[AcroFlyer]

Well, I finally (well, almost) got my frames done for one side wall of my theater. Progress has been slow due to work and laziness lol.


The soffit frame is suspended with a French Cleat and industrial strength Velcro. I am building the frames right on the surfaces so they fit nice and tight. Of course, the appropriate amount of batting and insulation will be placed in the back of the frames.


Tell me what you think so far ???


Chris

 

[AcroFlyer]

and from the floor looking up...

 

[AcroFlyer]

and one more...

 

[AcroFlyer]

Sorry !

 

[JoeBryant]

Hi Chris,


Am I right in thinking these are the frames that you'll cover with fabric and then install over your accoustic panels? Similar to how Jerry Pease did his theater?


I'm very interested in this way of handling the fabric on the walls but haven't fully decided which way I'll go - with the panels or the more "normal" style of stapling to furring strips.


Any thoughts there?


Thanks.


J

 

[PAP]

Looks like a typical GOM installation to me rather than the removable frame technique.

 

[AcroFlyer]

J,


>Am I right in thinking these are the frames that you'll cover with fabric >and then install over your accoustic panels? Similar to how Jerry Pease >did his theater?


Yessir it is.


>I'm very interested in this way of handling the fabric on the walls but >haven't fully decided which way I'll go - with the panels or the >more "normal" style of stapling to furring strips.

>

>Any thoughts there?


When discussing with my wife the conventional way (furring strips on the wall, staple, etc.) and the obstacles thereof, she said "Why don't we just make a frame and wrap the fabric around the edges ?". Now I told her that it was funny she mentioned it because I saw this technique on AVS and have given it a little thought but was focusing on the primary technique.


After further discussion we decided that the pro's for doing the frames outweighed the pro's for the other method. One major "pro" with frames is you can change the color of your theater easier, IMHO. Also, should a tear or some other accident happen with the panels you can replace the whole panel if necessary.


I also wanted to be able to tune the theater by removing or adding batting where necessary. To me, panels will make that chore a little easier. I am sure that as time goes by, we will start to see the subtle changes we could make to the stock configuration as far as sound goes. Do not get me wrong, I'm no pro at this at all and will probably learn by trial and error to what sounds good to my wife and I.


Well, I hope this helps you ! If you have anything specific you want to know, please ask. I have gained all I know from this very site. It has been from folks sharing information that has spawned a new hobby for me (like I need another !) and it has been very rewarding indeed.


Let me know if I can help in any other way...


Chris

 

[AcroFlyer]

Pap,


I guess it does look like a typical install while the frame is on the surface. I still have to finish the soffit frame and then the task of the first removal of it will be at hand. I say this because while I was careful with the glue, I am wondering if some adhered to the soffit itself ! Time will tell. If it does turn out that I have a "sticky" problem, I have already thought of some ways to get around that (wax paper, etc.) for the other side.


Once I get the soffit frame down, and if it is in one piece, I will post some pictures of it removed. I hope to do that in the next week or so.


Chris

 

[JoeBryant]

Thanks Chris,


Appreciate the info. Looks great, keep us posted!


I'm looking hard at the panel method there. I like the idea of being able to replace a panel if something happened. (I have 4 kids under 10 years old. They're great kids but... ) I never really thought of being more able to make tweaks with the panels but that's a great point too.


Keep us posted!


J

 

[PAP]

Are you doing walls that way too or just the columns/soffits.


I still don't understand your system, as the first picture looks like it all is screwed together - don't see how it can come down in panels.

 

[AcroFlyer]

Pap,


>Are you doing walls that way too or just the columns/soffits.


The walls are the same....panels. The walls in the pictures have the frames installed. We wanted to make sure the colors were acceptable so we went ahead and built and covered these before ordering the huge amount of fabric required for the task. It passed the WAF so we are ordering the full amount soon.


>I still don't understand your system, as the first picture looks like it all is

>screwed together - don't see how it can come down in panels.


As stated in my original post, these are being built right on the surfaces. Think of the surface as a "jig". I am gluing the joints then screwing them together. Some of the screws you see are to hold the whole thing in place while being built.


Once I get the whole thing complete, I will then take the screws out that are holding it in place and remove the frame. The soffit frame is being built as one big piece so there will be no seams.


I hope this helps to clear things up. If not or if you have any other questions...fire away !


Chris

 

[mich5]

A very basic and possibly stupid question here. I saw the technique and was wondering how the frames were built. It looks like MDF was used and sandwitched together using glue... Am I right? Then the frames are attached to drywall using velcro... right?

 

[AcroFlyer]

Mich5,


The basic structure is indeed built with MDF. Everything in my theaters basic structure is MDF. I am now constructing the frames on top of the basic structure.


One thing I learned, as with all carpentry, make sure the basic structure is square and level at all costs ! I payed particular attention to making sure everything was completely square, level, and plum by drawing the structure on the wall and floor first (from my plans) before cutting any wood.


I then used my "drawing" to cut all the wood to length. All that was left was to glue and screw it together. Plus I cut the wood in batches to speed things up cause I hate cleaning my room after cutting MDF ! This stuff really creates allot of dust (wear a mask and goggles !). If you cut your wood in batches, make sure that you account for the blade width too !


I first started with a circular saw, then got a table saw. All I can say is...if you want to cut your cutting time down, get a table saw and you will speed that task up by 50% at least ! The rip-fence and slide really made getting things square a piece of cake.


The neat thing about the method used to build these theaters is the basic structure does not have to be pretty. Although nice carpentry is always pretty to behold, the basic structure can have small cosmetic flaws that you really don't care about because it will be covered in wall treatments. Of course, nothing can hide an un-square or un-level situation so why my warning above. Also, you got to make sure everything is glued and screwed and tight for vibration concerns. There is just no way you can get tight from an unsquare structure.


Hope this helps ! Keep um commin !


Chris

 

[mich5]

Thanks for the info and tips. So, the frames are attached to the drywall using velcros, right? Also, from Jerry Pease's theater building thread, I was wondering how he secured his columns. To the wall or to the floor/ceiling?

 

[AcroFlyer]

Mich5,


I know Jerry probably did a fine job (I've looked at his pics, he is really a talented person !) but I am not sure how he secured his columns or where he positioned his velcro.


I built my columns by framing with furring strips then skinning with MDF. The furring stips that are flush with the sheetrock got nails where studs were convenient and sheetrock anchors where it was not. I also used construction adhesive to help with any rattles from vibration. One other thing that I did with the anchors was use Blue Loc-Tite on the threads so they would not back out due to vibration. The furring strips that came in contact with the floor got nails and adhesive.


I am using velcro to secure the frames to the walls. I am using a French Cleat on the soffit along with velcro to secure it since it is one big frame.


Chris

 

[mich5]

AcroFlyer,

Thanks a lot for your answers. do you have pictures of what you described? Thanks.

 

[AcroFlyer]

Mich5,


Which part are you speaking of and I will see...


Chris

 

[mich5]

How you secure columns. I guess you built the columns in before the carpet, right? The reason I was interested in Jerry Pease's work was that his columns went in after the carpet and fabric panels. Thanks for your help.

 

[AcroFlyer]

Mich5,


Yessir. My columns are built-in. We thought about the removables but could not come up with a good reason to do so.


The columns in my theater are also load bearing (support for the soffit) so we went ahead and just did them as built-ins.


Sorry if I took the long path to a short answer !


Chris

 

[snooktarpon]

Chris,


What is the fabric (brand, type, and color) that you have on your walls? I like the looks of it.


Sincerely,

snooktarpon