My (Try to Keep Cheap) Garage Cinema Build!

Clarkincov · 04-01-2009, 9:30 PM

Hi all

and thanks for taking the time to view my Garage to cinema project build!
In the past I have seen many great projects’ built and displayed on this forum which has prompted me to build my very own. Many of the ideas I have included in my own design, have been taken from cinema builds that have also been based in this forum.
1st Step “Location to build”
The unused space where if left for too long will just start collecting crap that you would normally keep in the loft! And if you where to park your car inside you end up trying to squeeze in and out and I couldn’t be doing with that!! So instead I decided to build a home cinema in my Garage!!!
As I move on I will update you with as many pictures as possible, Feedback is most welcome

!! Hope you all enjoy.

geewhizz · 04-01-2009, 10:03 PM

Looks like your off to a good start.
Keep the pics coming

dreamboat10 · 04-01-2009, 11:52 PM

Ensure a radiator is in your budget fella, just done mine on the cheap and am relying on a convector heater, i know its cold but it aint upto the job. Will have to now cost a rad install.

Good luck with your project.

The Prof. · 05-01-2009, 1:00 AM

From the photo, it looks like you have a fair amount of space between the back wall and the garage door..What will this be used for?..and how long will the finished room be?
Keep the pics coming..It looks like an interesting build..

Clarkincov · 05-01-2009, 7:03 PM

Thanks for the reply’s people most appreciated!!

Dreamboat10: - Thanks for the advice about the rad; I have been looking into both options Electric and from the heating system in the house! The garage is part of the house (bedroom right above it as well) so it ant that cold really as it stands + I’m electrician by trade so it’s easy for me to get hold of a convector heater for a good price :@) so that’s what I’m aiming for at the moment. What convector heater have you got?? I’m looking at the “levanter 3Kw” slim line heater very long and spaces the heat out very nicely (have fitted many lol!!)

The Prof: - Thanks also for the reply!! Ya my Garage is quite long really, due to the fact I wanted to keep the sliding door at the front, I thought it would be a good idea to leave some space be hide it as lifting the door up to be left with a stud wall right there didn’t appeal to (and the Mrs. lol) I also what to box in my DVD, Surround system and other bits and having the space in the back will accommodate that well.

The finished cinema room size will be: -
Length 3705mm
Width 2480mm
Height (to main ceiling) 2401mm
Height (to the drop down) 1905mm

The space area size will be: -
Length 1400mm
Width 2480mm
Height (when garage door is down) 2401mm

I can also use this back space to store the wheelie bins in (Keeps them out the way).

dazza32 · 05-01-2009, 9:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkincov

Dreamboat10: - Thanks for the advice about the rad; I have been looking into both options Electric and from the heating system in the house! The garage is part of the house (bedroom right above it as well) so it ant that cold really as it stands + I’m electrician by trade so it’s easy for me to get hold of a convector heater for a good price :@) so that’s what I’m aiming for at the moment. What convector heater have you got?? I’m looking at the “levanter 3Kw” slim line heater very long and spaces the heat out very nicely (have fitted many lol!!)

Just done a similar build myself and I'm using a 600w panel heater which even during these long cold winter nights is keeping my garaginema more than warm enough. I did though insulate the walls,floor and ceiling which you may or may not be doing.

Clarkincov · 05-01-2009, 9:50 PM

My 3Kw heater should feel like I’m in the tropics then!! LOL
I’m going to put some insulation in the stud walls including studding to the external wall. But all internal walls to the house I’m going to wet plaster, then that way the heat will be shared with the house (I Hope)???

Hope to get more pictures on tomorrow!! :@)

wiz · 05-01-2009, 9:53 PM

looks great but cinema and cheap! Isn't that an oxymoron thingy?

05-01-2009, 10:14 PM

Just noticed how you've done your stud wall, with the bit at the top to allow the garage door to still open! Genius!

The Prof. · 05-01-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkincov

The Prof: - Thanks also for the reply!! Ya my Garage is quite long really, due to the fact I wanted to keep the sliding door at the front, I thought it would be a good idea to leave some space be hide it as lifting the door up to be left with a stud wall right there didn’t appeal to (and the Mrs. lol) I also what to box in my DVD, Surround system and other bits and having the space in the back will accommodate that well.

