls and poured concrete, which should allow for decent airflow to minimize any moisture buildup. Now onto the pics...

Hey, That is really nice. My snake room is in the basement also, but I have not enclosed it yet. It is allot of work isn't it. Lately, I've been installing flex watt heat tape on all my tanks. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. Good luck!

Thanks for the nice comments. So far it actually hasn't been much hard work (so far lol). The hardest part is coming to a decision regarding the electrical situation. Once I finish the room, I will start working more with flexwatt and other heating methods. Until I can actually control the temps in the room itself, I won't bother trying new methods of heating.
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Happy New Year, Jason
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My Website: www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes
My collection...
BOAS: 0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa, 1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas, 1.1 Argentine Boas, 2.2 Nicaraguans, 1.1 Sonoran Desert Boas, 1.1 Cay Caulkers, 1.0 Columbian Boa 100% het Kahl Albino, 0.1 Anery boa, 0.1 Salmon OTW, 1.1 Hog Island Boas, 0.1 Hog Island Boa poss het patternless.
PYTHONS: 1.2 Green Tree Pythons, 2.2 Bismarck Ringed Pythons, 2.8 Normal Ball Pythons, 1.0 Ball Python 100% het Piebald, 1.1 Spotted Pythons.
COLUBRIDS: 1.1 Black Pines, 1.1 Northern Pines, 2.2 Bairds Ratsnakes, 1.2 White-sided Black Ratsnakes.
CORNS: 1.0 Blizzard, 1.2 Bloodreds, 1.2 Butters, 1.0 Ghost, 0.1 Sunglow, 1.0 Hypo het Amber, 1.1 Lavenders, 1.1 Miami Phases, 1.2 Reverse Okeetee, 0.1 Snow, 0.1 Striped Amel, 3.2 Okeetees.
OTHER: 0.0.3 N. Diamondback Terrapins.

What is your electrical problem?

If you wish, you can read all the details in my below post or I can try to give you the short version. Do I pay a ton of money for a pro to do the electrical work or should I do it myself...that is the big question.
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Happy New Year, Jason
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My Website: www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes
My collection...
BOAS: 0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa, 1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas, 1.1 Argentine Boas, 2.2 Nicaraguans, 1.1 Sonoran Desert Boas, 1.1 Cay Caulkers, 1.0 Columbian Boa 100% het Kahl Albino, 0.1 Anery boa, 0.1 Salmon OTW, 1.1 Hog Island Boas, 0.1 Hog Island Boa poss het patternless.
PYTHONS: 1.2 Green Tree Pythons, 2.2 Bismarck Ringed Pythons, 2.8 Normal Ball Pythons, 1.0 Ball Python 100% het Piebald, 1.1 Spotted Pythons.
COLUBRIDS: 1.1 Black Pines, 1.1 Northern Pines, 2.2 Bairds Ratsnakes, 1.2 White-sided Black Ratsnakes.
CORNS: 1.0 Blizzard, 1.2 Bloodreds, 1.2 Butters, 1.0 Ghost, 0.1 Sunglow, 1.0 Hypo het Amber, 1.1 Lavenders, 1.1 Miami Phases, 1.2 Reverse Okeetee, 0.1 Snow, 0.1 Striped Amel, 3.2 Okeetees.
OTHER: 0.0.3 N. Diamondback Terrapins.

If you aren't comfortable doing the wiring yourself, it may be a little cheaper to hang all of the boxes yourself, and run all the wiring, and have an electrician hook it all up. I'm not sure what state you live in, but in Maryland, I think if there was a fire, and I did the wiring myself, Insurance may not cover it. It's just a thought. Electricians are very quick, also. I hope this helped.

