Starting new HT Room

[mpompey]

Hey guys I'm going to changing the basement in the house that my wife and I just bought into my new home theatre. I already have the equipment from my old theater at my old house. This house has a finished, DRY, basement here in Philadelphia. The house itself is 65 year old victorian, so I know she has a ton of history and stories behind her walls. The basement will contain an area for HT, my computer workstation, and an area for my workout stuff (Hopefully).

Here are the first pics of the room, as you'll see its full of stuff from the move in.

Any topics or suggestions for the room will be appreciated.

 

[Sheep]

One thing I can think of (that is decently important) is make sure the room has its own breaker.

Theres nothing better then having your system shut down every time someone uses the vaccum.

SheepStar

 

[Nick250]

Was a radon test part of the home inspection?

Nick

 

[mpompey]

Here is Philadelphia, roof certification, radon and mold are separate from the Home Inspection tests.

 

[slickster]

Suggestion

I definitely agree with Sheep with the breaker idea.
When I moved into my new home the whole basement was on one breaker. Now it's broken up into about 7-8 breakers, one of which is the home theatre system.

1) Make sure the paneling goes. Bad for sound.
2) Any wiring you can do behind the walls in coduit is a good thing.
3) Make sure you have emough outlets. You can never have enough.
4) You should choose carpeting for your flooring for a better sound.
5) If you're setting up a projector, make sure you have enough room between the screen and the projector for display. Make sure there's enough head room also so you don't hit your head on the projector if this is the way you're going.

That's all I can think of right now.
Good luck on your project.

Ciao

Joe

 

[mpompey]

I was thinking of putting drywall mud on the paneling, then priming and painting. That way it looks like a painted wall rather than painted paneling. I hate the idea of pulling down all the paneling and redoing with drywall.

I'm pretty good with the outlets. Every wall has at two. I think the room is on two or three different breakers. My last place was wired really weird. When the upstairs bedroom tripped, it knocked out the kitchen and part of the theatre. But as it was a rented place, I just made sure not to overload the upstairs bedroom.

I was thinking of putting wall panels in, and running wires behind the paneling between the studs, but I need to upgrade my stud finder. Its about ten years old and didn't do that good of a job to begin with. Any recommendations?

 

[slickster]

mpompey, I don't know about the mud over the panelling thing.
I know it's a pain in the you know what. But I tell you, once it's done it's done and it will look great.
Maybe you can hire someone to do help you drywall, mud and sand, that way you can keep the cost down.
I did all the drywalling and mudding, sanding myself and it looks fantastic. I can pick out the imperfections but then again I know what I'm looking for.

If I were to do it again, I would still put up the drywall and pay someone with the expertise to mud and sand.

If you're going to do it, do it right the first time or you will never be happy.
That what I always say.

Ciao for now.

 

[Johnd]

I was thinking of putting drywall mud on the paneling, then priming and painting. ... Any recommendations?

You may want to consider installing fabric over the panelling, then p&p. It will soften the reflectiveness.

 

[mpompey]

I was thinking of putting curtains up in the interim. I don't think I'll be pulling the paneling down, or painting it until next summer.

What kind of fabric are you thinking about? Something other than curtains?

 

[Johnd]

Wallcovering fabric. It is applied like wallpaper, and would be a second best to tearing the panelling down.

 

[mpompey]

Where could I go to learn more about wallcovering fabric? Do they sell this at fabric stores or home depots?

 

[Johnd]

Well, it is a trade in the painters union. I'm sure you could learn it, or just hire an installer if it's too big a task. I would imagine some Home Depot's would carry fabrics (otherwise they do offer those rudimentary classes), otherwise just about any wallcoverings (paint) store sells fabric. I've installed fabric, and I'm not a paper hanger, but I've been in the trades for 16 years and some of these things just come easy to me. So you may want to endure the learning curve and do it yourself. Let us know.