Our dedicated home theater build is under way! Actually, we started the addition of our home in late-March. The addition consists of a basement below acting as a garage. The home theater is actually on the first-floor living level off of our current family room. The room above the theater will be a new bathroom for our youngest son, closet, and storage.
HVAC
We found out in February that our HVAC bit the dust and we really needed to replace it. The ductwork was always crappy and the system was undersized for our home. It was a single 5-ton unit running all three levels and just wasn't enough. So, we just went ahead and said "let's move on the addition and get a whole new HVAC system installed at the same time".
The previous system was geothermal with a ground loop, but it just pretty much first generation and we always had problems. With newer technology and reliability, and tax credits from the fed, state, and county, we stuck with geothermal. We replaced the existing single 5-ton unit with a 4-ton unit with three zones (basement, first floor, and HT room) and connected it to the existing ground loop. Two 250ft wells were drilled for the second unit (3-ton) to condition the whole second floor. So in the end, two systems, four zones.
We went ahead and had the drywall ceiling pulled down in our basement and ripped out all of the old ductwork. We changed the layout a bit to have a dedicated workout room and reinstalled all new ductwork.
We are now waiting for the addition to be sealed up and under roof so we can have the second unit installed. No HVAC at all on our second floor, and the Maryland heat and humidity is coming soon!
HOME THEATER
Of course, the big reason for the addition is the home theater. I really wanted it on the first-floor. The layout of our current house allows it to sit off of our family room and behind the garage to the right of the home. The addition will not change the look of the home from the front at all.
The HT will be 18'6" wide by 28' long when finished. There is a two foot air gap behind our existing family room (FR) and the rear of the HT to allow for our FR fireplace, FR closet, and A/V closet for the theater.
We built the floor for stadium seating with 1' drops at each level. So, the back area is 9', second is 10', and the front at the screen is 11'. Viewing distances are 12', 18', and 20'. First two rows will be 4 or 5 seat HT recliners and the second row will be a bar with 4-5 chairs/stools so you can eat and watch.
We will then have a 10' wide cabinet/bar area on the rear wall. There are no windows in the room at all.
We built a 2' extension at the screen end of the HT to allow an AT screen with the speakers behind. I haven't committed to that yet based on my desire for a large screen and AT gain not much above 1.0. We'll see. At least the extension gives me an option without eating up viewing distances.
I'm hoping for a 12' to 13' wide 2.35 scope screen. Scope is an absolute requirement for me.
I'm working with Ted White (THANKS!) on soundproofing and will be doing clips, DD/GG on all walls and the ceiling. The rear wall will get DD/GG on both sides. Doors will actually be heavy 3-0 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 sealed, solid wood doors on the HT side for entrance and A/V closet. I'm trying not to put a single hole for electric or lighting in any wall or ceiling. HVAC and electric will be in side columns to be built on top of wall. Ceiling will have a box-beam/coffered ceiling and I will install the light cans in the beams.
Planning to do a starfield in the center of the coffered ceiling.
FAMILY ROOM WALL
The current wall between our FR and new HT has a fireplace with a HDTV above as our primary viewing area in the home. We have a design for the entire wall from a carpenter for a new mantle structure and doors where the existing two windows are now. We want hide the doorway and closet in this wall as much as we can, so the doors are actually being designed to look like built in wall cabinets.
EQUIPMENT
Don't even have a clue there yet. I'm a spend to where I get a difference guy. I don't mind buying used either. Looking for at least a 7.2 sound system, if not 9.2. We'll see.
Okay, it's a start. Don't know how long it will take since there is so much else going on in the home. I'll try to keep this post up-to-date with photos and logs of my progress. Wife says she wants to watch Christmas Vacation this Christmas. That's a pipe dream I believe!
HVAC
We found out in February that our HVAC bit the dust and we really needed to replace it. The ductwork was always crappy and the system was undersized for our home. It was a single 5-ton unit running all three levels and just wasn't enough. So, we just went ahead and said "let's move on the addition and get a whole new HVAC system installed at the same time".
The previous system was geothermal with a ground loop, but it just pretty much first generation and we always had problems. With newer technology and reliability, and tax credits from the fed, state, and county, we stuck with geothermal. We replaced the existing single 5-ton unit with a 4-ton unit with three zones (basement, first floor, and HT room) and connected it to the existing ground loop. Two 250ft wells were drilled for the second unit (3-ton) to condition the whole second floor. So in the end, two systems, four zones.
We went ahead and had the drywall ceiling pulled down in our basement and ripped out all of the old ductwork. We changed the layout a bit to have a dedicated workout room and reinstalled all new ductwork.
We are now waiting for the addition to be sealed up and under roof so we can have the second unit installed. No HVAC at all on our second floor, and the Maryland heat and humidity is coming soon!
HOME THEATER
Of course, the big reason for the addition is the home theater. I really wanted it on the first-floor. The layout of our current house allows it to sit off of our family room and behind the garage to the right of the home. The addition will not change the look of the home from the front at all.
The HT will be 18'6" wide by 28' long when finished. There is a two foot air gap behind our existing family room (FR) and the rear of the HT to allow for our FR fireplace, FR closet, and A/V closet for the theater.
We built the floor for stadium seating with 1' drops at each level. So, the back area is 9', second is 10', and the front at the screen is 11'. Viewing distances are 12', 18', and 20'. First two rows will be 4 or 5 seat HT recliners and the second row will be a bar with 4-5 chairs/stools so you can eat and watch.
We will then have a 10' wide cabinet/bar area on the rear wall. There are no windows in the room at all.
We built a 2' extension at the screen end of the HT to allow an AT screen with the speakers behind. I haven't committed to that yet based on my desire for a large screen and AT gain not much above 1.0. We'll see. At least the extension gives me an option without eating up viewing distances.
I'm hoping for a 12' to 13' wide 2.35 scope screen. Scope is an absolute requirement for me.
I'm working with Ted White (THANKS!) on soundproofing and will be doing clips, DD/GG on all walls and the ceiling. The rear wall will get DD/GG on both sides. Doors will actually be heavy 3-0 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 sealed, solid wood doors on the HT side for entrance and A/V closet. I'm trying not to put a single hole for electric or lighting in any wall or ceiling. HVAC and electric will be in side columns to be built on top of wall. Ceiling will have a box-beam/coffered ceiling and I will install the light cans in the beams.
Planning to do a starfield in the center of the coffered ceiling.
FAMILY ROOM WALL
The current wall between our FR and new HT has a fireplace with a HDTV above as our primary viewing area in the home. We have a design for the entire wall from a carpenter for a new mantle structure and doors where the existing two windows are now. We want hide the doorway and closet in this wall as much as we can, so the doors are actually being designed to look like built in wall cabinets.
EQUIPMENT
Don't even have a clue there yet. I'm a spend to where I get a difference guy. I don't mind buying used either. Looking for at least a 7.2 sound system, if not 9.2. We'll see.
Okay, it's a start. Don't know how long it will take since there is so much else going on in the home. I'll try to keep this post up-to-date with photos and logs of my progress. Wife says she wants to watch Christmas Vacation this Christmas. That's a pipe dream I believe!
