[DGracey]

I came accross the forum whilst searching for inspiration for the colour-scheme (amongst other things) for my Cinema/Games Room Project. I can't believe I havent found this forum before! Many of the threads I read from end to end in one mamoth siting. Particularly thanks to those who posted pictures. Absolutely fantastic advice and truely inspirational.

We are building a house here in Munich. My wife has, unusually, given me a pretty free rein to do what I like with the 'hobby room' in the Basement. So a Cinema/Bar it is. I have already arranged for the preinstalation for power and wiring. But there is so much I haven't even though about so far.

My current setup is not particularly cutting edge (don't laugh):

Yamaha DSP A5
Projector Epson EMP TW200H
KEF HTS 2001
Magnat Subwoofer (don't even know the model number)

Having recieved, as I said, such excellent advice, its probably only fair that I also try and contribute - as far as my limited skills allow. For now though some questions:

Would you pre-wire for 7.1 now?
Anyone with a good experience of universal ceiling mounts for projectors (ideally for my projector, although that's probably asking a lot).
Carpet or Laminat on the floor (for sound I am guessing Carpet)?

[Magslad]

Welcome to the forums - now you've joined there's no escape !!

Love to see complete house builds, make sure you post plenty of progress pics. Can't answer all your questions (don't have a projector) but for the other two:

Would you pre-wire for 7.1 now?

How big is your room? Generally always a good idea to try and future-proof, especially when you have the luxury of a new build so not having to chase out existing walls etc, but the benfits of 7.1 only really become apparent for larger rooms, and also where you will have space between your seating area and the rear wall behind it.

Carpet or Laminat on the floor (for sound I am guessing Carpet)?

Personally I would definitely go for carpet every time in a cinema room - as you say far better for sound that laminate.

Hope that helps - now show us some pics

[DGracey]

Originally Posted by Magslad

How big is your room? Generally always a good idea to try and future-proof, especially when you have the luxury of a new build so not having to chase out existing walls etc, but the benfits of 7.1 only really become apparent for larger rooms, and also where you will have space between your seating area and the rear wall behind it.



Hope that helps - now show us some pics

Thanks for the sound advice. My apologies for asking a question other than the one I intended....it was getting late. What I should have asked is, are the benefits of 7.1 enough to make it sensible to launch straight into a 7.1 implimentation. This would mean obviously 2 new speakers and a new receiver. The Room is 42m2 with approximately half to accomodate the seating area and screen, the other half the Pool table and Bar. So there is a significant space behind the seating area. Would a 7.1 implimentation make a significant difference to the sound experience (presuming I buy a decent 7.1 amp). Or should I just stick with the 5.1 in the short term.

What I failed to mention before is that my source is a Sony PS3 although I will also have Sky HD in the room.

I have posted a few of the early pictures. We are already quite far into the project so I will drip feed the pictures over the coming days.

[enablerbro1]

I don't think that there are many 7.1 soundtracks out right now, would be worth checking on the Amplifiers forum for more specific advice. I'd say future proof the room so that you can go 7.1 but I wouldn't be in a rush to buy a new amp etc.

[DGracey]

Thanks for the advice. Since my original post I have done some research as you suggested.....apologies, that's probably where I should have started! I guess the finances may stop me from upgrading just now anyway. But I have also come to the conclusion that the pre-wiring is a 'no brainer'.

[DGracey]

More pictures of the basement. This is after 4 days of progress from first breaking ground!

[Magslad]

I'd say future proof the room so that you can go 7.1 but I wouldn't be in a rush to buy a new amp

FWIW I'd agree with that completely - you have the size of room that should see benefits from a 7.1 installation so worth cabling to future-proof for this, but check on what you will be watching and how many 7.1 soundtracks are available before rushing into a full installation immediately.

Nice pics by the way - keep 'em coming!!

[enablerbro1]

That space looks H U G E.

[DGracey]

The basement is just over 130m2 in total. Basements are very much the norm here in Germany also we are right on the edge of a villiage so there is a limit to the upper floor space we were allowed - I think the planners would have preferred us to build totally underground, Hobbit style!

The cinema room itself if 42m2. I have attached a picture of the room just after they had put the roof on. More indoor swimming pool than basement at that stage. Fortunately it dried out pretty quickly. Incidentally, if my wife finds the very unflattering picture of her on here, I am history...

[blasted]

Top notch, I love to see building work taking place. Especially anything structural, involving steel or concrete.

I look forward to seeing plenty more pictures.

[DGracey]

Thank you for the supportive comments. I am aware this forum is for DIY associated with A/V, but as some of you want to see the general house build, I will continue to drip feed the pictures.

As I explained we are some way into the process. We have gone for a wood framed design (obviously with the exception of the basement) from one of the so called Fertig (turn key) builders - a company called Platz Haus. This is prefabricated and then assembled on site.

