Home cinema..Garage coversion is it worth it..Help!

[martian1]

I have had to live without my Home theatre for over 6 months now and missing it like hell. Moved house wife hated my telly [43"Hitachi rp] in our open plan house, I had a seperate room before so we could have 2 tellies without disturbing each other. So...my tv has gone Speakers sub packed away.
My only chance of having a system again is a garage conversion which she isn't bothered about Here is the problems the finished room will measure approx 7.5ft x 14ft when finished this is taking into account soundproofing stud walls and a false wall with door seperating utility room.

"Sounproofing" the house is a linked detached so the garage is joined to neighbours front room ,dining room [although i know they very rarely use it ]
This is my main concern... but i have found that the garage has a 6" cavity between the garage and their house. So it's only linked by bricks at front and back of house, in the middle along its length is fresh air...IS this a good sign or would sound issues still be a major problem?
I really don't want to go on any further with this dream unless the sound issue can be overcome. If so i can get a projector with a 7ft screen

Help please anyone i hate watching movies on a 4:3 29" telly without cinema sound

[theritz]

The air-gap between the garage and your neighbours should help reduce the sound transmission between the two - most stuff I've read about soundproofing recommends te "room within a room" approach - the airgap should perform nicely. As an experiment you could rig up the speakers and sub and give it a whirl, asking your neighbours if you can have a listen from the adjoining rooms - without the extra sound absorbing material in your garage it won't be a direct comparison, but it should give you some idea. Your proposed room size is about the same size as mine (and quite a few others owned by members here)..... you'll fit in a 6.5 - 7ft screen and be thrilled with the result. Try out the sound issue and then go for it !

Sean G.

[martian1]

Thanks theritz encouraging i am on speaking terms with new neighbour but he seems a bit standoffish.. hate to get off on the wrong foot. until i get to know him a bit better rather leave it for now, its a good idea before getting to involved thought
On the + side the guy who had house before me had started converting garage anyway. He has removed garage door & put in a uvpc window and door [probably a good idea as it could act as a fire door escape route, i think building regs need 2 doors for this reason]. Anyway he had also started putting a plasterboard wall in [not much kop] just using a adhesive material. The ceiling is plasterboarded out [again not much kop] some power sockets added etc, but i will need to create a wall [making a small utility room at back of garage] as washer is in the garage.
There is some plumbing to re-route and guttering to move outside and a gas meter to box in otherwise ..neighbour willing i will make a start

I have told my wife about viewing a projector in the morning [booked at severnoaks ] expected the usual but got both & instead well its a start guys...

[Badger]

Hi

The finished size for your room is about the same as the one i'm having built at the moment (to extend the house) and it's 14'4" by 7'3" so about the same

I've got doors at either end which are a pain, but they won't be used much so not too much of a problem.

Things to watch out for

1. Most sofas will be too wide - so shop carefully, or live with 2 single seats
2. Most electric/manual screens that are 7ft wide have casings that are over 7ft wide so might not fit (I might go for a fixed screen)
3. 14ft/6ft screen is a long throw if you want the projector at the back of the room
4. Can all the kit go somewhere (luckily I have a coal cellar that'll fit the lot)

Phil

[Shockabuku]

I think our girlfriends were separated at birth.

[martian1]

Badger i would love a fixed screen but unless i hang it over uvpc door & window i am stuck. I think i will need use of door or atleast be able to use if need be, i was thinking of a manual pull down screen. I have had a look at door etc and the screen casing may need to go into roof cavity or i won't be able to use door [i'tll catch door..hell this could be a problem!]. The window and door has replaced garage door, if i were to look into garage from road outside it'll look awful with a fixed screen stuck over it!
I also need to create a wall to seperate utillity room from garage this will need a door to enter new HC room so i cannot put a fixed screen this end either..
I wish i was a bit more DIY inclined
Anyway i have started clearing garage i still need to get rid of a pine wardrobe [to big for our bedroom] and a gas cooker. Then its a nice shed for bikes and other gunk. I have managed to view 3 projectors and i am so pleased i did, i would have been gutted buying the Hitachi pj-tx10 [panel structure.. ] i am pleased i don't seem to suffer rainbows with DLP models. I think its either the Themescene h56 [not seen yet] or the Sony VPLHS 20 what a fantastic picture great improvement on hitachi.
I will post pictures when project well under way.

