My new theater build has begun...

[Kevinicus]

Painting is taking forever. No idea what they're really doing. It's been over a week now. Almost like they're doing it all over again. It's kind of crazy.

I put a deposit down on my carpet. That hurt. But, glad that process is at least started since I know it will take awhile.

[smithb]

Originally Posted by Kevinicus

Oh, almost forgot...

I got this print online about 9 months ago. I had thought it came with the framing, but I guess I didn't pay enough attention when ordering. It was going to cost in excess of $200 to have it framed, so I decided to do it myself.

It will go in the lobby on the wall that's shared with the theater. The frame was 93" x 30" x .75".

Where did you get the poster? Thanks.

[Kevinicus]

Originally Posted by smithb

Where did you get the poster? Thanks.

There's lots of places online. However, most that I have seen lately, don't have it at the size I got.

Just google "150 blockbuster characters."

[Kevinicus]

Shower was being installed today. One of the pieces of the surround was snapped in half, so it's not useable. That means I have to wait until Monday to contact someone about a replacement, and then who knows how long to get one. Just another delay...ugh.

[Kevinicus]

Originally Posted by Kevinicus

Shower was being installed today. One of the pieces of the surround was snapped in half, so it's not useable. That means I have to wait until Monday to contact someone about a replacement, and then who knows how long to get one. Just another delay...ugh.

So, I had to reorder this kit. When it comes in the store, I'll have to bring the damage piece, replace it with a good piece from the new kit, and then return the new kit. That was Home Depot's solution.

[ronboster]

Well done sir.

I just tore down my HT for the buyers of our home. Working on the new build out in the new home right now. So, I feel you growing pains as well.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by ronboster

Well done sir.

I just tore down my HT for the buyers of our home. Working on the new build out in the new home right now. So, I feel you growing pains as well.

Was your old space a dedicated theater or a hybrid living space/HT? With the limited inventory in the housing market, I would have jumped on a space that already had the infrastructure for a dedicated HT.

[Kevinicus]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Was your old space a dedicated theater or a hybrid living space/HT? With the limited inventory in the housing market, I would have jumped on a space that already had the infrastructure for a dedicated HT.

It really is hard to find a good space to work with. It took me a long time. And, I had to pretty much double my budget after the market spiked (thankfully got a rate locked in before those went too high).

If I had known how the previous two years were going to go (working two full-time and well paying jobs for 2+ years - $$$$, not finding anything with a good space), I would have built something custom. Probably would have paid a lot less too.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Kevinicus

It really is hard to find a good space to work with. It took me a long time. And, I had to pretty much double my budget after the market spiked (thankfully got a rate locked in before those went too high).

If I had known how the previous two years were going to go (working two full-time and well paying jobs for 2+ years - $$$$, not finding anything with a good space), I would have built something custom. Probably would have paid a lot less too.

I was like you and locked my rate for 150 days back in January. Rates are a good bit higher now for sure. I could only afford a townhouse on my single income after my divorce. I close on June 15th. I am having to make some obvious concessions since it is a townhouse.

[ronboster]

Originally Posted by Fors*

Was your old space a dedicated theater or a hybrid living space/HT? With the limited inventory in the housing market, I would have jumped on a space that already had the infrastructure for a dedicated HT.

It was a dedicated space. They wanted to convert it to an office...since they both work from home. 15x28...so it will be a large office.

What I love about the new house, is the basement is large and unfinished. I was able to carve out a 14.5 x 24 for the build out. No windows to worry about. Aside from the 14.5 x 24... is an alcove in the back of the space that will be walled off and a door added for a equipment room.

Very excited.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by ronboster

It was a dedicated space. They wanted to convert it to an office...since they both work from home. 15x28...so it will be a large office.

What I love about the new house, is the basement is large and unfinished. I was able to carve out a 14.5 x 24 for the build out. No windows to worry about. Aside from the 14.5 x 24... is an alcove in the back of the space that will be walled off and a door added for a equipment room.

Very excited.

I would be excited too if I had a "blank canvas" and the money to make it happen. Good luck!

[Kevinicus]

Originally Posted by ronboster

It was a dedicated space. They wanted to convert it to an office...since they both work from home. 15x28...so it will be a large office.

What I love about the new house, is the basement is large and unfinished. I was able to carve out a 14.5 x 24 for the build out. No windows to worry about. Aside from the 14.5 x 24... is an alcove in the back of the space that will be walled off and a door added for a equipment room.

Very excited.

Very close to mine. I'm at 14.5 and a hair under 26.

Minus the windows. Hate that I have those to deal with, but I have a plan. The non-egress is easy as it can just be filled in as a normal wall.

The egress, I plan to fill in partially as a normal wall, and for the other half (large enough to meet code for the egress), I'm building a plug that is essentially the same as my wall (framing, insulation, 2 layers of drywall), but it will be on hinges so that it can swing open. That way my 5-year-old daughter wouldn't be crushed if she had to open it to escape. I'll probably put some weather seals on, like you would an exterior door.

I got wide-throw hinges ($100 for 3) to accommodate the acoustic treatments that will be on top of the walls.

[Kevinicus]

I do have small updates, just too lazy to do pictures yet.

Paint is pretty much complete finally. Got the counter top it's finish coat. Got a matching butcher block back splash installed, but no clear coat yet. Quarter round has been installed in most places. Door hardware has been installed.

Light fixtures and outlets were supposed to go in yesterday, but the guy didn't show and is out of town this weekend. I may go ahead and do some of it myself. I'm ready for there to be some lights down there. It's so dark outside of the theater room during the day time.

