Studio Costs: Total $$$

I thought it might be informative for those who have completed their studio's to list their investment costs into them- Or those with running totals to list it and add as they go It would be cool to list the major items (or even the small stuff) and tally the dollar amounts for others to see what others are paying for stuff? Also, include the size and type of studio (ie garage conversion). If this isn't the right place for this thread..please move it!

EXPENSIVE!!! :shock: :? As of now, approx. 3 years and 17k later...and at least another 6-8k to go... :roll:

I intially figured it would be around US$10,000 for my project, but I'm sure I've exceeded that. I should have done a better job of accounting. I'm really impressed with how well Marc (guitardad72) has done accounting his costs.

Mine would have been cheaper...BUT...just as I started the project, all the building materials doubled or even tripled in cost. Materials are still at least double what they were when I started designing the studio. Example...Drywall was about $5.80 +/- a sheet for 5/8". I've paid anywhere from $11 to $14 a sheet during the past 3 years. 2x4's were .99 each. Now, they're about $2.10 each. Plywood was anywhere from $8-$12, now it's $17-$24 a sheet. Copper (electrical) Was $18 for a 500' roll of 12 AWG, now, it's over $61 a roll. Shall I continue???

Aaronw wrote:

Mine would have been cheaper...BUT...just as I started the project, all the building materials doubled or even tripled in cost. Materials are still at least double what they were when I started designing the studio. Example...Drywall was about $5.80 +/- a sheet for 5/8". I've paid anywhere from $11 to $14 a sheet during the past 3 years. 2x4's were .99 each. Now, they're about $2.10 each. Plywood was anywhere from $8-$12, now it's $17-$24 a sheet. Copper (electrical) Was $18 for a 500' roll of 12 AWG, now, it's over $61 a roll. Shall I continue???

Thats true i can't believe how pricey things are getting. :shock: I managed to snag 50 sheets of drywall off Craigslist for $320.00 after diligently going through the want ads for a few weeks. Also i found some lumber and alot of fiberglass batts for at least 1/3 of what the evil orange stores would charge. I am just starting my build, but so far have about 1600.00 into my 2 car garage conversion, and that includes buying some tools i didn't have (nail gun, compressor etc).

I think drywall and lumber is cheaper out here. I'll take note of the prices next time I'm at Home Depot. Copper wire is way high though, due to demand in China and theft. --Keith :mrgreen:

n8nod9it wrote:

I managed to snag 50 sheets of drywall off Craigslist for $320.00 after diligently going through the want ads for a few weeks. Also i found some lumber and alot of fiberglass batts for at least 1/3 of what the evil orange stores would charge.

Hopefully it wasn't stolen! :shock: --Keith :mrgreen:

and that includes buying some tools i didn't have (nail gun, compressor etc).

Ah yes...Tools! Gotta have 'em. I've purchased many tools: Table Saw Miter Saw Chop Saw Air Compressor Brad Nailers & staplers Misc. hand tools, squares, levels, etc. Ladder Halogen Lights for working Hole saws chisels drywall knifes, pan, saw, etc. Reciprocating saw crow bars etc, etc, etc...the list goes on...

In order to preserve bandwidth, I shall not list the tools I purchased in the past 17 months of active building. :lol: Nor shall I list the tools I would like to have! :twisted: Kendale, however, would be happy to provide his wish list. :lol: --Keith :mrgreen:

Aloha, Ahem! Someone mention my name? :P Aloha 8)

Yes, The price on some stuff has tripled here in North Texas this last year. I have been building a complete stand alone structure from scratch. I have it totally itemized, but I am too lazy to run the figures until I am totally finished. An estimate for all materials and tools (with some subcontracting for plumbing and Cement work) is about $36,000 with me doing all the work. I am not done yet, I am at the point of building the acoustic panels which I have estimated at about $1500 for materials to finish what I need. I dont know if that is good or not but it is as good as it gets for me. Tom

sharward wrote:

n8nod9it wrote:

I managed to snag 50 sheets of drywall off Craigslist for $320.00 after diligently going through the want ads for a few weeks. Also i found some lumber and alot of fiberglass batts for at least 1/3 of what the evil orange stores would charge.

Hopefully it wasn't stolen! :shock: --Keith :mrgreen:

No no it wasnt. A couple was renovating their huge home in Redwood City and ordered too much, they were really nice. Its actually quite common, i've been to a few homes for supplies (got a couple hundred sq ft of blown in cellulose for my attic) from ppl who just over estimate. Pennies on the dollar if you aren't in a rush to get your studio built. I would suggest other ppl start stashing their supplies as they are planning thier build, and check out the want ads for deals. Good deals are out there, but as always bring a friend with you and use your common sense. I've met a really good bunch of people too.

Good topic. I won't bother to post it in this thread, my last expence report is here half way down page Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:02 pm. And expect at least two more anally detailed reports when I reach another "milestone" and then when I am finished. Wish I could find a surplus building supply store locally that actually had materials I need in stock... on top of that wish I had a place I could store the materials. :roll: Marc

n8nod9it wrote:

Good deals are out there, but as always bring a friend with you and use your common sense. I've met a really good bunch of people too.

Excellent -- I'll have to do that next time I need drywall... which hopefully will be fairly soon! 8)

So far off the top of my head... R19 Insulation 500sqft $100 Birch Double Doors 246 Misc Supplies 22 Hammer Drill* 60 Misc Supplies 154 Misc Supplies 98 Screws 18 Cocoon Insulation 1500sqft 200 Drywall 50 sheets (Craigslist) 320 2x4 Studs 30 Jiffy Seal 20 SC175Sound Sealant 24 tubes 100 Sound Door 60 Hitachi Nail Gun* 180 Box 4000 Nails 40 Backer rod 3 @100ft 45 Running Subtotal 1693 Will update this as i go, but i expect to budget about 5k for the build.

Thanks for the thread. As one in the pre-planning/design stage this is great info. Hopefully this gets updated.

Two rooms, about 275 square feet: Just Under $3000 This includes snake, some cables, wood for desk. I've included my Excel Spreadsheet that beaks down the costs, and contains other goodies. You might find it handy to use for your own studio. Hovering over cells with RED-CORNERS will display cell comments. Enjoy...

I stopped counting after $50,000.00. :shock:

wow, i wish i kept better track. i'm somewhere between 10-15K i took out a loan for 30K, but in that paid off my wife's car and the few grand on the credit card. i also bought some computer stuff, an TON of tools, and a nice new 4 channel Sytek preamp that i LOVE! oh yeah, a Presonus Central Station too. don't for forget the hidden costs of studio building. . . i gotta be up to at least a few hundred in COFFEE AND BEER!!! add a lot more if you're a SMOKER! hahahah, cough cough, ha hee haha cough choke

This part is very important to our family budget here so I keep track. I'll update this placeholder as my project progresses, but I'm making a single room in our basement for band rehearsal. The cost here would be a lot less than for a multiple room studio... drywall around here is ~7-8 usd per 4x8 sheet 5/8. and `6-7 usd for 1/2. I had a lot laying around to use and suppliment this project so that cost has been significantly reduced. Caulking GE S II is 8.75 per 2pk. The R30 insulation I am using here for the ceiling/deck layer is ~25usd per 25 foot roll. WIC Clips - 9 * $15 = 135 Lumber to date - $236 for bottom plate PT and mostly #2 8' 2x4. Insulation so far - 10 * 25 = $250 Drywall - 7 * 12 = $94 Coarse thread screws - $20 Family Help with the following - Backer rod was given to me by my brother who works in the glass install business. Boxes - 8 outlet, 3 ceiling octagon, 2 doublegang wall switch outlets from other brother. Hilti, compressor for framing & some other equipment and advice from yet another brother... Caulking - I have to gather my total consumption on this one, but I bet I've used two cases worth. Expenses to hit are for framing and the real costs of the RC, lumber and drywall costs for the exterior and interior wall sections. Along with insulation.

