Basement Studio Help 3D layout Included

I finally read the top of this forum and noticed that there's a free version of SketchUp now availlable and was able to use it to figure out the dimensions I've been asking for. I wasn't able to open up John's second design, which is an .rar file. Does anyone know how I can open that file up in the free version of SketchUp? Thanx Jason

I finally read the top of this forum and noticed that there's a free version of SketchUp now availlable and was able to use it to figure out the dimensions I've been asking for. I wasn't able to open up John's second design, which is an .rar file. Does anyone know how I can open that file up in the free version of SketchUp? Thanx Jason

Jason - a rar file is like a zip file. YOu need winrar to open it. http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=524 cheers john

Thanx again for your help John A couple more questions regarding your designs of my basement studio. 1. I don't think I made this clear in my first post so I apologize... but the area where I'm building my studio in is currently a rec-room that already has studded/drywalled walls around the entire perimeter. The dimensions I included in my initial drawings were from studded wall-to-studded wall, not from the foundation to centre support beams behind the walls. So with that being said, do I still build a room within a room like you've laid out for me or do I gut the current walls and re-insulate with 703 to gain more space? 2. I'm reconsidering building your initial design that keeps the drum and guitar rooms seperate. In that drawing you have two sliding glass doors and a middle wall seperating the control room and drum room. What does that middle wall consist of? And would it be possible to have french doors that slide into the walls rather than the sliding glass doors? I think that's it for now. Get back to me when you get a chance. Thanx Jason

That's good news Jason - just break the walls at the joins for each room so you end up with separate wall frames for each room. Yeah - I prefer version 1. cheers john

Yes - you could use sling french doors - they are called Pocket Doors. They are hard to soundseal though ;) cheers john

That's good news Jason - just break the walls at the joins for each room so you end up with separate wall frames for each

Hey John From the diagram above, this is what I've gathered so far or assumed. First I have to remove the drywall and insulation from the existing walls so I'm left with just the framing around the perimeter. Than I'll have to break the wall that seperates the two rooms at the joins so it can be reused as one of the studio walls. I think the next step would be to reinsulate the exising framing with 703. After that is done, I can start doing the inner framing work, leaving a break wall (which I'm assuming is just air) in between the outer framing and inner framing. I'm pretty much not sure about anything I've just written so if I've gone wrong somewhere let me know. I'm fairly new to construction so any advice would be appreciated on how best to go about this project. Thanx again Jason

Hey John I just want to make sure that I'm on the right track before I start the build. Is everything above correct or am I missing something. Thanx Jason

Jason - as I understand you there is an outer concrete wall. There is aslo an inner stud wall with insulation and drywall - are these two walls connected?? cheers john

John Sayers wrote:

Jason - as I understand you there is an outer concrete wall. There is aslo an inner stud wall with insulation and drywall - are these two walls connected?? cheers john

Hi John I've attached a sketchup picture of exactly what my basement looks like to make it easier. The grey perimeter is the concrete walls of my basement and the rest of the walls are stud with insulation and drywall. As for you question. Are you asking if the inner studded wall is connected to the concrete wall, and if so, I'm really not sure. I'd have to pull off the drywall and gut the insulation to find out. Jason

well I'd remove a small area of drywall and check as it may save you a whole layer. cheers john

John, I apologize for the late reply. Unfortunately the studio might be put on hold for a little while until I find out how much it's gonna cost to fix the water problems I'm having in my basement. A contractor is coming in Monday to fix the major leak but because my house is over a half a decade old I fear this might be a reoccuring problem. I'm not sure if I want to invest in something I might have to tear down in a year or two. So this might leave me no choice but to go with my initial idea of building a garage in my backyard. I spoke with a neighbour who put up a fully bricked two story 20 X 24 garage in his backyard for $15,000. 20 X 24 is the max you can go on our properties and I'll be keeping it one story...so it might be do-able after all. John, I appreciate all the help you gave me on my basement and I'm sorry if it might have been all for nothing. I went through all your garage designs so I didn't have to trouble you too much on my new garage. I found a sketchup of 20 X 22 studio that would work for me I just need to know how you would extend the walls for a 20 X 24. I've attached the sketchup of your design with the two foot extension and a jpeg of an older design that you did that would work for me also. The thing I like about the jpeg is the size of the drum room. Which one do you like better? Jason