[blister64]

Blister64 Whole Basement Build w/ Entertainment Area (round 2) With Videos!!

So it's been almost 2 years since I've stopped my last build thread due to moving (https://www.avsforum.com/forum/15-g.../2454122-blister64-basement-build-thread.html) but I am at it again with the new house! Unfortunately we ended up moving just after I finished all the framing, so it was cut short.

Fast forward to know, we have moved back closer to home (in KS now) and I have been working on the unfinished basement in our new home. We have been here just over a year and have been working on the main level making things how we wanted it. Definitely learned a lot to help with the basement build. We have a baby coming by the end of the year (

!!!!) and I have been working like crazy since September to get the basement complete. I work from home and my office is currently where the nursery is going, so I'm hoping to get it done enough to move my office down there mid January before returning to work. But enough of that....

As with my house, the entertainment area will be a open concept to make the most of the space we have. I'm sure we could have done a dedicated "theater room", but we also wanted to add a spare bedroom, separate office area, bar, and TV area. I think what we have come up with will turn out great once finished.

Instead on taking pictures and documenting everything that way, I have decided to make short videos of work within about a weeks time. Photobucket started charging for linking pictures to forums (ruined many good write-ups I've done, not doing that again), so YouTube it is! I may link some photos here and there, but my main way of showing the build will be through video. I feel I am better able to explain what I am doing in the video as well as get a better visual of what's going on.

The entertainment area will be in the middle of the layout with the fireplace/office on one side, and the bedroom, bathroom, and bar on the other. Plans for the area include a separate closet for all the A/V equipment, projector, 110+ inch screen, 5.2.2 atmos setup with the option to expand to 7.2.4 in the future, and most likely a custom speaker build along the way. I built the speakers that are in my upstairs living room (HiVi Swope diy set) and really enjoyed making my own LCR set. I also plan on doing a build with either 2 Stereo Integrity 18" subs or one 24" sub.

I am actually well on my way to getting things done and have 7 videos so far on my YouTube channel. I'll post the link below. Thanks for checking it out and let me know what you think!! My editing skills get better as time goes on

Life of Bliss YouTube Channel-

This is the first video. Click on Playlists for all of the Basement Build Videos








Here's a little update on how the basement looks right now.

 

[blister64]

For those of you wanting skip to the current progress, here is the latest video. I have finished electrical and am in the process of running network and speaker wire now. There are 7 videos so far in the basement build. I have about 10 days before the sheetrock guys start.

 

[blister64]

Here is an overhead of the plans for the basement, as well as a few 3D images. Mainly look at it for the layout, not the furniture or colors or anything like that. Just gives an idea of how the space will be laid out.

This is a good reference to what I am trying to do in the videos. I could not justify making a dedicated theater room with the space provided, but am looking forward to utilizing this area soon!!

Those big boxes under the screen are subs. Again, may change in the future. General layout idea

The ruler is there to show the rough distance for seating and the projector.

 

[blister64]

For those of you interested in some pics (duh!!) here are a few on the recent progress and some different angles.

After a lot of discussion, we decided to get insulation for the entire basement ceiling. Went with R19. We were able to buy all the insulation at Menards when they had great sales going on, so it only cost roughly $550 to insulate everything. That's all the ceiling insulation shown in my truck. And a few pics of starting it in the bedroom.

 

[blister64]

There's also a few pics from different locations in the basement. First from the seating area looking at the screen wall, then from the bar towards my office, then the office towards the bar, then from the doorway by the stairs looking towards the office. Hope you followed all that

 

[BasementHT5]

Nice re-start! Just so I'm reading the plans correctly, is that a snack bar behind the couch between the screen and pool table area or a full wall?

 

[blister64]

Nice re-start! Just so I'm reading the plans correctly, is that a snack bar behind the couch between the screen and pool table area or a full wall?

Thanks! That's actually just a ruler from the editing software I added so you could get an idea of the dimensions... So neither! All walls are built in the pictures and last few videos on youtube. It's an open space from bar to fireplace pretty much

 

[blister64]

Took out all the old switches and wiring today. Don't cut any wires that are still hot... and don't ask me how I know!!😅 cleaned up the projector wall and finished running/securing all the wires. Added some LED lights along the stairs as well while I had the wall open. This will all of course be in the upcoming video...

Will add pics once on my computer

 

[BasementHT5]

Thanks! That's actually just a ruler from the editing software I added so you could get an idea of the dimensions... So neither! All walls are built in the pictures and last few videos on youtube. It's an open space from bar to fireplace pretty much

Got it! I'll be keeping tabs. I'm starting construction now on my snack bar (behind the theater seats) and wetbar in my basement build. I've snapped photos but haven't added anything to my build thread. I may start a new thread just for the bars as my build thread was pretty scattered and disorganized (which is similar to how I did the build ). I only work on them during the weekends or a day off from work, depending on my schedule and family events. As such, my progress is extremely slow.

Are you doing the bar yourself? Wetbar, keg tap, wine fridge, etc.? I already had a 1978 wetbar that I tore out, so the plumbing and drain are already there and I couldn't necessitate having a keg tap. So, I'm just going with a standard wetbar.

