Building a shed/music room from the ground up

Hello all, I am new here, first post, and have found this site to be extremely informative. I have gone ahead and ordered the Home Studio Building book as suggested on the site and should have it in a few days. I am sure that it will answer a lot of questions, but I figured I would go ahead and post some things here if anyone is interested in answering. So I am thinking of building a 20' x 16' structure on a concrete foundation. I am not trying to build a studio exactly (I am not going to professionally record myself or anyone else), but rather want to build a structure where I can play and my band can play at any time of day or night. ( I play drumset) I am not trying to put on rock concerts in the structure, but would like to play at full "practice" volume for whatever that is worth. My neighbors would be about 20ft. from this structure. I am thinking that I would like not to exceed, at least by much, $12,000.00 or so.(I teach kindergarten, not exactly a rich man) Is this an unreasonable thought? I guess I don't have a lot of questions. Or maybe I have a ton actually, but don't even know where to start. Let me have it I guess. Wow, reading over this I feel like it is a horrible newbie post. Forgive me please.

I forgot to mention that I have access to homosote for a $5 a sheet. No it is not stolen, a friend works for a huge construction company that was going to just throw away a bunch leftover from a job.

your going to need to build a dense heavy air tight structure to isolate your band from neighbours. 2 leaf is best. however when you bild air tight you need fresh air supply/return done via window or door directly to the outside or mechanical. best bet is to wait for the book, read it and it all becomes clear. as for price im approx £6000 in on my build and ive still got a/c, second leaf, doors, insulation, electrical, drywall, acoustics and finish plus all the little bits to go and ive done all the work myself. things are dear where im from. for example a concrete block is £3.30 joey

Ok, So I got the book yesterday and I haven't been able to put it down. What a wealth of information. Thanks! So, I have been reading and learning and have come to some conclusions on things and still have some questions on others. Here it goes. This project is not exactly for a studio, but more for a music/practice room where myself or other bands can play at any time of day or night. Foundaton: I am thinking concrete slab, somewhere around 14 feet by 20 feet. For cost considerations I am thinkin of a simple concrete slab on footers. Q: Is there a certain desireable slab thickness or will code thickness be enough? Q: Is there a desireable footer depth and width (outer to inner) or will forming it to code be enough? Q: Is it highly recommended to use the "j" shaped rods implanted in the foundation to attatch the exterior walls to? Mass - Air - Mass Construction Ok, all of the double wall assemblies I think I have seen have assumed gyp. board on both leaves. However, in this case one of the leaves will be the exterior wall. Q: Since gyp. board can't be used on the exterior wall what is recommended as far as the exterior is concerned? (I believe I read somewhere that gyp. board was cut and attatched inbetween the studs on the interior. good idea? better option?) Q: In most of the drawings I have seen there appears to be 3 layers of gyp. board on both leaves. Is this the "magic number"? Ceiling So independent ceiling on inner independent walls. Again, this is new construction all around and the outer or upper ceiling leaf will not be a floor of a second story. Above the ceiling joists will just be open attic space. Q: How is it best to constuct this outer/upper leaf? Gyp. board between the joists? Am I missing something here? What is the best insulation method around the cross bridging? Superdoor I really like the superdoor a lot more than the idea of two separate doors. Q: How is the lead and plywood best attatched to the solid core door? Heating and Cooling I am most confused in the arena. I had, before reading anything here or in Rod's book, thought of using a portable a/c and electric baseboard heating. (I will not have water run to this building) Q: Is this a good method to cover all heating/cooling/air flow?

i think a 6" slab with reinforceing steel is good. footings are dependant on the ground. you can use l bolts or just dill after slab is poured and use fixing. you can use ply or osb or a brick/block for exterior leaf. doubling of mass adds 6 db of isolation so the more the structure and budget can handle the better.(infomation is in the book). celing outer leaf ply with drywall cut inbetween joist is good. (in the book). just insulate up to the cross bracing. attach the lead with screws and adesive sandwiched between solid core door and ply. if you have a door or window that opens directly to out side you do not need fresh air supply. if not there are a few options search hrv, chiller room. ducted hvac. for ac on its own you can use whatever as long as you can take the noise. heating is fine. hope this helps joey.

Q: Is it highly recommended to use the "j" shaped rods implanted in the foundation to attatch the exterior walls to?

Here at Exit 4 Alabama we are required to use go bolts http://www.go-bolt.com/ in new construction and have used them in many a remodel project. You can get literature from your local building permit office that may can tell you what kind of attachment device is required and what spacing is needed in your area.

Q: Since gyp. board can't be used on the exterior wall what is recommended as far as the exterior is concerned?

Usually a layer of OSB is recommended covered with James Hardi siding.

So, I have been reading more on here about portable a/c's and I still feel like for my needs that they would work-- I am not going to be doing professional recording at all and the room will be less than 300 square feet. However, how do you insulate around the venting pipes to make sure isolation is affected as little as possible? Thanks Aaron

Just as an update, I am leaning towards a flat roof construction in order to lose the need for roof venting and making it easier to build an airtight structure without having to do all of the gyp board strips on the inside of the outer ceiling leaf.

Ok, roofers have told me there still needs to be ventilation to keep the roof from rotting out.