studio layout help

I laughed at that to when I read it

i would like 9' or 10' ceilings but i need to make the roof pitch as low as possible. i am in a power line eavesment so 16' should be the peak. building materials are fair around here. a 2x4 stud is $2.36. could probably get a discount on the entire build though. for comparison shopping you could look at lowes.com my zip code is 77662.

just a reminder bump. looking for an 18 x 24 studio on a 5 k budget.

Well sorry I haven't gotten back to you rock but life has gotten in the way a lil bit. Had to redo the computer and trying to get a new car at the moment so I haven't had time to work on your materials list. But as you said in your last post you'd like 9 or 10 ft high ceilings. Well in order for me to do a proper materials list I need a definate answer on that. Oh and what kind of a roof pitch do you plan on putting on the building?

i will do whatever height i can do for under 5k. My only limit is the eavesment for the power lines. i cant have my roof to close to the lines. under 16ft is probably fine. I am thinking of a pyramid style roof but only on the 3(right left and rear) sides. I would like to do a gable type at the front door side to possibly put a carport at a later date. i plan on using 30 yr architectural type shingles. i have already aqcuired the shingles leftover from redoing my home. My biggest concerns are budget. It doesnt have to be pro but i want the best bang for the buck and i only have 5000 bucks to work with. I am not even opposed to an open floorplan. i like the isolation rooms but if that makes my control a 6' box then an open floorplan and a vocal booth will just have to do. I guess to answer your questions i want 10 foot ceilings. If i build the roof as i mentioned it should make the eavesment problem disappear. thanks for your time i really dont know what the hell i would do without this board and the members like yourself who offer there extensive one on one help and get nothing in return except a thank you .

Well I figured out on my cad program that with 10ft ceiling height with a 4/12 pitch the peak of the roof will be around 14 ft high. That's well below your power lines so you could do a gables on both ends of the building (18 ft length sides) and that will also be easier to build than building a hip roof at one end and a gable at the other.

In no way do I want to make this sound discouriging or insulting. Ive been here about 7-8 months now, havent built shit, and have a whole new awe and respect for the hard work, knowledge, and humility needed to build these rooms of dreams we all want so much. In no way do I consider myself an expert or even a proper mentor in this field, but I have learned quite abit the past few months. I a little suprised no ones out right said it, but some of your goals seem a little overblown and unacheivable.

this is a backyard personal space

As keith would say, "You gonna get permits on this new construction". What are your Sound Proof requirements? I havent seen double walls around your outer walls in your drawings yet, Are you planning this?

i would love to maybe make a little money here and there

$5k is a stretched budget already

Takes money to make money. Got gear? Dont forget about the impossible to predict "odds and ends" that never seem to get fully calculated or even recognized til you start building. I have no idea how much it costs to build a building but I do know that $5k aint shit.

can i even make a one big room setup for that price

I'd lay everything I got on "no" really confidently in Vegas.

i will never recoup 20k

If you were to rent/buy some simple commercial space, you will still most likely have to build stuff. I have to assume $500 a month the rock bottom lease/mortrgage. 500 x 12 months is 6000. No body recoups or makes money for a few years and you recoup 20k in 3 yrs just not adding rent. And youd still have construction costs. I'd sit back and really think about what you want and how to do it. I'd have to assume the only decision is to go get some money and do it right(as you can even still), Buy or build some type of large shed and pretty much have no a soundproofed, hot as hell band practice room, or spend the 5k on the coolest club house/dog house in town for the kids/"the guys"/dog. Good luck ,work and study hard, go slow, if your balding or not start dumping rogain on your head, start using your wifes wrinke cream, and forget about "rockin" for a while, and welcome to our support group.

I guess i will tell my life story and let you guys fill in the blanks. I bought this house 4 months ago. My old place had a place for my music but my new one doesnt. I really need a place for band practice and to do my creative hobby of makin music. I just figured if i was building from the ground up i could make it as acoustically sufficient as i could afford. Yes i would like to make a few bucks here and there but there really isnt a market for a high end studio in my area. there are 3 studios within 50 miles of here and they are makin peanuts. Most people i believe are doing the DIY around here. If a band wanted me to record them and make them a nice little demo sure i could get a couple hundred bucks in my pocket but i know an 18 x 24 studio in my back yard aint gonna produce the next Pink Floyd. I could easily just build a 18 x 24 air conditioned barn and have a place to practice and make music but i am wanting to make it as acoustically sufficient as possible within my means of cash flow. In my old age I spend more time writing and recording than i do gigging. I am not an expert recording engineer. i still do not know the full potential of most of my gear. I do everything by trial and error and my ears. I just want a place to do my music thing where i dont disturb my family and neighbors and they dont disturb me, and it would be great if it sounded better than playing the harmonica in a porta potty. As far as the little things that spring up in the middle of building i believe i can afford to sink a few bucks here and there . No i am not planning on getting permits. in my small town the inspector is a one man band. he does electrical, plumbing, hvac, etc.... It is also a small enough town that i can tell him to take a flying leap off a cliff if he doesnt like my building. Also i believe i am outside the city limits. Reality Checked and not included in budget, Jeff

