[atolnay00]

Hello AVS Family,
I have been thumbing through the forum for a good couple of months and am finally getting to the stage in my build where I need some suggestions. I am in the process of finishing a daylight basement that will end up being about 2k sq when complete. I framed in my dedicated theater room which is 18.5'Lx16w, and a 4x4 component/electric panel closet. I had originally planned to put in French doors in the back of the room which opens up to the middle of the basement, but I am thinking of switching this to a single door next to the component room on the side of the theater. I like the look of the French doors but think it will end up wasting to much space and won’t allow me to have a rise all the way against the back wall that runs the full width of the room. I will upload a simple design that i have drawn up. Here are some of my additional ideas, I am looking for any help and ideas before continuing with the construction.

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Ceiling will have soffits on either side or run into a framed in stage on the screen wall. I will insulate and sheetrock the ceiling (after installing conduit and cables)

Stage will be boxed in with square columns on either side of room that will house L/R tower speakers. We are also running framing between the two columns but only 2-2.5 ft high which will house center and subs. This effect will also give me a nice recessed screen wall as well as hiding front speakers.

Riser will be pushed against back wall with a step on either side of the room. 2 rows 4 chairs each or for chairs in front and sofa on riser.

Trim trim and more trim, going for a contemparary look with dark (maybe black) trim and moulding. Carpeted, black screen inlet wall, black or brown celing. Also will be adding 2-3 pillars.

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[BIGmouthinDC]

Welcome, As drawn the 5 1/2 feet of room length is not enough for reclining theater seating you need 6 1/2

Be careful framing out your screen wall for the speakers that you don't create resonating cavities

Soundproofing?

 

[atolnay00]

I was planning on insulating the all walls, stage, riser and exterior door with threshhold. I was also thinking about adding acoustical panels at the end.

 

[BIGmouthinDC]

that is not soundproofing, that is just thinking you are soundproofing, If keeping the theater quiet and the bass rumble out of the bedrooms is important to you, read the articles at soundproofingcompany.com

 

[atolnay00]

Thanks for the info BIG, I will plan on isolating the walls and ceiling with clips and double 5/8 sheetrock with green glue inbetween. I will also seal the electrical boxes, switches, resessed lights, etc. I decided to go with a side door instead of the french doors in the back of the theater.

 

[Ted White]

Can you similarly isolate the 4 walls?

 

[atolnay00]

Hey Ted I can clip the four walls . I am most concerned with keeping sound and vibration going up through the ceiling but will isolate the four walls since I am starting from scratch.

 

[Ted White]

You are still OK with a smaller, single door?


Are there one or two doors in the theater?

 

[atolnay00]

I originally framed the room with French doors in the back of the theater that you are able to access from the middle of the basement. I thought this would be ascetically pleasing for the rest of the basement, but ultimately it would take away to much space from the theater room. My plans now are to frame in the door opening (1st pic) and put a single door on the right side of the room more towards the stage. This way it will be right in front of the on the left wall) component room and will allow me to run a riser the full width of the room and pushed against the back wall freeing up more space.

 

[Ted White]

Good plan on the door.


Do you have your HVAC figured out? Will you have any? Connect to main HVAC?


How about recessed lighting?


I'm not seeing the stairwell. Is that nearby?

 

[atolnay00]

Morning Ted,


Yes I am planning for HVAC and will be tying into the main unit and running returns. I will also be adding a heat pump to help my unit with the workload. I am going recessed in the entire basement and may use led for the theater. I also want to have at least four (maybe 6) bump outs with sconces in the room. Here are some pics to give you a better view of the whole basement. The basement is divided into three long sections the theater will be in the back middle section so will have rooms on either side and the back. I am working on a google skethup of the basement and will post when done.


This is from the stairs



From the back of theater looking back at the stairs (back right)



From the daylight side of the basement (right side of the theater) thi is where the entrance will be and I have already framed in the electrical/component room.



Thanks for the advice!

Adam

 

[BIGmouthinDC]

Other tips for sound containment.


Plan a design that minimizes penetrations in the drywall bunker, locate switches, outlets and light fixtures inside the room using columns, (What you call bump outs) stage and riser as locations for electrical boxes. If you must install an electrical gang box or recessed lighting, plan for backer boxes or putty pads to avoid turning your room into swiss cheese. Bring all your wiring into the theater through small holes and caulk around the holes and wires.


