Architecture - Home recording studio in 2-story out-building
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Home recording studio in 2-story out-building
jobu
04-18-07, 12:58 PM
Hi,
I have a two story outbuilding (23'x19' interior dimensions) in my back yard that I will be converting into a home recording studio. The existing structure is currently finished on the inside both upstairs and downstairs. The building is on a slab.
The project consists of two subprojects.
-1-
To the ground floor I will be adding a partition wall to divide the performance studio space from a small workshop.
In the performance studio space I will construct a "floated floor" on a 2x4 frame with two layers of OSB. On top of the floor will be the double-leaf-double-framed walls, and the "dropped ceiling" on top of the walls. The performance studio space will thus be isolated from the existing structure.
-2-
To the second floor I will be adding several partition walls to create a small voice booth, a control-room / home-theatre-room, and a small lounge area with kitchenette/WC.
Specific questions to follow in this thread.
I have a two story outbuilding (23'x19' interior dimensions) in my back yard that I will be converting into a home recording studio. The existing structure is currently finished on the inside both upstairs and downstairs. The building is on a slab.
The project consists of two subprojects.
-1-
To the ground floor I will be adding a partition wall to divide the performance studio space from a small workshop.
In the performance studio space I will construct a "floated floor" on a 2x4 frame with two layers of OSB. On top of the floor will be the double-leaf-double-framed walls, and the "dropped ceiling" on top of the walls. The performance studio space will thus be isolated from the existing structure.
-2-
To the second floor I will be adding several partition walls to create a small voice booth, a control-room / home-theatre-room, and a small lounge area with kitchenette/WC.
Specific questions to follow in this thread.
jobu
04-18-07, 01:11 PM
There is currently a 4x4 lumber post with heavy duty shims wedged off center on the ground level.
It appears to have been installed during the construction and never removed.
In order to continue with my current plans I need to remove the post.
How can I determine if this post is structurally required and what the load bearing capacity of the second story sub-floor is?
The flooring joists are 2x10's spanning the 19' width joined at about 12' with a beam constructed of 5 2x4's spanning the 23' length front to back. The "support post" is wedged in-between the ground floor slab and the 5 2x4 beam.
My concern is the extra weight of adding partition walls to the second floor and removing the "support post" from the ground level.
Thanks in advance!
-jonathan
ps. the building was originally constructed as a garage on the ground-floor with an office on the second floor. The support-post in question does not appear as if it should be in the middle of a two car garage but it is shimmed in and rough drywall finished around where it connects to the ceiling joists.
It appears to have been installed during the construction and never removed.
In order to continue with my current plans I need to remove the post.
How can I determine if this post is structurally required and what the load bearing capacity of the second story sub-floor is?
The flooring joists are 2x10's spanning the 19' width joined at about 12' with a beam constructed of 5 2x4's spanning the 23' length front to back. The "support post" is wedged in-between the ground floor slab and the 5 2x4 beam.
My concern is the extra weight of adding partition walls to the second floor and removing the "support post" from the ground level.
Thanks in advance!
-jonathan
ps. the building was originally constructed as a garage on the ground-floor with an office on the second floor. The support-post in question does not appear as if it should be in the middle of a two car garage but it is shimmed in and rough drywall finished around where it connects to the ceiling joists.
Blakelpd5
04-18-07, 11:16 PM
a beam constructed of 5 2x4's spanning the 23' length front to back.
Are these just 2x4's nailed together, or are they laminated, as in a glulam?
Are these just 2x4's nailed together, or are they laminated, as in a glulam?
jobu
04-19-07, 06:19 AM
Are these just 2x4's nailed together, or are they laminated, as in a glulam?
Blakelpd5,
They are nailed.
Not sure what glulam is but they don't look as if they are glued.
-j
Blakelpd5,
They are nailed.
Not sure what glulam is but they don't look as if they are glued.
-j
logcabincook
04-19-07, 06:39 AM
Jonathan -
We converted our three car garage into a small recording facility (see www.evergroove.com for photos - moderators, I am not advertising, just showing an example of what can be done with a similar space :-) ). There are tons of things to consider, especially if you ever plan to rent out the space or sell your services. We hired a designer off the East Coast to make sure we got the best sound out of the place possible and it really made a difference. If you have questions, feel free to ask and I will try to answer.
Have fun! We do with ours!
We converted our three car garage into a small recording facility (see www.evergroove.com for photos - moderators, I am not advertising, just showing an example of what can be done with a similar space :-) ). There are tons of things to consider, especially if you ever plan to rent out the space or sell your services. We hired a designer off the East Coast to make sure we got the best sound out of the place possible and it really made a difference. If you have questions, feel free to ask and I will try to answer.
Have fun! We do with ours!
jobu
04-19-07, 07:03 AM
Jonathan -
We converted our three car garage into a small recording facility (see www.evergroove.com for photos - moderators, I am not advertising, just showing an example of what can be done with a similar space :-) ). There are tons of things to consider, especially if you ever plan to rent out the space or sell your services. We hired a designer off the East Coast to make sure we got the best sound out of the place possible and it really made a difference. If you have questions, feel free to ask and I will try to answer.
Hey logcabincook,
Thx for the link. You have a beautiful facility.
I have been involved with professional studio/facility design from an audio standpoint for 10 years and producing and engineering records for about 15. You are right that there are many details which come together to make a studio both functional, and aesthetically pleasing. From the looks of your pics you have succeeded in both aspects.
FWIW, My studio is not intended to be rented out as a commercial facility for hire. I will use it as a personal project space for artists that I work with. 4-5 projects per year. I am just taking some time off right now to get the space to the next phase where I can start booking some sessions.
FYI: Really great in-depth acoustics design info is available @ www.studiotips.com.
thx,
-j
We converted our three car garage into a small recording facility (see www.evergroove.com for photos - moderators, I am not advertising, just showing an example of what can be done with a similar space :-) ). There are tons of things to consider, especially if you ever plan to rent out the space or sell your services. We hired a designer off the East Coast to make sure we got the best sound out of the place possible and it really made a difference. If you have questions, feel free to ask and I will try to answer.
Hey logcabincook,
Thx for the link. You have a beautiful facility.
I have been involved with professional studio/facility design from an audio standpoint for 10 years and producing and engineering records for about 15. You are right that there are many details which come together to make a studio both functional, and aesthetically pleasing. From the looks of your pics you have succeeded in both aspects.
FWIW, My studio is not intended to be rented out as a commercial facility for hire. I will use it as a personal project space for artists that I work with. 4-5 projects per year. I am just taking some time off right now to get the space to the next phase where I can start booking some sessions.
FYI: Really great in-depth acoustics design info is available @ www.studiotips.com.
thx,
-j
logcabincook
04-19-07, 07:48 AM
Okay then I guess you are set with the design stuff - great!! :-)
jobu
04-19-07, 08:15 AM
Okay then I guess you are set with the design stuff - great!! :-)
Well, it's a work in progress and I intend to build some resonators, diffusors, bass-traps, and gobo's as needed.
My problem right now is twofold.
-1-
This "support-post" is in the middle of where I need to construct the decoupled/floated performance-space and I don't know how to determine the effects of removing it.
-2-
I will be adding partition walls to the second floor to create the control room space and do not want the additional weight to stress the floor too much. I also do not know how to determine if the current joist/beam system will be adequate for the additional weight.
Thx,
-j
Well, it's a work in progress and I intend to build some resonators, diffusors, bass-traps, and gobo's as needed.
My problem right now is twofold.
-1-
This "support-post" is in the middle of where I need to construct the decoupled/floated performance-space and I don't know how to determine the effects of removing it.
