I Beam Ceiling

[GTHill]

I'm slowly working on making the bottom floor of my missile silo launch control center into a listening room. It's far from an ideal environment but I figure it's what I have to work with.

First I want to tackle the ceiling.

Floor to floor is 13'. The picture you are seeing is actually of level 2 but the ceiling is the same. No springs on level 2.

Question is... what is the best way to treat the ceiling? Here are a few thoughts:

Sonacrete: Seems really expensive considering the amount I would need. The diameter is 37' so about 1000 sq ft. But with the 18" I beams there is a lot of surface area to cover.

Drop ceiling: I was thinking of a partial drop ceiling. Like a series of circles with some openings to see the I beam ceiling. Drop some lights in those spaces. Put some dampening material on top of the drop ceiling. Maybe it would dampen it after reflecting off of the I beams?

I'm open to other suggestions. Thank you very much for your help!

GT

 

[ImcLoud]

GT are you going to be filming horrow movies down there, lol...

Are you putting your hvac up there? what else is going in the ceiling? i would get a pro in there so you know exactly what you need for insulation, it gets very complicated when you get into subterranean rooms, vapor barriers, moisture control, air circulation systems, ect... I would embrace the look that is there, sand blast it all coat it with a POR 15 or similar heavy duty finish and let it look how it looks. Let room correction software and treatments where you need them deal with the reflections...

 

[GTHill]

GT are you going to be filming horrow movies down there, lol...

Are you putting your hvac up there? what else is going in the ceiling? i would get a pro in there so you know exactly what you need for insulation, it gets very complicated when you get into subterranean rooms, vapor barriers, moisture control, air circulation systems, ect... I would embrace the look that is there, sand blast it all coat it with a POR 15 or similar heavy duty finish and let it look how it looks. Let room correction software and treatments where you need them deal with the reflections...

No HVAC in the ceiling. The entire launch control center is VERY thick concrete (between 4' and 8' thick) so it doesn't need insulation. There is no vapor or moisture barrier at that thickness. The only thing I'm putting in soon is a massive dehumidifier. That should serve to warm it up a bit in there too. Right now is 60 degrees year round.

I like the POR15 suggestion. I have been looking for a good coating and it seems to fit the bill nicely.

Thanks!

GT

 

[ImcLoud]

por15 is awesome stuff, sandblast and apply, brush, roll, spit it doesnt matter it is self leveling and stops rus tcold, PLUS where other paints wont adhere because of moist, cold, rusty surfaces por15 actually adheres better to them surfaces... I have thinned it and sprayed it also, but keep in ind if you get in on your skin it is there until the skin is gone, and breathing it in {like all paints and stains} is not the best practice, so I would definitely invest in a few scuba tanks to get the job done... A friend of mine did a burried shipping container in and out with the product, then buried it 40" into the water line, it has been there for 10 years, no leaks or rust...

For HVAC I would be very picky with the equipment {I own 2 HVAC companies}, I would run insulated ducts back to the surface and run air exchangers with IAQ sensors, a lot of building built into mountains, under surface level, ect can benefit with air exchangers, some times using them as heating systems... I would use heatpumps in the lower levels as dehumidifiers for the uppers......