Ambrosio's Unaplex II: Room within a Room Build

**tjambro** · **12-22-08, 05:32 PM**

Well folks, it's time to announce the winner of the "Major Award" for guessing the weight in the back of the Redneck Ranger.

First off, I want to thank the two of you for participating.

And the winner is: Space. He guessed the actual weight of 1100 pounds...

And as promised, the Redneck Ranger will deliver this Major Award to Space:

Major Award

Thanks for participating and Merry Christmas!

-Tom A.

**tjambro** · **12-22-08, 05:57 PM**

Here's a picture of the custom door slabs I ordered from Lowes. I had them only route one side of each door because I will be adding mdf to the slab to beef the door up more. I plan on using (5) 4" spring loaded hinges on each slab. I also had Lowes not cut a hole for a door knob as I will be using a push plate/pull handle on each door. The idea is that the doors cannot accidentally be left open. You will go through the door and it will close itself. If the spring loaded hinges are not enough to do the job, I will buy commercial swing arms or whatever they are called. Lowes was supposed to make the doors 1 7/8" thick but they made them the standard 1 3/8" thick. No real problem since I will be adding mdf anyway.

While I like 4 or 6 panel interior doors for the rest of the house, I was pleased with this design as it just says "theater" to me:

-Tom A.

**tjambro** · **12-22-08, 06:11 PM**

Here's a before and now picture of the future theater space:

BEFORE:

What makes this funny, is that my wife saw this and said it looked like a scene from the bridge of Star Trek when the Enterprise was about to be destroyed. She is right on! The hanging 6" flex has been removed and the supply lines capped as the theater will have all new flex.

It's hard to see in this photo but in the ceiling joists there were 4 all metal 6" supply lines to the house above. All these lines were going to be above the new ceiling but I decided to replace them with flex. I didn't want to use the old flex so I bought new shiny flex...look in the "now" picture below. You can also see 1 stack (of 3) of dricore - at the bottom right of the photo with the pliers on top - that still needs to go down.

NOW:

Both of these photos were taken from the sound lock wall looking toward the IB chamber at the far end of the basement.

-Tom A.

**bpape** · **12-22-08, 06:13 PM**

Making progress Tom. I agree - I love the door pattern.

Bryan

**tjambro** · **12-22-08, 06:22 PM**

Quote:

bpape wrote:

Making progress Tom.
Bryan

Thanks but I wonder if I should have just bought a house with an unfinished basement.

-Tom A.

**tjambro** · **12-22-08, 06:37 PM**

Yesterday was a sad day:

This is one of the two sub boxes I had behind my screen in the old house. That opening is for a 18" driver. These boxes are the reason I am going room within a room...that and my wife and neighbors would kill me if I make any more rattles.

I killed myself getting these boxes into the basement and I could not get them out without hacking them up. Oh, well...

-Tom A.

**tjambro** · **12-22-08, 07:03 PM**

My drywall has arrived!

All the 4x8 drywall on this truck is now in my basement. Two young and foolish guys unloaded 150 sheets of 5/8" into my basement. When they saw the 90 degree turn they had to make to get down the basement they did not look pleased. They turned out to be nice guys and even though they were in shape they were extremely wore out at the end. I am usually pretty cheap but I gave them $20 each when it was all over because they more then earned it. They said business was slow and if it wasn't for my job, they would have went home today with no pay. They were here 3 1/2 hours.

I get a kick out of this photo:

Does anyone see what's so interesting about this photo...anyone....Buehler? That orange fork-lift thingie is not from the local drywall supplier but Home Depot! That's right, I scheduled lumber and drywall deliveries from 2 different companies for today. I was supposed to be the first run for the drywall but their regular crew didn't show up (probably 'cause they knew how hard the job would be) and I had to wait for the backup crew from Owensboro (about 50 miles from Evansville) to get here. Well, it turns out the drywall company didn't have any fork lifts or even carts to assist in the drywall delivery so the drywall guy asked the Home Depot guy to run the last couple of loads into the garage. The orange lift would not quite make it but he dropped it just inside the door with the idea that we could at least close the garage door since it was 10F outside. Of course things never go as planned and the light sensors were blocked so the door wouldn't go down. But at least it was closer for the two fellas. While this was all taking place I was wondering what the local drywall shop and HD lawyers would think if they knew this was going on. They would have liability nightmares.

