Lou's Studio - Construction Phase

Yeah Lou, amazing work! Also, congrats on your engagement. Sarah MUST be someone special to support you and your endevors.... escpecially to be thrown out of the kitchen :shock: That is if she like to cook? Well, keep it up as I know you will and can't wait to see the next episode. Dan

Hi Guys – Hope you’re all OK! John – many thanks, mate, and I’m sure I can speak for many up here when I say that any comment from the likes of you and Rod is always welcome. :wink: DH – thanks as always, my friend. Don’t ever be ashamed of your marvellous efforts – and, yes – she’s a fine woman indeed. :D :D Kalet – nice to hear from you, buddy, and thank you. Dan – many thanks to you as well my friend, and Sarah adores cooking. Actually we both love entertaining friends, parties etc, so to be without our kitchen is a real headache. :shock: Not quite sure where to start this one as, to be honest, this could well be my first ever update without pictures. Not much I can do about that I’m afraid, although. There’s certainly a bit to tell you about my intense frustrations over the last week! No DH, nothing to do with tightly packed jeans! :wink: :wink: So, we were, as you know, doing pretty much ok, but I had to turn my attentions to chill-out and kitchen area. Here it comes my friends. Rule 1: When site managing and planning a job – Do not take anything anyone says for granted (including yourself). :? Rule 2: When on a ridiculous schedule, always remember that someone around you will inevitably screw up and it will, of course, be your fault. :evil: Rule 3: When plant and machinery aren’t being used flat out – ‘off hire’ said devices. Rule 4: Don’t allow the almighty power of ‘Sod’s Law’ to totally throw an unbelievably frustrating spanner in the works. :roll: :roll: Why the banter? Well folks it’s simple. I’ve done some serious evaluation over the last few days and reckon, quite sensibly, that I’m around two and a half weeks behind schedule. This can, of course, be made up but, it will take some doing. Bryan and Trev have been nothing short of guardian angels this week, and it was all going fine until………………….9.30pm last Mon night. Andy, as you know, was due to start the plastering in the chill-out/kitchen area last Thurs week – 1st Nov. I heard nothing from him until a text on the following Fri night to say that he would call me Sat to arrange 8.00am start Mon. I heard nothing more all weekend. Mon night I learned via text that he has serious family stuff to deal with, and work is not on his agenda at the moment. :( Now I’ve been brought up to be a compassionate person, and naturally, Andy’s family come before my plastering job. However, that piece of news did really drop me in the preverbal ‘shit’. I have, if you recall, a kitchen arriving this Tuesday to be fitted this week. If I’d postponed that delivery, we would have had to wait until mid December! :x :x So, there I was last Mon panicking like hell and also remembering that we still had to get the under-floor heating down before the tilers could get in. I tell you guys, although it doesn’t sound much, logistics can be a real headache, especially when you’re relying on other people. :x :x Add to this, the fact that it’s three/four days to plaster the entire kitchen/chill-out area, plus a day for under-floor heating and then two days to tile and grout, and you can’t walk on it for the rest of the day once completed. Time was definitely running out, my friends. It gets worse – I spoke to four tilers about my ‘heating on a roll’ cable system, and each of them said they never touch that stuff as “it’s a total pig to lay”. Time then to get back to the guy who supplied it, and a long series of back and forth comments about who was right or wrong etc, until I basically instructed him to call at my house on his way home from work to deliver what the tilers would lay, (a sort of pre made mesh on a roll). And, remove the stuff they wouldn’t. :evil: It was now Tues afternoon and we still didn’t have a plasterer! Very luckily, the guy who’s doing the tiling knew another guy who could be pulled off a job to help out – great news. Finally at around 8.30am last Wed, a chap turned up and started plastering our kitchen well aware of the tight deadline to finish so that we could get the tiles down before the kitchen arrival. This chap shall be known from now on as ‘Numbnuts’ :roll: I say this because, whilst his finish is fine, (even to my fussy eye), he’s unbelievably slow, ridiculously messy, and to cap it all disappears for up to two hours during the day and ‘knocks off’ at 3.30pm!!!! Like I said, ‘Numbnuts’. I won’t bore you with how I’ve had to practically spoon feed him through the job, but suffice it to say, it’s been a crap week to say the least. :evil: :evil: :evil: We do, however, finally have the under-floor heating down, all floor tiles laid ready for grouting tomorrow morning, and the kitchen plastered – chill-out area still to be plastered whilst the kitchen is being installed – great, and Graham – my star spark, goes on holiday for ten days tomorrow, so although we will have the kitchen/chill-out area finished this time next week, and be able to get back to normality, we wont be able to use it, as none of it will be wired up! Stress or what? :roll: This week sees a mad effort to finish the outer beef-up in the studio. This includes a layer of plasterboard on all the walls followed by a layer of MDF, then the final ceiling layer, finishing with the final wall layer. Then it’s onto front and rear outer-leaf window ‘beefs’, 6” of insulation all over and then, at last, we can start on all the inner wall framing – not before time! The whole project has been thrown off course now so we’ve really got our work cut out! Thanks for reading guys, Regards as always, Lou. 8) Oh, ok then, here’s just a few pics of where we are! :wink: Spur and 30amp feed for new cooker. Spurs to feed mains sockets in utility area. Said sockets. Chill-out light feed plus spur and thermostat feed for under floor heating system. Numbnuts’ work on the sink wall. Finished ceiling and entrance wall. Under-floor heating set in self-levelling liquid latex. Ceiling drying out nicely. First glimpse of our new floor – would have really preferred all the plastering to have been finished first! Chill-out area floor - the whole room has now really opened up. Back wall of kitchen nearly dry. Cheers, :roll: :roll: Lou. 8)

