EDIT: added build summary and thread index to 1st post
Before & After:
Existing Floor Plan
Proposed Floor Plan (orientation rotated clockwise 90 degrees from existing floor plan). Click on image to open larger version.
Changes to the design since printing this plan image include:
1. Moving the left and right front speakers behind the screen and extending the false wall until it hit both corner bass traps.
2. This allowed me to go from a 100" 16:9 to a 115" 2.35:1 screen.
3. Shifted the 4 HVAC supplies so each one sits directly in front of one of the columns.
4. Relocated HVAC return from side wall to back right corner of room.
5. Added a 2nd can light to the equipment closet and 2 can lights to the media closet.
Proposed Ceiling Plan
Screen Wall-Before
Screen Wall-After
Back Wall-Before (was originally going to be the screen wall)
Back Wall-After
Left Wall-Before
Left Wall-After
Right Wall-Before
Right Wall-After
Ceiling-during construction
Ceiling with painted star mural by Night Sky Murals
Room Summary
2nd floor build to replace builder-grade media room. Scope of work included:
-removal of existing wetbar, carpet, & drywall
-removal of all existing electrical wiring, including outlets, switches and fixtures
-temporary removal of insulation in ceiling & exterior walls
-adding a new dedicated 20A circuit
-upgrading existing 15A circuit to 20A and rewiring entire room (new outlets, switches, dimmers and fixtures)
-installing conduit to equipment closet, projector, speakers, riser and stage
-adding new wall to create screen wall/media closet
-adding perimeter soffit
-changing vaulted ceiling to coffered ceiling
-relocating entry door
-creating arched opening to new media closet
-adding 3 additional hvac supplies and 1 return
-adding insulation to interior walls and reinstalling insulation in ceiling and exterior walls
-new drywall
-adding stage, riser and false wall
-adding acoustic treatments to front, side and rear walls
-building 4 decorative columns. 1 hides equipment rack, 2 hide side surrounds and 1 contains lighting controls
-installing 7.1 speaker system
-hiding acoustic treatments/speakers behind custom-made fabric panels
-installation of baseboards, wall trim & light trays
-painting soffit and ceiling
-painted star mural
-installing new carpet
-installing new door & threshold
-installing screen, projector, & related av equipment
Dimensions (original room)
Width: 12’-7”
Length: 19’-2”
Height: 7’-9” at walls, vaulted to 10' in center of room
Finished dimensions (after installing treatments/panels)
Width: 12’-4”
Length (back wall to front wall): 18’-7”
Length (back wall to screen): 17’-10”
Height: 7’-9” at perimeter soffit, 9’ at bottom of coffers, 10’ to top of coffers
Color Scheme
Dark brown wall fabric: Guilford of Maine FR701-Chocolate
Light brown wall fabric: Acoustex Designer Series-#60 Cocoa
Black fabric on screen wall: SyFabrics Plush Triple Velvet-Black
Trim & Door: Behr Premium Plus Interior Eggshell-Mouse Ears Black
Ceiling: Behr Premium Plus Interior Flat Enamel-equivalent to SW Jute Brown
Light tray: Behr Premium Plus Interior Flat Enamel-Bitter Chocolate
Soffit: Behr Premium Plus Interior Flat Enamel-Mouse Ears Black
Carpet: Main floor/riser: Masland, Style:Quadrate I, Color:Times Square Stage: Masland, Style: Signet, Color: Black
AV Equipment Summary
Projector: JVC RS45
Projector Mount: Chief 5" Designer Ceiling Plate #CMA-101, 3" Fixed extension column #CMS-003, RPA281 mount and SLB281 bracket
Screen: 115”wide 2.35:1 SeymourAV frame w/CenterStage XD screen fabric
LCR Speakers: (3) Atlantic Technology 727 In-wall
Side surround speakers: (2) Triad In-wall Bronze
Rear surround speakers: (2) Triad In-wall Bronze
Subwoofer: (1) Hsu Research VTF-2 MK3
Receiver: Denon 4311CI
Blu-Ray player: Panasonic DMP-BD655
CD-Changer: Technics SL-PD888
Power Console: Belkin PureAV AP21100-12 (PF31)
Remote: URC R40
Lighting Summary
Side & Rear Soffits: 4" recessed housing with 4" black baffle trim
Front Soffit: 4" recessed housing with 4" black eyeball trim
Light Trays in Coffered Ceiling: 24" Black light #7020BL
Speaker uplights behind AT screen: Kvart wall/clamp spotlight
Step Lights: Royal Pacific 8905WH Mini Indoor Incandescent Step Light
Lighting Control:
1. Master Keypad: Insteon 8-Button KeypadLinc Dimmer, wired directly to the side can lights and remotely controlling items 2-6.
