[JTA1029]

Hello all,

Here's what I have:
Optoma HD141X Projector
Unfinished basement with primary usable space dimensions of 11'6" by 30'6"
Spare time and money

Here's where I'm at:
I've sealed the concrete walls and begun adhering rigid foam insulation.
I've started the process of designing what I have in mind for interior walls that "fit" the layout of the basement and what I have in mind.

Here's my problem:
The plumbing is on a wall measuring 11'6", there is a 55" wide window on the wall adjacent to the wall with the plumbing. I don't really want a restroom that's almost 12' by 8' with a 55" window in it, but if I make the alotted area for the restroom smaller, say about 7' wide, then I'm left with an area almost 4' in width, 8' in length, with a 55" window in it. What do you suggest?

Additional Info:
I plan on doing 90% of the work myself. The only things set in stone are the foundation walls as I have not begun doing anything past that. Linked are a couple sketchups with dimensions of the unfinished area of the basement. I have in mind either a 100" diag or 120" diag 16:9 projector screen on the bottom wall in the images, which would put my optimal throw distance either 11'3" or 13'5", respectively. I have little experience in this kind of construction but I love DIY projects and I'm a single guy that has sufficient time to work on this for as much as 12 or more hours a week. I have a lot of experience with electronics / media stuff, but not as much as most of the people on here do, I'm sure!!)

I can't hyperlink the URL yet (first post), but it's: on imgur and the important part of the URL is "/a/bbhq9"

Let me know what you think, please!

 

[BIGmouthinDC]

I think you need to make a few more posts so you can attach a picture, My brain can't wrap around your layout.

 

[JTA1029]

Agreed

You're correct!

I will post for a day or so and then bump this thread when I can attach images.

Thank you.

 

[billwil]

Hello all,

Here's what I have:
Optoma HD141X Projector
Unfinished basement with primary usable space dimensions of 11'6" by 30'6"
Spare time and money

Here's where I'm at:
I've sealed the concrete walls and begun adhering rigid foam insulation.
I've started the process of designing what I have in mind for interior walls that "fit" the layout of the basement and what I have in mind.

Here's my problem:
The plumbing is on a wall measuring 11'6", there is a 55" wide window on the wall adjacent to the wall with the plumbing. I don't really want a restroom that's almost 12' by 8' with a 55" window in it, but if I make the alotted area for the restroom smaller, say about 7' wide, then I'm left with an area almost 4' in width, 8' in length, with a 55" window in it. What do you suggest?

Additional Info:
I plan on doing 90% of the work myself. The only things set in stone are the foundation walls as I have not begun doing anything past that. Linked are a couple sketchups with dimensions of the unfinished area of the basement. I have in mind either a 100" diag or 120" diag 16:9 projector screen on the bottom wall in the images, which would put my optimal throw distance either 11'3" or 13'5", respectively. I have little experience in this kind of construction but I love DIY projects and I'm a single guy that has sufficient time to work on this for as much as 12 or more hours a week. I have a lot of experience with electronics / media stuff, but not as much as most of the people on here do, I'm sure!!)

I can't hyperlink the URL yet (first post), but it's: on imgur and the important part of the URL is "/a/bbhq9"

Let me know what you think, please!

I don't think you can do a home theater in a basement...I've never seen that done before.

 

[JTA1029]

Post #5 .

 

[JTA1029]

Imgur Album.

The area in the middle of the room is wasted in those layouts as well as the top left corner. I'm very bad at this.

 

[Tedd]

How about disguising the sump pump area with a stage and AT screen?
Then rotate the room ninety degrees.


The bathroom could be expanded to the full width, and compartmentalized.

 

[JTA1029]

Thanks

Ted, that's actually a pretty good idea that I hadn't thought of. The window being in the sink area wouldn't be so bothersome. It opens directly to absolutely nothing anyways, since it's a basement window.

The rotating the theater to face south is a good idea as well. The possible issue here is that the ceiling is lower on that south space. I've added some pictures to the imgur album that should help visualize this.

I had an idea last night of instead of projecting on the west wall, projecting on the north wall (the longest wall), and covering up the window. There is a deck above that window so I'm pretty sure that it doesn't count as a fire escape the way it sits anyways. I know I wouldn't try to escape through it.

The seating would then be in the lower ceiling portion and would have a cool "cave-like" feel to it. The projector would probably have to be mounted directly above the seating area though, and it may be a kind of tight fit. Plus, I'm not sure how loud the fan is on it (it should arrive by 8 tonight). The back height (lowest height) is 76", the highest height (right below the large beam) is 82".