And here's what 10,854 lbs of 5/8" drywall looks like in my lobby:

Don't worry, there is still just enough room to get to the driving cabinet/Personal Drive-In-Theater.

-Tom A.

**tjambro** · **12-22-08, 07:25 PM**

First off, some of you folks might be wondering why I had drywall delivered when I don't even have my subfloor down yet. Good question. Answer: I don't have to work this week so scheduling is easier and my father is coming down for a week in January for the major building blitz. We don't know how far we will get but we're hoping to get framing and at least some of the drywall done. Time will tell.

Now that the major deliveries are here, I guess I should continue getting the room ready for the building blitz.

Let's add to the Compromise List...

Compromise #1 was Room Size: Make the room smaller in length for acoustical reasons
Compromise #2 was Seating: Only have 2 rows of 3 instead of 3 rows of 3 due to height issues

Compromise #3 is Ceiling Height:

I planned on removing all these joist blocks and turning them on their sides to allow the new joists to go further up into the ceiling. After trying to remove one I decided it was too much work to remove them all. Besides, if you look close in the photo, you can see that there are some 2x's that run parallel with the joists. These are where the builders goofed and couldn't get the plywood subfloor to line up with the joists so they added these cheater blocks. If I remove these then I would have to screw the rotated block back while trying to catch just the subfloor above and not go through the hardwood floors above. I'm sure it could be done but I didn't feel it was worth the effort. On the plus side, my air gap between the floor above and the theater ceiling will be larger so I should have better sound isolation, no?

Note: To the right of the photo you can see some of the 6" flex that replaces the old metal 6" supply lines for the house above.

-Tom A.

**tjambro** · **12-22-08, 07:34 PM**

Ok folks, last post for the day...I promise.

The Redneck Ranger is loaded up once again:

I was originally thinking this would be my lightest load so far but I'm not so sure, it may be my heaviest. I was planning on getting to the dump today but could not due to deliveries. I'm leaving town tomorrow for Christmas so you are looking at one Lonely Ranger....sorry, couldn't resist.

If anyone cares to guess the weight in the back, that's fine but there will be no "Major Awards" this time around....if anyone is keeping score, the Redneck Ranger has carried 2240 pounds to the dump in two trips. Stay tuned for the new tallies in a few days!

Merry Christmas to all!

-Tom A.

**Prof.** · **12-23-08, 05:40 PM**

Quote:

tjambro wrote:

While I like 4 or 6 panel interior doors for the rest of the house, I was pleased with this design as it just says "theater" to me:.

I see what you mean when you say the door says "Theater"..
It straight away reminded me of the double doors that used to be the entrance doors to my local cinema, when I was just a boy!..Good choice..

**Space** · **12-23-08, 07:34 PM**

Hey Tom, I only guessed 1100 pounds because I was hoping that was a high guess! My fear was that all the demo material would be my prize!!!

Be safe out there in your trip.

**SheldonBray** · **12-23-08, 11:36 PM**

Looks good.

**tjambro** · **12-26-08, 09:50 PM**

Quote:

Prof. wrote:

I see what you mean when you say the door says "Theater"..
It straight away reminded me of the double doors that used to be the entrance doors to my local cinema, when I was just a boy!..Good choice..

Thanks Prof...it was dumb luck. I was looking at a Lowe's ad and they had that door pictured as one of many doors that could be special ordered at a 10% discount. I immediately knew that was the one.

**tjambro** · **12-26-08, 09:53 PM**

Quote:

Space wrote:

My fear was that all the demo material would be my prize!!!

LOL! I didn't think of that. That would have been a "major award" wouldn't it?

