The "Get it done before we move and can't enjoy it" DIY Home Theater

Wow, it's really amazing all of the work that gets done on this site. I've spent only about the last 2 months (for my HT 2.0) reading posts here, and I'm 100% sure that even with the next 2 years of unfettered reading time, and all of the handy consolidated threads, that I will never get through it all.

Funny thing is, that I'm a planner (seems that I'm in good company out here ), but if I take the time planning that I want to, I'll never get around to doing the work/enjoying the result before we move again (ETA is about 4 years).

So with that, I embark on my latest HT project. Here's what I'm working with:
Unfinished basement room - 17' x 12'
Planned finished HT - 15'11" x 11'6"
Budget - About $5K - give or take, depending on how well I can negotiate with "The Boss"

Details on the room
3 walls (East, West, and South) poured concrete, w/ fiberglass blanket anchored directly to concrete.
1 wall (North) existing unfinished side of finished basement rec-room area
2 glider windows in South wall - I intend to finish over this in favor of room symmetry

I'll be uploading some pics to help illustrate shortly.

I have taken (quite literally) a LOT of my theater inspiration/design, this go round, from Rob's Arthouse theater - because it was truly miraculous what he did with a nearly identically sized space to mine. Rob, if you read this, thank you!

I've got an equipment list that I think will work for me
The only item I have purchased so far is the projector.
PJ - Optoma HD180 - picked up from a deal on Woot a while back
AVR - Denon 2112CI
Front Speakers - Polk TSi 200s
Center - Polk CS20
Sub - Polk PSW110
Surr. & Rear Surrounds - Polk OWM5s

I'm pretty new to the concepts of acoustic design, and have only a slightly better handle on the video design. But I'm reading as much as I possibly can to try and catch up. To be honest, I'm worn down with some of the research. Being that I'm a type A kinda guy, I don't like to see lots of "grey" areas, but there seem to be a lot of them when you get right down to it (and I'm not just referring to the screen color).

More to come as I get to work. I would appreciate any input you guys have on any of the equipment/design/build. Be gentle :-)

Thanks

Alan

Here are the walls as they stand today

The North wall is going to have to change a bit, as you'll see by the floorplans when I upload them - moving the door (maybe getting a larger door too)
Attachment 240195

For the South wall, I'm going to finish over the windows, to keep my soffit nice an uniform (sort of)
Attachment 240196

The East wall will house the stage and screen
Attachment 240197

More to come as I figure out posting with pics.....

Sorry, noob question, but I can only post 3 pics in a message? I swear others have done more.

Anyway, here's the West wall
Attachment 240198

And the ceiling (or most of it anyway)
Attachment 240199

So here's what I have so far - Sorry if there are inconsistencies between the views.

E.g. The South Wall shows an elevation of the stage and pillars but the north wall doesn't - just a printing checkbox I missed with Visio

Master Floorplan
Attachment 240203

North Wall
Attachment 240205

South Wall
Attachment 240206

East Wall
Attachment 240207

West Wall
Attachment 240208

 

GET_IT_DONE_Floorplan.pdf 46.6181640625k . file

 

GET_IT_DONE_North_Wall.pdf 51.81640625k . file

 

GET_IT_DONE_South_Wall.pdf 38.7744140625k . file

 

GET_IT_DONE_East_Wall.pdf 36.6533203125k . file

 

GET_IT_DONE_West_Wall.pdf 37.40625k . file

Ah! OK, Thanks. I'll look into that....

OK, so I need to look into a hosting site for images. That might derail me for a bit.

Until then, here are the last 2 parts of the plan

The Rear seating Riser
Attachment 240209

The Stage and "Pillars"
Attachment 240210

I'll look into more tomorrow.

 

GET_IT_DONE_Riser.pdf 36.5341796875k . file

 

GET_IT_DONE_Stage_and_Pillars.pdf 44.513671875k . file

Thanks, dc_pilgrim. Looking into that right now....

Just visited the local permit office today, and got the paperwork going there. Kinda pricy at about $250 ($50 for permit, then $50 for each of 4 inspections), but I guess the double check for my amateur work will make it worth while.

And as a bonus, the inspectors had a couple of good pieces of advice for me. Keeping in mind the fire code, which I rarely see mentioned in builds that I've read about here, was a great catch.

They specifically mentioned that spaces where opened walls meet open joists, there must be a fireblock put in place (OSB, drywall, etc.). This goes for the 3" gap between my framed wall and the concrete basement wall, as well as where open framed wall connects to open soffit ends.

Not sure if I'll attach the soffit after the drywall is up, or if I'll just box in the ends as suggested. Seems easier to just attach it after the drywall is up.

Anyone else have any thoughts on that?

So in chatting with the inspectors at the permit office, they suggested another riser platform design. It was solely based on a comment by me to place roofing felt under the current riser to prevent the need for pressure treated lumber.

Anyway, the design was interesting, but I wasn't sure if there was an impact of using a design that did not extend all the way to the floor. Seems like it might make the acoustics a bit more challenging, but it does offer some benefits too (like running in conduit without cutting into any framing).

Anyone have any thoughts on the use of this elevated design? (PS I hope this image URL from photobucket works OK)

Thanks, filetandrelease. I went back and forth on the permit question as well. I am going to do all of the work myself, and I guess all of the "what-ifs", combined with the fact that my better half is a natural worrier, led me to take the "safe" route. I realize that it is a money making machine for the county, but I am learning things as well (re: the fire code modifications), so I put it as a net win.

So now that I've cut the check for the permit, and there's no going back, I guess "That's my story, and I'm sticking to it".

Thanks too for the kudos on the design.

Just got a quote today for running HVAC into the room. The quote was reasonable ($300 for 2-6" flex lines, no return), but I'm pretty sure I'm going to do the work myself. I talked with the contractor about a return, and he said it wasn't necessary.

I wasn't sure where to put the vents in the room, however. He recommended directly in the ceiling (as opposed to running through the soffit), about 2 ft. in from the finished wall.

I don't know why, but I was worried about having the vent in the path of the projector, and it looking like it was snowing with little bits of dust in the light path. Maybe I'm over-analyzing it.


I picked some PT plywood, and a sheet of OSB to cover the windows and put in the firestops respectively. Haven't done any actual work yet, but I have the stuff

And I ordered my receiver today as well. I got a GREAT price on the Denon AVR-2112CI - only $450 shipped (brand new - from an authorized reseller) over at electronics-expo.com. They were great to deal with. Hopefully the receiver will arrive quickly, and then I can comment on the entire experience.

Got the verbal approval from the county on the permit, and it should be arriving in the next 7 days or so.

Definitely getting excited now!