I think I can re-arrange the plumbing on the Sump Pump and have it such that it takes up a much smaller space, only a foot or so off the ground. Then I could possibly box in a subwoofer right there? What do you think?


BTW, thank you so much for taking the time to help me out with this. I really genuinely do appreciate it.

 

[Tedd]

Doesn't look too bad to me.


Your space has many issues I had, but in a narrower space.


I had a drain cleanout in my stage area, not a sump pump. Soffits and HVAC
sheet metal issues too. An AT screen wall hides a lot. Masking system, soffits,
a corner bite out of the foundation, a sand filled stage, two very large and not so
WAF friendly subs. Three JTR T8's and their mono amps too.


I'd play a game of inches and try to widen your room too, while keeping it symmetrical.


I like what Nyal is doing with smaller spaces, and Art Install.


http://www.artinstall.ru/en/projects/crystal

http://www.artinstall.ru/en/projects/loft (no gear up front for me, though....)


http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/

 

[Tedd]

BTW, how tall is the basement?

 

[JTA1029]

Ted, I can't reply to PM's until I hit 15 posts . So I cut and pasted my response below:

Wow. That is incredible.

I don't think mine could ever compare to that. I can't imagine the money he put in to that!!

Yeah, my seating needs are minimal. Single guy, I live across the country from most of my friends so I don't really see it being used by more than a couple of people at a time. I just hooked up the projector and it looks amazing. Now that I see how good the picture is, I kind of want to make the screen stupid big. It looks decent on concrete foundation, it will look so much better on a proper surface.

Foundation to floor joist is 7'10", after ceiling is completed, it will be about 7'8".

 

[Tedd]

There's cool big and there's stupid big. I suggest you do push the screen size some, but allow for some bulb
degradation, and keep the screen size so your eyes don't jump around on the screen real estate. You want to be
able to take in the entire screen without moving your eyes and head.

 

[JTA1029]

Alright. Thanks. What do you think about the subwoofer built in right next to the seating with the projector being mounted directly above like the last layout I put together had? would either of those things be problematic? And covering up the window with drywall... Is that a potential problem, even though the other side of it is covered with a deck?

 

[Tedd]

Lots of people drywall over windows. It might be a problem if the window gets damaged and needs replacing,
but drywall is easy to cut out and repair. So one needn't think of drywall as much of a barrier.


Proper subwoofer placement is a little more involved then just sticking a subwoofer anyone. And ideally several
subwoofers are good for smoothing out bass response, and dealing with placement issues. Are you thinking of just
planting a subwoofer behind the seating, or building one into the side wall?

 

[JTA1029]

Well, I was thinking about in the corner where the sump pump is. I'm going to have to "box in" the plumbing for it anyways, and it's in a corner, so I figured it might be a good place for the sub.

BTW, I set the projector facing that odd shape like you had suggested, and it looks really good. I think it might end up being the projection wall. I really like what DavidK442 did in this build, I think I could end up with something similar, though his ceiling is MUCH taller and the area on either side of the screen would be smaller if I were to use that little wall where the sump pump is as the projection wall.

I'm going to continue on with insulating and framing the exterior walls, though I'll be out of town this coming week for work. I'll update the album when I can. Thanks again!

 

[Tedd]

You will need to design in access for the sump pump, but a low stage might just work in there,
and a DIY acoustically transparent screen wall would visually erase some of the depth under the
soffit.


Is it a more media room look you want?


I think you have more space then David, to work with. Your seating can be off the room boundaries
which is much better for the surround channels and not to have seating on room boundaries. Your front wall
"alcove" could allow you to have a larger screen semi recessed under the beam, and allow your speakers
to be further off wall boundaries. You also could acoustically treat the front soffit for first reflections.


I am also not a fan of having an av rack on the front wall. Not only are you giving up possible screen real
estate, I find any visible electronic displays distracting. I see the av rack outside the room's entry door, or
built into the back corner of the room's common wall.


I'd be thinking more along BIGmouthinDC's acoustically transparent screen builds, on the bottom of his
posts.

 

[Tedd]

SOWK's low stage + AT screen and front wall might create a way to disguise the sump pump, and still allow for access. The AT screen could be mounted on cleats such as OOK's Hangman (Home Depot) if you did a small drop wall. A lower fabric panel could be made to be removable, for speaker access, and sump pump access. You could even gasket the access hatch, so the pump if it runs, is quieter.


Did up a fabric wall version of the room that could stealth out the surrounds speakers (and the door), and work in some acoustical treatments.


And maybe that false wing wall could be a DIY built in sub?