2. Insteon ToggleLinc Relay Switch wired directly to step lights
3. Insteon ToggleLinc Relay Switch wired directly to black lights in light trays
4. Insteon SwitchLinc Dimmer wired directly to front can lights
5. Insteon SwitchLinc Dimmer wired directly to rear can lights
6. Speaker uplights behind screen plugged into Insteon OutletLinc Dimmer
7. Insteon IR Linc to operate all zones via universal remote
Soundproofing: None (besides adding insulation to 2 interior walls)
Acoustic Treatment Summary
Front wall: (2) 17”x17”x24” corner bass traps cut from 2" Knauf unfaced insulation board (3 pcf), 1 layer of 3.5 mil poly sheeting sandwiched between (2) 1” layers of JM Linacoustic (floor to ceiling between bass traps)
Side walls: 1” JM Linacoustic inside fabric panels, floor to ceiling from screen to 1st row, floor to ear-height from first row to back wall
Back wall: (2) 2” layers of 3pcf insulation board. First layer against wall consists of Knauf unfaced insulation boards. 2nd layer facing room consists of Certainteed CertaPro boards with FSK facing. Prior to placing fabric panels over back wall, the FSK facing was covered with black fabric to prevent the FSK from reflecting through the fabric panels. 1 of the back corners includes (1) 17”x17”x24” corner bass trap cut from 2" Knauf unfaced insulation board (3 pcf). The corner without a bass trap contains an HVAC chase for a return duct that passes through the theater.
Riser as bass trap: 2x12 perimeter frame with 2x8 joists, fully insulated with 2 layers of R19 insulation and (7) 4x10 vents along back wall
Cost Breakdown:
Project was all DIY, with the exception of adding a dedicated breaker, adding 3 additional HVAC supplies and 1 return, hanging and finishing drywall and installing carpet.
Room Improvements: $13,370.34
AV Equipment: $9,667.05
Seating: $3,124.93
Tools & Supplies: $1,267.81
Project Total: $27,430.13 (as of 1/1/13)
For a complete line item breakdown, refer to the attachments below.
Excel Spreadsheet:
Home Theater Expenses.xls 91k .xls file
PDF Version:
Home Theater Expenses.pdf 22k .pdf file
Build Timeline & Index:
Phase 1: Research & Design - 2 Years
12/3/09 - 12/1/11
Phase 2: Demolition/HVAC modifications - 2 months of actual work spread over 2 years
1/2/10 – 2/7/10 – [post="17835304"]begin demo[/post] (wetbar, walls)
2/18/10 - [post="18162229"]hvac modifications[/post]
2/19/10 – 12/1/11 – project on hold
12/1/11 – 12/31/11 – [post="18089096"]complete demo[/post] (ceiling, electrical, doors)
Phase 3: Construction - 1 Year +/-
1/1/12 - 2/10/12 - framing: [post="21579439"]walls & coffered ceiling[/post], [post="21611228"]soffits & ceiling,[/post] [post="21628329"]curved soffit at screen[/post]
1/28/12 – [post="21564257"]revised floor plan and preliminary elevations[/post]
2/10/12 – 2/29/12 – [post="21678155"]electrical[/post], including low voltage [post="21674706"]conduit[/post]
3/1/12 – 3/30/12 – [post="21847790"]insulation[/post]
4/1/12 – 4/12/12 – [post="21877668"]drywall[/post]
4/11/12 – [post="21895163"]revised plan to include 2.35:1 screen[/post]
4/16/12 – 4/26/12 – [post="21954356"]riser[/post]
4/27/12 – 5/1/12 – [post="21973325"]stage[/post]
5/11/12 – 5/21/12 – corner bass traps - [post="22011813"]1[/post], [post="22048058"]2[/post]
5/24/12 – [post="22060424"]front wall acoustic treatments[/post]
