Chad F

Fannon Family Theater Room

Ok, there wasn't much interest, but I thought I'd log my progression of my home theater anyway...I'm hoping to get input from more experienced people as I go.

Room: I have a 15'W x 18' L attic space. It can also have up to 15' ceiling in the center. The room is on the 2nd floor of my house (along with my kids bedrooms).It sits above the master bedroom/bathroom. So it has to be soundproof to a point. At this point the room is completely unfinished. I will have pictures up soon.

Equipment owned: I only have 1 item that will be used and that is my receiver. It is the Onkyo TX-DS989.

Budget: $25,000. Hopefully don't have to spend it all, but that is the amount I can go up to. This will account for everything, including construction, equipment, & decor.

I am hoping that as i document my room, letting the forum know what is going on, that i may avoid mistakes that could be made. I will try to post information as it happens.

Chad F

I have several things going on with the theater room as of now.

1) My wife and I, and a few friends, are trying to come up with a name for theater. Not really that important, but fun to do.

2) Trying to decide on a projector. Its between the Sony vpl-hs51 and the Panasonic A700U.

3) What screen size to go with. 106" or 120". It will be a wide screen. Or do i use the wall and paint the surface on my wall.

4) Got my first estimate on the build out of the room. Very disappointed. I got the first one from the guy that built my house - very talented and top notch. I consider him the high end estimate. I knew it was very high end when he left a message on my answering machine telling me not to freak because it was so high. He left it in the mail for me and it was $44,000. Needless to say that is WAY out of my budget. He said we can work on it and make some cuts. His estimate was for a Theo Kalomirakis type room.

Getting a 2nd estimate, which should be a low end estimate this week. Will also make my decision on speakers and projector by next week.

Bryce_H

Have you consider doing the work yourself. I'm finishing my basement and contracting out only segments of it (plumbing, HVAC, and drywall) The rest I'm doing myself. I have had a great time doing it and I get to do everything exactly the way I want it done. The room is 16*23. It will be a 7.1 wired system (only have 5.1 speakers now), front projection, 106" 16*9 screen, 8 la-z-boy recliners, and a built-in component cabinet in the back. Total cost will be around $10,000 (I already have all the equipment).

Michael Whitney

I would spend some time shopping out quotes. Case in point is my recent kitchen remodel.
Got quotes for both electrical and plumbing. Mainly hookup only, not much new work needed.

Electrical - Quote from company that already was replacing switches and plugs in house $3200.00 job rate, got a local friend of family, certified electrician, did job on hourly basis + materials, cost me $450.00

Plumbing - Got name of company from local newspaper, came over, wrote up quote for $1600.00 job rate, got other quotes on hourly basis + materials, wound up hiring 2 Plumbers for 80.00 per hour for both + materials, cost $425.00 total.

Morale of story is to shop quotes aggressively. I think per hour is way to go for simpler tasks. Granted this experience is more simplified then a full theatre buildout, but I am sure with a decent plan, and acting as your own general contractor, anyone should be able to save money.

Michael Whitney

Also to bad we are all over the country and world. We could have build sessions at different locations (houses) each weekend to help each other out. Kind of like a combination of Habitat for Humanity and an Amish Barn Raising. Just a thought.

jim rich

Dear Michael, I have read Home theater for dummies, and have done a fair amount of remodeling. I have in mind what I want to do in a home theater - so where do I get, "but I am sure with a decent plan," Any source of a plan? Home theater for dummies did not help.

I have seen and like the "Theo Kalomirakis" theater. But, I do not know where to get a plan. thanks, jim rich

Michael Whitney

TK Theatres are some of the best out there. I didnt mean a literal "plan", but merely breaking down the steps in a logical order for Subcontracted workers to be able to work quickly and cheaply, without much redo's.

I do like this theatre site for a decent breakout of the steps he took.

http://www.devotionsbyerik.com/E-Cinema.htm

Didnt want to hijack thread. Just stressing fact of getting bids and trying for hourly bid quotes when possible.

Chad F

Bryce,
I would love to be able to do the work myself, as I think it would be rewarding and lots of fun. Unfortunatley, I have absolutely no experience using ANY tools and wouldn't know where to start. I want it done right.

I am considering contracting each piece of work out to different people. I can tell what steps need to be done in order.

first, I have an air unit that needs to be moved into another adjacant storage room (luckily no walls between the two, so easily done).
Second is the flooring, need to know how thick the floor should be!
Third is a support beam that needs to be cut out and will be attached in the new ceiling.

What do you guys think, should i be my own contractor....i guess i will wait until i get a couple more quotes from other contractors.

I should have initial pictures of my room up by tomorrow night.

Michael, thanks for that link....should come in handy.

Bryce_H

Chad,
When I started I had minimal experience, but am pretty handy with tools. I bought several books to help guide me along. Which I recommend you buy even if you are not going to do the work yourself. When I get home tonight, I will do another post with the books I felt where helpful. Also feel free to PM me with any specific questions. I hope to get pictures up soon. Good luck.

jim rich

Thanks, Michael, I already have that site bookmarked and printed out a hard copy of it. I didn't want to miss anything and was wondering if there were plans, thanks again, jim rich

Michael Whitney

To answer Jim's question.

Not a lot of specifics plans are around on the web. Typically, everyones spaces/budget/skill level are different. One book I can recommend is "Home Theatre Design" by Krissy Rushing. It gives more of a theoretical approach to theatre design. Essentially an overview. Sometimes on this site, you can get a diagram of someones theatre that may help give you a headstart on designing your own given what others have done, wired, struggled with.

Chad F

I bought the "Home Theater Design" book. I have found it very helpful.

I talked to a 2nd contractor today and he is going to try to come over and look at what i have tonight or tomorrow.