**tjambro** · **12-29-08, 06:34 PM**

That's right, the load in the back of the Redneck Ranger (a few posts above) has been disposed of...new record...1220 lbs. Next time the truck goes to the dump it will be taking scraps from new work not demolition. If anyone is keeping score, the Redneck Ranger has dumped 3460 lbs in 3 trips...

**tjambro** · **12-29-08, 06:44 PM**

I have finally turned the demolition corner. Instead of taking building materials out of the basement, I finally got to put some materials down. I got the dricore done. It was very easy to install and I must say it was satisfying to "add some value" to the theater project.

Here's the obligatory 3 row complete shot:

...and here's the entire theater area done. This photo is taken from the back of the sound lock room looking through the theater and the IB chamber.

Note the 2x2 squares behind the work lights are not leftover dricore squares. They are the drop ceiling tiles that I removed. The Redneck Ranger is forbidden from taking them to the dump until I re-do the lobby and laundry/sump pump room drop ceilings with these better tiles.

I did have 38 (out of 180) tiles that I took back to Lowes today. I guesstimated about 150 tiles but the Dricore calculator calculated 180. I figured it would be better to have extra and take them back so that's what I ended up doing.

**tjambro** · **01-07-09, 07:42 PM**

My dad is to arrive tomorrow and the building blitz should begin Friday. I doubt I will have time to post any pics during that week so I will update my progress once the blitz is over. Until then, here are a few more pre-blitz pictures...

Here's a shot of my 3 door slabs. They were solid core 1 3/8" slabs. I added 3/4" mdf to each one. I put a tube of GG in between the mdf and the slab. I plan on using five 4" hinges on each slab. They sure are heavy now:

This is a picture of my brand spanking new drywall lift. I predict it will be more Christmasy looking after the GG is applied to the 3 layers of drywall. I also made sure my ladder was in the shot as you guys seem to like ladder shots also:

And finally, here's the two windows that I covered. Both windows will be in the IB sub chamber. I painted one of two blueboard layers black, put that against the glass so from the street it looks like the basement lights are off and added 2 layers of 3/4" mdf to cover the windows. I sealed them with acoustical caulk:

The blueboard around the right window was added after I took down the 2x4 wall that was there. This IB chamber was a bedroom and it had R13 insulation in the wall with sheetrock. The rest of the wall was the open basement with 2x2 walls with blueboard and paneling. I took down the 2x4 wall so that I could reclaim 2" in room width for the theater.

I'll post more after the "Building Blitz".

**Prof.** · **01-07-09, 08:03 PM**

Quote:

tjambro wrote:

This is a picture of my brand spanking new drywall lift. I predict it will be more Christmasy looking after the GG is applied to the 3 layers of drywall. I also made sure my ladder was in the shot as you guys seem to like ladder shots also:

That lift will make light work of the job..

You're putting up 3 layers of drywall.? That's a LOT of drywall!!

**tjambro** · **01-07-09, 08:10 PM**

Quote:

Prof. wrote:

That lift will make light work of the job..

You're putting up 3 layers of drywall.? That's a LOT of drywall!!

Yea, after it's all over, I may regret that decision.

Currently, there are 150 sheets of 5/8 drywall in my basement waiting for walls....10,800 lbs!

**bpape** · **01-07-09, 08:14 PM**

Tom wanted serious isolation. Mass is your friend - except when you have to schlep it all around.

Bryan

**Prof.** · **01-07-09, 08:20 PM**

I think he's building a secret bomb shelter!! what with those doors and all that drywall!!

**Space** · **01-07-09, 10:28 PM**

Hope the Redneck Ranger can make it!

So you and your Dad, while you insulate the overhead, you guys already thought about "ya know Dad, we are going to add roughly 7 pounds per square foot additional dead load to an already existing live load in this 13X26 sq. ft area?"

Or you had it checked out, or checked it out?

Right?

**tjambro** · **01-07-09, 11:18 PM**

Quote:

Space wrote:

Hope the Redneck Ranger can make it!

Was he not able to deliver your "major award?" He's got the week off, so hopefully he will be ready for the next great adventure. LOL.