5/27/12 – [post="22070688"]front wall speaker boxes[/post]
5/29/12 – 6/21/12 – [post="22108969"]revise fabric panel design, fabric & carpet research (round 1)[/post]
6/24/12 – 7/2/12 – [post="22163782"]rear wall acoustic treatments[/post], [post="22188339"]surround speaker boxes[/post]
7/3/12 – 7/13/12 – [post="22188339"]coffered ceiling trim/light trays[/post], [post="22199473"]more light trays[/post], [post="22201568"]more light trays[/post], [post="22216286"]completed light trays[/post]
7/16/12 – [post="22225364"]columns[/post]
7/17/12 – 7/30/12 – [post="22264365"]furring strips for fabric panels[/post]
7/30/12 – 8/15/12 – [post="22289458"]fabric & carpet research (round 2)[/post]
8/17/12 – 9/10/12 – [post="22324651"]begin fabric frames[/post]
9/5/12 – [post="22373246"]final selection of fabric & carpet[/post]
9/9/12 – 9/12/12 – [post="22390961"]false wall[/post]
9/12/12 – 10/2/12 – [post="22422766"]more fabric frames[/post]
10/3/12 – [post="22457586"]fabric panel color schemes[/post]
10/7/12 – 10/18/12 – [post="22475046"]painting of soffit and fabric frames[/post]
10/10/12 – [post="22481750"]lighting control concept[/post]
10/18/12 - [post="22506141"]ceiling paint[/post]
10/19/12 – [post="22509283"]fabric dispenser[/post]
10/23/12 – 11/4/12 – [post="22529886"]adding fabric to frames[/post], [post="22548050"]more fabric[/post], [post="22557375"]more fabric[/post]
10/26/12 –[post="22530870"]bulb selection for soffits[/post]
11/5/12 - 11/11/12 – [post="22559380"]door threshold[/post]/[post="22577362"]hardware[/post] research
11/11/12 - 11/12/12 – [post="22579437"]repaint ceiling[/post], paint door
11/13/12 – 11/15/12 – carpet bids
11/19/12 – paint ceiling & floor registers & return grill
11/30/12 – [post="22647668"]star ceiling[/post]
12/11/12 – [post="22693952"]carpet install[/post]
12/17/12 – [post="22714436"]mount projector & screen[/post]
12/19/12 – [post="22722380"]temporary rack[/post]
12/20/12 - [post="22727959"]seats installed[/post]
12/29/12 - [post="22759114"]LCR speaker uplights[/post]
01/06/13 - [post="22793313"]Insteon switches installed[/post]
01/22/13 - [post="22861298"]mini riser[/post]
01/27/13 - [post="22879576"]screen wall fabric[/post]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original 1st Post:
Well...I officially broke ground on my theater last weekend, if laying plywood in the attic counts. I also ripped down some drywall to see what was lurking behind a wall I want to remove. Before I get too much further with demo, I'd like to get the rest of my plan on paper. In order to do that, I need some constructive criticism. I'm attaching a plan of the existing room as well as a plan showing some options I have in mind. Because my room is not very deep, I am having to place the 2nd row fairly close to the back wall, so I have some concerns with acoustics. I'm also not sure where to locate the rear speakers since the 2nd row is so far back. I'm also fairly close to the screen in one option and I'd like to hear from those of you who are sitting at 9' or less to hear how large your screens are. I have a few questions/comments included on the attachments, so any feedback would be appreciated.
I'm looking forward to many more posts as I plan to document my build as it moves along. Hopefully some more demo this weekend.
