Saltwater studio Build- new stand alone building

Hi, My name is Steve. I am in the design phase of a new construction studio build. This is going to be built on my suburban property to replace a poorly built (wood on dirt), 30 year old garage. OVERVIEW I wish to build a small project studio for personal use and some paying clients. Main uses: full rock, jazz band recording and mixing. My preference is to track as much at once as possible-often in the same room-depending on the quality of the musicians. I need a good sounding main room, an accurate and reasonably-sized control room, iso booth, washroom and a small break room. more photos in the next post. HOW LOUD? WELL... Full rock bands with enthusiastic drummers around 110db spl? 1 neighbour about 50 ft. away My house (with wife sleeping) about 40ft. away Busy highway 100ft. away (average 70db noise floor outside at proposed studio location) Decent sound isolation in and out will be a priority. Outgoing isolation won't have to be "perfect" due to the traffic noise floor, but I like our neighbours (and my wife) and want to remain on good terms. I'm thinking around 60db isolation would be acceptable. BUDGET I'm expecting in the 40,000+ range. I will stop construction and wait for funds rather than make serious compromises. PLANS I'm planning to build a 25' x 25' x 16.5' (to peak) garage type structure with a small bathroom addition (outside dimensions). Here are some pictures of what I'm thinking about design wise. Here is a link for the sketchup file. http://saltwaterstudios.com/studiodesig ... oMach3.skp QUESTIONS If you look at the diagrams, you'll notice I am going to build with Cathedral ceilings to try to maximize interior space. I intend to use a nonvented roof system for my 1st leaf. shingles-> felt -> sheathing -> sprayed foam -> sprayed fireproofing. 1) I would like to beef this up with more mass. suggestions or thoughts on where to add mass in this system? Maybe an extra layer or two of heavy sheathing? 2)While I know I'm going to want the extra cubic feet from a vaulted ceiling in the live room, I'm debating how to do my ceiling in the control room. The slope of the roof is opposite the direction needed for an angled ceiling, but I'm not willing to reverse the control room and lose all sightlines. Any thoughts on the best use of the ceiling space. 3)General thoughts on layout, usability, accoustics? I need to keep the live room entrance in it's current general location for load in access. The break room entrance can be anywhere along the current wall or possibly moved to the wall opposite the bathroom. The bathroom location cannot be moved due to location of septic tank. 4)The nook next to the iso booth will more than likely become a storage closet, mic locker, and where the power panel is located. Any thoughts on how I frame this out? 5)Any general stupidities within the design. caveats: Have not applied for a building permit yet. Will get one before construction commences. Have not decided on wood or steel stud for the interior construction leaning towards steel stud. Exterior will be wood frame. All opinions, suggestions, comments, criticisms, snide remarks welcome! Thanks for reading! Steve

Hi, 2 more pics of the old garage that's being replaced. The new building will be more in line with the house. Not in the exact footprint of the old building. These pics show the position of the old garage in relation to the highway, the neighbour, and the sleeping wife. :D Thanks for looking, Steve

Hi again, I am going to start on construction of the outside shell in a few weeks. First have to move a power line away from the old garage. Any thoughts on the exterior construction for extra mass? Anything else I'm missing before construction commences? Thanks, Steve

I would spend every waking moment getting my head around this build, the external part of it at the very least. When you start adding mass to the exterior of your walls and roof you will be in a better position overall. You wouldn't want to build this new and then have to come back in and add mass in an attempt to get your exterior mass up to an acceptable level. I like your sketched drawing. I would also be interested in what type of exterior material you plan to install on this building. This is your first line of defense, the exterior, don't hack your way through it ;)

Thanks for the reply, Yup, I know I need to get as much mass in this sucker as possible! That's also why I decided to use a sealed ceiling system. No vent holes! For the exterior: plywood with cedar siding over top. Reminds me, I have to think about vapour barrier if I seal the plywood up tight. I may have to use a layer of foam on the walls as well as the ceiling. Other, better thoughts on vapour barrier? Thanks, Steve

Steve, Your vapor barrier (plastic) will go where it almost always goes in your part of the country, it should be placed on the interior most wall of the build before sheetrock is installed. If the foam you are referring to is sheathing designed for exterior wall applications, then yes you might want to consider this as well.

Hi Xspace, Just clarifying, are you saying that in a studio build that has double wall construction, the vapour barrier goes on the inside wall just before drywall? I had thought of the dew point being closer to the exterior wall.... I was thinking of sprayed foam on the inside of the interior wall, say 2 inches thick, enough that the dew point would fall inside the foam and negating the need for a plastic vapour barrier. I was going to add pink insulation over this to help with the spring in msm. But, if the area between the two walls is considered cold zone... Have to give this one a good think and a little research. Thank you for the feedback. Steve

Cold wrote:

Hi Xspace, Just clarifying, are you saying that in a studio build that has double wall construction, the vapour barrier goes on the inside wall just before drywall? I had thought of the dew point being closer to the exterior wall....

Correct, but the barrier always goes to the inside of an assembly in a colder climate, it isn't because of the double wall configuration...and it is also based on typical type building materials. Wood sidings, batt type insulation, etc.

