The Austin Home Theater - Page 3

Thanks Pete!

Yes I think your right. I spent over an hour cleaning up scrap wood pieces, stripped screws, and insulation today. Then the vacuum came in handy for all the sawdust

Phew! Midterms are over and I was able to make some progress this weekend.

I began by building and mounting the backer box for the 4-gang main switch box.



Then I put the finishing touches on the dead vent under the stairs. I connected the flex duct and then filled it with fiberglass insulation (A LOT more than I expected. )



Just before the duct was covered. I put it in an S shape, lifting it so that it follows the shape of the box under the stairs, to make the most of the space.



Filled completely.



Then I covered the front with two layers of drywall and Green Glue.



Next I framed a small wall in front of the dead vent. This is what I will install the shelving for all of the electronic components on. I plan to cover the space between shelves with black fabric and velcro so that I can remove it and access all of the wiring behind.



Then I framed another wall in front of that to house a bifold door which will close up the equipment closet.



All of the insulation is installed!





I left a few spots open to move drywall through.

And all of the Whisper Clips and hat channel on the ceiling are installed!





The next step is officially drywall! I have Friday off from school so my tentative plan is to move the drywall in then and rent the lift on Saturday. If I need some more time I will rent it on Sunday.

I also picked up some new theater seats! These are on closeout at Kmart of all places. For the price we just couldn't pass them up. A row of four was only about $500. For that much we can sell the couch we were going to use and have some "real" seats. I must say that they are very nice and if anyone is looking for a great deal take a look at Kmart before they are gone.



So that's where it stands today. I am looking forward to getting some more work done this weekend.

Now back to that Physics test...........

Thanks Nick. Your room looks like it will be awesome as well!

I'm glad I can help you out a little. I learned a lot from this forum so it's nice to know that I am giving back a little.

Thanks RTROSE!

Yes I did label all of the wires. I wrote with sharpie on all of the light colored ones and made little "flags" with tape to write on for the others. I should (hopefully) be able to sort it all out when the time comes.

I am very happy that the itching is almost over. I can't wait to cover it all up with the drywall so that I don't have to look at it anymore.

Haha thanks azula!

That would be my mother's picture. But I agree you've got to love the king of pop.

Way ahead of you there RTROSE. We own it on bluray

So this weekend deviated from the plan a little (story of my life I know). As I was preparing to start carrying all of the drywall downstairs my little guardian angel named Ted popped up over my shoulder and jogged my memory to the fact that I should install the drywall in the room tight up to the door jamb in order to eliminate that flanking path. So that threw everything off because it meant I had to get the door in first. But in order to get the door in I have to have the laminate floor installed in the entrance hallway so that it can sit on top of it. And in order to do the laminate floor in the hallway I have to have the drywall done in the hallway. So jumping right to the final product.... I have a completely sheetrocked hallway!!!







It took a while because there were so many little cuts around openings. The home theater door is the opening to the left in the first picture. The one straight ahead goes into the unfinished storage space. The third picture is the equipment closet with drywall on the two side walls (keeping the back open with removable panels to access wiring behind.) I also pulled a few more wires for a light in the equipment closet. The box in the third picture is for the switch. I'll be doing a drop ceiling under the HVAC trunk in this hallway.

So there you go! I must say that it is a pretty sweet looking hallway. Its nice to have a semi-finished space and it allowed me to get the drywall juices flowing. Looking forward to more work this weekend!!

Thanks Nick!

I've got some help here if I need to do some heavy lifting but I often spend my weekends alone working in the basement.

I am currently chugging along with the drywall and hope to have it completed pretty soon. I am going on a cruise this Saturday so I won't get much work done until the next weekend.

Well I've dragged myself back from the Bahamas and returned to the construction zone in my basement.

A quick update for you all:

The laminate floor in the hallway is installed (I had a little helper for this job ).



I then moved on to the door install. It took some time to get everything nice and square so that it opens and closes properly. The fact that it weighs over one hundred pounds made this only slightly more difficult. It's perfect now though and I couldn't be happier.



I also constructed the projector "backer box". If you remember this is so that the projector can be mounted inside the wall so that the lens is flush with the drywall in the room. This was necessary to get the size screen that I wanted. The box was constructed out of a layer of 3/4" OSB and 5/8" plywood with Green Glue between to preserve soundproofing.



And finally some teaser pics to get you all psyched for what is to come.





First layer of drywall is installed on the ceiling! And if you're wondering those areas full of screws are where the backer boxes for the recessed lights are secured.

My best friend. Who needs a drywall lift?


I'll close this post with a question for everyone. I'm trying to decide how to deal with the projector "backer box" and room drywall junction. The way I see it there are two options.

Option 1: Install both layers of drywall on the wall and then cut a hole the size of the outside dimensions of the box. Cover the exposed edge of the box with molding.

Option 2: Install the first layer of drywall and cut a hole the size of the outside dimensions of the box. Slide it in and drywall over the box. Then go back and cut a hole in the second layer of drywall the size of the inside dimensions of the box. This way the second layer of drywall will cover the exposed edge of the box but there will be a cut edge of drywall inside the box.

Here's a diagram of the two options showing a side view of the box and drywall:



I like option 2 better because I'd rather not draw more attention to the hole in the wall with molding. But I don't know how I'd deal with the cut drywall edge. Throw some mud on it? Just paint over it? Alternatively maybe go with option 1 and just paint the exposed edge of the box the same color as the wall and hope that it blends in? I'm not really sure.

Any thoughts/opinions/suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks to everyone! I'm looking forward to getting more drywall done this weekend.

Thanks RTROSE.

Yes the Bahamas are rather nice this time of year

Too bad I didn't get a visit from the trolls though.

The projector will be mounted upside down inside the box. I oversized it to allow plenty of airflow around the projector. This was after some consultation with Big and Ted. I'm hoping that the heat buildup won't be an issue. I will test it with a thermometer and cross that bridge if I have too.

I like your idea of the corner bead. I think that is what I will end up doing. Thanks!

Thanks smokarz! I really appreciate the kind words. Yes the seats are very nice and I'm lucky to have a Kmart that's only about ten minutes away. It's hard looking at them sitting in the garage though. I can't wait to get them in the theater.

I knew there was a name for the stuff. Thanks Tedd. I will definitely be going that route with the edge.

Thanks Chimera. I really appreciate the kind words. It takes time, planning, and hard work but it will all be worth it in the end. I'm sure that your room will come out great.

The seats have been on closeout for awhile so there might not be any in stock but it wouldn't hurt to check out your local Kmart as they might still have some.

For all those following I will have an update coming soon. I want to finish up the first layer of drywall before I post some pictures. It looks great so far and it's so nice to have something that actually looks like a room. I am very excited!

Thanks so much for the compliments Kickoa! I'm glad that I can inspire some people to get started with their project. It is so rewarding to walk down in the basement and see what has been accomplished and picture what is to come.

Last night I got the rest of the drywall down the stairs and into the basment. Whew! I'm happy to have that heavy lifting done. After school today I will spend some time hanging it.

Thanks guys! It does help to be 18 sometimes I guess

My mom and sister weren't happy though. They had to switch on and off every other sheet

Pics coming soon. Probably not until Friday or Saturday since tomorrow after school I'll be busy preparing for a calculus test and won't be able to get much done.

Haha thanks RT!

Eh I'm not too worried about the test though. Just have to review a little. If you're going to school for Aerospace Engineering next year you better like math...which I do...almost as much as building home theaters