[g-sun design build] A small studio, Norway

How thick should my walls be, should I float my floors (and if so, how), why is two leaf mass-air-mass design important, etc.

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G-Sun
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Location: Norway

[g-sun design build] A small studio, Norway

Post by G-Sun »

I'm merging all my threads into this one,
hopefully making it easier for you (and me) to follow.

Please comment only in this thread :)

Image

A comprehensive blog about the project can be found here:
http://geir-music.blogspot.no/2012/08/b ... d-toc.html
I'll try to update the posts according changing plans and progress.

Image
Update: Width of the room is gonna be something like 4,10m. Issue: Cubic is not wanted is it? (Length: 4,20m)

Below I'll try to sum up the current status of my plans,
and corresponding threads.

Related threads:
http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=109734
http://musikkweb.no/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3523

I still have many questions and decisions to make,
so I'm very thankful that you share your knowledge and wisdom with me!

Budget: Tight. As little as possible, but I need the studio to have proper isolation, be acoustically ok, ok comfortable and look nice from the outside. So, if that takes some money, I'll need to come up with it.
Last edited by G-Sun on Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:23 am, edited 6 times in total.
G-Sun
Posts: 162
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:50 am
Location: Norway

Studio floor

Post by G-Sun »

Studio floor

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =2&t=17820

Current plan is making a concrete slab.
Last edited by G-Sun on Sat Oct 06, 2012 4:18 am, edited 2 times in total.
G-Sun
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Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:50 am
Location: Norway

Walls

Post by G-Sun »

Walls

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =2&t=17826
Yttervegg2.png
I'm considering putting the plywood on the outside of the studs.
And using 10cm insulation in the other wall.
Last edited by G-Sun on Sat Oct 06, 2012 4:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
G-Sun
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Location: Norway

Roof-structure

Post by G-Sun »

G-Sun
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Roof

Post by G-Sun »

Roof

Current plan:
Image
G-Sun
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Size and shape

Post by G-Sun »

Old plan:
Image
G-Sun
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Doors

Post by G-Sun »

I bought two solid wood doors (used) with frames.
G-Sun
Posts: 162
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2012 3:50 am
Location: Norway

Re: [g-sun design build] A small studio, Norway

Post by G-Sun »

From thread [G-Sun] Roof-structure: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =2&t=17848
xSpace wrote:G-sun,

What you attempting to do is dangerous. You cannot get anyone on any forum to say with any authority what you can do in this respect.

Saying that, I will add this. You could remove the joists, one at a time, and re-install the joist with thru-bolts, and maybe gain a few inches with no repercussion. Even that is not a stamp of approval but letting you know that you can get a small amount of headroom with this method, not the kind of height you are attempting to get.

The existing joists hold the walls vertical and help transfer external pressures to other framing members to reduce impact. When you remove the joists you remove this ability of the walls to remain vertical so you >must< account for this.

As beau stated earlier, there is another problem that is created if you were to attempt to place the joists this far up and that is that ALL the external pressures and the weight of the roof will be placed on the rafters with reduced support creating a design flaw that will either cause the rafters to flex at the points of the rafters receiving the most stress and pushing the walls out as this pressure is applied.

Or the structure will suffer an immediate collapse.

Either scenario will result in lose of property and could have fatal consequences for you and your family.

I have an alternate truss design that may be of some use to this situation:
g-sun truss.png
Still, this is only a suggestion as to an alternate procedure. Anything you do has to get an approval from your local code authorities...it is for your best interest that you get a local architect involved to safely pursue this desire.
Thank you very much xSpace for your warnings.
Yes, my initial plans had the original joists place, just for the reasons you mention.
However, Tod's suggestion about getting them out of the way seemed just so tempting.

Your suggestion for alternative design seems perfect for me.
g-sun truss.png
Here's another suggestion from FnA
Image
You cannot get anyone on any forum to say with any authority what you can do in this respect.
Well, I guess I can get some good advice :) Then I'll ask some local builder/architect for final judgment, ideas, comments and national rules.
Last edited by G-Sun on Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:53 pm, edited 2 times in total.
G-Sun
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Re: [g-sun design build] A small studio, Norway

Post by G-Sun »

From thread [G-Sun] Is this wall good enough?: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =2&t=17826
xSpace wrote:You mentioned spaces inbetween the exterior sheathing boards...so I tracked down a picture of what you are talking about on your blog:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kmD2izNncIU/U ... 170084.JPG

This issue has to be addressed first. Not only is this a path for air but this is a passage for water as well...even air has moisture in it so you have got to secure these penetrations first in order to not destroy the interior work you are proposing to do.

You could install a basic batten strip at these penetrations on the exterior side for a simple solution. You should not think that this can be addressed from the inside, it cannot. The penetrations currently allow air/moisture to get thru the vertical cracks so if you were to go ahead and mass up the interior side of the wall, the penetrations would >still< allow this path and eventually your walls would rot from the outside in.
Thank you xSpace for pointing this out (as Roguejackal and Soundman2020 )!

