My New DIY build (not drums, but related!)

[Cheddies]

So - the wife finally "encouraged" me to do something to get the drums out of our bedroom. As we live in a 2 bed flat (and my 3yo is in the other bedroom) this left me with something of a problem. However - being the ever-practical thinker I am - I thought "The only way is up".

My 2 bed flat happens to be the top half of an edwardian/victorian (1901 build) end of terrace house - so I also have the loft of the house as an extra space. Seems sensible to me to be using that space, and solving my drums in the bedroom issue at the same time - so I am building a drum room in the loft of my flat.

So - I have to:
Insulate the rafters (ensuring to leave an adequate breathing gap for the roof timbers)
Strengthen the ceiling joists
Drop a decent sized, nice, loft ladder (ideally with steps rather than rungs)
Board the floor (24mm loft boards)
Plasterboard the roof (drywalling, not skimming for this one).
Run a new ring-main from my cu to the loft, to accomodate 4 double sockets
Extend the lighting circuit (its already got a lighting ring up there)
Paint, floor (lino? carpet tiles? dunno yet)
Final finish

But as its a big space (5m x 6.7m - with the middle third (4m x 2.1m) being full head height I would be crazy NOT to do this.

I already use a tennisball riser, and a krigg, so I am not too worried about sound travel back into the flat.

Pictures of the project before I started attached to this post.

[Cheddies]

Update 1: Have Started already - tidying and insulating the loft. Man this place is dusty. Between 100 years of dust, and roofing felt gunf and dusty bricks and so on it was pretty hideous. Though now starting to become a more habitable space. The silver insulation is doing a really good job of keeping the inside in and the outside out. Next up: Removing old heating pipe and sorting existing wiring.

[perceval]

now, that's what I call a winter project!

Lots of hard work ahead, but it will be all worth it in the end!

Can't wait to see the progression!

I'll follow you, since I can't really lend a hand

[JimFiore]

I can't quite tell from the pics but is the new insulation pushed right up to the roof plywood? If you live in a cold climate that could present some condensation and ice problems down the road. Ideally, there should be air flow between the two.

I suggest for flooring that you use double sheets of plywood with Green Glue between them. Even better would be to add a layer of 2" rigid fiberglass between the subfloor and what would be the base of the finish floor (i.e., a sandwich of plywood, fiberglass, 2 sheets of ply w/ GG, and then the finish floor). That will really cut down on impact transmission to the rooms below.

Just remember that sound is like water in a plastic bag: even a tiny hole that will cause everything to leak out.

[Cheddies]

Hey Jim.
No ply on this roof, just tiles then felt and rafters, the insulation is attached to the rafters directly so there is good airflow behind for the roof and beams to breathe. in the UK (London) so never get any extremes of weather here, just drizzle :l

I have seen stuff about Green glue before, I'll check it out again as two layers of thinner board with that sandwitched between would be way better than one thicker layer. Thanks for the advice (its all appreciated as, whilst I am fairly handy, I have not yet tackled a project of this magnitude). Finish floor is looking likely to be lino or laminate for cost savings, though id love to carpet it (for noise and warmth)

I'll keep the updates coming as and when stuff happens. its gunna be slow going as it's fitting around work, 3 year old and sleeping! I have a week off in early feb when I hope to get the floor, stairs and boarding done.

[TheYardbird]

Not at all jealous on that attic-space! Looks like alot of job to be done, but the result will probably be well worth it! Have you considered laying one of those rugs that covers entire rooms up there? It would probably result in a very home-ish feeling to you ''drum lab''
I'll keep my eyes out for updates!

//Mike.

[Cheddies]

@Yardbird Yeah, its a fact of life in London that space is expensive and not at all plentiful. We are no way going to be able to afford to buy a bigger place any time soon, so using our available space is the best option. Big rug is a great idea, im certainly going to get some kind of rug going on.

@perceval yeah, lots to do. I am at the stage of having to think of only one step ahead as if I look at the whole thing it just blows my tiny mind.

UPDATE: nothing massive visually but have been scrabbling about with a hacksaw removing about 15 metres of old unused heating pipes. I was 99% sure it was all dead and disconnected but that first cut was still nerve wracking. Had visions of old rusty water peeing out everywhere. Was fine though, now just got to get rid of all this dead pipe. Also been re-routing existing lighting cables so they don't run

[TheYardbird]

@Yardbird Yeah, its a fact of life in London that space is expensive and not at all plentiful. We are no way going to be able to afford to buy a bigger place any time soon, so using our available space is the best option. Big rug is a great idea, im certainly going to get some kind of rug going on.

Well from the look of the pictures the space looks just fine size-wise, I would kill for a space like that

[TheYardbird]

What kind of lights are you planning on using? Have you considered those little spotlights some people have? They're quite fancy-looking, gives a good shine and they're mostly very economical due to low wattage and the ability to be controlled by a dimmer knob

[JimFiore]

You might want to check out this thread covering the construction of my home studio for ideas:

http://www.vdrums.com/forum/forum/performance/in-the-studio/56139-studio-construction-project-gas-raised-to-the-gas-power

It's a bit long but lots of photos.

[Intruder]

Very nice cheddies!
A great place for visiting drummers from the States to crash for the night or 5!!
Hint. hint.
When I retire I want to see England, Scotland, Ireland. My step-father was a Scot (but that's my problem to deal with).
Ok, If i retire and can still walk....... LOL
OMG. Only 8 years to go. Woo Hoo.

[Cheddies]

[Cheddies]

@Yardbird

I was thinking of recessed spots into the lasterboard but because of the angles of the roof, and the insulation I have used, thats not the best idea. Now looking at something like this: http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/187033 to attach to the apex of the roof in one long line.

[Cheddies]

Right - so an update (finally!) - and a big post with lots of images *you have been warned*

Big jobs completed:
Whole lighting system rewired (it was one of those 'once I'd seen it I couldn't not do it' jobs - man there has been some cowboys working on this house over the years)
First fit electrics routed and dropped through walls.
All old pipes (looks like an oldheating system) removed
All major joists re-inforced
Quite a few joists replaced / noggined and framework built where unsatisfactory for floor Old insulation (I found a load of really old HAY/Straw insulation in two sections of the loft)
Bare brick walls all sealed with watered down emulsion - and where necessary damp seal.
Massive hole cut for loft ladder:

Loft Ladder installed:


Subfloor down:

Since taking those last photos I have cleaned the whole place - now the dust is sealed in it is staying nice and clean and is becoming a nice place to be!

Next Jobs: Plasterboard, Skim Decorate, carpet tiles down. Final fit electrics Tidy and repair / redecorate downstairs hallway.

[Cheddies]

Wow - that post came out HORRIBLY formatted :/ *

Now edited, so a bit better