Redo needed

singman · 18-07-2006, 10:57 AM

After the AV consultants I recruited to do the setup for me made a complete mess of it, I am trying to sort things out myself. I am attaching a schematic of my AV wall.

I intend to use the false chimney breast (to store the AV equipment - a SKY+ box, a DVD player and an amp) but it's too hollow (only 25cm deep and the width of 43cm will be just able to hold my DVD player and only a slimline amp). Any suggestions on how to go about it? Would also not like the equipment to stick out too much as the screen is right in the middle of the room.

If any of the members here can offer their advice/ services, I would be very greatful. I live in St John's Wood in London.

cheers
Arun

Johnny Thunder · 18-07-2006, 3:40 PM

How about making the chimney breast bigger with studwork.
You also get the benefit of a flush display.

hornydragon · 18-07-2006, 3:53 PM

HI care to share who fluffed it? You'll be needing to fit the AMP, DVD player and Sky box no plans for future kit? (its doable in a number of ways) can you take some pics of the room please front and side of the fireplace. Are you sure you want to do it yourself or would a reputable comapny thats local be a preferable idea? What speakers are you planning on using and do you have any cable ducts in place?

Whats in the room behind the fireplace?

singman · 18-07-2006, 4:14 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I will take some pictures this evening and post it here.

I am close to zero on DIY skills so will need help from someone to do it. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Also don't understand how I will be able to make chimney breast bigger, though that would be ideal (atleast widthwise and depthwise). There is some room on either side.

cheers
Arun

hornydragon · 18-07-2006, 4:17 PM

Once i have seen some pics i can suggest what you can do. (i hope you didnt pay the other comapny?)

singman · 18-07-2006, 4:26 PM

Thx. I have paid the other company about £100 deposit, so it's a shame but that was on the credit card and I will try to recover it. Will be posting pictures in couple of hours!

hornydragon · 18-07-2006, 4:30 PM

you need at least 440mm width (thats standard for Hifi/AV kit and 500mm depth IMO unless you do something funky (were you going for an open or closed front?

Johnny Thunder · 18-07-2006, 4:44 PM

To make your chimney breast bigger, you build stud walls. There are quite a few
projects in this forum that have done the same thing.

New installation

This is the sort of thing, only you would make your existing breast bigger using
the same technique.

singman · 18-07-2006, 9:14 PM

As promised, here are the pictures:

hornydragon · 18-07-2006, 9:55 PM

is that supposed to be a finished job? i assume you want the kit moved from current location to under the plasma

singman · 18-07-2006, 10:24 PM

Yes, thats exactly what I want!

hornydragon · 19-07-2006, 8:31 AM

well the carpentry looks from the photo to be a decent standard nicely fitted skirting board, pity its useless for AV use........I am too far away to help much needs some one to come round to see exactly what they have done i can guess at whats been done but it needs checking before i tell you rip bits out as the mains socket they have fitted will need moving and refitting i think its probably better if you get it done professionally either get them back to put it right or use another installer/carpenter to do it to the right spec

DarkKnight · 19-07-2006, 12:39 PM

Ok... let me get this right.

Arun - Please agree / disgaree with the points below :

You've currently got your kit at one side of the room. [Y/N]
You would like your kit to be housed into the fake fireplace recess that's been built under the TV. [Y/N]
Your muppet carpenter had not built the recess wide enough to house a standard AV component [Y/N]
Your muppet carpenter had not built the recess deep enough to house a standard AV component [Y/N]
The depth of the recess hits the the wall of the room. There's no stud wall frame in-between ?
Do you know where the studs and noggins are exactly in the fake wall ?
You've got a Sky / Aeriel / Telephone cables channelled and available to be used in that recess [Y/N]
You've already drop down all Pio SXE cables (including power) into the recess for connectivity to your AV components [Y/N]
Are your building costs too harsh enough to not consider ripping it out and starting again ?

Please let us know, so we we're in a better position to help you.

The best pics that will help us would be the DIY work in progress ones as it was being built. I don't suppose you took any ?

(And dude... The SXE is not well suited to wall mounting! You should've considered the XDE. Single AV cable to channel to a Media box! You'll have problems if you ever want to upgrade to cables)

singman · 19-07-2006, 12:52 PM

Thanks for your thoughts Darkknight!

1. You've currently got your kit at one side of the room. Y
2. You would like your kit to be housed into the fake fireplace recess that's been built under the TV. Y - unless there is any other suggestion!
3. Your muppet carpenter had not built the recess wide enough to house a standard AV component Y
4. Your muppet carpenter had not built the recess deep enough to house a standard AV component Y
5. The depth of the recess hits the the wall of the room. There's no stud wall frame in-between ? Y
6. Do you know where the studs and noggins are exactly in the fake wall ? It's not a fake wall, it's a concrete wall between my bedroom and the living room.
7. You've got a Sky / Aeriel / Telephone cables channelled and available to be used in that recess- Yes
8. You've already drop down all Pio SXE cables (including power) into the recess for connectivity to your AV components - not yet but that's what I am going to do.
9 . your building costs too harsh enough to not consider ripping it out and starting again ? I dont mind a restart, am trying to recover my money from those guys who did this!