Cold wrote:

I was thinking of sprayed foam on the inside of the interior wall, say 2 inches thick, enough that the dew point would fall inside the foam and negating the need for a plastic vapour barrier. I was going to add pink insulation over this to help with the spring in msm. But, if the area between the two walls is considered cold zone... Have to give this one a good think and a little research. Thank you for the feedback. Steve

I can be corrected, but I don't know if sprayed foam is going to change anything about how the cold interacts with the wall assembly. Some polyurethane foams are water-vapor permeable, if this is the type you are considering using.

Thanks again for the reply, I was thinking of using a closed cell, non water permeable sprayed foam. I will talk to some of the pros and pick there brains. This is not a pressing issue yet, but I do want to make sure that if I seal up the exterior cladding air tight, I don't trap the moisture at the dew point between two sealed surfaces. I believe your idea of putting the vapour barrier just before the drywall should work as long as there is enough air movement between the walls to allow moisture to escape. What I don't want to have to do is compromise my exterior wall so it doesn't mold or rot. In the climate I live in (rain forest), water in all its forms has to always be a consideration. Thanks, Steve p.s. any other thoughts about prefered methods of adding mass to the exterior walls? What else am I forgetting?

Adding OSB in multiple layers is an option.

Hi folks, I've been a little busy over the last few months and moved right along. Here are a few pictures for you

So.......... I am back thinking about my control room ceiling. The vaulted ceiling goes the wrong way for me to really take advantage of it. The reflections would make a mess of the acoustics. But..... if I use the extra space for bass traps...... My question is how do I open my control room ceiling into this space without creating a bandpass box. Thoughts, ideas? thanks, Steve

If the mods feel so inclined, could you move this thread to the studios under construction forum? Thanks, Steve

Been a little busy but will post updated sketchup and a few more photos over the next day or two. Steve

here is the updated sketch up file http://saltwaterstudios.com/studiodesig ... oMach2.skp Steve

Hi again. I'm still debating my best use of space for the inside ceiling in the control room. I would like to angle it up a little and perhaps use some of the extra space for bass hangers. My question Should I build my internal ceiling to maximize cubic space in the control room, even though the ceiling will not be symmetrical, then build symmetry with a false ceiling, clouds etc and fill the extra space with hangers? or start with a properly symmetrical, angled room Then treat it? Here is the situation: Honest I will take a few more pics soon! Thanks, Steve

Hi folks, been busy but the project is coming along. I have updated the sketchup file, check it out here http://saltwaterstudios.com/studiodesig ... oMach3.skp This shows the ceiling system I am aiming for in the control room. I will post some screen shots in the next post. Thanks, Steve

Here are some screen shots, all of these shots have had the floor removed to make it easier to see the ceiling

And just so you know am actually still building...... Here are pictures of one of the exterior walls insulated and a shot from inside the break room. When I built the exterior shell I doubled up the exterior sheathing and sealed all the seams, the insulation in the wall pictured is sprayed cellulose. The break room is attached to the building and has a small conventional attic space which also extends over the bathroom, it is vented. I did double up the drywall as the internal walls will be second leaves to the control and live rooms. I will probably finish off the break room and the bath room before starting on the control room framing. The actual recording and control rooms will be built free standing room in room The pictures in the previous post are just to get an idea of how I am thinking about designing the studio ceiling. For a much more detailed look at it download the sketch up file. Though I warn you it is big. As always I welcome any feedback, friendly or critical, especially before I actually start construction in a month or so on the money rooms. I'm still not completely sold on the control room ceiling, but I think it is heading in a better direction. Thanks for taking the time to look, Steve

Hi Folks, Yup, still alive. The insulation has now been completed to the exterior walls and ceiling. I'll post some pictures over the next couple of days. For the roof I went with 2" of closed cell foam covered with 3" of sprayed glass insulation. I went this route so that I could maintain a sealed roof system as my outside leaf. I'll go into more details when I post some pictures. Thanks for looking, Steve

Question for you, What are your plans for HVAC? I don't see a room for an air conditioner and your non vented ceiling doesn't leave much room for ducting? Just wondering if you have a solution that might work in my own senario... Regards, -jER

Hi jER, That is a valid question as I have not discussed this. I have a couple of thoughts in mind. I am going to have a big empty section of "attic" between the control room and the live room. This is in the void above the sloped ceiling of the control room. my intention is to use this space for my ventilation runs, including two inline fans to provide fresh air for the live room and the control room. I have rough drawings, but nothing good enough to post as of yet. Before I finalize the design I will sit down with an hvac guy and make sure the system will be effective. What I am not going to do initially is splurge for a heat pump. Will I need one? Yes. I am going to plan the system with this in mind. So ventilation to start with, so nobody dies, comfort when I can afford it. Sorry to be so vague, but until I finalize my plans a bit and consult a pro, this is as good as I can be. I am taking my time with this build so I will probably frame the control room before tackling this. I am still not 100% sure how the ceiling in the control room is going to work out. Right now I am focused on getting the siding on. Steve

Hi there, Long time no update. I have been slowly working away at this. As of now I have finished the control room and iso booth ( minus the lines that run to the live room and Hvac), and have completed framing the live room. Quick shot from the unfinished live room into the control room. The iso booth is to the left. Shot of the vaulted ceiling framed inside the existing roof. Now the fun of running cable! Steve

While I was doing an update I figured I'd add a shot of my partial wiring diagram Steve