New Sim Build Underway, Basement Floor Lowering

[CarlSpackler]

I have wanted to put in a simulator for a while now. Basement ceiling only had 7’3” of height so finally negotiated with my wife and she signed on for a floor lowering project. Final heaight is 114” of clearance from finished floor to bottom of ceiling joists. Will update this post was we go along, I think the room should work out nicely as a sim and home theater. Concrete floor is almost done, then walls start going in a week or so.

[devildog1205]

I used material from Chicago Canvas. They have a heavy black fabric. They are good to work with and they will provide samples. For the material around the screen, I made baffles from the Chicago canvas material for the top and then for the sides I wrapped a 1x 6 board with the same material. My screen is 14 foot wide so not too worried about missing the screen right or left. I then installed small hooks on the back of the 1 x6 so I could attached them to the bungees holding the screen. This allows me to take the sides off if I need to adjust the screen. Works and gives the screen a built in look.

Hooks on the back side of the 1x6...did you use more bungees to attach the 1x6 to the bungees holding the screen? Like bungee to bungee?

[azbball11]

I can try to get a picture of what I did, but I used a cup hook which has an open end. Then I just hooked this to the bungee that is stretched between the screen and the frame.

[David DeWitt]

Only 11k! That's not bad at all! Do you have no water considerations? I want to do this so bad but I would need an extra sump pump and I don't have easy access to the basement from outside. They'd have to go through the garage into the house then down the stairs.

[CarlSpackler]

I don’t have water issues, but we did put a sump pump in out of an abundance of caution. It is at the front right corner of the room. Might be able to see blue top in pics below. I probably wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t have Bilco doors out of the basement. I would not do it going through the house.

[Adam Prince]

This is going to sound stupid, but you did clear this with your county and local building code?

[birdiethom]

@CarlSpackler i have a very similar footprint in my basement just a bit narrower. How did you determine what local concrete company to use? I have asked around for basement dig-outs but costs have ranged from $30k-50k...and that is without even coming over.

Also did they have to do any underpinning? i have started my garage conversion in the meantime but havent given up hope to keep inside.

[CarlSpackler]

@CarlSpackler i have a very similar footprint in my basement just a bit narrower. How did you determine what local concrete company to use? I have asked around for basement dig-outs but costs have ranged from $30k-50k...and that is without even coming over.

Also did they have to do any underpinning? i have started my garage conversion in the meantime but havent given up hope to keep inside.

i did receive one quote that was in the $30k range, and then 2 in the 10k to 15k range. The concrete and excavation work ended up costing $13k. The guy that gave me the $30k number was upselling throughout the walk thru. The material and equipment cost is very low, it is labor intensive. After cutting and breaking up the concrete the guys used hand buckets to take it out my Bilco doors, put it in a wheel barrow and into a truck. Same for dirt that was excavated and then reverse process to bring the concrete in to pour new floor. It was a full 4 day job. $30k seemed outrageous to me. $7500 a day for a 3 man crew? I can also see a lot of contractors overpricing because they really don’t want the job.

no underpinning was needed. I had a French drain and there was separation between the foundation walls and the slab, the old slab provided limited if any support for the basement walls. I also did not have them go right up to the wall, we made sure to leave enough space to comfortably avoid disturbing the footings.

masons installed Block around perimeter of the new slab to ensure no earth movement on the sides of the sunken floor.

it is really messy, a ton of dust and dirt, but very cool once it’s done. I got the names of some local concrete guys, asked them to explain how they would do the job and they all gave similar explanations on how they would do it, minor differences.

I am very happy with how it is going. A couple of updated pics too

[wbond]

That is looking great

[richerod]

What will the finished dimensions be of the sim space be? What system are you looking at?

[CarlSpackler]

The sunken area finished is going to be 146” wide, 19’ long and 9’4” high. I have a Mevo+ on the way and a frame and premium 9x12 screen coming from Carl’s.

[DavidU]

That is so nice. Can't wait to see it complete!

[birdiethom]

That is looking really sweet. I'm jealous of the secondary room which i dont have in my basement. Please keep us posted on the final reveal as it really seems to be coming together. Once i get my garage setup done i was going to post some pics as well. I'll be done with everything soon and most likely still waiting on the mevo plus as well.

[CarlSpackler]

Just got word my Mevo+ is on its way🤞🏻

[birdiethom]

CarlSpackler i forgot to ask you what the distance is between the foundation wall and the sunken basement bench footing. Looks from the pictures about 2 ft but was just curious what your concrete guys thought is needed without having to underpin. Thanks.

[CarlSpackler]

18”, but they were more focused on two issues: (1) the slab was not providing any structural support to the foundation walls nor the footings as there was separation. Between them of about 3/4s of an inch (it has a French drain), and the dirt was so well compacted around the footings and on the sides of the sunken floor, the foundation walls were stable. They made sure that they backfilled the heck out of the new sunken floor sides behind the block to minimize any settling. They also used rebar in the new slab. Hope this helps.

[CarlSpackler]

Finishing work is in progress. My wife went crazy with the faux stone panels, but I think they will look good when it’s all done.

[Stetson]

That’s going to look fantastic

[Johnny5]

Looks awesome! Following along here for sure, I'm just getting started but this is definitely inspiring. I really like the aesthetic of the faux stone panels. I have lots of questions!

Are those just standard framed 2x4 walls behind the stone panels? What are the cutout areas on the wall?

The open viewing space from the other side of the basement is a great idea too. Is the black section for clubs? Is the ceiling/joists just sprayed in black paint?

[CarlSpackler]

Johnny, they are just 2x4 framed walls. Panels are very light, so some liquid nail glue and four finishing nails in each of the panels I s plenty. There are two cut out areas on that wall. The one towards the front of the room (which only has one light piece of wood up so far) is going to be shelving to hold the gaming PC, keyboard/mouse, a mount for the computer monitor, cable box/Apple TV and the AV receiver.

The dark wood cutouts are book shelves to hold different accessories. I hadn’t considered using one to hold clubs, but that is a good idea!

The ceiling is just spray painted black. My whole basement is like that and we are going to keep it that way. We kept that and Created the viewing spaces to keep an “open” feel for the room. I have some ceiling protection ideas for the space above the impact screen when we get it up, but not locked into anything yet.

[Alex.Morgan]

Wow - proper job as we would say in Bristol - England

[CarlSpackler]