I did take some pics of the DIY work in progress - will post them this evening.

Once again, thanks for all your help guys!

A

hornydragon · 19-07-2006, 1:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singman

6. Do you know where the studs and noggins are exactly in the fake wall ? It's not a fake wall, it's a concrete wall between my bedroom and the living room.

I think he means the bit the screen is bolted to, not the back bit (or is the whole thing concrete?)
Why arent the cables in already that looks like a pretty finished (if done wrongly) job

DarkKnight · 19-07-2006, 1:22 PM

Arun - On point 6

Are you saying that the newly built wall (containing the recess) is made out of concrete ?

I would've expected this to have a stud frame and plaster board (hence why I called it a fake wall).

And you say this is in a bedroom ? Is this an upstairs bedroom ? If so I'm worried! Have your floors been re-enforced ?

singman · 19-07-2006, 1:26 PM

The whole thing is concrete!

The cables are in but they are going to the cabinet in teh side of the room and I dont want to use that cabinet.. The only way I could use that cabinet is if someone with good carpentry skills makes it deeper!

A

hornydragon · 19-07-2006, 1:31 PM

If the whole wall is concrete and its 25cm thick to back of recess and then beyond you've got a big issue (are you sure?) It definatlkey requires a site visit but the "in progress pics" would help....

singman · 19-07-2006, 1:45 PM

Guys - not sure if I am able to explain this well.

The wall where the TV is hung the wall between one of my bedrooms and the living room (the AV setup is in the livnig room). The wall in itself is more than 25cm thick but the recess is 25cm deep only.

DarkKnight · 19-07-2006, 2:02 PM

Arun, if you're trying to recover money or a potential fix from the original builders, do you have a schematic to which they were working too ?

Did they know it was intended for AV components and had the recess width and depth been accuratly specified to them ?

If you've made the balls up with the plans, we won't beat you up over it. Just trying to narrow down the best options.

Cheers

singman · 19-07-2006, 2:08 PM

I had intially thought of housing everything in the recess. However, those guys recommended it will be much nicer to hide everything away (in the cabinet). I even asked them if it was deep enough and the guy said yes. Of course, he was wrong (he never took any measurements)!

One idea I am toying with is putting some shelves in the recess and storing equipment there (it will of course stick out in the room). I am not sure if this will hide the cables though!

Other solution I am contemplating is building a cabinet by chiseling the sides and the back of the recess (dont know how doable this is going to be).

creative-av · 19-07-2006, 2:26 PM

If it was the builders that suggested using the recess and they didn't measure up then they have to shoulder some of the responsibilty.

Problem is what to do now??? Cheapest option would be to rebuld the cabinet that is housing the equipment so that it can take an amp, dvd player etc. Of course this would mean it protruding past the chimney breast into the room.

If you wanted to keep it all inline then you could build out on the chimney breast(will probably have to come out another 8-10" to make sure you can connect the cables at the back of your equipment) and have the plasma 'recesessed' in the middle. You can then rebuild the cabinet in the current recess to the right depth and hide all your cables. Only problem might be is that you wall starts to angle into the bay quite close to the cabinet.

Steve

singman · 20-07-2006, 7:49 AM

Late night last night so couldnt post the pictures. Will do it today.

singman · 20-07-2006, 8:16 AM

BTW, I measured the wall yesterday. The actuall wall is 19 inches deep and the recess below the TV is 9". So I guess we can go further back in the recess?

creative-av · 20-07-2006, 8:31 AM

Arun,

Was the chinmey breast built by the builders or was it already present? If it was already present then you should be ok with making the recess deeper. If it was built by the builders then just check on how they constructed it before doing any work.

Steve

singman · 20-07-2006, 9:16 AM

it was already there! I dont want to bring the whole wall down though!!

singman · 02-08-2006, 3:40 PM

Sorry for disappearing for last few days.. I had a baby and was busy.. Will try to post progress pics soon..

singman · 04-08-2006, 9:27 AM

Thanks to Ben from the forum, looks like the solution is to widen the existing recess a little bit and then have a cabinet (custom made) so that it goes inside the recess (about 8 to 9 inches and thn comes out underneath the TV). So, it will be a T-shaped cabinet which will store all the equipment on racks.

Essentially now i need craftsmes, who can do the following jobs:

1. Widen the recess by about an inch (solid concrete wall, need someone who can do a clean job).
2. Build a cabinet (in black piano finish or contrast) in T-shape.

Any recommendations for above jobs guys?

singman · 11-08-2006, 12:59 PM

Anyone? Those guys are coming to finish the work tomorrow and I need the recess job done before that at the least!