Anyway, here's some more pictures.........

[Shockabuku]

What a beautiful looking place, with views to match. Great stuff

[DGracey]

Thanks for the kind comments. Some of my mates back in the UK have taken to calling it 'the portacabin' and continue to make comments like......well if you decide to leave Munich you can always tow it behind you - a bit unfair, but thats the sort of friends I have.

[DGracey]

A few more pictures. We decided to build a car port on the front of a property rather than a garage mainly due to cost.

[craigoscott]

that looks like it is going to look fantastic when done!! good luck with everything, and you will certainly have a nice big space to put your home cinema in!! :D

[DGracey]

At the risk of boring you a few more pictures....

To get the special KFV 40 morgage for part of the house purchase we had to put the solar panels in. Also after the house is finished we have to do a 'blower test' to ensure that it can retain the heat within certain tolerances. The German paperwork would drive you crazy, but they know how to build things right!

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

Originally Posted by DGracey

Thanks for the kind comments. Some of my mates back in the UK have taken to calling it 'the portacabin' and continue to make comments like......well if you decide to leave Munich you can always tow it behind you - a bit unfair, but thats the sort of friends I have.

They are just jealous that your house will be superior to theirs lol. I have a keen interest in the various prefab systems as i would like to use one on my planned self build but unfortunately they are out of my price range. I think i actually have a platzhus brochure at home. Its a great way to build houses and is begining to penetrate the UK market but most people cant see past bricks and mortar. With the forthcoming tightening of the building regs i think it will become much more common.

[DGracey]

Originally Posted by Da_Rude_Baboon

They are just jealous that your house will be superior to theirs lol. I have a keen interest in the various prefab systems as i would like to use one on my planned self build but unfortunately they are out of my price range. I think i actually have a platzhus brochure at home. Its a great way to build houses and is begining to penetrate the UK market but most people cant see past bricks and mortar. With the forthcoming tightening of the building regs i think it will become much more common.

I had heard that Platz Haus had opened up a UK Branch. In Germany pre-fab or 'eco-build' is only very slightly more expensive than bricks and mortor (we did consisder that, but only briefly). It is actually more heat efficient and if properly looked after will last just as long.....apparently. We did a lot of research as you can imagine and are happy with the choice.

It has raised a few eyebrows though with our families back in the UK. As I said, the portacabin jokes do continue but I suspect they may die away come the Oktoberfest and Skiing Seasons!!

[DGracey]

OK so back to the Cinema Room.......

[softrice]

your place is going to look really good, love to see how you kit out the whole house in the end, how long has the built be going for?

[DGracey]

Originally Posted by softrice

your place is going to look really good, love to see how you kit out the whole house in the end, how long has the built be going for?

Thanks for the positive comments softrice. We are hoping it does look good in the end................ though to be honest at times it still seems we are a million miles away from anything we can live in. It is true to say we have had our doubts.......both about the project and our sanity!

At the risk of getting further off track, I will continue to post pictures about the whole project - I have the floor plans somewhere if anyone is remotely interested.

In terms of the time frame.....we bought the land in December of last year after giving up trying to find an existing house suitable to buy in the area near the International School (where the kids go) to the North of Munich. We finally broke ground in Jun, after a number of 'fun' discussions with the local and regional planners - thankfully brookered by our builders Platz Haus. We expect to be in the house at the end of November and are currently on track (fingers crossed).

[DGracey]

pictures of the kitchen and living room. Its pretty much L-shaped although we plan to add a dividing wall a little later......

The underfloor heating hasn't gone in yet

[DGracey]

I took these pictures today. So no more drip feeding, you are completely up to date! Now the house has been rendered, I think it looks a lot better....less portacabin like

The cinema room has also moved on, we had to put false walls on the 3 outward facing sides, both to get the finish we want and to allow the cables to be run. You can see there are a few cables that will have to be terminated! Unfortunately there was a break-down in communication and they have placed the termination points at the opposite ends of the room (rather than adjacent to where the viewing are will be). Some advice please! Are there a limits on how far I can run certain types of cable, composite, HMDI etc between the projector and source. Do you thnk it is going to totall screw up the ease with which I can use the remotes for things like the A/V Amp of the PS3? The fault was theirs, so I could ask them to put it right, but actually having everything near the Bar could also be OK.

The other thing I have to do now is plan the end of the room the screen will go. As you will note from the picture, there are a few issues to contend with – the window and the radiator especially. I guess I don’t ideally want to lose the light coming from that window – for the times the room isn’t going to be a HC. But that is not a definite. The good news is the window will have some shutters which provide almost total blackout. Equally I have a reasonable quality retractable screen - this will be place centrally.


On one hand, I am thinking of building a low wall up the full width of the room to a hieght just above the radiator and carpeting this the same as the floor. Above the window I was thinking of a pelmit, one again the full width of the room. Then, either side of the where the screen will be (behind the wall below and pelmit above) some dark curtains. Which could be drawn to the edge of the screen on 'HC days'.