I've made an updated plan for my wall:
Image

I'm still considering putting the plywood on the outside of the studs. That means taking down the outside solid-wood.
If I do one section a time, do you think possible structural damage is reduced?

basic batten strip: What is that (Sorry, I'm not to good at english building terms)? Solid wood as a second layer?
If I'm to fill up the gaps with something. What should I use?

I might do the gap between outer and inner wall a little wider for the sides, getting better proportions for my room. I'll come back to that?
G-Sun
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Location: Norway

Re: [g-sun design build] A small studio, Norway

Post by G-Sun »

Oh.. posted in wrong sub-forum.
Well hope you can bear with me.

Edit: Thanks John for moving the thread!
G-Sun
Posts: 162
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Location: Norway

Floor

Post by G-Sun »

From thread Studio flooring http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =2&t=17820

Floor:

I'm still not confident about heating in heat-insulation for the floor.

Following Soundman2020s suggestions, it gives me these alternatives:
1) Just concrete
2) Concrete with laminate and underlay
3) Concrete with vinyl

It can easily get down to -20 degrees here in winter,
and normal building-code for a room with concrete-floor in this area would be using radiant heating.

Is putting in some heat-insulation (like styrofoam insulation) and radiant heating a problem?
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Re: [g-sun design build] A small studio, Norway

Post by Soundman2020 »

Thanks for consolidating all your threads so neatly! Makes it much easier to follow. :) :thu:
Is putting in some heat-insulation (like styrofoam insulation) and radiant heating a problem?
That should be fine, assuming that the actual radiant floor itself will also be something solid, such as concrete. As long as the final finish floor is hard, solid, reflective (acoustically), and has no air voids inside it, that will be fine.

- Stuart -
G-Sun
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Re: [g-sun design build] A small studio, Norway

Post by G-Sun »

Thanks Stuart!
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Re: [g-sun design build] A small studio, Norway

Post by xSpace »

"I'm still considering putting the plywood on the outside of the studs. That means taking down the outside solid-wood.
If I do one section a time, do you think possible structural damage is reduced?"
Depending on what type of material you are installing to the exterior, you could install it directly over the existing exterior sheathing and close the open holes that now exist and reduce your work load.

If I was in your position trying to add mass to an exterior wall assembly, I always go for what is the easiest and least labor intensive. The above that I just mentioned would satisfy my requirements to add the sheathing to the exterior rather than remove it and reinstall...too much like work, and you get the same effect with reduced man hours.

But you have to choose an exterior type siding, not OSB in order to apply the mass directly to the exterior of the structure.

Basically you will be re-siding the building, so trim and all other aspects apply.

"basic batten strip: What is that (Sorry, I'm not to good at english building terms)? Solid wood as a second layer? If I'm to fill up the gaps with something. What should I use?"
A batten has many names, lath, wood strip etc. The idea is to get material that matches the existing structure material, cut strips that are wide enough to cover the vertical openings that exist. If the openings are approx. 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) then you cut strips wide enough to cover that vertical space and to allow enough material to be able to have a nailing surface.

Based on the above 1/2 inch openings in my example, I would rip 2 inch (5.08 cm) wide battens.
G-Sun
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Location: Norway

Re: [g-sun design build] A small studio, Norway

Post by G-Sun »

Thanks Brian!
xSpace wrote:
"I'm still considering putting the plywood on the outside of the studs. That means taking down the outside solid-wood.
If I do one section a time, do you think possible structural damage is reduced?"
Depending on what type of material you are installing to the exterior, you could install it directly over the existing exterior sheathing and close the open holes that now exist and reduce your work load.

If I was in your position trying to add mass to an exterior wall assembly, I always go for what is the easiest and least labor intensive. The above that I just mentioned would satisfy my requirements to add the sheathing to the exterior rather than remove it and reinstall...too much like work, and you get the same effect with reduced man hours.

But you have to choose an exterior type siding, not OSB in order to apply the mass directly to the exterior of the structure.

Basically you will be re-siding the building, so trim and all other aspects apply.
Yes, your idea is tempting :)

Two issues:
1) I need to replace some boards anyway
2) Look: It should ideally look like it is today, or similar.
"basic batten strip: What is that (Sorry, I'm not to good at english building terms)? Solid wood as a second layer? If I'm to fill up the gaps with something. What should I use?"
A batten has many names, lath, wood strip etc. The idea is to get material that matches the existing structure material, cut strips that are wide enough to cover the vertical openings that exist. If the openings are approx. 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) then you cut strips wide enough to cover that vertical space and to allow enough material to be able to have a nailing surface.

Based on the above 1/2 inch openings in my example, I would rip 2 inch (5.08 cm) wide battens.
Ok. Thanks for explaining!
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