I am in the planning stage of finishing my basement as a semi-dedicated home theater and game room and doing so on a tight budget. This budget dictates that I reuse as much existing equipment as possible and find bargains where I can.

Hence the not so exciting and only slightly humorous name BB = Bargain Basement HT and Game Room. (or maybe Budget Basement??? even less funny)

Details:

Timeline: From Now till before Sept 7th

Budget: ~$6000?? after seeing those $6,000,000 HT Pics I thought to my self "Self I wonder what I can do for 0.1% of that..." At this point I don't think I can hit that. Not for the entire basement. With just rough in - lumber, drywall, fasteners, finishing & insulation I'm @ ~$2400. With over 1000 sq ft flooring to finish .... not bloody likely. SO ~ $6000 on the Theater Area :o and an other ~ $4000 for the rest. ~ $10,000 Total.

HT Size: HT Room is 11'-5" wide (expanding to 14' on one side) by 18" x 8'-9". Partially open at the back... Considering Curtains to close off the bar and entry.

Usage: 60% Movies, 35% Gaming, 5% TV

Projector: Will buy the best bang for the buck in Sept...

Screen: 110" diag 16 x 9 Screen "Black Widow" Painted Wall

AV Reciever & Speakers: The Onkyo HT-SR800 HT System - again budget dictates that I reuse as much existing equipment as possible. Though I am considering upgrading the center and sub.

Seating: Hopefully I can get a bargain here for the front row. I am going to reuse part of a sectional split and angled like HT seating for the second row.

Addiontal Equipment:
HTPC - For Digital Content / DVDs /Games
PS3 - For Blue ray / Games
Xbox 360 elite - For Games
DishNetwork HD DVR Box - For TV

Rack: Home Made!

Acoustic Treatments: DIY Base Traps Front and Rear Corners & Absorbers on the first reflection points. << Going to need some advice here.

Still deciding on the details for the rest of the basement but I have a great old 8' pool table with ball return that I am planning on refinishing. I will probably set up the "Bar" at the back of the theater and the "Small Game Room" for LAN gaming...

So enough with the chat here are the pics...

PLANS:

Full Basement
http://lh6.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SDzcvaNk1KI/AAAAAAAAAcY/iAT-qEwMrd8/s800/FinalPlan%28orNot%29.jpg

HT Plan
http://lh6.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SDzcvaNk1JI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/OFatDE8XC6Y/s800/vtht.jpg

Room Designations
http://lh4.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SBCQKWuyUKI/AAAAAAAAAaY/k2S3PPRElJE/s800/RoomLayout.jpg

The Canvas:

Future Bathroom & Electrical Room (& Stupid Post)
http://lh4.google.com/schizothemic/R-RypTcW6PI/AAAAAAAAAWA/i4UV2K3m8uA/s800/future%20bathroom%20and%20unfinished%20electrical%20room.JPG .jpg

Future Big Game Billiards Room
http://lh3.google.com/schizothemic/R-RyqDcW6QI/AAAAAAAAAWI/ufCQjz510fg/s800/future%20big%20game%20room.JPG.jpg

Future Exercise Room
http://lh5.google.com/schizothemic/R-RyqjcW6RI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/E0B7jX1v6II/s800/future%20exercise%20room.JPG.jpg

Future HT (an other shot of Stupid Post)
http://lh3.google.com/schizothemic/R-RyrDcW6SI/AAAAAAAAAWY/UldkArv1epU/s800/future%20HT.JPG.jpg

Future Small Game Room - Looking at the bar the back of HT...
http://lh5.google.com/schizothemic/R-RyrjcW6TI/AAAAAAAAAWg/xR3pAZabU7A/s800/future%20small%20game%20room.JPG.jpg

http://lh3.google.com/schizothemic/R-beYjcW6UI/AAAAAAAAAXE/Ua0WCB2hn8s/s800/byebyewindows.jpg

Here are the first two causalities of the BB project... Just got the replacement in a 3 ft x 6 ft slider with BOTH sides removable...

This will give me an egress and a way to pass materials w/o going through the house.

11' screen wall with speakers and 110" screen is going to be tight. My speakers are almost against the wall (see link below) and I have a 12' wide room with only a 100" screen.

Your current speakers may work, but you may be limiting yourself when it comes to future upgrades.

$6000 for equipment / furniture should be doable. I didn't re-use anything and mine (already finished room) came out to $7000. ($1000 of that being and amp/speakers for my tactile system (bass shakers))

With an 8' wide screen my front speakers do end up close to the side walls... I have 20.5" to either side of the screen.