On the other hand, I guess it is never really going to look right unless I do a permanent Screen installation on that wall. Perhaps I should accept the fact that the window will have to be permanently obscured.


What do you think guys, beause I change my mind hourly!


Thanks again for those who have shown interest. As many of you know, it helps the motivation a lot when people take time to post replies.

[albriscoe]

Originally Posted by Da_Rude_Baboon

Its a great way to build houses and is begining to penetrate the UK market but most people cant see past bricks and mortar.

And whats wrong with good old bricks and mortar then DRB

The problem with houses such as this one is this,

Unless you are building in the middle of nowhere in england the short sighted planning departments here in the uk demand that you build in keeping with your surrounding areas. ie; if its bricks and mortar houses around you then that is what they want, We even had to fight them on our choice of bricks even though the houses around us were built in bricks from 120 years ago

Then of course cost is a massive factor as I`m sure you will know if you are thinking of a self build, All the fabricated built houses are more expensive than traditionally built ones so people simply can`t afford to go this way.

Anyway enough of that and onto this build

DGracey

your having a lovely house built their mate well done to you and the missus, and congrats to you in doing a basement.

YOU WILL DEFINATLEY NOT REGRET IT AS LONG AS ITS WATERTIGHT

is it tanked in anyway or does the ground not come into contact with the outer walls.

Also you mentioned UFCH but your having a rad in the cinema room, is there a specific reason for this, I ask because my new build has been done with ufch everywhere on all 4 floors and I can recommend it bigstyle.

You asked about 7.1, definatley run all the cables for 7.1, we did and I`m just about to go 7.1 so no work involved, the holes in my basement cinema room walls for my inwall speakers were made ready with cables run and will take 15 mins to cut out and cables are their ready to couple up.

Also you say the sparkies ran the cables at the wrong end of the cinema room, well make them move them mate as you will at your cost after they have gone.

One last suggestion, can you host your pics on photobucket first please as it makes for a much nicer thread and lovely big photo`s for us all to see.

Keep it up mate your doing a grand job, if you want to see my basement cinema room click on my link below

cheers Al

[DGracey]

Thanks Albrisco I have been following your thread also and enjoying it....

The Basement - I must admit I was very worried at opting for a basement given some horror stories from my time in the UK. However I was told basements are the norm rather than the exception over here. It is fully tanked and has a 100mm insulation layer all around. The most important thing for me as a non-technical guy is that it has a 10 year watertight garantee from one of the longest standing and most reputable basement building companies in Munich. Also it was checked by an independant engineer who assured me the work was top quality. They were not the lowest quote! So I am hoping it stays watertight

UFCH - As far as the Under Floor Central Heating is concerned, we decided to go for this in the upper 2 floor and opted for radiators in the basement. The reason was simply one of cost. In retrospect though, it was probably a mistake. I should have done it all UGCH.

I took the advice and pre-wired for 7.1.

I will do the photobucket thing just as soon as I have worked out how it works.....I will start with the FAQs I guess. Sorted

Thanks again for the input, really welcomed.

[geo99]

Looks great mate!

Grand designs??? haha

geo99

[craigoscott]

looking awesome mate, keep the pictures coming!!! love seein a full build! :D

[inzaman]

Just to add this does look great, i like your surroundings as well; you seem to be in the middle of nowhere

[DGracey]

Thanks for the positive comments geo99, craigoscott and inzaman.

Basically we are on the edge of a small villiage just North of Munich. Whilst quite a quite big city, Munich is different from many I have lived in in that its never that far to open countryside. The dividing lines are quite sharp - one minute it seems you are in city, the next open country.

As I think I said on one of the other threads, we are now 5 minutes drive from the International School that the kids go to. That was one of the main objectives - the comute from where we currently live was impossible for my wife. The bad news for me is I now have to drive 40 minutes to work.....but that was a sacrifice my wife was willing to make!

Anyway, to have gone any closer to the centre of Munich would have meant I would have had no chance of being able to buy land....its just stupidly expensive. Bottom line, we had no choice really. We looked at several plots where it seemed people were selling the bottom end of their garden (400m2) for 400K! Really crappy plots with nothing to commend them.

Having said that we are in the sticks, actually we are about 10 minutes from the S-Bahn (the sort of metropolitan rail network/Tube), 15 minutes to airport and can drive into the centre of Munich in about 30 minutes (max). But more important than all that, in the winter I can still be on the ski slopes in 1hr 20 minutes

The views you can see in some of the photos are pretty much protected (we are on the edge of their equivilent of green belt). This was this biggest selling point.....I will post some more photos to show you what I mean.

As I said, thanks again for the positive responses.

[yukichon]

That is going to be the absoloute muts nuts