Speaking of home upgrades...

Rich

Rich

Asshole at large
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Location
Central PA
I've been thinking about our next house, mostly the bonus (AKA home theater) room.

Since it'll be larger than needed, (probably 25' or more deep), what's the idea about building a false wall a few feet out from the real wall, and then cutting out openings for the TV, speakers, component rack, etc...

There'd be a smaller door so I could easily walk around behind it to get to all the connections, but the appearance from walking in the room would be flush-mounted everything..

I think it would be pretty :huggy:

Even if I do a projector vs. a big screen TV, I still like the idea of it.
 
Don't build it to fit your equipment at the time. Make the openings universal, then make trim pieces to close it in. One dead machine or upgrade, and you might have something that won't fit the hole the last one was in. BTDT
 
Not bad, I was thinking more of a long enough room to cut it down into a theater and a pool hall. Then you can stadium stack seating on one side, and put all the electronics short of the screen in the other half. Then you get little to no noise from cooling fans, light from LEDs, and you get a pool hall too. Thinking a room about 15x30-40 is what I want. My current room is only 12x17 and it isn't really big enough for a media room much less anything else.
 
Susan and I discussed this idea if we ever get around to building a house. Wouldn't you want some type of vent or cooling in there?
 
Rich said:
I've been thinking about our next house, mostly the bonus (AKA home theater) room.
Since it'll be larger than needed, (probably 25' or more deep), what's the idea about building a false wall a few feet out from the real wall, and then cutting out openings for the TV, speakers, component rack, etc...
There'd be a smaller door so I could easily walk around behind it to get to all the connections, but the appearance from walking in the room would be flush-mounted everything..
I think it would be pretty :huggy:
Even if I do a projector vs. a big screen TV, I still like the idea of it.
Click to expand...
next ill be seeing you on MTV cribs....."allright mtv you have seen my house and movie room now lets go check out the rigs" :bling: lol
 
Rob said:
Susan and I discussed this idea if we ever get around to building a house. Wouldn't you want some type of vent or cooling in there?
Click to expand...


Shouldn't be a big deal to make sure there's an A/C vent or 2 back there, and maybe have some A/C inlet grates up high (wall color) to let the heat out between the 'equipment room' and the viewing room?

Kaiser - good points, but it's only drywall.. Shouldn't be too bad?
 
Depending on what size TV you have dry wall wouldnt be able to hold up a sizable Flat screen
 
Man if you are going trick, go trick.
Put all your components in a data closet, with vent and A/C

Use "dink e links" or IR repeaters as they are properly called and look space age.

You can wow friends when you hang an LCD on the wall and then point a remote at it and control, cable box, dvd player, stereo receiver, or even turn a PS 2 on or off...hell even control lights or anything else you want.
Oh yeah and all much cheaper than the false wall...

And its as universal as it comes...


And btw Palmetto Electrical Technologies Inc. would be pleased to install for a small fee:flipoff2:

Ron-> President of Palmetto Electrical Technologies Inc.turning into a used car salesmen with all the shameless plugs this week.
 
Futbalfantic said:
Depending on what size TV you have dry wall wouldnt be able to hold up a sizable Flat screen
Click to expand...

Wouldn't need a flat screen. LCD DLP projection 65" would be just fine, since it would appear to be a "flat screen", and be FAR cheaper than any plasma or LCD flat screen, and from the 12-15 feet distance, the picture should be just as good.

But this is a few years away anyway, who knows what'll be out there at that point.

But honestly, I can't see it being very pricy *at all* during the time of construction, especially if I just have them do the door opening, and I'll take care of the holes for everything else..

I'm really digging some of the custom modular home builders..
 
http://www.ncmodulars.com/

Was intrigued by Rich's stmt... Rich you have some other good links on this?

Anyone know anything about these guys, are they a good option? I have "heard" that building indoors is a good idea, etc, obviously very quick to build, but I KNOW I want a high quality house?

Would love to hear from anyone on here who has 1st hand experience with em?
 