Lou - your problems remind me of a joke I heard yesterday. A doctor discovered that his hot water system was leaking and water was seeping through his house. He quickly rang for a plumber and managed to find one who was willing to help. When the job was done the plumber offered a bill of $2,000. $2,000!!$!$! exclaimed the Doctor. WEll it's Sunday mate replied the plumber. But - I'm a doctor and even I can't charge that much for a sunday call out exclaimed the doctor. I know replied the plumber - I couldn't either when I was a doctor.

Hey Lou, Lookin good

This chap shall be known from now on as ‘Numbnuts’

I think he was at my job for the sheet rock hangin :o Sorry about the delays but before you know it you will be a year into recording and have forgotten all about it. You would have been the first if you made it through without delays. :D Keep up the good work and your chin :wink: Peace Tom

I understand delays, so I sympathize, especially with the disruption to normal family life. It'll all come together, and at least you are still making progress. That is one amazing thing about the human mind, we tend to forget the details of pain and suffering, so once things are back on the mend, you will remember the delays "fondly". Best wishes from this side of the pond to you and your home crew... You *will* get through this, and come out at the other end with flying colors (or as you folks say "colours"). :)

Lou: Its been awful quiet around here lately... you are not slacking off are you??? The clock is a-ticking my friend, get cracking! :)

doublehelix wrote:

Lou: Its been awful quiet around here lately... you are not slacking off are you??? The clock is a-ticking my friend, get cracking! :)

he probably are "cracking" and have no time to spend on uploading all of the amazing photos of his progress.. :P a :arrow:

AndreasB wrote:

he probably are "cracking" and have no time to spend on uploading all of the amazing photos of his progress.. :P

Hmmmm... I hope so! Seems awfully quiet around here however. Kinda spooky. Hello...? Test 1,2... Testing 1... 2... 3... ? Lou, are you ok buddy???

