First Time Build, aka How I Learned to Love Powertools

[Allforce]

I'm going to be documenting a combination projector setup/office space here that I'm currently in the midst of building in my basement. This is my first attempt at any sort of major construction but with Google all thing are possible! My pop has been traveling the 2 1/2 hours to help and I couldn't do any of this without him and all his years of expertise (and tools I would never think to own but that are so helpful!)

I hesitate to call this a "theater" as that would be a disservice to the many folks here who deserve to use the term for their spaces . This is basically a projector setup in a basement area, with a space for me to do my business as well. Here's the basic design layout from the top down, this will be a partial finish with storage space remaining on the unfinished portion.

I'm going with a very "Keep It Simple, Stupid" mentality here, nothing flashy. Projector will be an Epson 8350 and I'm using a 120" Elite Screens Sable Silver Frame cinewhite screen. For my first ever experience with a projector this seems like it will be more than capable.

I'm not an audiophile by any means but I like clean and simple sound and uniformity. I heard about Jamo speakers here and am honestly considering just getting their S606 series for the budget price they're going for. They look classy, they sound great apparently, and I'm not picky so in the cart they go. I've got a Pioneer VX520 I bought last fall on a whim to replace an old Harman Kardon unit that broke down (without planning all this stuff first, doh) but thankfully it provides all the power I need and can handle DTS HD and all the other HD audio codecs.


These first sets of photos are sort of sequential going back to about late Feb and through March. I didn't set up a thread here for my build at the time so I'm catching up now that the interesting part is hitting.




As you can see I'll have an area for hanging out and an area for working at my desk (the corner unit you see will just be a small 30" TV for general TV watching, etc when sitting at my desk)

Here's the space before construction began, taken from the stairway landing



From the opposite corner



And a shot of under the stairs, into what the unfinished area will be





The following were from late February as framing began





Bump out to create an office alcove and box in all the furnace, hot water heater, gas shut offs, etc



Early March update, I've labeled where a recessed component rack will go





Opposite that corner with the bump out to house the sump pump and water shut off stuff. This will have a swinging door with shelving built on the inside to house dvds/games/etc. Might as well use this crappy space for something!



Closer shot of the sump area, zzzzzzzz



Started building a soffit around all this duct work, I really had no idea how to do this but Google and just looking at pictures of other builds from this forum helped!






And a little tasty teaser just to show whats to come (mainly to show my daughter and wife what was going on, I don't think they quite understood what "GIANT SCREEN" meant)






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Early April update


Finished out framing the back wall where the projector will sit, there's a 24" gap I left to build out the shelf.


Also got the framing done around the lone window in the room. Classy! Also got to use a Sawzall for the first time to rip out all the hand-railing for the stairs. Get out of here wood!!




Office area about done for wiring outlets. Lights next above


Re-measured for the 120" screen, this is accurate now as opposed to my guesstimate pics from before. Looks like she'll fit!





Tips, criticism, comments, compliments, all welcome. I'd like to pick some of your brains so don't be shy if you have a question or concern just in looking at some of the photos. I can take more photos of anything should you be interested in taking a closer look

Thanks for looking!