That back wall space would be ideal for a built in equipment rack..
You could gain access to the back of the rack by just lifting up the garage door..

Clarkincov · 06-01-2009, 6:00 PM

Hi people.

Here are some more pictures of the cinema build. It is now really starting to take shape!!!

dreamboat10 · 07-01-2009, 1:47 AM

Hi, the heater i have is just a loaned one from a a family member, 2kw digital thing, nothing fancy, do you have a link to the one you have in mind. Anyway my thoughts on the radiator, would it not be cheaper to run???? than the electric version.

Hope everything goes well with your project.

Clarkincov · 07-01-2009, 7:03 PM

Hi Dreamboat10!
I’m not doing too well here: - first its spelt “Levante” (no “r” on the end) and it’s a 2Kw not 3Kw as i first thought! Anyway link (Levanté - Air Handling Products) it come as a panel heater!!!
But going back to your question “yes” I do think a radiator, would be cheaper to run, it’s just the plumbing it in that could be a bit tricky lol.

Clarkincov · 07-01-2009, 7:32 PM

Hello All.
Here are some pictures of the chairs I’m using. I bought these chairs off eBay, and had to pick them up from a place in Leicester last year. The chap told me he was going to use them himself for his own cinema build, but never got round to it!
From the pictures on eBay they didn’t look too bad (well I didn’t think so lol) then when I went to collect them well! (That’s just say they wasn’t what I thought they were) apparently they were from 1930 taken out of a theatre (not sure which one)
I remember them as being Very orange and the weight of them was ridiculous!! This aside, I thought by rubbing them down and spraying them chrome would make these things look half decent (let me know what u think lol) also the orange material on them was horrible, so me and the Mrs have re-covered them with a red material instead.

Clarkincov · 07-01-2009, 7:38 PM

And here are some more pictures of the chairs being re-covered.

Clarkincov · 09-01-2009, 6:10 PM

Good afternoon to all!!

Here are some pictures I’ve taken from last night’s work. I’ve installed 10 down lights and 4 wall lights in total on two circuits, one to be dimmed and one just to turn on and off.
The ones that are to be dimmed are x2 wall lights (to light up posters) and x6 50w halogen 230v mains spots. The un-dimmed are switching just the remaining x4 spots and the other x2 wall light that will be placed as effect lighting next to the drop down projector screen. These lights will just shine the light up and down both sides. I have also decided to install LED lights (hence the un-dimmed switch) which should give a better effect in the room.
I thought as well it was a good idea to install smoke alarm in the room that will be linked to the others in the house, so if one goes off they all do!!! Just in case!!!

I’ve then got just one twin socket (for sub +anything else), a fuse spur for the projector screen and another fuse spur for the heater all in one location. Then for my AV unit, DVD, media streamer and DAB Receiver I have installed cables for x3 twin sockets to be place surface. I have also installed x2 data points and pulled x2 cable for TV and Sky all linked into the house ready to go. The only other socket installed is for the projector itself and then I think I’m about done (I hope lol).

Plasterer has been in today and again in tomorrow so should have some more pics then!! Hope you enjoyed the show.

Clarkincov · 11-01-2009, 11:17 AM

Hi all.
Just to let all you viewers know how things are getting on!! Plastering is now completed and looking good. Next thing now is the skirting and coving!

Sandman · 11-01-2009, 11:31 AM

Nice work so far, really starting to take shape. I cant wait to see the equipment getting installed.
Those chairs will give a cinema feel to the room but are they comfortable enough for a 3 hour epic? Uncomfortable seats in the cinema is the main reason I enjoy watching blu-rays at home more.
Looks good though, keep the pics coming.

Clarkincov · 11-01-2009, 9:13 PM

Hi Sandman.

Thanks for shout out!

We had a sit down on them before we took them apart, and they were still very “springy” and comfortable for their age. Only time will tell when used for a real length of time!!!

Can’t wait for the “Lord of the Rings” show down (I think that’s over 9 Hours long in total!!!

lol)

The Prof. · 12-01-2009, 1:23 AM

It's all coming together nicely..
Is that a riser at the back of the room that the frames are standing on?