Hi Guys – How you all doin? Well, I hope. :wink: If any of you ever wanted a ‘real life soap-opera’ of a studio build………. I’m in it! Man, what a week! Loads to show and tell but first, of course, the replies. John – What a gag, dude and, I have to confess, that I’ve used it more than a dozen times and got a riot response with everyone. Kind of reminds me of one of my favourites: “what’s the difference between a soundman (skinny, lanky, pimply faced jerk you meet on a live gig when you were told there was no need to bring your own PA) and God?”………..God doesn’t think he’s a soundman! :wink: Tom – Thanks for the comment, mate. I saw that episode so we both know how each other feels on that one! :roll: DH – Thank you buddy, my grapefruits are slowly losing their swelling! Sorry for being quiet but, as was suggested, I’ve been real busy cracking on….or was that cracking up? :roll: :roll: Andreas! – The dude from Sweden, really great to hear from you my friend – hope you’re well buddy and that your beautifully built console has its design rights tied up in Ikea!!! (I drive a Volvo V70R man!) And, I love all things Ikea, ‘cos they fit!!!! :D :D OK, studio pals, here it comes – this is a big one but the real trouble with outer-leaf beef ups is that, despite everyone’s hard efforts, each bloody layer looks the same even when you’re switching materials! Best go put the kettle on while it loads!! :roll: Enjoy. Tuesday 13th and the first load of our chill-out kitchen arrives. Another 14 sheets of MDF. :roll: A fine example of grouting from the lads and crap plaster from Numbnuts. :twisted: Bryan cracks on with the painting. Then the first lot of appliances also arrive – its starting to get really crowded here as well. Meanwhile back in the studio, the rear outer leaf window beef up starts. First layer of plasterboard gets applied to rear of studio with drywall adhesive. Window board ready for outer leaf glass is now in place. Sam shows up unexpectedly to lend a hand. :shock: And now its finally time to blank out those side windows forever. Firstly painted black so that they look like this for the neighbours. Bryan gets on with the caulk (again). Then a layer of plasterboard, followed by a layer of MDF to bring the window aperture flush with the wall. The black dots mark the glass position so I don’t drill through it later! :roll: Here follows a quick example of Numbnuts’ work before I fired him, on my doorstep, last Thursday morning (what a jerk). :x :x :x You get the idea… :evil: Chris, on the other hand, finally returns to get on with fitting the chill-out area kitchen and started with this cracking effort of creating a new cupboard around our new boiler. :D Pull-out larder with modified access for Graham to wire up tomorrow. Told you this guy was good. :wink: Andy returned Wednesday tea-time and examined Numbnuts work and, with exasperated disbelief (and guilt!) instructed Trev to give him a head-start. How Chris made this little lot fit in, I don’t know! Yes, folks, that is ice on the left and either regular or sparkling mineral water on the right. :wink: :wink: Now that’s what any muso (or American!) would call a fridge. :D But will the tumble drier go in its newly made cupboard? Of course it will! Meanwhile, back in the studio, Trev attempts to master the gentle art of mixing drywall adhesive – he’s definitely no sauce chef! But, as you all know by now, he means well. Arty shot #1 Any builder out there, (UK, European or otherwise) buy this product – Tapcon Masonry Screws – no need for rawlplugs, guys! Absolutely fantastic, they bite like hell. Voilà! These are only here to take out a little bit of bounce in the board while the adhesive sets. I had to go and get some more of these screws so I left Trev in charge to carry on caulking – with a few guidance notes of course. This is what I came back to. Top bloke – heart of gold! :D :D 1st layer of plasterboard on the side wall. Now they’re BOTH on a roll! Studio toilet soleplate layout. Yes, I know it looks mad, but there’s method in the madness. :twisted: :twisted: Big Guns Andy shows up and makes a start…but he’s definitely not happy with Numbnuts’ beads. :x :x :x :x 1st piece of middle MDF wall layer goes in. Then this little lot turns up to provide me with enough material to finish the outer leaf beef which, incidentally, will be three layers of material on all walls and ceiling or (if you prefer) 102 sheets OR 285m2 . Andy’s ride, for anyone interested! 8) We’re really cracking on, now. Trust a woman to mix it properly. :roll: :roll: Arty #2 (kind of!) around studio mains supply cables. Sarah lets Trev know its just like icing a giant cake…albeit a 72m2 cake, as in the first plasterboard wall layer. Andy's boys steam in last Saturday morning at 08.05. This is where they were by 15.15. :shock: :shock: :shock: Arty #3 where architecture, ambient light and new structures blend together in harmony................................ 8) Example of how plastering should be done. :D Meanwhile, the front of the studio looks like a bit of a jigsaw. :? But it all turned out OK (on this layer at least)! While we were doing that, Andy was doing this…and his finish is like glass Now all we have to do is get this little lot on the walls. Chris finally removes the nightmare plumbing in the chill out area kitchen. I, on the other hand, just cant get enough of MDF. :x Actually, I really can! And now…I have tool belt. Sarah’s suggestion – bloody great idea. Then, last night, 36 hours early, this little lot showed up on my driveway. Over-spec’d, I know, but such a good deal that I couldn’t refuse – not much more £ than the fluffy stuff (45kg 100mm thick superslab) 33 bags, to be precise. Example shots of Chris doing what he does best – making things look great. Detail of staggered joints in the layer assemblies – not only left-to-right, top-to-bottom but also front-to-back. How sad am I? (Not – I hope) :oops: :oops: Here then, my friends, is a selection of pics to show you where I am tonight. Real cool cupboard arrangement. Yup – this all fits in! Must be from Sweden! 8) Every picture tells a story! Guys – as always thanks for reading, thank you also for your concern, but now get this, I have a mash of work coming next week, which means that if Studio 4 is going to be completed by mid Jan, I’ll have to farm out pretty much all of the rest of the build to someone else to finish. Yes I’m pleased and gutted at the same time, luckily Chris is available for a couple of weeks in Dec, I meet with my air-con guy on Saturday and Trev and Bryan are much more clued up now, not to mention the fact that I will of course be working right next door on the other side of my outer-leaf!! We’ll see, stay tuned, Kind regards, Lou. 8)

