Hello...

I am running into a big problem while designing my home theater. First, I live in Charleston, SC and most of the homes are historic. I am having a hard time deciding how to approach this project.

1.) I plan on using RSIC clips on the ceiling and walls w/ GG and 2 pieces of 1" drywall. I will also be caulking the seems with acoustical caulk. Are there any other suggestions for quieting the walls / ceiling?

2.) My biggest worry is the floor. My floor is a hardwood floor. There is no way in hell I can just rip it up and go to work. My thought is to build a floating floor, but therein lies the problem. I don't want a floor that is grossly offbase with the height of my other floors. Is there a way to build a floating floor that is not noticable (height wise) while still obtaining the sound results I am looking for?

3.) Bass Management: I have a 15" JBL sub that will rock the foundation of just about any house. Special consideration will need to be given in this area. I have done tons of research on building bass traps (using ownes corning, etc.). My question is this: With typical bass traps looking ugly as hell, what are some creative ways to hide the bass traps (and other acoustical treatments) so that they aren't noticable.

Trust me, if I can figure out these issues, I will be well on my way to designing a killer home theater. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I remember reading in GREAT ESCAPES by Stephen Castle about a HT that Theo Kalomirakis designed that was in an historic home. If I'm not mistaken, I think the city was Charleston. The book is a coffee table volume and it may give you some ideas.

Gary

my house was built in the twenties. wood washed up from the 1900 storm was used to build the house. i take it your doing a super crazy theater?

Is the room on the first floor with a crawl space below? If so that may offer some opportunities.

Yes, the room is on the first flloor and does have a crawlspace. Again, I am really intrigued about the floating floor concept, but it would need to be close to flush with the other floors in the house.

Yes, the room is on the first flloor and does have a crawlspace. Again, I am really intrigued about the floating floor concept, but it would need to be close to flush with the other floors in the house.

I would imagine the best you could do in a limited amount of vertical space is roll down a rubber acoustical underlayment, cover with some tongue and grove sub flooring floated on top, then carpet pad and carpet. Probably about a 1 1/2 inch height.

Since you have access to the below the floor you could sister on more joists making the floor stiffer, add some mass to the bottom of the floor and build a sand filled support where the sub-woofer will sit. That would keep the building from shaking.

I'm building a home theater in a historic craftsman bungalow. Having opened up the walls for the remodel I say there is no way short of rebuilding the room to keep it sound proof. For starters the floor and ceiling joists are 2X6s 24" on center (read very bouncy) the non-load bearing studs are 2X3s and the hardwood floors have been sanded down to around 1/2" thickness with sub-flooring made of left over shipping crates! Ahh... they don't build them like they used to. :rolleyes: