Who would you call in your area for a home studio build?

[Tadpui]

I am not a handy man. It's taken years of trial, error, more error, utter failure, and giving up...but I've come to the conclusion that until they put 6 strings on a hammer, I'll never be handy with one. So now that I'm in a position to finally construct a little project studio in my unfinished basement, I'm resigned to having pros do the work.

Unfortunately, Kansas City isn't exactly an area with a burgeoning recording industry. So there don't seem to be any contractors in the area with any specialization or expertise in the materials and techniques involved in building a residential studio space. So it terrifies me to have Joe Schmoe and Co. hammering away in my basement with only my guidance on what the sub-structure should be. I'm sure that they know how to build an excellent standard room in a basement, but I have a feeling that they don't spend their evenings reading Rod Gervais and contemplating the absorption coefficient of various construction materials. I'm sure that if I try to explain room modes, flanking, and the concepts of isolation to them, that my own tenuous grasp on these concepts would come shining through and none of us would know what the hell is going on.

So if you have a little knowledge about the fundamentals of isolation and acoustic treatment and you barely know which way to hold an electric drill, who would you call to consult on a home studio build? Gervais' book has some great info in it, and I understand the concepts behind the techniques, but when it comes to the explanations of the actual construction, I just don't get it well enough to explain it to a residential construction foreman. And if I tried to play the foreman or builder part myself, the city might have to condemn my whole block after the resulting catastrophe.

I started Googling acousticians and acoustical consultants in the area, and there are a couple. But they seem to specialize in auditoriums, arenas, and hotel conference rooms. I have a feeling that they're priced one or two orders of magnitude out of my league. Do you think that's a lead worth chasing down, or should I just keep reading until I get it well enough to design it myself and explain it to a layman?

 

[polarity]

I would probably try to draw it out by hand or online somewhere. post it up here and let the gurus straighten out some details. Then hire the regular guys and just tell them what they are doing. They don't need to understand it as long as you tell them what materials to use and where to put it.

 

[Tadpui]

Not a bad plan. I've been wanting to play with Sketchup to see if I can outline the details of my existing room, and maybe start drawing in some of the details of my desired room. It's just going to be tough for me to depict all of the materials and structure that'll need to be there, especially when I don't understand all of it 100%.

 

[polarity]

The guys on this forum have an amazing amount of information. I would read the stickies first and maybe do some searches to get the little pieces out of the way. Just detail out the things you don't know or don't understand in the post instead of vague ideas.

 

[Atkron205]

I am not a handy man. It's taken years of trial, error, more error, utter failure, and giving up...but I've come to the conclusion that until they put 6 strings on a hammer, I'll never be handy with one. So now that I'm in a position to finally construct a little project studio in my unfinished basement, I'm resigned to having pros do the work.

Unfortunately, Kansas City isn't exactly an area with a burgeoning recording industry. So there don't seem to be any contractors in the area with any specialization or expertise in the materials and techniques involved in building a residential studio space. So it terrifies me to have Joe Schmoe and Co. hammering away in my basement with only my guidance on what the sub-structure should be. I'm sure that they know how to build an excellent standard room in a basement, but I have a feeling that they don't spend their evenings reading Rod Gervais and contemplating the absorption coefficient of various construction materials. I'm sure that if I try to explain room modes, flanking, and the concepts of isolation to them, that my own tenuous grasp on these concepts would come shining through and none of us would know what the hell is going on.

So if you have a little knowledge about the fundamentals of isolation and acoustic treatment and you barely know which way to hold an electric drill, who would you call to consult on a home studio build? Gervais' book has some great info in it, and I understand the concepts behind the techniques, but when it comes to the explanations of the actual construction, I just don't get it well enough to explain it to a residential construction foreman. And if I tried to play the foreman or builder part myself, the city might have to condemn my whole block after the resulting catastrophe.

I started Googling acousticians and acoustical consultants in the area, and there are a couple. But they seem to specialize in auditoriums, arenas, and hotel conference rooms. I have a feeling that they're priced one or two orders of magnitude out of my league. Do you think that's a lead worth chasing down, or should I just keep reading until I get it well enough to design it myself and explain it to a layman?

contact John Brandt here, he knows his stuff. Thanks

http://jhbrandt.net/

 

[pegger]

outline the details of my existing room, and maybe start drawing in some of the details of my desired room...

There you have it! Take your time to design the finished box the way you want it. Then, from the knowledge you gained by reading the book by Gervais, schedule the materials to be incorporated into each wall, surface, etc...

Now the tricky part, because you are self proclaimed as not-handy, is making sure your build complies with local building and fire codes. This is where you might want to start outsourcing the design work. You can envision the finished space, and the types of materials you want the walls built with, but how it all gets slapped together is important. I would contact an architect at this stage and hire them to format the plans for the build. They will understand the building code and local development procedures and policies, and with a little shared knowledge from you I'm sure they can comprehend the acoustical properties you are trying to accomplish...or at least follow instructions better than Joe Handyhammer.

Don't forget to contact your municipal authority to check what permits you need. Proper drawings might be a requirement for a permit anyhow. You will have to consider electrical design and possibly plumbing issues too. Those require permits normally as well.

Being a basement, be sure you have considered the inevitable problem with holes in the ground. They attract moisture. You don't want to throw $20k or more into your basement to have it start molding within a few years. Moisture control is important in basements.

And finally, check with your home insurance provider about this. Many insurers are hesitant to provide adequate insurance in a developed basement, and they may have requirements for you to fulfill before they even consider it. I had to have a wastewater backflow preventer and sump pump installed before they would even consider insuring my basement. And then the insurance was only for contents, up to a maximum dollar value of 20K. You could have all your gear and guitars down there, and even if they are scheduled in your home insurance, you might not have coverage if the basement floods or the sewer backs up and causes damage to them. Insurance is a tricky thing that is slanted for the companies..not the policy holders.

Exciting times I know. I am about 90% done in my basement, and I love having my own defined space! Look forward to seeing how things shape up for your space.

 

[Chili]

One not-so-obvious source of referrals for studio builders might be your local building inspector dept.

Go down to them and talk with the manager or supervisor and explain your ideas and concerns. They definitely know the right builders in your area and might be able to point you to the right person.

Check out some of the local studios as well.