Lou: Glad to hear that you are ok my friend. Was a bit worried! As usual, looking marvelous! Keep pushing, almost there!

Its lookin bitchin Lou...I'm gettin jealous ;) keep it rockin MOSH ON DAVE

lou you make sure you keep us updated. hvac being the main for me. looks really good buddy.

Hi Lou Great progress mate. I'm also waiting on the Air Con discussion :) In particular :wink: what you are doing wrt Fresh Air and Exhaust ? Are you going for 100 or 200mm ducting ? What type (assume centrifugal) of fan, make and model would be good to know. I've been considering this one http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MRMRK200M.html which was a link i saved from i think mr woodcock's build sometime back What are you doing for Barometric Relief :lol: otherwise known as Pressure Relief Damper ? Seems we may have a different term, i get blank looks and quiet lines when i mention the word Barometric...it seems the only thing i can find are those units that have flapping external grills. I think an inline one would be best aka http://www.famcomfg.com/PDFOutput/prdspec.pdf which was a link that cam from Rod. These guys will ship to UK but only do an 8" up ? As you know i've been considering the Daikin unit, but now suspect that it mate be too big for my requirement. I'm also considering the Acoustic ducting from these guys http://www.cclveloduct.co.uk/ who are part of these guys http://ventilation.lindab.co.uk/~lindabuk/homepage.php Cheers

Lou, Very nice. I am sure Sarah is happy to see her kitchen taking form. what a big change and nice open floor plan. Now get that studio finished :wink: Peace Tom

Fantastic, Lou! I must confess, I'm envious of your drive, your co-workers/hired hands, your space, AND your budget! LOL In all seriousness you're doing great. Keep it up, light's at the end of the tunnel!

Lou wrote:

Andreas! – The dude from Sweden, really great to hear from you my friend – hope you’re well buddy and that your beautifully built console has its design rights tied up in Ikea!!! (I drive a Volvo V70R man!) And, I love all things Ikea, ‘cos they fit!!!! :D :D

:lol: IKEA could be interested in that, but since it's almost impossible to apply their method of "assemble-it-yourself" I guess they wont. since I've been doing quite a bit of plasterwork myself it's a bit amusing to see someone do it like numbnuts, is he actually calling himself a professional? Was he planning to use a sanding machine to get it smooth, or what? Anyways, your passed that, so go cracking at whatever's next! good luck and keep it coming! a :arrow:

Guys – thanks as always for the comments. Here’s a real quick one from me (no pics, no time to properly respond to each of you, and everything). :shock: :shock: HVAC meeting scheduled for Sat morning 9.00am, (I’ll let you all know the outcome of that one – barometric pressure, inlet/outlet/exhaust, blah blah etc). :wink: :wink: After that, Sarah, her girls, and myself are off to Exeter for a family wedding at the weekend. I intend to leave instructions (and keys) for Graham and Chris to really ‘nail’ the chill-out area while we’re gone, so will do a proper update Sunday night – hopefully. :oops: :oops: We’ve had a stonking couple of days and the MDF layer of the outer-leaf is now finished, plus we’re half way through the final plasterboard layer on the walls and ceiling. :D :D :D This means that after tomorrow we should see sight of insulation being applied to what will become the cavities of Studio 4! (Minus, front and rear window, outer-leaf glass assemblies of course). Then I can crack on with the inner rooms framing, sole-plates, 6x2 studs, green glue and other cool stuff. :wink: This part of a studio build is so labour intensive that you almost get totally hacked off with the concept. Once again – 102 sheets of material or 285m2 meticulously applied with all of you in mind. (Just for the outer-leaf) :roll: :roll: :roll: Kind regards my good friends, Lou. 8)

Lou, haven't checked your build in a few pages. . . lookin great!!!! i'm not sure what i like better, your kitchen or your studio!!! looking forward to the future.

Bump! Looking for an update brother. Hope all is well with you and your family.

Morning studio dudes – hope you’re all ok. It’s certainly been hectic around here for the last ten days or so, with paid work getting in the way of studio construction, however, we have made good progress. The chill-out area is finished all apart from some finishing touches, and at last good people, my outer layer beef-up is now only hours away from completion! :D :D Update on its way, but first the replies: DH – Thanks as always mate for the concern, and the ‘bump’! I’ve just been too busy to update with production work and studio building. I should be working instead of typing this, but what the hell! :oops: Dave – Mosh on dude and thanks. Joey – Johnp - My air-con meetings have gone well and the guy I’ve found really seems to know his stuff. His field of expertise is in specialist systems for studios, (t.v., radio, and recording). He’s currently installing 20 systems for ITN in London, and he carries out all the design and installation work for my local IAC head office. We’re going for two separate systems – one to cool and heat the live room, and the other to cool and heat the control room/iso booth. Now, I, like you guys, am no expert in this area but this is what he’s told me. Both internal units will be hung on isolated strap hangers. One unit will be housed above the studio toilet, and the other above the front soundlok. Inspection hatches will be built into these areas for routine maintenance. The two internal units in question are the Daikin FDXS25CVMB, and FDXS35CVMB. The ducting will be 200mm x 200mm, and the design of the layout will ensure that none of the ducting paths cross. IAC will be taking care of the silencing aspect via contacts that we both have there. He’s also figured out a way to get cooling into what will be my machine cupboard. When I have detailed drawings of the proposed system, components, layout and btu calcs etc, I’ll post them up here for the ‘big dogs’ to bark. I can tell you that the positive pressure topic will be handled by the system drawing in 10 to 15% of the total air volume from the outside world, ie fresh clean air, and not just cooled recycled air. Since these units are inverter controlled they will heat if necessary as well as cool. If I’m sounding like I don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s because I don’t! Like I said, I’m just trying to remember, and relay, as much info as I can for you guys! :oops: One last point on this, I’ve mentioned to this chap about the forum, and that there are other UK builders up here about to dive into the air-con pit, he’s totally cool (no pun intended) with me posting his contact details here, and then you guys can contact him directly if you wish – No, I’m not on commission! Let me know what you think. JWL – Nice to hear from you my friend. Thanks for the sentiment, but bear in mind I have just sold what was the ‘Former Matrimonial Home’ and although the ‘ex’ did stitch me up big time, I still managed to salvage 30% of the net proceeds which have all been ploughed into this project and then some! :roll: :roll: Tom – Andreas – Dynamike – Many thanks guys, still loads to do! :D OK folks, a lot of this looks the same, but hopefully you can get a clear idea of what we’ve been up to, and where it’s all going! Enjoy. Sam tucks into floor/mdf caulking. MDF layer complete. :D Now it’s time to steam into the final plasterboard layer on the ceiling, and I can finally get rid of the drywall lift. (Well, for a little while anyway.) :roll: No, it aint coming down Lou. :shock: :shock: Nerdy cut around washing machine waste as the final wall layer starts taking shape. Definitely on the home straight with this lot! Another ‘geeky’ plasterboard cut! Studio toilet/control room front wall finished. All sheet material now installed – every seam/screw head caulked – all joints staggered – In the end 116 sheets total! YEEEEAAAAAAHHHSS! :D :roll: :D Now it’s onto insulation. Quick peek at new kitchen. Photographic proof of outer-leaf assembly, waterseal, aqua-proof, 20mm concrete render, ½”plasterboard, ½”MDF, and ½” plasterboard! Mark out and apply with a small dab of gripfill for good measure the first of 750 self-adhesive insulation hangers or stick pins. :roll: These make for a really tidy reliable job. ‘Off topic’ but introducing the man in the mauve jumper, and two of his five grandchildren – my Dad at his 80th birthday party last Sunday in our chill-out area! :wink: Chill-out area lighting – yes they are plumb but were a real pig to fit. Front of house and studio entrance to match. Sorry for the side-track, back to 45kg rockwool superslab heaven! :D Custom box to mount new studio mains board 4” off the wall. Just the ceiling to go and then, apart from the windows, my outer-leaf will be finally finished. :D :D :D Well that’s where I am at the moment chaps, next in is the air-con systems, front and rear window beef-up and then it’s on to inner wall framing, which will be a similar assembly to the outer leaf but in reverse thus giving the good old Mass-Air-Mass vibe. :wink: As a point of reference and to close for this update, yesterday, Bryan and Trev were carrying on with the insulation, whilst I was working on some tracks in the house. My exact position was on the other side of the wall from what will become my new control room. One of the tracks had a distinct club feel – 4 on the floor 909 kick drum, trilogy bass module you name it. I cranked up my questeds to an uncomfortable level, put the groove on cycle, shut all the doors and went back outside and into the new studio. Guys I swear to you, we couldn’t hear a thing, my monitors were pumping out some serious low end, very loudly, barely two feet away and all we had coming through the wall was……………………………..absolutely nothing! Yippee! :D :D :D :D I was advised by someone very senior up here to go for the ‘MDF sandwich’ if I could - budget, space, practicality etc. John, many thanks for that advice Sir - it works like a bloody treat. :wink: Regards as always my friends, Stay tuned, Lou. 8) (Back to work now! :oops: )