Think about your HVAC. Plan duct work that doesn't transfer sound to the rest of the house. Plan to address the holes you cut into the room to bring the ductwork into the theater. If you can run your duct work and plenums inside soffits running longitudinally and separated from the entrance points you can reduce the sound escaping. Line the soffits with acoustically absorbent material. Plan enough HVAC, you will need to cool the theater in the winter. Be aware that air flow through the ducts and vent grills can be very noisy in a otherwise quiet theater room You need to oversize your ductwork and plenums to avoid this problem.


Frame and drywall a basic box first. Build the stage, riser, soffits and columns inside the drywall bunker


Fill the stage with sand and leave a gap between the framing and the finished walls.


Buy a 1 3/4 thick solid core door on a custom jam to accommodate your extra thick walls. Plan for perimeter door seals and an automatic door bottom. See Ted.


Other things, Use a 4x4 ft (or bigger) piece of 5/8 plywood as the first ceiling layer in the area where the projector will be hung. Put an outlet in the plywood with an old work box and back butter it with a putty pad just before you lift the plywood into place. Run a 1 1/2 to 2 inch electrical conduit from the equipment location to the projector area. Cut a hole in the plywood for the conduit.

 

[atolnay00]

Thanks Big Great info!

I am sure all that was somewhere in the forums so I appreciate you reiterating. I will try to implement as much of you're suggestions as possible.

 

[Dennis Erskine]

Rather than making the attempt to "implement as much" as you can, why don't you stop doing any work on the project at all. Draw up your plans, incorporate what you think you need to implement in those plans and the post the plans. Those that have gone through this process before can turn out to be very helpful and guide you away from "oh damns" which waste time, effort, money and perhaps lead to a disappointing result at the end.

 

[atolnay00]

Hi Dennis,

I have actually halted any additional framing and will be framing out the rest of my basement first before continuing with the theater. I want to keep the costs down at this stage of the build but it seems that soundproofing is not expensive just needs good planning and implemention. I am learning how to use google sketchup and will post plans soon for review before I continue.


Thanks

 

[atolnay00]

Just a quick update for the thread. I am still in the process of writing up some plans for floor-plan, stage, speaker layout, riser, and columns. I will post soon to get some feedback before I continue framing the room. In the meantime I just ordered the BIC F12 after reading searching for the best budget woofer on the forum, I will probably end up using it (at first) in the theater room once completed.

 

[atolnay00]

Floorplan below. I will post more specific plans for the stage, riser, and columns soon. Any thoughts?

 

[BIGmouthinDC]

Looking at the riser. You will not be able to position the seats in front of columns as shown and still have enough room to recline. Plan 6 1/2 for the seating plus the depth of the columns. It also looks like a very tight squeeze between the side columns and the front row seating. Side speakers are in the wrong columns. Your little 12 inch sub will have a hard time filling this size theater. Your L/R channel speakers located so close to the side walls may require some acoustical treatments on the side and may benefit from angling into the room.

 

[atolnay00]

I think the 1' depth colums may get in the way, I will have to play around a bit with the depth and type of speakers I want to install to get the right size. As far as the riser goes i should be able to make it 6.5 or even 7 no problem, I accounted for the recline in previous plan attemps but totally missed it with this draw up! I was originally planning on putting sconces on the columns but nixed the idea, because I really want to hide the speakers and dont want to drill into the shell. I am still framing out the rest of the basement which will include 2 large bedrooms,1 bath, large bar/family room. After those rooms are framed I will go back to the theater and finish frame, put up 1st layer of sheet, and start on the stage and riser. Thanks for the help BIG, i am glad i posted before continuing to frame, I would have made some very critical mistakes!

 

[atolnay00]

Making alot of progress with framing, we are about 75% complete with the whole basement. Once framing is complete I am going to build the riser so and after that we will be running the boxes,cans, switches etc. I am planning on putting up the drywall shell behind and sides of the riser before building but leaving the rest of the drywal alone until the rest of the electric, hvac are run and plumbing is roughed in


Plans for riser:

6'x16'

Built with 2x12

Two inner steps on either side with BIG's 8$ xmas bulb setup

4 outlets, two on top and two in front for chairs etc.


Questions:

Are the 2x12's overkill, can i get away with smaller boards stacked and save money?

Should i fill sand, insulation, or both.

What is the best way of turning it into a decent bass trap? (I know I will need to vent the sides and back)

Should i have an underlayment?


I have some good ideas but just wanted to get some more perspective on these questions.

See pics below for my inspiration for the riser.