A question on base absorbers:

If I fill an area 16" wide by 12" deep by 7-1/2' tall in both front corners with a good absorber (like rock wool) but only have 2 entry points 12" x 24" at top and bottom (see pic) would these work as base absorbers??? The remaining face of the column is composed of drywall. Would the benefits (if any) be worth the expense of the acoustic materials??? I plan on using more traditionally designed absorbers at the rear corners and treating first reflection points to the sides and ceiling...

http://lh6.google.com/schizothemic/R-cxdDcW6YI/AAAAAAAAAXw/Hm_GwT43OzQ/s800/Screenwall.jpg

The entire screen wall will be done in drywall with a few wood accents (Shelves & Stage) and some thing special for the Arch.. Stay tuned.

Replaced the 2 right windows (not the center) with the slider last night. Still have some trim work to do. I'll get a pic tonight. Now that I have an easy way to get supplies IN the basement hopefully I can really start making some progress...

Any one have any opinions on the base absorber question above?

Are the pics to big? Should I drop the size some?

Looking forward to seeing how you make out. Good luck looks like a good space to work with.

Regarding your bass question I would contact ready acoustics or one of the other acoustic panel vendors here at AVS. (do a search you can find them easily here on the forums - I used ready acoustics http://www.readyacoustics.com/ myself).

Most if not all of these vendors will do a "free" review of your space and tell you where you "should" put sound absorbers in your lay out - no strings attached. I would suggest going to the pros but you can also do a review yourself with a software program here on the forums http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=822273

Best of luck
Calvin

wow... I feel outdone...

wow... I feel outdone...
Thanks!

I honestly don't feel like I've done much... here's the new window though.

http://lh4.google.com/schizothemic/R-nDrDcW6ZI/AAAAAAAAAX4/akaZsev65Sk/s400/newwindow.JPG.jpg

I am working on a sketch-up of the theater area... Showed the "boss" the "plan" she asked where the Wet-Bar was going to be. Soooo I have a bit more design work to do.

Here are a couple SketchUp shots... It still needs work but you get the idea:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD1t76Nk1OI/AAAAAAAAAdA/IVr9QwWm6zI/s800/theater.JPG

View from the bar
http://lh5.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD1t76Nk1PI/AAAAAAAAAdI/_iYNJfz6cVA/s800/theaterfrombar.jpg

I really like the layout that you came up with. I think that having extra space behind the theater seating is the way to go when you have guests over. If it's just the family, no problem there either.

How long did it take for you to do your google sketchup? I've played with it briefly, but not really gotten the hang of it yet (but I hate reading docs and watching "training videos", so it's my fault)....

Thanks Matt I spent a lot of time looking at layouts here on AVS and though I like the dedicated theaters I think this layout will work out well for my family.... As for SketchUp... Honestly I tried it once didn't like it. Tried it again a few weeks later and actually went through the tutorial. :o

After that it only took about 2 hours playing with it to get my layout. I could probably do in again in about half that time now that I am a bit more proficient.

Put pink stuff on the walls... Collecting bids on materials... Not much else going on. Move on nothing to see here....... Yet.

since the "stupid pole" is close to the door, why don't you hire a contractor to relocate the pole behind the wall? it could be well worth the money.

since the "stupid pole" is close to the door, why don't you hire a contractor to relocate the pole behind the wall? it could be well worth the money.

It would be nice if I could... the "stupid pole is under a metal support beam that runs from an existing foundation wall to the existing wall around the stairs. In other words I my only option for moving the post would be to move it towards the back of the theater along the line of the beam. I also can't move it all of the way to the back and be within the proper tolerance for center support.

Oh well I can deal. It gives me something to complain about. :D

Got material bids from the normal suspects in my area 84, Lowes, Home Depot, Sutherland's & some drywall supply shops.
Best Material Bid: Home Depot, on almost everything including drywall and giving me an other 10-15% on top of that.
Total Material Bill will be ~ $2800 w/ tax. :(

That is for Lumber, Drywall, Insulation, fasteners & subfloor...

Still need to get: Tile, Carpet, Paint, Electrical, Plumbing Pipe & Fixtures, Finish Lumber, LV Cables, 1 row of 2-3 seats, Acoustic Treatments & THE PROJECTOR...

Guess I shouldn't gripe I am finishing over 1100 sqft. :o

Big Game: 284 - Tile
Home Theater: 252 - Carpet
Small Game & Bar: 208 - Tile
Exercise: 197 - Exercise Flooring
Bathroom: 46 - Tile
Office: 67 - Carpet
Transition Areas: 74 - Tile

Finished: 1128 SQFT
Unfinished: 250 SQFT

I think I am getting soft working in IT...

