My New Studio Build (perhaps overly detailed)

[silky smoove]

The two concepts are not mutually exclusive. There's nothing that says you can't build correctly without ending up with a space that people dig. For my build the biggest limitation is space. There's little I can do to make it a fun hang beyond getting the interior aesthetic to a point that's inspiring for people. I don't have room for a couch or a separate lounge, etc.

 

[peterpalmieri]

The two concepts are not mutually exclusive. There's nothing that says you can't build correctly without ending up with a space that people dig. For my build the biggest limitation is space. There's little I can do to make it a fun hang beyond getting the interior aesthetic to a point that's inspiring for people. I don't have room for a couch or a separate lounge, etc.

Good excuse for a comfy outdoor living space

 

[silky smoove]

I've got the entire outdoor area planned out, but it'll be a long time before it's all done. Conservatively I'll be doing projects at this place for the next five years if not longer.

 

[Fat Freddy]

I've got the entire outdoor area planned out, but it'll be a long time before it's all done. Conservatively I'll be doing projects at this place for the next five years if not longer.

FIVE YEARS???.....'Bout time you pulled your finger out young man

 

[pnchad]

It takes time. I spent 3.5 years at least and there's still things I'd like to do pending CASH!

 

[silky smoove]

It takes time. I spent 3.5 years at least and there's still things I'd like to do pending CASH!

That's the big limiting factor for me in terms of time as well. I had $26,000 leftover from the sale of my first house after putting 20% down on the current place. We used about $3,000 doing a small remodel to convert an area for my wife's business, as well as buying a few items for around the house. The remaining $23,000 has been spent on the studio thus far, plus roughly an additional $8,000 and I'm only as far as you see in the pictures above, plus I have all of the materials to do the exterior hardscaping but am waiting for the electrical to get going before I dive into that. I still have to do the electrical, HVAC, MSM walls, ceilings, floors, acoustic treatments, sound door, furnishings, etc.

The moral of the story is that it's all being funded out of pocket from here on out so the proceedings will be SSSSSLLLLLOOOOOWWWWW... There are some maintenance projects that simply have to get done in the next couple years that will interrupt progress on the property as a whole as well.

 

[Marial]

Any thought on when you'll be minimally operational? Will you still be able to mix elsewhere if need be?

 

[silky smoove]

Any thought on when you'll be minimally operational? Will you still be able to mix elsewhere if need be?

The way this thing has to go is such that it'll go from non-operational to fully operational with no middle ground. I can still mix elsewhere, but anything I mix in the interim might be revisited in the finished space.

 

[silky smoove]

It's worth mentioning that I'm considering taking out a HELOC to fund the remainder of the work. We'll see if I actually pull the trigger on that or not. I just got a rather large promotion at work and am waiting for my first paycheck at the new rate to see what I can realistically afford each month before deciding. If I do obtain a HELOC I'll be able to sprint to the finish line and the only time constraint will be how quickly I'm able to do the work.

 

[Marial]

Dig it. Just curious. I'm still in the writing process, but if it's possible I'll either want to track some reeds/horns/drums, or some combination thereof at your space, or it will just be a mix job. I guess it depends on both of our timing.

 

[markjazzbassist]

That's the big limiting factor for me in terms of time as well. I had $26,000 leftover from the sale of my first house after putting 20% down on the current place. We used about $3,000 doing a small remodel to convert an area for my wife's business, as well as buying a few items for around the house. The remaining $23,000 has been spent on the studio thus far, plus roughly an additional $8,000 and I'm only as far as you see in the pictures above, plus I have all of the materials to do the exterior hardscaping but am waiting for the electrical to get going before I dive into that. I still have to do the electrical, HVAC, MSM walls, ceilings, floors, acoustic treatments, sound door, furnishings, etc.

The moral of the story is that it's all being funded out of pocket from here on out so the proceedings will be SSSSSLLLLLOOOOOWWWWW... There are some maintenance projects that simply have to get done in the next couple years that will interrupt progress on the property as a whole as well.

how much do you estimate you will have paid when it's all done with (gear excluded, just the building/space completed) ?

 

[silky smoove]

Dig it. Just curious. I'm still in the writing process, but if it's possible I'll either want to track some reeds/horns/drums, or some combination thereof at your space, or it will just be a mix job. I guess it depends on both of our timing.

Timing will be critical. I could probably track the reeds and horns at my house if it's before the construction is finished. It would be far from ideal, but it could be done. I could do the drums via MIDI and get great results, but it takes a special kind of drummer to be willing to do that. We'll talk more as you're getting closer.

how much do you estimate you will have paid when it's all done with (gear excluded, just the building/space completed) ?

