New Theater Construction

[Beta Man]

What is the most economical way to build a three car garage with a space above it that is large enough (in ceiling height in addition to Length/Width which is the part I'm not worried about) for a proper theater.....

Basically, what "type" of structure, such as roof pitch/design etc.... My contractor told me Dormers add very little space (which makes sense) but add quite a bit of expense, So I want to know what basic shape etc. a garage with a large finished space above it should be..... When looking at the garage, it's going to have to be wide, and can't be 2 cars deep (due to where it is on the property)

My contractor said that the overall height of the garage is probably dictated by a formula based on the square footage of the home on the property, so he expects that we could build "up" quite a bit..... but building up may add a LOT of cost, so I need to find an efficient compromise.

This space is not attached to the house either.... in case that matters.... So simple colors and a few details should help match it up to the house.... so we don't need to go over-board with detail work.

[cembros]

i beleive this guys theater is in similar conditions that you describe

[zedd_117]

Ohhh boy, Beta's New Home theatre, can't wait to see this!

I'd say the best space for a HT above garage is whatever the wife approves , but as a single guy, maybe I don't know.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by cembros

i beleive this guys theater is in similar conditions that you describe

What guys?

Originally Posted by zedd_117

Ohhh boy, Beta's New Home theatre, can't wait to see this!

I'd say the best space for a HT above garage is whatever the wife approves , but as a single guy, maybe I don't know.

I guess the real question, is "what type of garage to build, to make for the best HT above it?"

[Trix]

The "best" way to do it would be to simply build a two-storey structure, with a garage on the bottom floor, and the home theatre as a whole floor up above. Depending on how long and wide you can make the garage, however, you may be able to build a standard 8-foot-ceilinged room in a "storey-and-a-half" structure, which could have the dormer windows you speak of.

As you know, though, you are looking at fairly large expenses either way. But I would say that the 2 storey structure is the "simplest" way to go about it. It also gives you advantages in terms of ease of layout and just overall design, and espacially for resale value.

The only other suggestion I can offer is to keep the roof pitch as wide as you can, so that the roof doesn't extend too high above the second storey. Otherwise, it's basically just like building a house, just way easier for the first floor. And requiring quite a bit more sound-proofing.

Just my 0.5 cents.

[Beta Man]

thanks.... Yeah 2-story structure was always the plan, with the entire 2nd floor for theater...... but in terms of roof, what I was thinking of, was different style garages I've seen.....

I think it "could" work within the style we're going for... but I was thinking a Single-Pitch roof would be the cheapest, and provide the best amount of space up top on all sides (rather than having only the center of the room having tall clearance....) I was thinking having the pitch of the roof run from front to back (I can't see the back of the garage, so if we did a rolled roof shingle, it'd be out of sight out of mind)

I guess I'll wait for the contractor to get back to me.... he said 2 weeks, which is fine....

Also, Sound-Proofing isn't an issue for me at all..... If the neighbors, from inside their house 50-60 feet away (the neighbors behind us on the next street over this is) can hear it through their house, and through the insulation/drywall I put up..... then it's gotta be too loud even for me

[Disky76]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

What is the most economical way to build a three car garage with a space above it that is large enough (in ceiling height in addition to Length/Width which is the part I'm not worried about) for a proper theater.....

Basically, what "type" of structure, such as roof pitch/design etc.... My contractor told me Dormers add very little space (which makes sense) but add quite a bit of expense, So I want to know what basic shape etc. a garage with a large finished space above it should be..... When looking at the garage, it's going to have to be wide, and can't be 2 cars deep (due to where it is on the property)

My contractor said that the overall height of the garage is probably dictated by a formula based on the square footage of the home on the property, so he expects that we could build "up" quite a bit..... but building up may add a LOT of cost, so I need to find an efficient compromise.

This space is not attached to the house either.... in case that matters.... So simple colors and a few details should help match it up to the house.... so we don't need to go over-board with detail work.

So from reading further posts, it seems that you have to demolish/rebuild the garage, correct?

That definitely can be a blessing in disguise. You can then truly create the cinema of your dreams starting from the ground up! I have a few questions that I would like to put in your head:

* How far will the garage be from the house? Is it reasonable to make a covered walkway/tunnel from the house or basement? I don't know where you live, but if you live in an area with cold winters, late night walks back to the house after falling asleep in front of a movie could be chilling!

* If rebuilt totally from the ground up, could the garage be built closer to the house?

* I would suggest as much open space as possible on the theatre/second floor. I would keep the roof pitch of a normal angle, but instead extend the ceiling to cathedral height for space, etc.

* Build two separate rooms - 1) the theatre 2) lobby/game room area. The theatre would be able to be completely closed off from the lobby - i.e., someone could be shooting pool in the lobby and watching a movie in the theatre at the same time.