well jeff it sounds like your in better shape than I gave you credit for. I still think youll need more cash. Heres why. Ultimately, if you have gear to record, cool. I am an experienced engineer, but Im no gear snob. I was just makin sure that 5k wasnt expected to buy gear. Your only real problem is that you want it quiet and sounding good. Depending on your distance to neighbors, and their attitude towards your rockin, the part you cant cheat on wether your makin abby road jr or a piece o shit studio is soundproofing. Its all about mass and air space. That means more materials and usually more real estate( as in double walls) and then theres AC. Your biggest challenge as I see it is too figure out how far you are from neighbors on all sides and where any weak spot are in general(like the guy to the left is a dick)etc. then you need to build your structure to perform for those requirements. The more soundproof you need it, the more materieal you must use. Acoustic treatment can be done later, but at least consider it now for planning. The only other catch is how isolated do you want your Control Room to be from your live room. The more , the more, as you know. I hope you dont think I was tryin to scare you. Its just since Ive started planning mine, ive not only found I underestimated the difficulty, I have found things I could not have even possibly imagined as factors to underestimate in the first place. If you have an extensive building background, you might be alot better off than me, But more is more, and even with more, done improperly you can negate the effect of the work in the first place. Heres my thread, its a tragic epic love and heart break, passion and fury, spreckled with technical details and misplaced insights. Pretty much a really bad book. But maybe helpful. http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... highlight= And if you havent seen it yet, and if you feel ready. Keith "the voice of reason, and the bringer of bad news" Sheward's post is like the Iliad and the Odyssy with responses from all of this sites greatest minds. http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... highlight= "Dont let the 'sheet' get in the way of your 'rock'" is my new motto. Good luck again jeff, Mike

Ok heres the materials list I promised Material Quantity Price Per Total Price 2x6x10 STUDS 75 $3.42 $256.50 2x6x8 6 $4.55 $27.30 2x6x10 PT 4 $5.51 $22.04 2X6X12 PT 4 $7.42 $29.68 2x6x18 SPF 6 2X6X12 SPF 8 $6.45 $51.60 2X6X16 SPF 4 $9.83 $39.32 2X10X18 SPF 34 2X12X12 SPF 40 $16.98 $679.20 2X8X12 SPF 4 $8.99 $35.96 2X8X16 SPF 4 $13.10 $52.40 4X8 1/2 IN OSB 50 $7.12 $356.00 SHINGLES 20 BNDLS $9.65 $193.00 R-19 KRAFT INS. 22 ROLLS $21.17 $465.74 TYVEK HOUSE WRAP 1000 SQ FT VINYL SIDING 1000 SQ FT 3068 SC DOOR 1 $144.00 $144.00 TOTAL COST (MATERIALS ONLY) $2,352.74 NOT INCLUDING THE 2X10X18 CEILING JOISTS HOUSEWRAP& TAPE,SIDING 3 LAYERS OF SHEETROCK TRIM FOR DOOR, BASEBOARD ELECTRICAL WORK (INCLUDING OUTLETS,LIGHT SWITCHES,LIGHT FIXTURES,WIRING, PANEL BOX, BREAKER SWITCHES) HVAC SYSTEM As a builder of houses, the people saying your asking to much for such a little price tag are not wrong in doing so the estimate I have posted here is for just a free standing building with only a door in it. And thats taking into account I couldn't find prices in your area on somethings to give you an even better idea of what it would actually cost just to put up a free standing building but as a good guess it's going to cost you 10,000 alone just to do the freestanding building. So I WOULD do as everyone has suggested GET A LOAN and do it right all at once. I hope this helps you understand that 5000 is just not enough money to do what you want

i will try and answer both posts here. My neighbors are not a huge concern. i live on a corner huge lot. all of my neighbors have either a street or a garage or both between us. i have a hurricane fence about 3' off of the left and rear of the build site which may dampen sound a little i really have no idea. the left side neighbors are some asian folks that are never home and have 30' between the building site and there garage. the rest of my neighbors are old retired folks that are hard of hearing, and really understanding people. my closest neighbor to the rear is across the street about 100' between the building site and there garage., and he has alzheimers so he wouldnt even remember the last time he complained even if he could hear it. I think building materials down here are a little cheaper than your list but that gives me a good idea. I did notice that you did not include any 2x4 lumber, is there a reason for that? I dont mind using the big stuff by any means but i have never been in a building site without any 2x4 lumber. I can handle electrical myself and already have most of the materials. I am still kicking around AC ideas but i got friends in low places. My biggest worry is starting a project and running out of money to finish it . It wouldnt bother me to build a solid freestanding building and add the inside walls and things as money permits, but i dont want to frame a building and then run out of money putting the roof decking on. that would put me back at square one when it all rots waiting on shingles and siding. :( From what i am hearing from the majority is that $5k will not build a studio but a freestanding building maybe. I guess that is what i will have to do and just come back here when i get money and ask questions on converting a shed into a studio :wink: I will just have to keep in mind what i am planning to add during the first build so it will be an easy addition(extra wire in the walls, AC placement, lighting) I do really appreciate your efforts and think maybe i can pull this off in stages. Thanks again.

Well I didn't put in any 2x4 lumber because as I have seen on this great site that MASS is King and Queen combined so I went with what is normally used here for exterior walls and which will in turn add beefiness to your building. I also went big for your ceiling and roof due to added weight that will eventually be added later (2x10x18 Joists) (2x12x12 Rafters) I have a dxf file for the way I designed it for the load to be carried for eventual multipul layers of sheetrock on the ceiling. Mind you the design is for a clear spanned room And I substituted R-19 pink fluffy stuff for rockwool so there will be a difference in price there, dont know how much to even try to estimate And all the prices you see are from your local beumont tx lowes home improvment center str8 from the website.

wow you really did spend alot of time on me. I think i at least owe you a few beers. My thinking on the 2x4s was a 2x6 top and bottom plate with staggered 2x4s so that the interior and exterior of the outside walls would not be connected. Any body sell a magic bean that i can just toss and water till i have a dream studio. Also interested in a Magic gear bean for all the toys i cant afford.

Dibs!