2. misc-audio
  3. 1346760156

Looking to build a room, but

So our approximately 2200 square foot basement is unfinished and I would like to build an audio room. My primary goal would be 2 channel audio oriented for the best possible sound, but I am sure I would want to watch movies with the kids as well, etc.

I know of Rives, etc. and figured I would contact them, but what I have noticed is that there are an aweful lot of support beams in the basement (from floor to ceiling). More than I have noticed in other houses we have lived in (maybe I am just paying attention now). Anyway, I am fearful that I would not have to make a very small room to exclude having these support beams in it or, alternatively, a larger room with the support beams in it. Has anyone encountered this and if so did it make a big difference in what "could have been possible" if the supports weren't there.
bigsam2

Showing 1 response by markpao

markpao
524 posts
 
Some good ideas above.
Those are actually support columns you are speaking of. You can actually have your contractor remove some (or all) of those columns by installing structural beams such as LVL's, steel I beams or steel flitch plates in place of your existing header beams. A more structural beam would allow those annoying columns to be spread out farther. Sometimes the entire span of your room with the correct sized beam.
Please be sure you get an engineers report for all this work and that it conforms to your state and local building codes. And, not sure what state you live in, but most will require a building permit to convert the basement into habitable living space.
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