Materials got delivered yesterday ... curb side delivery. Luckily they dropped it all in the garage and a friend of mine helped me move just over 300 boards of various sizes (2x4s-2x10s), 280 sqft of drycore and half of the 160 4x10 sheets of Drywall before we got rained out.... We had to move it around the house from the garage through a window into the basement.

Arms and shoulders are very sore... I was almost happy to see it start raining.
Yea I know kinda wimpy... :o

Should have a bigger crew for the rest....

Damn rain. I have a stack of drywall as tall as I am sitting in the garage that I need to move around to the basement. It has literally rained every day since it was delivered.
OH well I hope to get it some walls up this weekend and if it clears off on Sunday the rest of the rock moved.

UPDATE April 15th -

Had some friends help move the rest of the rock on Monday... No work tonight. The wife is a Tax Attorney so we are going out to celebrate the end of the season!!! No more 15 hr work days for her ........ till next year. I should be able to get more done in the evenings with her available to watch the munchkin.

:D

Updated Plans and sketchups in the original posts. Got some framing done. I'll post pics when I get the rest of the walls up.

Hello from Blue Springs! Thought I'd drop by (your thread) and see what you're up to. It looks like a lot! When I started my project I decided to move two columns. The structural engineering, steel beams, new columns and labor for installing it all ran about $2K. I had to bust out the concrete and install new concrete piers to support the columns though. a lot of labor but it was kinda fun working with the rental concrete cutter and electric jackhammer. $2K will buy a lot of AV equipment though; it's always a tradeoff. After my first month of work nobody could tell what the heck I had done!

Anyway, I think you have a great canvas to work with. Regarding your room acoustics, if you can find it in the budget it doesn't cost too much to get your room acoustical needs and treatments engineered in advance of construction. I wish I had done it sooner. In the end I'm really glad I did. I used Bryan Pape (bpape) and I just can't believe how the acoustics are turning out. His web site is here (http://www.sensiblesoundsolutions.com/).

Hello from Blue Springs! Thought I'd drop by (your thread) and see what you're up to. It looks like a lot! When I started my project I decided to move two columns. The structural engineering, steel beams, new columns and labor for installing it all ran about $2K. I had to bust out the concrete and install new concrete piers to support the columns though. a lot of labor but it was kinda fun working with the rental concrete cutter and electric jackhammer. $2K will buy a lot of AV equipment though; it's always a tradeoff. After my first month of work nobody could tell what the heck I had done!

Anyway, I think you have a great canvas to work with. Regarding your room acoustics, if you can find it in the budget it doesn't cost too much to get your room acoustical needs and treatments engineered in advance of construction. I wish I had done it sooner. In the end I'm really glad I did. I used Bryan Pape (bpape) and I just can't believe how the acoustics are turning out. His web site is here (http://www.sensiblesoundsolutions.com/).

Thanks BShaw... I considered doing something about those "Stupid Posts" but I decided I could live with the current layout as this house is only a 5-6 yr investment.... The dream is to build my own home on some land we own in south Raymore... When I do that I will make sure I have the PERFECT location for a home Theater! :D

I am considering some acoustic consulting while I am still in the framing stage... The odd shape of the room is making it a challenge to figure out my own.

Damn I just realized I haven't updated the plans yet... I'll have to do that when I get home. I'll post some progress pics too...

Progress Update: Did some more framing and plumbed the drain for the bar... Despite my best laid plans I managed only a half a day of work out of an entire 3 day weekend. Saturday was spent moving a friend... Sunday was spent refurbishing an ice machine for my in-laws grocery store... Reminds me of a movie I was forced to watch recently where marriage was described thus .... a hypocritical spectacle, this "last legal form of slavery,"... :D

Really my wife is great and has pretty much allowed me free reign with my "Man Cave"... so I can't complain .... much. ;)

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_40716_40716
Here's a tool I have had my eye on because I'm thinking about doing my own basement. Its huge and I will be doing it myself. Could help you a lot

I picked up the Platinum Tool version from amazon. I used one like it many years back... it is a fairly useful item. I paid $50 + $100 shipping :rolleyes:

Here is a pic of my plumbing job and the framing work looking from what will be the back of the bar.

I also updated plans in the first post.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SDzdZaNk1MI/AAAAAAAAAco/CzACFY_5QhQ/s800/IMG_0715.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SDzdaKNk1NI/AAAAAAAAAcw/WGN5_r_IEWk/s800/IMG_0716.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SDzdY6Nk1LI/AAAAAAAAAcg/rWu0CpvaTvM/s800/IMG_0714.JPG

whiskey > work, a lot of us AVS'ers have bought drywall lifts via Ebay. Auction 220236654801 might be of interest to you.