Great to hear that you are doing well. That picture of your dad looks just like you! Are you sure that was not you imitating your father??? ;) Studio builds *do* age you ya know! Things look great Lou, and it is amazing what you have accomplished. It is certainly something to be proud of. Hopefully Sarah loves the new kitchen, and at least appreciates the fact that you can eat in a (somewhat) semblance of peace. Take care (old man! ;) ).

Wow, that level of isolation, and you haven't even got an inner leaf yet? What a wonderful feeling that must have been! I can only hope for something close to that level of satisfaction on my tiny project when it comes time for the acid test. You're on the home stretch now my friend. Good on ya! :D :D

if you would post up the hvac guys details that would be great, ive spoke to a couple of guys who dont have any experience in studio ac so if this guy has that would be great. the place is looking the dogs mate. and the fact that you couldnt hear any noise with a 909 kick turned up must mean you done somthing right. ive got a roland tr808 and i played it through my genelec 1094a sub it nearly shook my house down. your old man ooks good for 80 mate you must have good genes. joey

joey wrote:

your old man ooks good for 80 mate you must have good genes.

Oh no! We are not back on the "tight jeans" discussion again are we? OHHHHHH! You said "genes"! My bad! ;)

DH I dont believe it! I was just about to say, exactly that and you beat me to it! Yes, we do look alike - its been said many times before. He used to be a drummer so its obviously something to do with genes! Bill Really nice to hear from you, my friend and very flattered that you got pointed to my thread for your build. And, Yes, mate, the MDF sandwich works Big Time. I would recommend it to anyone. Joey Thanks, dude. As I said many pages ago, you and I are only an hour apart. Once Ive got the full spec on the AC, I'll post the whole lot, with contact details too. Its getting good now. regards, people Lou. 8)