Carpet is scheduled for July 5.

Have to get the final inspection, riser and stage construction, speaker column construction, and at least the back window plugged all before that.

Of course, I hope we can get a lot of the work done on the fabric panels as well.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Kevinicus

I do have small updates, just too lazy to do pictures yet.

Paint is pretty much complete finally. Got the counter top it's finish coat. Got a matching butcher block back splash installed, but no clear coat yet. Quarter round has been installed in most places. Door hardware has been installed.

Light fixtures and outlets were supposed to go in yesterday, but the guy didn't show and is out of town this weekend. I may go ahead and do some of it myself. I'm ready for there to be some lights down there. It's so dark outside of the theater room during the day time.

Carpet is scheduled for July 5.

Have to get the final inspection, riser and stage construction, speaker column construction, and at least the back window plugged all before that.

Of course, I hope we can get a lot of the work done on the fabric panels as well.

You have made a lot of progress already. I am amazed by just how much you keep plugging along...yet that is still a good long list of things yet to do. Keep up the good work.

[Kevinicus]

I went ahead and started on the electrical Friday. I got all the lights in the theater room, and the dimmer switches installed. Unfortunately, one of the lights wasn't working. Fortunately, the controller box for the light was directly above the hole, and I was able to open the door on it. My fiance has small enough hands she was able to reach up and pull the wires out some so I could look.

One of the connections had come loose. The lights came with push connectors for making the connections, and didn't hold on that one I guess. I pulled the connector off the other two wires, and just need to connect them. I have some lever connectors coming today that I hope will take care of that problem (if I can reach the wires well enough).

I also got one light switch, and several outlets (and an inlet for projector) connected.

I would have done more, but I need longer screws for the theater where the drywall is really thick. That, and I got tired of the cheap screws that came with the receptacles stripping at the slightest turn from the screw driver.

The lights will go much quicker as well using the lever connectors.

So, by the end of the day, I should have the lights in the lobby, under the stairs, by the circuit breaker, and bathroom installed. But not the bathroom switches - issue with box location needs fixed. I'll knock out some GFCI outlets as well, and maybe a few other regulars.

Should be fun.

[Kevinicus]

Okay. Finally some visuals.

First, the counter top with a clear coat. Then with a matching backsplash added (no clear coat yet).






Then, there's all the electrical I was able to get done over the weekend.
Thanks to my fiance's small hands, I was able to get the lights in the theater all working:









Got the light switch and light installed where the breaker box is:



Lights up in the lobby area:





And all the dimmers and outlets on my panel for my lights/equipment:




I also installed the smoke detector (more on that in a sec), the ceiling light in the bathroom (no switches yet), the gfci in the bathroom, several outlets in the lobby and a couple in the theater. Finally, I changed out my switches at the bottom of the stairs from white to black, and swapped the locations inside the box.

Unfortunately, I discovered that the box for the smoke detector was ran from a light switch. So, it's only one when the switch is on. That's not good. Going to have to run a new box somewhere. I think I know an area over by the shelving that will work since I have access from the back side to get some electrical ran (probably link up with the dimmer switch circuit). Then I'll add another light where I have the current box for the smoke detector. It kind of puts lights a little close together, but I have to cover that spot somehow, may as well add more illumination.

I also am having trouble with my X10 20A outlet. My tester is saying there is an open neutral. I've checked everything and they're secure, so I'm thinking it may be an issue with it being behind a GFCI outlet and it not playing nice with x10. I plugged a normal outlet where I had the x10, and it tested fine. I may try removing the GFCI after inspection (GFCI required in unfinished spaces).

Still waiting on the shower to come in. It had said by May 26. Still says that I think. Obviously we're well past that date now.

[Fors*]

I really wish I had your skills, knowledge and tools when it comes to construction/electrical work. Your work so far looks outstanding.

[Kevinicus]

Originally Posted by Fors*

I really wish I had your skills, knowledge and tools when it comes to construction/electrical work. Your work so far looks outstanding.

Oh, I just have some basic knowledge. Tools are pretty basic too - wire cutters, needle nose pliers, screw driver. The only thing I have new is a wire stripping tool that basically just unsheathes the cable with one quick squeeze. I only have that because I requested it for Christmas in anticipation of all the speaker cables I'd need to strip.

The rest is pretty simple. Wrap correct wire around screws, push back into the box (I hate 12 ga wire), put on covers.

The lever connectors I got are pretty cool. Makes connecting wires pretty easy.

I do wish these boxes were bigger though, it's tough squeezing them in there with the thicker wire.

I didn't get much done yesterday. I switched out another switch from white to black, did one more outlet, put up the vanity light, and put another light where the smoke detector was (kind of silly with it being less than 2 feet from another light).

Guy who was supposed to do all this is coming tomorrow, supposedly.

[Kevinicus]

Phase 1 electrical and plumbing are complete!

I just need to get the shower door installed and touchup done, and I can get my final inspection. Would have had the door done a few days ago, but the guy was grabbing his sons soccer ball from under my deck, and hit his head. Opened up a nice cut and I had the paramedics out to look at him.

He's supposedly coming back on Monday.

Once he's done, it's inspection time. Then the real theater fun begins. Stage, riser, and columns need to go in first. Those items have to be done before the carpet.

[Kevinicus]

Okay, so phase one (the inspection phase) is complete. Final Inspection is set for Friday.

Here's the results. Still needs a good cleaning, and plenty of touchup to do. None of that matters for the inspection, so it can wait.

Lobby Area:















Bathroom:









Theater:





















Should be ready to start on the riser and stage next week.