About to kick off a renovation - Bed/Bath/Family Room/Home Theater (1 Viewer)

[Fat Nick]

Basically right. I'm an engineer and enjoy this stuff, and don't think I would get a decent return off hiring an architect

on the other hand I have spent > 100 hours planning this, so could have saved that time 

I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this.  I spend so much time thinking about how to do it that it usually takes more time than doing it...but when you're doing things for the first time, and not for a living, planning can save your butt in the end.

 

[El Floppo]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this.  I spend so much time thinking about how to do it that it usually takes more time than doing it...but when you're doing things for the first time, and not for a living, planning can save your butt in the end.

I just wing this ####.

 

[Johnny Rock]

Everything I've read and been told is no vents. The spray foam completely seals it, no ice dams possible since the insulation factor so high (can't melt/freeze). 

There will be no vents 

Thanks for correcting me on this. Hope the project is going well. 

 

[wilked]

https://postimg.org/image/t9kgka9qr/ - top of stairs looking into bathroom, there will be a door here, new skylight shown, toilet will go under skylight

https://postimg.org/image/ooya5cq1f/ - sink to immediate left, shower (3'x4') to left around corner 

https://postimg.org/image/gkq60m3mb/ Family room, motorized screen to mount above window, retract when not in use 

https://postimg.org/image/ncgl3gslv/ - built ins, two dressers and a storage system 

https://postimg.org/image/bomj8x3gz/ - new hvac, a/v rack next to hvac 

https://postimg.org/image/5cbzctpsj/ - existing bedroom, not much changed in here 

 

[wilked]

Goals for the next week or so is to get rough plumbing and electric signed off, finish the framing. 

After that it's insulation and finish work. 

 

[wilked]

Learnings I have had:

HVAC equipment / ducting takes up more room than I thought. 

What you put on paper and what is there in reality can differ a lot. I wish I had modeled this 3D with google sketchup

spend the time to research and get good contractors. Mine are awesome and it is making a world of difference. 

I now know why GCs make good money. It's a pain in the ### coordinating everything, and I spend at least half my waking hours thinking about it. If I had paid a designer / architect this would be lessened also (of course my wallet lightened in addition) 

 

[El Floppo]

Gl, wilked. Fun project.

 

[wilked]

Getting close...all the trades got signed off this week (rough), insulation next week then plastering the week after.

Far enough along that I can know the final number with some confidence.  If interested...

------------------------

Carpenter - $16K (demo, framing, tile, cement board in bath, install built-ins in knee-walls, install windows)

Plumber - $6K (all new plumbing including drain and vent)

Electrician - $3K in parts (labor free, father in law, incl service upgrade to 200A, some electrical cleanup, and elec for central air)

HVAC - $14K (3 ton central air/heat pump and all ducting)

Insulation - $5K (5.5" closed cell spray foam on rafters, 3.5" on walls)

Roofer - $0.5K (install skylight, close some roof vents, add some roof vents)

Plasterer - $2.5K

Windows - $2k (3 windows, two large 1 small)

Bath items - $3k (fixtures, skylight, tile, vanity, Kohler cast iron shower pan)

Lighting fixtures - $0.6k

Shower glass - $1.5k (frameless custom glass)

Built in dressers - $1.5K (3 total)

New cork flooring - $1.5K (I am doing install)

Refinish existing floor - $1K

New window seat - $0.8k (needed to hide some ductwork)

A/V Equip - $2.5K (hand-me-down projector, 84" proj screen, Denon receiver, KEF bookshelves, cables, rear speakers, A/V rack)

TOTAL: ~$58K

 

[bro1ncos]

More Pics?

 

[wilked]

Doesn't look all that different than the most recent photos... most of work has been plumbing / electric. 

Will post another round in 10 days or so after insulation and plastering done 

 

[parasaurolophus]

Reading this thread is like deja vu.  I even had to build a window seat to hide some plumbing. 

Good luck.

 

[wilked]

Reading this thread is like deja vu.  I even had to build a window seat to hide some plumbing. 

Good luck.

any advice you can give?  We are pretty late stage but I will take whatever I can get. 

 

[wilked]

Finalized the A/V finally.  Last piece was the surrounds.  Here's what I ended up with:

Motorized 84" tab-tensioned screen - http://www.elitescreens.com/front/front/productdetail/product/60 - chose a low gain as the projector throws a lot of light

Panasonic LCD Projector - http://www.projectorcentral.com/Panasonic-PT-AX200U.htm This is a hand-me-down from my pop.  6-8 yrs old, but lightly used.  720P, will work well for my needs.  Will ceiling mount, this projector has plenty of lens-shift to bring it down.

Denon X1200W Receiver - https://usa.denon.com/us/product/hometheater/receivers/avrx1200w .  More than enough power for my needs, 4K capable, Atmos-capable, 6 HDMI inputs.  I got a scratch-and-dent from Crutchfield - this thing was brand new.  Excited to set it up

KEF Q300 front speakers (bookshelf) - http://us.kef.com/q300 These are highly rated bookshelves.  I wanted bookshelf to get the speakers up and out of the way of the kids.  Will mount to the wall (bought a pivoting bracket).  

Definitive Technology Mythos Gem (surrounds) - https://www.definitivetechnology.com/products/mythos-gem I needed a very narrow (<6") speaker which significantly narrowed (pun intended) my options.  DefTech has a great reputation, so these should do well

SVS SB-1000 subwoofer (12" sealed) - https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000 I knew I wanted to go SVS, and found a guy a few towns over who bought this, used it once, and ended up preferring his tower speakers (music use only).  Sold it to me half-price.  

Overall will run a 4.1 system (phantom center).  I ran a wire to add a center (below screen) later, but for now don't want the kids to mess with it.  The nature of the room doesn't really support 7.1 or Atmos, so didn't run any other wires.  

Ended up doing a 'built in' rack (this one) https://www.amazon.com/Navepoint-Wallmount-Cabinet-Enclosure-16-Inches/dp/B00JZVUDLQ/ so will rack-mount everything.  

Only thing left is to install it all and buy a Harmony remote...

 

[wilked]

Here's the completed insulation

https://postimg.org/gallery/ozk8kcte/

Plastering first week January, hopefully all done within a month

 

[PIK95]

That looks pretty cool.  Good luck!

 

[wilked]

Here's the output

https://postimg.org/gallery/2mvojfwaw/

 

[gianmarco]

Here's the output

https://postimg.org/gallery/2mvojfwaw/

Looks great.  Well done and congrats!!

 

[Fat Nick]

Here's the output

https://postimg.org/gallery/2mvojfwaw/

That looks fantastic!  Nice job.  I see now why getting a center channel was a challenge with that window there.  Turned out really well though. 

 

[wilked]

I do have a speaker wire below the window in case I want to add a center later. Wouldn't be until the kids are old enough to respect it (maybe never) 

 

[Fat Nick]

I do have a speaker wire below the window in case I want to add a center later. Wouldn't be until the kids are old enough to respect it (maybe never) 

Smart.   We had a movie night with kids a few months ago - three 3-year olds sprinting around the basement.  One ran with a hula-hoop and it caught the bar on my projector screen and nearly ripped it off the wall.  Thank god I managed to catch the kid and the hoop before damage was done. 

Little kids and high-end electronics don't mix.