posted
Since I need something to do to occupy my mind lately, I've taken on the project of finishing my basement. I've never done a project this large before but feel I am up to the challenge. I am a very handy guy when it comes to home improvment. It all just seems to be commen sense to me. So anyways, my plan is to split the room in half to create a living area and a extra bedroom. The living area is actually going to become my theater room. I have it planned that I will be running my speaker wires through the walls as I build as well as my s-video and video jacks that I will hook up to my Projector mounted on the back wall. The idea being that I will have a greta area to play my movies and more importantly, my video games.
My question is this, besides the obvious of running new electrical and audio/video wires, framing and drywalling, what types of things should I look to do in the basement? Like I said I've never done this before and While I know the basic stuff is there something that I might forget that will screw everything up.
I have huge expectations of this room. It is gonna be my own personal party central. And I do not want to screw it up!
Posts: 1294 | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
If it is going to be a party room, you should put in a restroom. Nothing big...no bath or shower needed..just one toilet in a corner (walled off of course). I imagine you won’t want people (or yourself) running upstairs to use the restroom.
Posts: 1034 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, it's obvious that Alexa's got all the fun stuff covered. Now we need to think of some boring things.
Do you live in a wet area? How waterproof is your basement? Is there plumbing in there already? What about AC/heat? And if it's going to be a theater room, you have acoustics to consider.
posted
IMO, putting in a toilet would probably be the biggest project by far unless you're an experienced plumber or had the pipes in place already. That is a daunting task.
I was watching some home improvement show where a company had built a custom home theater in a home. Leather seats, touch controls, super duper projector. Total price was something like $250,000.
Basement stay pretty dry. Have had tremendous down pours that have lasted weekes and the worst the basement has gottn is a little bit of dampness, not puddles, just dampness in the corners.
Don't have the room or resources for a bathroom. Wish I did, but oh well.
Not concerned with internet access. Don't even have it at home right now. Athough I may consider that down the road if I can ever afford Road runner.
May put in a small bar, nothing big just a place to hold a small fridge, some glasses, and adult beverages.
Posts: 1294 | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged |
If you're not using a drop ceiling, run network wires to the upstairs before closing off the ceiling. It's much easier that way. Run each of the ethernet cables to a patch panel and you'll be able to handle any configuration. Following the phone lines may be the easiest way.
When drilling holes for wires in joists, drill exactly in the center of the vertical dimension.
Be sure to look up cable distances - I know s-video can't be that long. Also, use good speaker wire and don't leave any copper exposed to air.
If you're not sure how you want your cables to be configures, then use 1" PVC pipe as a conduit. Then, you can tie a string to a baggy, plug your shop vac into the other end of the pipe, and suck the string down to your end. Then you can tie cables to the string and pull them through even when the walls are sealed.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