-2-
I will be adding partition walls to the second floor to create the control room space and do not want the additional weight to stress the floor too much. I also do not know how to determine if the current joist/beam system will be adequate for the additional weight.
Thx,
-j
razz
04-21-07, 03:17 PM
Consult a structural engineer, especially when remodel requires modification of structural components, such as joists, beams, and columns.
He or she will likely say that the post is there for a reason and should not be removed. He could also recommend replacing the makeshift beam with an engineered I-beam, whereupon the post may no longer be required.
He or she will likely say that the post is there for a reason and should not be removed. He could also recommend replacing the makeshift beam with an engineered I-beam, whereupon the post may no longer be required.
nap
04-21-07, 06:28 PM
just a word of caution
be sure whatever you are doing conforms to local building codes and zoning ordinances and realize your neighbors may not like the music which could be a very important part of your plan.
be sure whatever you are doing conforms to local building codes and zoning ordinances and realize your neighbors may not like the music which could be a very important part of your plan.
jobu
04-23-07, 09:08 AM
Consult a structural engineer, especially when remodel requires modification of structural components, such as joists, beams, and columns.
He or she will likely say that the post is there for a reason and should not be removed. He could also recommend replacing the makeshift beam with an engineered I-beam, whereupon the post may no longer be required.
Razz,
Thx for the info. The post is a 4x4. After looking up various tables, I don't think that a 4x4 would add much support and that if additional support was required the solution would need to be more elegant in any case.
I do have some meetings with a GC this week for some other work and will be checking out what their structural engineer's have to add to the pool of knowledge.
Cheers,
jonathan
He or she will likely say that the post is there for a reason and should not be removed. He could also recommend replacing the makeshift beam with an engineered I-beam, whereupon the post may no longer be required.
Razz,
Thx for the info. The post is a 4x4. After looking up various tables, I don't think that a 4x4 would add much support and that if additional support was required the solution would need to be more elegant in any case.
I do have some meetings with a GC this week for some other work and will be checking out what their structural engineer's have to add to the pool of knowledge.
Cheers,
jonathan
jobu
04-23-07, 09:24 AM
just a word of caution
be sure whatever you are doing conforms to local building codes and zoning ordinances and realize your neighbors may not like the music which could be a very important part of your plan.
Nap,
Thanks for the warning. This is not a commercial endeavour so zoning is not an issue. In essence this is a home theater remodel and a music room remodel where the two spaces are connected with audio and video for the purposes of producing various musical projects.
I did look up the noise ordinances this weekend for my neighborhood and took preliminary measurements. It looks like we are currently under the limits set by the ordinance, and my needs to keep noise out of the spaces (reflected in the design requirements) is more stringent than the ordinance stipulates.
The overall design also takes into account protecting neighbors as a primary requirement. Privacy fences will be built to the maximum code allowances along with landscaping to make the outdoor environment private and comfortable as well as "out of sight". This is a benefit for us as homeowners as well as keeping the location and building low-key. Not to mention secure.
Thanks for your detailed input!
Cheers,
jonathan
be sure whatever you are doing conforms to local building codes and zoning ordinances and realize your neighbors may not like the music which could be a very important part of your plan.
Nap,
Thanks for the warning. This is not a commercial endeavour so zoning is not an issue. In essence this is a home theater remodel and a music room remodel where the two spaces are connected with audio and video for the purposes of producing various musical projects.
I did look up the noise ordinances this weekend for my neighborhood and took preliminary measurements. It looks like we are currently under the limits set by the ordinance, and my needs to keep noise out of the spaces (reflected in the design requirements) is more stringent than the ordinance stipulates.
The overall design also takes into account protecting neighbors as a primary requirement. Privacy fences will be built to the maximum code allowances along with landscaping to make the outdoor environment private and comfortable as well as "out of sight". This is a benefit for us as homeowners as well as keeping the location and building low-key. Not to mention secure.
Thanks for your detailed input!
Cheers,
jonathan