Updated Plans in post 1 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13442367#post13442367) and sketchups in post 10 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13481030#post13481030)...

I am still trying to decide how I want the bar area. I'm referring to the area where the sink and under-counter minifridge will be... not the part behind the theater.....

Against the front wall - This opens up the area, allows for some additional cabinet space and is definitely the easier/cheaper solution.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD19NKNk1QI/AAAAAAAAAdY/IoRXN9Pl_P4/s800/BarAgainstFrontWall.jpg

Against the side wall - Probably the more "elegant" solution with 2 levels of counter space, an extended bar area with the fridge tucked away behind.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD19NaNk1RI/AAAAAAAAAdg/zk70TqUbtZo/s800/BarAgainstSideWall.jpg

We aren't big drinkers... and definitely don't NEED a traditional stocked bar but I do like that type look... A snack/drink area would probably be enough but...

:confused:

SketchUp of the "Flat Bar"

http://lh4.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD2_IqNk1WI/AAAAAAAAAeI/qyexA2i3fNc/s800/theaterflatbar.jpg

I know my sketchup skills are pretty basic but you get the idea.

SketchUps...
Added details and other views...

http://lh5.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD2_I6Nk1XI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/IOZkjTUekS0/s800/theaterfromabovescreen.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD2_IaNk1VI/AAAAAAAAAeA/X2Q0Y5oy9-4/s800/theaterfromentry.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD2_IKNk1UI/AAAAAAAAAd4/BW_ADQQkmvA/s800/theaterthruthewall.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD2_H6Nk1TI/AAAAAAAAAdw/Q0_GCsa6kpE/s800/theatertopdown.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SD3BaaNk1YI/AAAAAAAAAek/EejnwQwztWc/s800/theaterfrombar.jpg

Skimmed through the thread. How come only 1/4" xps ??

whiskey > work, a lot of us AVS'ers have bought drywall lifts via Ebay. Auction 220236654801 might be of interest to you.

thanks for that. I've got a project of my own that I'm tinkering with. One that is going to spin people on their heads!

Skimmed through the thread. How come only 1/4" xps ??

You know it took me a moment to figure out what you were talking about.

Answer: Because it was cheaper.... and in most areas there will be normal insulation in the outside walls also. My goal for the "pink stuff" isn't really to add R-Value but to provide a semi-permeable barrier that will keep the normal insulation from coming into direct contact with potentially damp walls yet still allow the inward drying of the basement walls...

It also saved me a few inches and in the HT area I was scrabbling for every inch I could get. And did I mention it was cheaper??? :p

RANT: :mad: I hate it when my stupid JOB interferes with my HT Build! I have just spent the last 16 hrs recovering 2 degraded drives in one of our Exchange Server's RAID Arrays ... Then Rebuilding the damn Exchange Info Store that was corrupted in the process. Don't think the boss would have been happy with an answer of: "Sorry, no can do... I have soffits to build!" :mad: :END RANT

oh well maybe I'll get something accomplished tonight... :(

So here is my dilemma.... My original plan was to place the projector in the soffit over the bar (18 ft) but now I am having second thoughts. My alternative placement is ceiling mounted between the first and second rows (~12')

I like the idea of having it tucked away inside the soffit but my main concern is that at 18' back anyone standing in the front row will interrupt the light path (and I will be losing some brightness.)

I a plan to go with an LCD based projector so placement shouldn't be a problem but moving it forward would also allow me to consider DLP projectors...

Any ideas????

http://lh6.ggpht.com/schizothemic/SKuLGxSLCYI/AAAAAAAAAg4/RmhJqKD6N7c/s800/projector.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/schizothemic/BasementFinishing/photo#5236431940173367682)

I've done some more framing I'll post some pics when I am done with that stage. Going slow... lost a post or 2 in the forum crash... not much progress though.

Any updates joe. Everything ok

Sometimes it feels like Life is conspiring against me... Not really but maybe against my build.

I feel like I owe an explanation for what will be a nearly 8 mo Hiatus in this build thread... So those that are just here for the pics can skip the next paragraph:

May 2008 till the beginning of February 2009 found me dealing with a wife going through a difficult pregnancy and a resulting early delivery of our 2nd daughter. No complaints though as both mom and baby ended up healthy... Any free time during this period ended up going towards the rehab of our old house after the renters left it in a less than desirable state... The baby will be 6 mo old in February and I should be able to free up some time to resume the build...

When I've made some visible progress I plan on starting a new thread that will hopefully contain more consistent updates... Plus I've thought of a name for my theater :)

CLICK HERE FOR MY NEW BUILD THREAD - The Valley Theater & Game Room (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16222139)