OK--- I planned on $200/sq. ft. for 1,200 sq. ft from the cement floor up. It's now looking like $250/sq ft. by the time everything is done... Gonna be a nice place to listen to my I-Pod though... LOL Jon Frost Meow Mix Easthampton, MA

frostgfx wrote:

OK--- I planned on $200/sq. ft. for 1,200 sq. ft from the cement floor up. It's now looking like $250/sq ft. by the time everything is done... Gonna be a nice place to listen to my I-Pod though... LOL Jon Frost Meow Mix Easthampton, MA

Jon - Yeah, I was watching your build and was thinking, "My God, this guy is made of money"... I'm only a small-time guy building a space in my basement - so to me, that's an incredible build and budget.

Brad: Not to be a braggard... just a lowly 'studio man' as my girlfriend named my a couple of days ago. The space is 3 use; Rehearsal Space, Recording Studio and Audio for Video Post. This is basically my retirement... since I will be working until the day I kick the bucket! Figured it was best to hire John S., build as much as I could myself then turn it over to the guys with the laser levels. Everyday is a new challenge and as with every project large or small there are unforseen things that crop up and you have to roll with the punches... It is amazing what you can do with a very small setup and minimal equipment. I chose to outfit my space with the latest technology; Nuendo 4/Cubase 4/PT LE; Dynaudio Acoustic AIR 20 5.1 digital monitors; Aviom personal monitoring system for the musicians, and most of the Universal Audio Hardware/Extreme Pack with 4 UAD-1e cards in an expansion chassis for mixdown. I've got mics that cost $79 and others that cost $2,000. They all serve a purpose which is to capture the best sound posssible, convert it to a digital signal, process that signal at mixdown and send the finished product out for mastering. I wish you luck with whatever scale of project you are undertaking and would like to know more about your project and influences... Namaste, Jon

frostgfx wrote:

I wish you luck with whatever scale of project you are undertaking and would like to know more about your project and influences... Namaste, Jon

Jon - I wish I could refer you to my band's site, but unfortunately, I'm in the process of changing hosts. But we're a classic-hard rock band - sort of like Pink Floyd meets King's-X meets Metallica. Some of my gear includes AKG414's CAD E-200, Sennheiser 421 (the old grey ones), Universal Audio mic pres, Lexicon Reverb, Pro Tools 7.3, Mackie 8 bus 48-inputs, 24 tracks of ADAT - even a 4-track... Once the place is done, I'll be posting some pix. Here's a link to my build-thread: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 9848#69848 Cheers!

Been a good long while since I was up here posting. Lemme see... 1200 Sq Ft for the studio proper... estimated was $40k. Then $15k for the lounge/server room/bathroom. OOOOPS! I'm having to trim back on external labor some to keep the budget around $65k just for the studio. So far, here's my incurred expenses: Exterior finish materials; $2500 Sand for floor (32 Cu Yd); $750 - 3 delivery charges totaling $150 hurt! R19 Insulation; $300 (Got a LOT more to get!) Studio audio wiring; $7200 (Tracking room plates to console area-Input, Cat6, midi and headphone mixes) Total=$10,750 The contractor's haven't billed yet, but these were the estimates I got: Concrete; about $16k (should be less because I supplied the sand and some labor) Foundation block work; about $750 Electrical is prolly gonna be in the $15-17k range Plumbing (including fixtures); $5000 Total=$36,750 Work I will be doing myself (I hope): Interior wall construction; $5000 Lounge framing and finish; $5000 Bathroom tile; (FREE) Leftovers from renovating house HVAC (Mitsubishi Mini-Splits); $15-18k Interior studio finish (Oak, Cherry, Cedar and Walnut); $3000 Concrete pad stain and sealing; $1500 Total=$32,500 There's probably another $10k just in overlooked stuff, with another $10k in underestimating, inspection fees and misc stuff like fire extinguishers, etc. I'll try to remember to get back to this thread as I go along and update the figures.