CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

I just put in an offer on a House here in Phila... Its the corner of a row, GREAT neighborhood. A guy was flipping it and ran out of $$$$$. Thumbs Up

So the only downside is, its an older home, i.e. 1925... and the basement ceiling is only 7 1/2 feet high. Too low for my theater. So, i have seen guys dig out the basement to add 3 feet or so to the ceiling height. Has anyone here done this? Can i do this, with a contractor assist, or should i build my HT elsewhere???

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Anything can be done if you have the $$$$. The easiest and less expensive way would be i think if you could dig out as far away from the foundation walls and have a step down theater, this way you wont compromise the existing foundation walls . But if you have to do it at the existing foundation walls you would have to add more wall and then lower the footer as well, this is lots of work. if you knew how much further down your wall/footer are from your existing basement floor level you could go right down to the footer and put your floor there. but then you will risk water coming into the basement much easier. in that case you'd have to add adequate drainage tiles to move water out and away from under the floor. That would be the main concern, the water. In an existing basement design most floors are above the footer and the drain tile is put around the inside and some times outside perimeter of the footer. If you do the first method you would have to worry about water as well. it all depends on your water table in that area.

Athanasios

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

jask · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 10187 Location: kamloops BC

Don't do it without an engineer.
I assume it is a brick row? Excavation that reduces support on the footings can cause structural damage. most of those old places did not intend the basement as primary living space and need a well thought out approach to converting the space;moisture,flooding,drainage,ventilation,emergency egress,etc.

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

On a previous This Old House row house project they did it. This was a row house in Washington, D.C.

amt_austin · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 38 Location: Austin, TX,

If the house is gutted, you could raise the first floor height, assuming it's a pretty tall ceiling on that floor already. That would get you more room in the basement without lowering the basement floor. However, if the house is not gutted, then it's probably not a good idea! That TOH season was pretty good for showing how to dig out the basement floor, but it looked very painful -all by hand, carrying dirt out one 5 gal bucket at a time. IMO, I would see if you could live with a 7.5' theater first Smile

or just use the basement for other things.

ronholm · Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 12111

yeah what they said... Digging down is do-able but a much bigger project than you might imagine... Same with raising the floor... and unless you just really really really love the location and the house sitting there either project would kinda negate the "great deal" factor... it would be less expensive to buy the home you wanted...

Just like cars... sometimes it is better and cheaper to start with the 2000 dollar car than the 500 dollar car for little hot rod projects.. ask how I know...

In other news my theater has a 7 and 1/2 foot ceiling.. I am 6' 5" and my theater makes for a cozy environment... I don't think I will ever win any awards for the best HT.. But I use it for watching movies with my wife.. and it works and looks fantastic for that purpose..

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

Thanks for all the responses.

The house i put an offer on is not gutted. I fact its all studded out but no sheet rock.

If i dont get that one, plan b house IS a shell..... but i havent seen the basement yet....

I remember the TOH in DC it was tough sledding, but as long as im not weakening the structure, or hitting water, i'd do the dig.

Stay tuned.

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

I would imagine the only problem with digging downward is to not compromise the existing foots that the existing structure is sitting on. IIRC, the TOH project worked within the existing footing footprint. I'm pretty sure this is on their website, and their website now features the contractors, etc. that they used in every aspect of their projects making it easy to get information.

tri_joel · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 646 Location: Northern Virginia

We lowered the basement in a 1701 house in Georgetown. The footings were made of large stones. THe structural engineer had us hand dig down to six inches below the top of the highest stone. We then poured a six inch structural slab (steel reinforced concrete). It took ten laborers four weeks to dig the 5000 square foot basement, the result was a four inch gain in head room.

Don't foget that you will need to build a new stair.

peace,
Joel

Tedd · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 156 Location: Ontario

Seen this thread at AVS?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15902333#post15902333

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

jask · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 10187 Location: kamloops BC

I don't know if it an indication of how old I am or what- but when I see a sunken room;I expect to see deep shag carpet, and these days that would be in fashion ....again.
very cool project.

Freak18 · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Posts: 2

I understand that the house is a bit old. It may not be too safe for the whole structure to dig further. Just call your local home improvement agency and ask for their opinion and cost estimate. In the meantime, check your new house further for repairs and maintenance that might need more of your attention than your home theater. Basement Dehumidifier