Before & After:
Existing Floor Plan
Proposed Floor Plan (orientation rotated clockwise 90 degrees from existing floor plan). Click on image to open larger version.
Changes to the design since printing this plan image include:
1. Moving the left and right front speakers behind the screen and extending the false wall until it hit both corner bass traps.
2. This allowed me to go from a 100" 16:9 to a 115" 2.35:1 screen.
3. Shifted the 4 HVAC supplies so each one sits directly in front of one of the columns.
4. Relocated HVAC return from side wall to back right corner of room.
5. Added a 2nd can light to the equipment closet and 2 can lights to the media closet.
Proposed Ceiling Plan
Screen Wall-Before
Screen Wall-After
Back Wall-Before (was originally going to be the screen wall)
Back Wall-After
Left Wall-Before
Left Wall-After
Right Wall-Before
Right Wall-After
Ceiling-during construction
Ceiling with painted star mural by Night Sky Murals
Room Summary
2nd floor build to replace builder-grade media room. Scope of work included:
-removal of existing wetbar, carpet, & drywall
-removal of all existing electrical wiring, including outlets, switches and fixtures
-temporary removal of insulation in ceiling & exterior walls
-adding a new dedicated 20A circuit
-upgrading existing 15A circuit to 20A and rewiring entire room (new outlets, switches, dimmers and fixtures)
-installing conduit to equipment closet, projector, speakers, riser and stage
-adding new wall to create screen wall/media closet
-adding perimeter soffit
-changing vaulted ceiling to coffered ceiling
-relocating entry door
-creating arched opening to new media closet
-adding 3 additional hvac supplies and 1 return
-adding insulation to interior walls and reinstalling insulation in ceiling and exterior walls
-new drywall
-adding stage, riser and false wall
-adding acoustic treatments to front, side and rear walls
-building 4 decorative columns. 1 hides equipment rack, 2 hide side surrounds and 1 contains lighting controls
-installing 7.1 speaker system
-hiding acoustic treatments/speakers behind custom-made fabric panels
-installation of baseboards, wall trim & light trays
-painting soffit and ceiling
-painted star mural
-installing new carpet
-installing new door & threshold
-installing screen, projector, & related av equipment
Dimensions (original room)
Width: 12’-7”
Length: 19’-2”
Height: 7’-9” at walls, vaulted to 10' in center of room
Finished dimensions (after installing treatments/panels)
Width: 12’-4”
Length (back wall to front wall): 18’-7”
Length (back wall to screen): 17’-10”
Height: 7’-9” at perimeter soffit, 9’ at bottom of coffers, 10’ to top of coffers
Color Scheme
Dark brown wall fabric: Guilford of Maine FR701-Chocolate
Light brown wall fabric: Acoustex Designer Series-#60 Cocoa
Black fabric on screen wall: SyFabrics Plush Triple Velvet-Black
Trim & Door: Behr Premium Plus Interior Eggshell-Mouse Ears Black
Ceiling: Behr Premium Plus Interior Flat Enamel-equivalent to SW Jute Brown
Light tray: Behr Premium Plus Interior Flat Enamel-Bitter Chocolate
Soffit: Behr Premium Plus Interior Flat Enamel-Mouse Ears Black
Carpet: Main floor/riser: Masland, Style:Quadrate I, Color:Times Square Stage: Masland, Style: Signet, Color: Black
AV Equipment Summary
Projector: JVC RS45
Projector Mount: Chief 5" Designer Ceiling Plate #CMA-101, 3" Fixed extension column #CMS-003, RPA281 mount and SLB281 bracket
Screen: 115”wide 2.35:1 SeymourAV frame w/CenterStage XD screen fabric
LCR Speakers: (3) Atlantic Technology 727 In-wall
Side surround speakers: (2) Triad In-wall Bronze
Rear surround speakers: (2) Triad In-wall Bronze
Subwoofer: (1) Hsu Research VTF-2 MK3
Receiver: Denon 4311CI
Blu-Ray player: Panasonic DMP-BD655
CD-Changer: Technics SL-PD888
Power Console: Belkin PureAV AP21100-12 (PF31)
Remote: URC R40
Lighting Summary
Side & Rear Soffits: 4" recessed housing with 4" black baffle trim
Front Soffit: 4" recessed housing with 4" black eyeball trim
Light Trays in Coffered Ceiling: 24" Black light #7020BL
Speaker uplights behind AT screen: Kvart wall/clamp spotlight
Step Lights: Royal Pacific 8905WH Mini Indoor Incandescent Step Light
Lighting Control:
1. Master Keypad: Insteon 8-Button KeypadLinc Dimmer, wired directly to the side can lights and remotely controlling items 2-6.