Thanks for the nice comments. So far it actually hasn't been much hard work (so far lol). The hardest part is coming to a decision regarding the electrical situation. Once I finish the room, I will start working more with flexwatt and other heating methods. Until I can actually control the temps in the room itself, I won't bother trying new methods of heating.
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Happy New Year, Jason
-----
My Website: www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes
My collection...
BOAS: 0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa, 1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas, 1.1 Argentine Boas, 2.2 Nicaraguans, 1.1 Sonoran Desert Boas, 1.1 Cay Caulkers, 1.0 Columbian Boa 100% het Kahl Albino, 0.1 Anery boa, 0.1 Salmon OTW, 1.1 Hog Island Boas, 0.1 Hog Island Boa poss het patternless.
PYTHONS: 1.2 Green Tree Pythons, 2.2 Bismarck Ringed Pythons, 2.8 Normal Ball Pythons, 1.0 Ball Python 100% het Piebald, 1.1 Spotted Pythons.
COLUBRIDS: 1.1 Black Pines, 1.1 Northern Pines, 2.2 Bairds Ratsnakes, 1.2 White-sided Black Ratsnakes.
CORNS: 1.0 Blizzard, 1.2 Bloodreds, 1.2 Butters, 1.0 Ghost, 0.1 Sunglow, 1.0 Hypo het Amber, 1.1 Lavenders, 1.1 Miami Phases, 1.2 Reverse Okeetee, 0.1 Snow, 0.1 Striped Amel, 3.2 Okeetees.
OTHER: 0.0.3 N. Diamondback Terrapins.

looks like a great start.what kind of vapor barriers are you planning on? have fun!

Wow, someone who knows how to hang tin can studs. Looks good so far.

It looks like you might be down in the basement?

If the floor is really cold concrete, you might want to think about a heated subfloor.

Same as an undertank heater for your cage, but would evenly heat your whole snake room for a lot less money than an air heater and you would avoid the dryness of a air heater.

I plan on using dricore subflooring which has a pleated bottom that is some type of plastic or something. It allows air to flow beneath the floor and also raises the next layer of flooring off the cement so it can better insulate. This stuff is expensive though...about $5 for a 2x2' square section (and they all snap together). This was the one part of the project that I planned on spending most money on. However, it may be awhile since electrical work looks like it may cost me alot.
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Happy New Year, Jason
-----
My Website: www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes
My collection...
BOAS: 0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa, 1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas, 1.1 Argentine Boas, 2.2 Nicaraguans, 1.1 Sonoran Desert Boas, 1.1 Cay Caulkers, 1.0 Columbian Boa 100% het Kahl Albino, 0.1 Anery boa, 0.1 Salmon OTW, 1.1 Hog Island Boas, 0.1 Hog Island Boa poss het patternless.
PYTHONS: 1.2 Green Tree Pythons, 2.2 Bismarck Ringed Pythons, 2.8 Normal Ball Pythons, 1.0 Ball Python 100% het Piebald, 1.1 Spotted Pythons.
COLUBRIDS: 1.1 Black Pines, 1.1 Northern Pines, 2.2 Bairds Ratsnakes, 1.2 White-sided Black Ratsnakes.
CORNS: 1.0 Blizzard, 1.2 Bloodreds, 1.2 Butters, 1.0 Ghost, 0.1 Sunglow, 1.0 Hypo het Amber, 1.1 Lavenders, 1.1 Miami Phases, 1.2 Reverse Okeetee, 0.1 Snow, 0.1 Striped Amel, 3.2 Okeetees.
OTHER: 0.0.3 N. Diamondback Terrapins.

what are the dimensions of the room? Can you post a pic of the cage layout in the room?

Absolutely bad-f/!@#/g-a$%. I wish I had a basement to steal room from.

Follow up on some of your electric probs and ?'s.

I did alittle background here in my state and as long as the new room does not interfere with or change the load bearing structure of the housse then you shouldn't need permits for the room itself. If you are extending any heat service that would need on inspection and permit. Electric will always run a permit, great to get so the insurance can't back in the event of an accident. You should be able to run electric yourself (go to home depot and get a book, there great for all home owners to have around.) it should tell you step by step how to lay and wire the boxes, terminals and lighting. It should also tell you how to run the line from the service panel. You would never have to pay an electrician unless your uncomfortable with the final hook up to the panel, if you are then all you have to pay an electritian for is to preinspect and hook up. Either way the inspector will let you know what's wrong and give you chance to fix it.

Hope this helps for you.
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Chris, my wife Mary
a dog, two cats, two birds, four snakes
oh and three kids