Quote:

So you and your Dad, while you insulate the overhead, you guys already thought about "ya know Dad, we are going to add roughly 7 pounds per square foot additional dead load to an already existing live load in this 13X26 sq. ft area?"

Actually, I'm building a true room within a room...so that means I am adding new walls and new ceiling joists. So the 3 layers of ceiling drywall will be attached to the new 2x8 joists that will be resting on the new walls. No live load. I was going to leave it at that, but bpape suggested that I attach the top of the new walls with DC04 clips to the current 2x10 joists. I thought the room would be sturdy enough without the clips but he said with the massive IB, I would risk cracking the drywall from shear forces without the clips. Seeing the power of my DIY subs (See my avatar: that's me sitting in one of them) in the last house,

I believed him.

So...DC04 clips it is.

**Space** · **01-07-09, 11:49 PM**

Yes something to help prevent the destruction from racking is always welcome. Let in (cut into)diagonal bracing in the walls used to be code here @ Exit 4. Now days they require a vertical full sheet of 1/2 OSB on the exterior of the residential framing on both walls of all corners. You could use plywood on the interior of your framing and achieve the same positive benefit.

Exit 4 is in hurricane alley so we don't question things that may save our home and health

**tjambro** · **01-20-09, 09:27 PM**

Well folks, my dad and I survived Building Blitz '09...tee shirts are on order. Large amounts of ibuprofen were standard tools while toting drywall.

First off, if my dad is reading this....thanks for your patience. I know I kept slowing the project down by adding little projects to help sound isolation. Dad said it was fine and that his time was my time but I could tell he was a little frustrated. He was hoping to get all 3 layers of drywall up but we only got 1 layer done. Sure, I would have liked to get 3 done but I knew that would be a pretty tough goal to achieve. We didn't even start the drywall until Friday and Saturday was our last working day. I could tell Dad was much happier installing drywall than waiting for me to install pieces of mdf between joists and caulking them...see below for my reasoning.

A lot was accomplished but of course a lot remains.

Here's the highlights of what was accomplished:

Door from left theater wall to back rooms was removed. This door was recycled as a new entrance to the laundry/sump pump room from the lobby/arcade. In the picture below the left door is the laundry room and the right is the bathroom.

Bathroom was flip flopped. By this I mean that the bathroom door was moved to the opposite side of the room so that the bathroom is accessible from the lobby. This was done so that people will not have to walk through the laundry room to get to the bathroom. To accomplish this, the vanity and cabinet in the bathroom had to be moved. The vanity drain line had to be re-routed around the back side of the bathroom through the laundry room walls to allow for the new door. During all this mess, I decided to put up two layers of drywall over the existing 1/2" bathroom drywall along the wall that is next to the theater.

Here's the bathroom freshly reversed:

Notice that the vanity and cabinet need to be painted on the sides that used to be against the wall. Also you can see the old linoleum where the vanity and closet used to be. Naturally, the light switch had to be moved near the new door...all this stuff takes time!

The two HVAC returns for the house above that consisted of a joist cavity covered with sheet metal was redone by removing the sheet metal, adding 2" cotton on the bottom and covering with mdf and caulked:

In this picture, you are looking at the center basement wall (where left theater wall will be). You see the space between the joists that open into the non-theater portion of the basement? These will be filled with mdf. See below picture.

The HVAC supplies for the house above (originally metal but converted to flex) were also boxed in with mdf:

MDF was installed between the old joists all along the center of the basement:

This is where the left wall of the theater was built. I did this because I am using the bathroom and mechanical room walls as my outer wall in this area. While we were framing the new inner wall I noticed that any sound that would get past the upper portion of the inner wall would have a clear shot to the current HVAC trunks that run parallel with the left side of the theater. I figured the mdf squares between the joists would make the outer wall more contiguous. In this picture you can see 1 of the DC04 clips. After all the new ceiling joists were installed, I put a DC04 clip on every joist (not the new joists that I installed below the original house joists) that I had free access to.

...more Building Blitz '09 to come...

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