2. Insteon ToggleLinc Relay Switch wired directly to step lights
3. Insteon ToggleLinc Relay Switch wired directly to black lights in light trays
4. Insteon SwitchLinc Dimmer wired directly to front can lights
5. Insteon SwitchLinc Dimmer wired directly to rear can lights
6. Speaker uplights behind screen plugged into Insteon OutletLinc Dimmer
7. Insteon IR Linc to operate all zones via universal remote
Soundproofing: None (besides adding insulation to 2 interior walls)
Acoustic Treatment Summary
Front wall: (2) 17”x17”x24” corner bass traps cut from 2" Knauf unfaced insulation board (3 pcf), 1 layer of 3.5 mil poly sheeting sandwiched between (2) 1” layers of JM Linacoustic (floor to ceiling between bass traps)
Side walls: 1” JM Linacoustic inside fabric panels, floor to ceiling from screen to 1st row, floor to ear-height from first row to back wall
Back wall: (2) 2” layers of 3pcf insulation board. First layer against wall consists of Knauf unfaced insulation boards. 2nd layer facing room consists of Certainteed CertaPro boards with FSK facing. Prior to placing fabric panels over back wall, the FSK facing was covered with black fabric to prevent the FSK from reflecting through the fabric panels. 1 of the back corners includes (1) 17”x17”x24” corner bass trap cut from 2" Knauf unfaced insulation board (3 pcf). The corner without a bass trap contains an HVAC chase for a return duct that passes through the theater.
Riser as bass trap: 2x12 perimeter frame with 2x8 joists, fully insulated with 2 layers of R19 insulation and (7) 4x10 vents along back wall
Cost Breakdown:
Project was all DIY, with the exception of adding a dedicated breaker, adding 3 additional HVAC supplies and 1 return, hanging and finishing drywall and installing carpet.
Room Improvements: $13,370.34
AV Equipment: $9,667.05
Seating: $3,124.93
Tools & Supplies: $1,267.81
Project Total: $27,430.13 (as of 1/1/13)
For a complete line item breakdown, refer to the attachments below.
Excel Spreadsheet:
Home Theater Expenses.xls 91k .xls file
PDF Version:
Home Theater Expenses.pdf 22k .pdf file
Build Timeline & Index:
Phase 1: Research & Design - 2 Years
12/3/09 - 12/1/11
Phase 2: Demolition/HVAC modifications - 2 months of actual work spread over 2 years
1/2/10 – 2/7/10 – [post="17835304"]begin demo[/post] (wetbar, walls)
2/18/10 - [post="18162229"]hvac modifications[/post]
2/19/10 – 12/1/11 – project on hold
12/1/11 – 12/31/11 – [post="18089096"]complete demo[/post] (ceiling, electrical, doors)
Phase 3: Construction - 1 Year +/-
1/1/12 - 2/10/12 - framing: [post="21579439"]walls & coffered ceiling[/post], [post="21611228"]soffits & ceiling,[/post] [post="21628329"]curved soffit at screen[/post]
1/28/12 – [post="21564257"]revised floor plan and preliminary elevations[/post]
2/10/12 – 2/29/12 – [post="21678155"]electrical[/post], including low voltage [post="21674706"]conduit[/post]
3/1/12 – 3/30/12 – [post="21847790"]insulation[/post]
4/1/12 – 4/12/12 – [post="21877668"]drywall[/post]
4/11/12 – [post="21895163"]revised plan to include 2.35:1 screen[/post]
4/16/12 – 4/26/12 – [post="21954356"]riser[/post]
4/27/12 – 5/1/12 – [post="21973325"]stage[/post]
5/11/12 – 5/21/12 – corner bass traps - [post="22011813"]1[/post], [post="22048058"]2[/post]
5/24/12 – [post="22060424"]front wall acoustic treatments[/post]