[Badger]

I'm not sure if it's possible but i'll need to mount the fixed screen like a "picture" - so put 2 nails up for it to hang on (at eiher end of the frame so it'll be in the right position) and just take it down when I need too

I'll know more when the projector goes in - The HS20 is currently the favorite for me, although i'm waiting to see whats being shown at CEDIA as it's only a few weeks and the Kitchen renovation is a much higher priority at the moment - I've had to discount he h56 as I want/need both DVI and component inputs, it's also more expensive

I'll post some pics once the building work is done

Phil

[martian1]

nice one

[martian1]

Here is my garage before work begins, as you can see i have quite a lot of pipes and gas meter to box in. I have a plumber coming to hopefully sort a radiator and move waste for washing m/c etc. It has power but needs more so its an electrician next, then guttering needs moving outside.

[foghorn]

Martian 1

I carried out a similar conversion, just a thought will building control allow a gas meter to be housed within a living area. I had to move the gas meter from within the garage to just outside the front door of the house.

Also if you are going to ceiling mount the projector with a 7 foot screen, I would suggest you calculate the height that the screen will be mounted It may interfere with your speakers unless you are prepared to use keystone correction on the projector.

Foghorn

[Brimstone]

Martian,

Big job ahead by the looks of it. But could be worth the effort if you get your own AV room

The guttering inside a garage isn't something i've seen before.

You mention that the new front with PVC door is only going to be used as an emergency exit (you also said you may need to use it at other times) - doesn't really matter if you cover it with a screen for general use then. If its locked and unused except in emergencies, its not going to be a problem (as long as its easily thrown aside if the situation required it). If its retractable (manual or auto), then if you really need to use the door - its not a problem, as long as its not often.

As for the view from outside through the window - once its a habitable room with covered walls and floor coverings, etc - you'll want curtains or similiar on the window anyway, particularly if you're going to use a projector (help the darkness levels up and keep streetlight glare out).

At the end of the day - only you know how much you want or need to use that PVC door, and whats more important to you, the screen or the door access.

Unfortunately with doors at both ends, somethings got to give (unless you can find a way to get the screen right out of the way of the door).
If it can be recessed into ceiling plasterboard and that helps - all the better.

Its does looks a lot of work (gas box, drains, pipes, and a utility room built in) but im sure you'll get there. And then we'll hear just how much you're enjoying it


Good luck, Mark.

[martian1]

Thanks for the imput guys regarding building regulations etc [gas meter] i will not be contacting council as making the room a permanent living area getting planning permission etc would make the job unacceptably expensive. I could not afford it for one thing never mind all the hastle , the room will not be used a great deal and if i had any major complaints simply removing carpet and re-installing garage door would return it to its "INTENDED" use. Back unfortunately to a waste of space [cannot get car in anyway !] i am going to make access available to gas board and any gas cut off valves will still be accesable, if it had to be moved it would have to be re-routed into cuboard under stairs expense ! Another thing to consider is re-sale issues, some people might prefer the garage anyway this is bugging me i will ask plumber about meter. Anyone had these problems as well?
I am taking existing ceiling down [bit of a mess] and i am undecided about type of screen, permanant would be nice but maybe not practical if its retractable it will have to be sunk into ceiling to allow for uvpc door. The guttering is a strange one don't know why but the last owner had it done like this by the looks of it
I have mentioned doing the garage out to next door neighbour, she said "why not" problem is its the other side that garage is party too.
Before things go any further i need to get rid of furniture in garage [some of it too good to chuck...selling it nightmare!] i need a shed buying for bikes etc then when i have a empty space or begin work more photos..might be a while

[inzaman]

I would have thought you would be okay just boxing the gas meter in, so long as whoever reads the meter can get to it.

Mine is in the cellar which has two rooms, a large and small one. I have had it moved to the small room but just because i didnt want to box it in.
I imagine the gas meter would become more of an issue if you tried to sell the house and marketed the garage as a useable room as opposed to a garage.

It would be a nightmare getting it rerouted as it would involve a lot of digging etc. I have recently tried to go through the pains of getting my incoming electricity moved from the large room in the cellar and the amount of regulations now is amazing, i just gave up in the end and have decided to box it in once the cellar is tanked.

[martian1]

Started clearing garage , shed coming 2 weeks. Getting a plumber is a nightmare.
Anyway after clearing garage ceiling to come down and see what we got to work with. Projector and screen on hold till after xmass [the bosses orders] she needed a new 3 piece suite, dining table...
Hopefully after this complete waste of money i can treat myself.
Post photos if anything gets moving.

[martian1]

Movement at last! Plumbers hard to find. I now have a junk shed and ready to plumb in garage. Sorry for the delay but xmass approaching and this project is on the back burner [The wifes orders!! ] . Anyway if the plumber turns up its the roof down and wiring next .