* Have a set of stairs from the lobby area down to a hallway to connect to the main house. The hallway could be totally glass enclosed and your wife could put plants, flowers, palms, etc throughout so it's like your own little atrium.

* ALL IN ALL - I would find a way to connect it to the house, somehow. It will make it easier when you are looking to sell your house...so people can get from the main house to the theatre without having to brave the elements.

Just my two cents...sounds fabulous! Can't wait till you get started!!

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Disky76

So from reading further posts, it seems that you have to demolish/rebuild the garage, correct?

CORRECT!

That definitely can be a blessing in disguise. You can then truly create the cinema of your dreams starting from the ground up! I have a few questions that I would like to put in your head:

* How far will the garage be from the house? Is it reasonable to make a covered walkway/tunnel from the house or basement? I don't know where you live, but if you live in an area with cold winters, late night walks back to the house after falling asleep in front of a movie could be chilling!

I'm guessing it is 60 feet from our house....
* If rebuilt totally from the ground up, could the garage be built closer to the house? NO.... I'll attach pictures, but there are a couple of issues, one being that the garage is almost as wide as the yard. If we moved the garage up, it would either make our entire backyard useless, with driveway/turnaround space etc etc, or would require us to attach it directly to the house which would make our home STRANGE looking to say the least... Pictures will probably explain it better....

* I would suggest as much open space as possible on the theatre/second floor. I would keep the roof pitch of a normal angle, but instead extend the ceiling to cathedral height for space, etc.

I'm with you on this one!

* Build two separate rooms - 1) the theatre 2) lobby/game room area. The theatre would be able to be completely closed off from the lobby - i.e., someone could be shooting pool in the lobby and watching a movie in the theatre at the same time.

Good thought.... I was thinking about re-purposing the current movie room into a little game room etc... but I can't get my pool table up the steps (I have a pool table at the parents' house, but need a place to put it) and I would like to put my Foosball table somewhere other than our unfinished basement..... Perhaps I could build a bar out there in the future too.... but I want the theater to be as large as possible, so a pool table might be pushing it, even for a 34-36' long room.
* Have a set of stairs from the lobby area down to a hallway to connect to the main house. The hallway could be totally glass enclosed and your wife could put plants, flowers, palms, etc throughout so it's like your own little atrium.
House is so far away, it's just not possible.... I'll put pics up.
* ALL IN ALL - I would find a way to connect it to the house, somehow. It will make it easier when you are looking to sell your house...so people can get from the main house to the theatre without having to brave the elements.

Not sure we'd ever sell the house... we can't outgrow it, and we love the area etc.... my wife has a job that will never relocate her... so we're pretty well rooted here.
Just my two cents...sounds fabulous! Can't wait till you get started!!

I'll add some pictures that give a better idea of the back-yard space.

Here is one for now though..... it is basically taken from standing in front of the garage, looking forward.... What you can't really see in this picture though.... is the fact that the addition is there.... so our house already looks "odd" in the back.... Getting rid of the addition is a possibility.... but my wife wants it. Also, in "Plan B" (if the garage could have been saved) The addition may have been turned into a theater...... but that ship has sailed...




HERE Is a closer one so you can tell, that adding a garage attached to the addition would make our house RIDICULOUSLY long looking.... our house is already a lot deeper into the back-yard than our neighbors...




These pictures were taken before we moved into the house, (May of 2008, and we moved in right before Christmas that year) So I'll take some better pictures to give an idea of the area we're working with (and the way the yard looks now)

[ZedsDead]

This might sound crazy, but what if you built the new garage structure with a large basement and had your new home theater beneath your garage? I'm not sure if you have water/weather issues that might make this a bad idea for your equipment, but cosmetically it might look more sleek on your property.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by ZedsDead

This might sound crazy, but what if you built the new garage structure with a large basement and had your new home theater beneath your garage? I'm not sure if you have water/weather issues that might make this a bad idea for your equipment, but cosmetically it might look more sleek on your property.

That's a good thought, but I'm pretty sure that would add a lot of excavation costs..... granted waterproofing for new construction is cheaper than waterproofing an existing structure...... the fact that major excavation would need to be done, and basically TWO concrete slabs rather than one would need to be poured, would probably blow the budget out of the ballpark......


EDIT:

I'm trying to get new pictures, but my kid saw the camera, and now he won't give it up

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

That's a good thought, but I'm pretty sure that would add a lot of excavation costs..... granted waterproofing for new construction is cheaper than waterproofing an existing structure...... the fact that major excavation would need to be done, and basically TWO concrete slabs rather than one would need to be poured, would probably blow the budget out of the ballpark......

Plus: a basement with a garage above would likely need a LOT of extra re-enforcement to bear the load of the the garage's concrete slab floor (and vehicle weight).