5/27/12 – [post="22070688"]front wall speaker boxes[/post]
5/29/12 – 6/21/12 – [post="22108969"]revise fabric panel design, fabric & carpet research (round 1)[/post]
6/24/12 – 7/2/12 – [post="22163782"]rear wall acoustic treatments[/post], [post="22188339"]surround speaker boxes[/post]
7/3/12 – 7/13/12 – [post="22188339"]coffered ceiling trim/light trays[/post], [post="22199473"]more light trays[/post], [post="22201568"]more light trays[/post], [post="22216286"]completed light trays[/post]
7/16/12 – [post="22225364"]columns[/post]
7/17/12 – 7/30/12 – [post="22264365"]furring strips for fabric panels[/post]
7/30/12 – 8/15/12 – [post="22289458"]fabric & carpet research (round 2)[/post]
8/17/12 – 9/10/12 – [post="22324651"]begin fabric frames[/post]
9/5/12 – [post="22373246"]final selection of fabric & carpet[/post]
9/9/12 – 9/12/12 – [post="22390961"]false wall[/post]
9/12/12 – 10/2/12 – [post="22422766"]more fabric frames[/post]
10/3/12 – [post="22457586"]fabric panel color schemes[/post]
10/7/12 – 10/18/12 – [post="22475046"]painting of soffit and fabric frames[/post]
10/10/12 – [post="22481750"]lighting control concept[/post]
10/18/12 - [post="22506141"]ceiling paint[/post]
10/19/12 – [post="22509283"]fabric dispenser[/post]
10/23/12 – 11/4/12 – [post="22529886"]adding fabric to frames[/post], [post="22548050"]more fabric[/post], [post="22557375"]more fabric[/post]
10/26/12 –[post="22530870"]bulb selection for soffits[/post]
11/5/12 - 11/11/12 – [post="22559380"]door threshold[/post]/[post="22577362"]hardware[/post] research
11/11/12 - 11/12/12 – [post="22579437"]repaint ceiling[/post], paint door
11/13/12 – 11/15/12 – carpet bids
11/19/12 – paint ceiling & floor registers & return grill
11/30/12 – [post="22647668"]star ceiling[/post]
12/11/12 – [post="22693952"]carpet install[/post]
12/17/12 – [post="22714436"]mount projector & screen[/post]
12/19/12 – [post="22722380"]temporary rack[/post]
12/20/12 - [post="22727959"]seats installed[/post]
12/29/12 - [post="22759114"]LCR speaker uplights[/post]
01/06/13 - [post="22793313"]Insteon switches installed[/post]
01/22/13 - [post="22861298"]mini riser[/post]
01/27/13 - [post="22879576"]screen wall fabric[/post]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original 1st Post:
Well...I officially broke ground on my theater last weekend, if laying plywood in the attic counts. I also ripped down some drywall to see what was lurking behind a wall I want to remove. Before I get too much further with demo, I'd like to get the rest of my plan on paper. In order to do that, I need some constructive criticism. I'm attaching a plan of the existing room as well as a plan showing some options I have in mind. Because my room is not very deep, I am having to place the 2nd row fairly close to the back wall, so I have some concerns with acoustics. I'm also not sure where to locate the rear speakers since the 2nd row is so far back. I'm also fairly close to the screen in one option and I'd like to hear from those of you who are sitting at 9' or less to hear how large your screens are. I have a few questions/comments included on the attachments, so any feedback would be appreciated.
I'm looking forward to many more posts as I plan to document my build as it moves along. Hopefully some more demo this weekend.