Clarkincov · 12-01-2009, 6:13 PM

Hi Prof

Thanks for the positive comments! And yes m8 that is a riser at the back, I’ve only took it up 6 inches but you do get a much better view over the person in fronts head.
I’m going to have 4 chairs in the back row (that just fit right

) and only 3 in the front so this way there will be enough space both sides to get to the back row.

The Prof. · 13-01-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkincov

Hi Prof

Thanks for the positive comments! And yes m8 that is a riser at the back, I’ve only took it up 6 inches but you do get a much better view over the person in fronts head.
I’m going to have 4 chairs in the back row (that just fit right

) and only 3 in the front so this way there will be enough space both sides to get to the back row.

Having the riser and seating right up against the back wall is not an ideal situation and it will produce some problems..acoustically speaking..
Sound reflecting off the back wall will produce reverberations for the rear seating area..
Ideally the rear seats should be at least 2' away from the back wall..
Do you have the length in the room to move that seating further forward?

Clarkincov · 13-01-2009, 7:23 PM

Hi Prof

I didn’t even know that!! And sadly I haven’t got any more room to really move the chairs forward!

I was also thinking connecting up a “wii” console on the big screen, and I needed as much space as possible at the front to move around. How much of a problem do you think it will cause?

The Prof. · 14-01-2009, 1:25 AM

Well for the back seat viewers it will emphasize some sounds and reduce others..
All you can do to reduce the reverberations is to place acoustic panels across the back wall..perhaps three panels 2' x 4' x 4" thick, centred across the wall..
That should help things considerably..

Clarkincov · 15-01-2009, 5:35 PM

Hi Prof

Right I’m looking into it (but man these things can be expensive

!!!) would these need to be placed on top of the plasterboard or can you conceal them inside the stud wall cavity?? Also I would like to know “can you paint over them??”

Clarkincov · 15-01-2009, 5:40 PM

Here are some updated pictures of the coving and skirting from yesterday!

Today I start some painting

and hopefully done by the end of the weekend?

The Prof. · 16-01-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkincov

Hi Prof

Right I’m looking into it (but man these things can be expensive

!!!) would these need to be placed on top of the plasterboard or can you conceal them inside the stud wall cavity?? Also I would like to know “can you paint over them??”

Clarkincov,

Buying ready made acoustic panels can be very expensive and unnecessary if you have any basic carpentry skills..
I've always made my own, and it's very easy really..
Basically, the fibreglass panel has a timber frame around it and the whole thing is just covered with a cloth material..
The finished panel is fixed on top of the plasterboard..
You can't paint over them because the face of the panel must be open enough to absorb certain frequencies..

Clarkincov · 21-01-2009, 8:46 PM

Hi Prof.

Sorry it’s taken time to get back been working hard

lol!! Thanks very much

for the information about the acoustic panels, I did however decide to leave the back wall as it stood (too much hard work taking it back down) but you may glade to know it’s now all finished and looks great

(well I think so anyway) the heater warms the room up just right and the chairs give the room that cinema feel!! The AV system I went for was a “Sony HT-DDW890” which is a 6.1 surround sound system and “man” it sounds great

!! This system is a great value for money unit (link HT-DDW890 (HTDDW890) : Home Theatre and hi fi : Sony) hope you all enjoy the pictures.

21-01-2009, 10:45 PM

Looks awesome!

Those old cinema chairs really do look the biz now!

The Prof. · 22-01-2009, 12:20 AM

Very nice Clarkincov..

The chairs look great and nice lighting effects..

You can always add acoustic treatments later if you feel that it needs it..
Well done..

05-01-2009, 10:14 PM	#9
Marky P Guest Posts: n/a	Re: My (Try to Keep Cheap) Garage Cinema Build! Just noticed how you've done your stud wall, with the bit at the top to allow the garage door to still open! Genius!
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21-01-2009, 10:45 PM	#29
Marky P Guest Posts: n/a	Re: My (Try to Keep Cheap) Garage Cinema Build! Looks awesome! Those old cinema chairs really do look the biz now!
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