 

[Ladeback]

Great progress so far, subscribed.

I see you are starting off with 5.2.2, where are your side surrounds going, in the ceiling? Does that mean you are going to use up firing speakers for Atmos? Just trying to understand your layout. Nice work so far.

What pat of Kansas are you living in, close to KC? I seen you are a Missouri fan.

 

[blister64]

Yes I will be doing the bar in the coming months. Maybe not as quickly as I currently have been working though due to our baby being due in 3 weeks! But yes, full size fridge, dishwasher, sink/disposal, probably at least a 50" tv, etc... Might do a separate fridge (something I can get on Craigslist real cheap) to do a few smaller kegs and run some taps through the wall. I do home brew so that would be sooooo much easier than bottling. All of this will be down the road though. Really, most of the bar and theater won't be done for a while. We are also trying to "Dave Ramsey" our school loans lol. We just really needed needed a space for my home office with my current one becoming the nursery. So things will slow down after I get the tile, trim, and carpet in unfortunately. But I'll still post the progress...

The rear surrounds will be either in wall or bookshelf style speakers in the slanted wall off the office and the short wall off the spare bedroom. I don't really like all ceiling surround sound so this was my best option with the layout. 2 atmos speakers will be in the ceiling. 2 more ceiling speakers will be by the bar for that TV or for music.

I grew up in KCMO, but am living in Wichita currently. I make it that way pretty often as family is there.

 

[Ladeback]

Congrats on the new addition. Since you are not to far from KC you need to check out the Kansas City Area Home Theater Meets and Movie night Events thread. There was a big Theater crawl this last February and I believe there is another one that will take place sometime in 2019. I have put both threads on here for you to check out.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/61-area-home-theater-meets/1496367-kansas-city-area-home-theater-meets-movie-night-events.html


http://www.avsforum.com/forum/61-ar...uary-2017-kansas-city-home-theater-crawl.html

 

[blister64]

Congrats on the new addition. Since you are not to far from KC you need to check out the Kansas City Area Home Theater Meets and Movie night Events thread. There was a big Theater crawl this last February and I believe there is another one that will take place sometime in 2019. I have put both threads on here for you to check out.

I will do that!! That would be awesome... Appreciate the links!

Here are a few pics of what has been done yesterday. Should have another video out this weekend as well.

The speakers are the Monoprice 8" Amber (left) and 8" Alpha (right). x2 Ambers will be for atmos duty in theater area and x2 Alphas will be for above the bar for the bar TV or music.

**Pics of stairway were showing up correct on my computer but not here. sorry...

 

[BasementHT5]

Congratulations on upcoming addition to the family! That usually changes things a bit, so I would encourage you to finish what you can on your build before the arrival. Afterwards, you'll be "preoccupied".

I'm doing my basement in stages too for time and budgetary constraints. With the consideration of the increased sleeping that will be occurring in your home, have you considered the level of soundproofing for the space? If not, I'd encourage you to read through the soundproofing thread that's in dedicated theater forum. It's extremely helpful. Although some there subscribe to the "all or nothing" approach, I took a middle of the road approach to reduce as much sound leakage as I could given that's it's an open space. I wanted to escape the kids and watch a movie without worrying about waking them.

 

[blister64]

Congratulations on upcoming addition to the family!.....

Thanks! We are really excited about it

I have looked into several options for sound proofing the place, but we are also on a restrictive budget with the upcoming baby and trying to pay off school loans. That's why furniture and equipment will be the last things we buy!!

I decided to insulate all walls with R13 and the ceiling with R19. The doors will be a "duracore" doors. I replaced all of the doors upstairs with those recently and have been pleased with the quality for the price.

It will not be soundproof. Or even close to it. No double layered, green glue treating sheetrock here... But I believe the insulation will do much better than our empty walls upstairs. The wife didn't even want to do the ceiling insulation!!! I convinced her that was the minimum we should be doing haha.

 

[RBalwinski]

The wife didn't even want to do the ceiling insulation!!! I convinced her that was the minimum we should be doing haha.

I have a room similar to yours and I didn't, now I can't watch any movies when the wife is home upstairs in the living room. So great idea.

Okay I can watch movies, just not at the volume I consider appropriate.

 

[BasementHT5]

I used the foamular board R3 on the exterior of the walls, then used R13 pink stuff in between the studs. I used R19 in the ceiling (above the drop ceiling). I already had solid core doors. It does a pretty good job with sound insulation. I could definitely tell the before/after effects since I had used the space prior to the renovations. The only sound traveling at all is usually through the HVAC system. If you have any returns or HVAC runs in your movie area, I would make sure that you wrap those and insulate around them well. Then you should be good to go!

 

[blister64]

Yea I'm planning on stuffing insulation in there pretty well... I essentially have nothing but that to do the next 3 days I'm itchy just thinking about it haha

 

[blister64]

New video drop...

I have 3/4 of the insulation done at this point. Finishing up today and should have a new video in a few days.

 

[blister64]

So glad this week is over... I've never been so itchy my whole life!

Drywall going up today. Should look like a different place by tomorrow. Please enjoy the fluffy brown cloud picture.