I do agree with the media closet thing. A buddy has his home setup with the media closet then LCDs in every room. He can pipe music through the whole house, different stations to different rooms or the same to wherever he wants. The only downside is having to go downstairs to put in a DVD or forgetting that you were watching porn while the lady was away and she hits play on the dvd player from another room when she gets home. The upside is that it looks totally trick and all of his equipment is in a climate controlled room where you can't hear it.

The false wall would be easy enough. I probably would just put it in myself though. Put a bookshelf door on both sides and then you can just pull a book and open the door. I can't wait to build the one that will hide my office.
 
About two years ago the i did a media room for a customer that had a false cabinet that you could walk through to get to all of his media equipment. Looks seemless and works well to access unseen equipment
 
http://www.handcraftedhomes.com/index.php?p=homes
http://www.westchester-modular.com/flexible/options.html
http://www.avisamerica.com/explore/default.aspx

Those are a few I looked at, not necessarily going wth any of 'em.
A guy I work with is beginning his build, and though he found a plan very close to what he likes, he was told that he could use a home design software, and the company could make it into blueprints with no problems..

As for modular vs. on-site build, first thing is to clear your mind of "manufactured" and "mobile" homes.. they aren't the same..

The upsides I've seen are that there's little building "waste", which means less cost to you. All the boards are computer cut, meaning more accuracy, and being built inside means the unprotected raw materials aren't sitting outside for months... (Not sure how much that last bit matters though)

Plus, think about the guys doing the work. If it's 110° or 30°, and you're outside, it's miserable. You're FAR more likely to skimp on something, maybe not put that third nail, maybe rush the alignment of that board, etc.. With this, your schedule is far more likely to be met, and I guarantee they're going to do a better job building it.

For me, it's about the timeline between buying the land and moving in, and also customization - I want ALOT of little custom touches, changes, modifications.. modulars make that MUCH easier / less expensive from what I've seen. We are going to HAVE to be in this house for 20+ years, so it needs to be right when it's built.

The bookshelf door idea is cool.. very cool.. thanks.

I need to go take a factory tour.. he said he was very impressed when he went, and that it 'sealed the deal' for him.
 
One small draw back, Rich.
[And I say this as me and the wife tourinmg a mod this week]

Strictly from a wood standpoint there can be a small issue with modulars. Since they are buil in climate and humidity controlled environments, there can be slight expansion/contraction/and warping of structural timbers once the house is et in the environemnt.

Basically the wood is inside in very low moisture (humidity) environments then when put outside and subjected to a nice 90% NC humidity summer some things will bow, sway and crack.

This is nothing major and not a structural issue but can result in some pretty ugly dry wall seems and lines. All modular uilders are aare of this and most are willing to extend the touch up period to 18 months just for these occaisons. That should Solve any problem.

Ron-> YES! I knew that damn Forestry degree would pay off on here one day
 
Ok, sorry for the hijack Rich! I am gonna check em out and might go that route if we go stick built instead of polysteel.

(FYI, Dale Earnhardt Jr's home is Modular, he mentions that in his tour on MTV) Makes sense about warping etc later, but then again my onsite house had a ton of settling issues too (slab)

To get this back into the thread topic, you electrical guys...what is the "code" requirements for running all these wires in NC? Is it something "I" could do or the electrical inspector is gonna have a cow?

Sam
 
You can do it in your house provided that you live there 2 years with no license.

But you do have to meet code. Low voltage is covered by NEC, but much lighter restrictions.


The big things are doing your research, using the right wire and getting your placement right. FOr surround sound Ideal performance is rarely ideal aesthetics so some concession usually have to be made. Also figure out if you want in wall, on wall,or tower speakers, that will amke a huge difference.

If you go in wall need to see if they are cut ins or require a mounting bracket (this is getting rare) AND ALWAYS run spares. wires will get cut during construction be prepared.

Seriously if time comes hit me up, I will be glad to help as little or as much as wanted.
 
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