To date the total, as I mentioned earlier, is about $31,000.

Remaining items, along with their ancillary "support" items and their ballpark cost (seriously rough estimate):
MSM Walls $1,500
HVAC $4,000
Electrical $4,000
Ceilings $600
Flooring $600
Sound Door $3,000
Acoustic Treatments $2,000

Absolute guess of a total: $15,700 + $31,000 = $46,700... Rounding up for a little contingency planning and I'll call it $48,000.

 

[silky smoove]

Keep in mind that I had to knock down an existing structure, build a block wall foundation, bring in a new structure, have it painted, add gutters and downspouts, and build a drainage system, all before I could do anything to the interior. Somebody working in an existing space that was suitable for their purposes could have a much easier time of it.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Keep in mind that I had to knock down an existing structure, build a block wall foundation, bring in a new structure, have it painted, add gutters and downspouts, and build a drainage system, all before I could do anything to the interior. Somebody working in an existing space that was suitable for their purposes could have a much easier time of it.

i am broke and have no studio build in sight, but the dreamer in me just wonders these things. thanks for sharing the financials. did you look at buying an existing structure (building, house, back house, etc.) somewhere and what the cost difference was? or was having it on your property a deal breaker so that wasn't explored?

 

[Marial]

Now that I'm motorcycle-free, our garage will get turned into an art barn/low-budget/very quiet music space. All I need to do is insulate it and clean the floor (amazing how well Foamy Engine Bright works on oily concrete) and get a decent heater for the winter. It's definitely not going to be a professional space like yours.

 

[silky smoove]

did you look at buying an existing structure (building, house, back house, etc.) somewhere and what the cost difference was? or was having it on your property a deal breaker so that wasn't explored?

I have a lower lot where I could have built without tearing down an existing structure, but that would require driving around the block or walking a quarter mile to get to my studio. Having it accessible from my back door without putting on shoes was a big driving factor for me. Having access to it on a whim helps me out when the creative juices get flowing.

I didn't look at buying an existing structure because everything in West Seattle where I live is ridiculously expensive. It would have had to be in a different city, and if going to my lower lot was a jump too far, getting on the freeway was a non-starter.

 

[silky smoove]

Now that I'm motorcycle-free, our garage will get turned into an art barn/low-budget/very quiet music space. All I need to do is insulate it and clean the floor (amazing how well Foamy Engine Bright works on oily concrete) and get a decent heater for the winter. It's definitely not going to be a professional space like yours.

Sweet! When you're getting it prepped give me a shout. I'd be happy to come over and make some modest treatment recommendations that would make it a much more enjoyable space for making music. Stuff that won't break the bank and will be easy to install.

 

[Marial]

Sweet! When you're getting it prepped give me a shout. I'd be happy to come over and make some modest treatment recommendations that would make it a much more enjoyable space for making music. Stuff that won't break the bank and will be easy to install.

Excellent, I definitely will! Right now I just need to do the bare minimum to seal it up and insulate it to retain heat while people are in it during the winter. There won't be any kind of ventilation system. We're not that upstate.

 

[pnchad]

You're serious!!!

And, wow things are expensive up there. How many square feet is it?

Electrical & HVAC wouldn't cost half that much here in the SE.

 

[silky smoove]

Excellent, I definitely will! Right now I just need to do the bare minimum to seal it up and insulate it to retain heat while people are in it during the winter. There won't be any kind of ventilation system. We're not that upstate.

Since I'm knee deep in air sealing and insulating I can lend some advice on that front as well. I've learned a couple lessons thus far that I wish I'd have known up front.

You're serious!!!

Trying to be!

And, wow things are expensive up there. How many square feet is it?

14x24, so 336 sf

Electrical & HVAC wouldn't cost half that much here in the SE.

The electrical was a best guess with some fluff factor thrown in as a planning contingency.

The HVAC cost would be identical. The biggest portion of the cost is in the mini split system and heat recovery ventilator. I'm buying from the lowest cost nationally that I can find. Those costs get high because you need to size the system such that the equipment can run on its lowest setting while still accomplishing the required air changes per hour. The low setting allows it to run as quietly as possible. Even then you have to buy rather high end equipment to get low db or sonnes numbers. For instance, the mini split I have spec'd out will run as low as 19db on its lowest setting! The only contractor cost is for final vaccuum testing, purging and charging of the mini split system and I added some contingency to that as well. I could get the HVAC cost down to under $2,000 if I really wanted but then the system wouldn't be quiet enough for studio work. I'd then be in a situation of turning everything off when it was time to record. That works for a quick take, but an all day session in a room sealed up as air tight as possible simply doesn't work. Try drumming for eight hours while the room fills up with CO2